The Top 25 Characters of 'Lost'
Let the debate begin, "Lost" fans! Thanks to your input, I've compiled the 25 greatest characters in the show's history. Now, lists like this are naturally subjective, so there's no way to make everyone happy. But hopefully I've minimized the number of people that will storm my house wielding pitchforks and Hot Pockets.
Now, before getting to the list proper, a few honorable mentions:
Matthew Abaddon: Fascinating when introduced, but never fully paid off narratively. He might re-enter the picture should he make an appearance or three in Season 6, but for now, his untimely death in "The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham" still leaves a bad taste in this blogger's mouth.
Charlotte Staples Lewis: A victim as much of the writers' strike as the time flashes, her entire backstory was confined into a dying monologue. None of the Freighter Four got the storytelling shaft as much as she did due to the reshuffling of the show due to a compressed Season 4.
Alex Rousseau: While she's part of one of the show's most shocking moments, she worked better as Danielle's unseen child than an on-screen character.
Boone Carlyle: God's friggin' gift to humanity demonstrated the stakes of the show through his death in Season 1, and was a highlight haunting Locke in "Further Instructions." But his single-season presence pushed him ever so slightly off the Top 25 in favor of characters with a more substantial impact on the overall, working better as a catalyst for other characters than as an important player in and of himself.
OK, with that all said, behold the 25 greatest characters in "Lost" history. Next week, we'll have the top 25 all-time quotes for you. There's still time to vote for that, as well as the 25 greatest moments in show history, so make sure you have your voices heard there.
In the meantime, what do you think of the list? Leave your thoughts below!
Photo credit: ABC
Love the top 4, not crazy about Helen on there, but can't really find a problem with the top ten. Richard will hopefully move up the list in S6.
Great list Ryan with one exception, of course....
No way should Helen be in the Top 25. Replace Helen with Boone and I'm a happy Lostie...
I'm glad someone gives Kate more credit. I'm glad she at least made the top 10. I believe she should be a bit higher. But, I digress.
What about Penny???
I'm not going to disagree as vehemently as some of the previous comments (though I agree with many of them).
I will say that I was a little disappointed with Ben at no. 1. Too predictable. As if it was decided long ago that he was the most compelling character on the show and that's that.
Ryan describes him as complex - but is he really THAT complex? His motives are often hidden in mystery, but he's usually of one (often selfish) purpose.
I think Sawyer represents a much more complex character - he's been the good guy, the bad guy, the protagonist, the antogonist, the lover, the leader, the killer - everything. Given that he's been around since the first episode, has the best character development on the show along with Holloway's still undervalued performances, I think he makes a much better no. 1.
Anyone disagree?
Fun read, but I agree that Helen is out of place. I would have preferred to see Boone, Widmore, Micheal, or Penny.. It'll be fun to look back on this after S6 and see how things have changed!
Nice list! I would have had a few differences, but overall it's really close to how I would have done it, especially the top ten. I probably would have stuck Rousseau a bit lower because of how her character trickled off in the last couple of seasons, and Libby probably wouldn't have made my list. I'm glad Ben is at one, and it's fun to see Hurley so high.
And I'll stick up for Helen, I liker her as a character quite a bit. She was always pretty well drawn considering she never had much screen time, and (maybe more importantly) I think she really strengthened Locke's character.
So nice to see Hurley so high up there!! And i'm happy to see Sawyer above the Kate/Jack disaster.
Charlie should be top 10, and swap Lapidus for Boone.
Also I find both Sun and Jin (and their relationship) overrated. I've never been pulled into their story the way I have with Desmond & Penny.
Hurley should be top 10, but not top 3. My top 10 would be:
1. Benjamin Linus
2. John Locke
3. Desmond Hume
4. Daniel Faraday
5. Juliet Burke
6. James "Sawyer" Ford
7. Charlie Pace
8. Jack Shepard
9. Richard Alpert
10. Boone Carlyle
The only two characters I'm missing are Penny and Charles Whidmore? Surely, they must be at least as important as Helen. Still, a wonderful composite of character history! Thank you for your insightful blog that has helped me navagate through this marvelous universe that is LOST...