Whoa, it turns out some of ‘Lost’ is mysteriously missing on Netflix
Like how Jack decided he needed to go back to the Island, it now appears as if Netflix has to go back and fix the finale of Lost. The version right now on the streaming site is a whopping 18 minutes shorter than what was originally aired on TV, and fans are not happy. Neither is one of Lost’s creators.
The finale of Lost, titled “The End,” continues to be one of the most debated TV finales ever, because you either loved or… or you hated it (in full disclosure, I fall into the “love” category). Today the finale is being discussed because what’s available on the streaming site is like a totally different episode.
The version that aired on TV ran a grand total of 104 minutes (and why it wasn’t 108 minutes, I don’t know). The version that is currently on Netflix is only 86 minutes, split into two 43-minute episodes, and many key scenes are missing — including two of my favorite scenes (spoilers), when Richard finally gets his first grey hair, and when Hurley and Ben discuss how they’re the Island’s new #1 and #2.
Alright. So which time-traveling Dharma polar bear/Smoke Monster is behind this?
Though there’s a Reddit thread from three months ago documenting all the changes, this matter was only just brought to showrunner Damon “he wrote ‘The Constant’” Lindelof’s attention now. In a statement to Entertainment Weekly, he believes this is all a big misunderstanding, explaining, “I am totally befuddled by all this. Love it or hate it, the finale that aired is the definitive finale and to alter it in any way defies explanation. Something tells me that this isn’t Netflix’s fault … that it’s an honest mistake and something got miscommunicated.”
Lindelof believes that an edited version, for re-runs and international airplay, got sent to Netflix instead of the original episode. “I have no intention of ‘changing’ nor Special Editioning the finale,” he continued. “[The creators and I] continue to stand by it, [and] this is a fix that needs to happen.”
Thankfully, Netflix has our back, just like Sawyer had Juilet’s. According to them, it was a “glitch” — but not like, a glitch where everyone starts traveling through time — and they’re working on fixing it right now.
Lost’s other (not that kind of Other) creator, Carlton Cuse, is pretty stoked with the news, too. If Lindelof could Tweet, he’d celebrate as well.
This is awesome to hear, and hopefully the episode will be restored to it’s original glory soon. Because you know, as Jacob once said, “it only ends once.”
Image via ABC
