Originally I watched the entire first season as it aired on ABC. But for some reason I couldn't get into the second season of the show. I've tried several times over the last couple of years to catch up on DVD but for some reason I just can't get past the first couple episodes of the second season.

My question is: how integral is the second season to the overall mythology? Would I be able to pick up again with the third season (or even the second season finale)? Or is there too much built up in the second season to skip it?

Thanks for your help/comments!

If you didn't like the second season, I doubt you will like the rest of the series.

You really have to tough through it. I was very close to dumping it during the 3rd(?) season. I'm glad I stuck with it because it got much better once they had a direction with the plot. The 2nd and 3rd seasons of shows like this are generally the worst. That's when it becomes super popular so they have to scramble to come up with ongoing story. Once they decided on an endpoint, they were able to fill in the middle and the show got much better. Same thing happened with Prison Break IMO.

^ this


Lost is a cumulative experience. I can't imagine anyone getting the full experience out of it without having watched all seasons, in sequence. And that includes the eps with Kate/Sawyer-in-a-cage, too.

I agree with the above posters. This is the type of show that you really need to watch completely. Otherwise, there will be things that will come up that will have you seriously scratching your head. If you just can't get into the second season, then it might be time to walk away from this show.

I agree with everyone else that if you can't get through season 2 you probably won't like the rest of it all that much.

But to answer your actual question: While I don't recommend it, I do a have a friend that watched season 1, skipped season 2* and has watched the rest of the seasons and he doesn't seem to have missed much of a beat when we talk about the current events of the show.

*He didn't skip season 2 because he didn't like it. I'm not exactly sure why he skipped it originally but he did eventually watch it.

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Start watching at 2:05 and stop watching at 4:13.

My DVR once skipped an episode of Lost and I had no clue what was going on the following week. Skipping an entire season you might as well watch it dubbed in another language.

Season One was a character drama primarily... Seasons 2 and 5 go hand in hand in terms of Dharma knowledge, etc. Late Season 3 and Season 4 are similar in tone. But in saying that the best way is to watch through all the tonal and structural shifts. I can't think of another show that has changed direction so much through its run while remaining such a coherently rewarding experience.

I have to disagree with everyone.

If you liked season 1 I would say continue with the show, as for skipping the entire second season i wouldnt recomend it. But i think you can skip parts of it.

I would say watch episodes 1-3 (sets up the season), Ep 7 (introduces you to the new characters), Ep 10 (just because its awesome), Ep 14 - Finale (this is where the season really picks up). As for the episodes i said to skip i recomend just watching the flashbacks of those episodes.

Season two really starts to pick up when they introduce Henry Gale from Minnesota, who landed on the island in a hot air balloon.

You absolutely 100% need to watch season 2 if you want any parts of seasons 3-5 and now the final season to make any sense.

Season 2 had a lot of 'filler'... I'd say you could safely skip "...and Found", "Fire+Water", "Dave" and "S.O.S"

In Season 3 you should definitely skip "Stranger in a Strange Land" (pretty much the show's worst episode), and entertaining though they are, "Tricia Tanaka is Dead" and "Exposé".

There is pretty much no filler in Season 4 (perhaps "The Other Woman") and Season 5.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions. I ended up just starting with Season 2 Disc 2 and I am about to watch the season finale before I go to bed. Hopefully I'll be caught up in time for the season premier!