With just a few precious hours of Lost left before the Island drama fades to (Man in) Black on May 23, this week’s Entertainment Weekly pays tribute to the ABC show with Lost: The Complete Viewer’s Guide, a special package with everything you need to know to get ready for the epic finale. First up, an in-depth preview of the final episode. Our own Jeff “Doc” Jensen was on set for the last days of filming and shares intel from the Island, including what it was like to be there for all the tearful goodbyes. He also reveals teases for the final few episodes, finds out what the actors plan to do next, and suggests some possible Lost spin-offs to keep the franchise rolling.
But we’re just getting this mysterious, time-traveling party started. Next: a flow chart (guaranteed not to make your brain hurt) explaining how all the castaways are connected, which is followed by an oral history of how it all began — the making of the pilot episode of Lost. Show creators J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof, as well as the entire cast, share stories from the set of what would turn out to be the most expensive pilot in television history, and explain why it ended up being worth every single penny. We then provide handy dandy (graded) recaps of every single season, hook you up with a Lost A-Z Glossary, and take you on an eerie blast into the past as we host a gathering of some Lost souls who died before their time. Like we said, it’s everything you need to know to get ready for the finale. And then just a little bit more. It’s a package so formidable, in fact, that it could not even be contained to a single cover. Or two. Or three, even. Try 10! That’s right, 10! Each of our favorite Losties (Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Locke/Fake Locke, Ben, Claire, Hurley, Sun, Jin, and Sayid) gets their very own cover: Check back at EW.com soon for a look at all 10, then order ‘em all to complete your collection.
For more on Lost, pick up the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, on stands May 7.
I know people who don’t watch the show (and some people who do) are probably rolling their eyes at another “Lost” cover, but to me this is the very definition of “a keeper.”
Why’s Ben the only one smiling?
Because he saw what happened to all those other fools who got on the sub?
Actually, if you look close enough, Sayid is ‘smizing’ too
@ niki – someone watches ANTM
Maybe Tyra was at the photo shoot.
I think if you look close enough Jin is smiling too!
Is it really dumb that I’m actually planning on buying all the covers? Seriously, though, going to set in the final days must have been the embodiment of a wet dream for Doc. Jealous!
If you have the money for it, do it. I have a 1 year old and all of my extra cash goes to him!!
yes, it is
Sopranos and Sex and the City finale issues were great–still have both!
I’m honestly considering buying all 10!
Nope. I want the Sawyer, Jin, Sun and Hurley covers.
I just hope the one I get on the mail is the one with Sawyer, he looks great!
No I’m thinking of doing it too.
Wow, 4 bucks a piece…this is gonna be rough…
exactly! i still have my seinfeld issue from 1998!
I still have my friends one but not sure what happened to my seinfield one tho
Am I reading too much into this to note that Sawyer and Hurley are mysteriously gazing off into space, while everyone else is starting into the camera???
Yes…you’re probably reading too much into it.
Fortunately, that’s what being a “Lost” fan is all about!
EW doesn’t know what is going to happen in the finale. The writers are keeping it secret. So I wouldn’t read into the cover.
Q, we have been watching Lost for six years. We’ve been trained to question things like that. ; )
It was the first thing I noticed. Like Ceballos said, it’s what Lost fans do.
But how can they have a Viewers Guide published before so many questions have been answered? This Viewers Guide should be coming out in a month when we know more info!!
Because most questions *have* been answered. The only questions left to be answered are a choice few mythology questions (What’s the deal with Jacob and MIB?) and the big one: WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CHARACTERS AT THE END?
Yay!!! Fantastic news! Can’t wait to get it in the mail!
There’s something “off” about the photos. They look creepy, like really bad photoshop. Maybe they are drawings not pictures, they just don’t look quite right.
it’s the type of camera they used, and I like it.
10 is great, but if your going to do 10, why not do 11 and give Desmond some love? Why am I complaining this issue will be awesome.
exactly what i was going to say!
Seriously. Cleaned-up Desmond is hoooot. Scruffy Desmond isn’t too bad either…
You are complaining because, once again, Desmond has been ignored. That really sucks. I would say that the two most popular characters on LOST are Desmond and Hurley.
Agreed, but don’t forget about Ben. I have yet to meet someone that doesn’t find his character fascinating.
I also have yet to meet someone that actually likes Kate…
Hi! Nice to meet you, Ruby. I like Kate.
me too. I like Kate. She’s not my favorite and the writers make her seem annoying but she provides much needed emotional grounding this season.
Good Point, I love Desmond!
and Kate!!! But most of all, Jack!
As someone who didn’t watch the show for first five seasons, I used to extremely annoyed with an EW Lost cover. Then I watched all five of those seasons on Hulu in 7 weeks, and watched the current season live. So I’m ready to pee myself with excitement.
I practically watched all the seasons on Hulu, too! Not a huge TV watcher, but I always wanted to get into LOST and I finally did earlier this year.
Can’t wait to pick up the issue — definitely have my eye on Jack, Sun and Sayid.
I’m right there with you about Jack and Sun. But, if I could only have one, I would want Jack.
that rocks steph..but if you were a stef with an F you could have pooped yourself too….(yes, i have had THREE psycho gfs that were stefs with an F
Yeah, Claire and Kate look odd. But still hot.
wow I must have to spend the weekend reading from cover to cover, hopefully it will be in the mail on Friday
3rd Lost cover this year. RIDICULOUS.
I’d take these over that Twilight crap anytime.
There you are. I was wondering where the negative nellie was.
as in ridiculous = awesome!
This show is one of the most iconic in t.v. history, and it’s ending. Why wouldn’t they have an issue devoted to Lost? What were you expecting?
Ridiculously AWESOME, he means.
Definitely a collectors item for the Lost fans.
I’m in!
WHERE IS DESMOND!!!!?????
Exactly what I was thinking!!! Where is Desmond???!!!
Desmond isn’t a series regular this season. I’m guessing that’s why he doesn’t have a cover.
He is listed as a regular in the credits.
I’ll see you in another life, brother.
He’s been a series regular since season 3.
He’s not a series regular.
Yes, he is a series regular. The end.
I love Des, but the cover shows all characters who have been on since the start(plus Ben, but he was also in the early seasons)
Desmond was also there–before Ben, even. Henry Ian Cusick hasn’t won an Emmy. And was accused of something on set…maybe that’s why? I think that with the best episodes of all time being ones focusing on Desmond (The Constant, Happily Ever After), and Desmond trending on Twitter immediately after Happily Ever After ended on the East Coast, they could have shown him some cover love. Even if he didn’t get his OWN cover.
Me too, this is awesome, if only my subscription didn’t take 2 months to get here.
i’m so scare that EW is not going to do another cover b4 the show end!!since there are 2 already this season. so,a big THANKS!!!
No Desmond??
I want a Richard Alpert cover! Forget Sawyer!
Sad there’s no Desmond, but he wasn’t in the pilot, so I guess that’s why.
But wait, neither was BEN. WTF, EW?! The rest of the issue better make up for it!
Hey EW, are ya’ll reading these? THE FANS WANT A DESMOND COVER! Get HIC in front of a camera and give it to us!
i would have replaced Claire with Desmond. he’s much more important to the mythology of the show, especially in this final season. serious fail on the part of EW’s editors.
Hell, squeeze Jin and Sun together for one of the covers and presto, there’s one for Desmond. Stupid EW. Give us Desmond or give us death.