Getting Lost

Getting Lost, Taylor Morden's documentary about the mid-2000s cultural phenomenon Lost, brings a refreshing and much-needed perspective on a show that defined an era of television. While the documentary has received some critiques for focusing more on the impact Lost had on its fans rather than an in-depth exploration of the show itself, I believe this choice was both intentional and thoughtful.

For those expecting a deep dive into behind-the-scenes stories, this isn't the film to quench that thirst. While there is plenty of that to go around, the making-of content for Lost has been thoroughly covered in DVD extras, special features, and a plethora of interviews throughout the years that most of us have already watched. What Getting Lost offers is something far more personal and poignant: a reflection on the way Lost has embedded itself into the lives of its fans and influenced popular culture.

What truly sets the documentary apart is its intimate exploration of fandom. It's not just a fan base; it's a community that rallied around the mystery, the heartbreak, the theory crafting, and the shared experience of watching the show as it aired. Morden captures this in a way that feels both nostalgic and celebratory, spotlighting a variety of voices, from casual viewers to superfans, who explain how Lost shaped their lives. Whether it's fans reflecting on the series' philosophical themes or discussing the thrill of weekly water-cooler conversations about the latest episode's cliffhanger, Getting Lost taps into what made Lost not just a TV show, but a cultural moment.

While some may lament the lack of focus on the making of the show, it's worth noting that Morden's documentary is more concerned with legacy than logistics. It examines why Lost has endured for more than two decades, remaining a touchstone in the conversation about TV's golden age. Fans will find themselves reminiscing about the way the show made them think, feel, and even connect with others in ways they didn't expect. It celebrates the profound emotional impact of Lost, even as it grapples with its controversial finale and the unresolved questions that still linger.

This isn't a making-of documentary-it's a love letter to the fans and to the unique, immersive experience of watching Lost unfold. For that reason, it succeeds in ways that more technical documentaries may not. Morden doesn't just document the show's creation, he captures its essence-why we watched, why we cared, and how Lost became a part of our collective cultural memory.

So, if you're looking for a story about the mechanics behind Lost, this might not satisfy that craving. But if you want a documentary that captures the magic, mystery, and emotional journey that made Lost unforgettable, Getting Lost delivers in spades.

Binge watched this show a few years after it came out and never even heard of it or saw a trailer and was hooked. I watched all the seasons in about 2 weeks, then did it again with my wife a few weeks later. This was a fun, sci-fi feast with a stellar cast of unique characters. Be sure if you have finished this series completely to be sure to see the "actual last episode" called "The Man In Charge" it is considered the only episode in the "lost" 7th season (that doesn't exist). I think they wanted to give the fans a little better ending than the last episode of season 6 which seemed to disappoint many. This little short tidbit brings a lot back to the table. Hope you can see it.

This documentary explains the show well with cameos of all the players, shows lots of scenes and if you haven't seen the show, don't watch this first. Hope someone comes up with another paradox sci-fi that runs for 7 seasons with 22 episodes or so each season again!, maybe a series about a group of people who are able to be just out of phase with reality to move through things.

I loved Lost, even the ending! There is quite a lot to enjoy in this film, especially when the stars of the show are talking about the series so fondly. What I didn't like was that it spent far too much time on fans of the show, a number of whom were really rather boring and totally self obsessed. It was more about them than the actual show!! This got worse later on when there was talk of some toxicity on the show, giving these narcissistic fans a chance to wallow in victim mentality droning on about diversity and inclusion etc. This was followed by the sob stories and illnesses suffered by some of these fans. I wanted to watch those from the show not people I have absolutely no interest in. I'd give it a higher score if they cut out the dreary fans.

I had been tracking Getting LOST on social media for quite some time before it finally became available to rent. Not only am I a huge LOST fan, but I was excited to see something commemorating the series' 20th anniversary. But of course, independently-financed documentaries are always going to be a bit of an adventure quality-wise. Fortunately, this one is as good as they come even without studio funding!

Basically, director Taylor Morden covers all the key areas in which LOST was successful, controversial, and/or changed the game when it came to network television quality. From the mind-boggling pilot to the immediate skyrocketing success to the controversial finale and everything along the way (plus after), Morden provides excellent series coverage.

While generally being very positive about LOST's legacy, Getting LOST does not shy away from the more recent reports of the writer's room or production not necessarily being the most welcoming place. Generally-speaking, though, Morden plays fair with these topics and gives a wide range of thoughts/opinions on that topic. It had to be addressed--and it is--without slowing the overall narrative.

The true hallmark of Getting LOST, however, is the sheer number of interviewees it procures. From producers to show runners to writers to actors to superfans to podcasters--I could list them all but it would almost be easier to name who didn't participate! The breadth of interviews in this doc would be impressive for a well-funded production, much less one largely financed by individual contributions. Not only does this provide some "insider info", but it is simply fun for LOST fans to see what everyone is up to now!

Even the special effects are fun here, with DHARMA paraphernalia, polar bears, and other LOST iconography used to mostly comedic (though sometimes dramatic) effect.

Ultimately, I really could not have asked for anything more from Getting LOST. Truly a fitting 20-year tribute to one of the greatest TV shows ever created!

I enjoyed most of the documentary, it was very well produced, it was wonderful to see a lot of the cast and crew reminisce on their time on the show, their views, and lots of behind the scene footage and how scenes were made and explanations of certain decisions throughout the show. What I didn't enjoy was that the majority of the documentary was people who didn't even work on the show - podcasters, bloggers, fans, etc. And a lot of it was unnecessary, dragged on, annoying opinions and self-gloating. These people should have only been one small segment, but instead they gave them time throughout the whole documentary, giving them the majority of the screen time. They should have focused more on the cast and crew and the many amazing people of Hawaii who worked on the show. The short Hawaii segment was beautiful and uplifting, but it was so short and unfair compared to the amount of time those egomaniac random people got. There were also a lot of cast and crew who were not in the documentary or cut out, and they really should have taken the time to include them as well (if they wanted to be included of course). Overall, it was great to watch that got me really missing the show and how there hasn't been any other show like it ever since (maybe "From" is the closest we'll get to it). That's all for now, and I now want to re-watch LOST again for the millionth time lol.