The 50 Greatest Characters of "Lost"

Nowadays it seems I am only prompted to write a post once every six months or so. My last several posts have all been regarding upcoming events: the GTA V release, the Oscars, etc. Today I write what might be my first response piece on this blog.

For the past few days, a BuzzFeed list entitled "The Definitive Ranking of 43 Lost Characters" has been making the rounds on social media. My initial response was outrage. I realize, of course, BuzzFeed created this list mostly to get laughs, as they do with...well...everything, but then I got to thinking of what a legitimate ranking of these characters would look like. Lost was rich with compelling and complex characters, not all of them "fan favorites". I took some time to look at other "greatest Lost character lists" and most were done by popularity, rather than by the character themselves. I was shocked at who was left off of most of these lists. I began to think that putting an order to Lost's best and brightest in this manner might be an interesting challenge.

Indeed it was.

The following list took me quite awhile to compose, and for those of you haven't just scrolled right to it, I thought I'd take a second to explain how I decided on the order. 

First, I thought of doing it by "overall importance to the story", but immediately dismissed it. Nobody wants to see Jack at Number One. So I decided the best way was to compare these characters based on these qualities:

1.) Their individual story arc and development. 

2.) Theories and debate the character provoked. 

3.) The actor's performance. 

Now then. Since 90% of the people who opened this article skipped all of this anyway...I humbly present who I feel are, in order, the 50 greatest characters on Lost. 

The List
(I suggest a slow scroll for maximum dramatic effect)

50.) Matthew Abaddon

Abaddon was always very compelling to me. His role wasn't made clear until near the end of his run, and viewers were forever guessing as to what his true purpose was. I liked that he was a bit of apparition, but I would also have liked to have seen him last longer.

49.) Nikki and Paulo

These two on the other hand... Nikki and Paulo were the perfect example of a major character (they fail to exist separately in my opinion, Paulo doesn't even have a last name) that was forced upon the audience. They popped up out of nowhere, not even from the log-carrying survivors and we were meant accept them. No one did. No one also liked that they apparently discovered many island secrets before anyone else, and apparently didn't care that they did. The only interesting thing about them was their death and good riddance. 

48.) Leslie Artz

What's not to love about Artz? Were you not overjoyed when he was found in the teacher's break room in Ben's flash-sideways? Were you not shocked at his rather sudden...departure? Let's be honest, we all still have a little Artz on us. 

47.) Ana Lucia Cortez

Ana Lucia was another main character viewers never quite got behind. It was only near the end that we started to feel for her. She was never the strongest character, nor the most popular, but she did have her moments. Her pre-crash scenes with Jack were great. And of course nobody could hate her when she met up with Michael in the end.

46.) Ilana Verdansky

Ilana, unfortunately, was one of those final-additions to the cast that were never fully realized. When she died, no one cared, and nothing changed. It made no difference. Zuleikha Robinson's performance was good, and Ilana played an important part near the end, but much more could have been done with her.

45.) Goodwin Stanhope

Had we seen Goodwin's character presented in chronological order, we might have loved him. Instead, we were left conflicted and indifferent. One of the more memorable Others, and early villains, we later saw a more caring and tender side of him (as we did with most Others). Goodwin was man that was full of surprises. 

44.) Mother

When Allison Janney suddenly joins a cast out of nowhere, you sit up and pay attention. In one episode, she gave us one of the most important, dynamic, and confusing characters the show had to offer. Some fans point at the Mother as the cause of all of The Island's problems. I find it hard to argue that point. 

43.) Roger Linus

Or as we first met him, Roger Workman. Ben's father was a bit of a Jack Torrance, and the main reason his son turned out the way he did. He wasn't around for very long, but Jon Gries showed us a very tormented and troubled man in his limited episodes. I felt for Roger, and his two 'gas' scenes were shining moments for the show.

42.) Stuart Radzinsky

Take a moment to remember that the first time you met Radzinsky it was as a bloodstain on the ceiling of the Hatch. Radzinsky is the first character on the list that was aided by the legend that went along with him. After "The Incident" little is known about how he made it to the bloodstain, and many theories swirled. In the time he had with us, however, Eric Lange was great as this balding Other.

41.) Horace Goodspeed

Another addition aided by "the legend" principle. I will never forget the scene where Horace was building the cabin, it was haunting. Another character first presented as a bit of apparition, a bit of a random connection from a flashback, and was eventually developed into pretty fantastic character.

40.) Alex Rousseau

We all wanted to know what happened to Danielle's kid...and then, after awhile...we were kinda sorry we did. Although she was a bit of a pain in the ass, Alex was a passionate, and loving young woman whose life was slowly, bit by bit, taken away from her...essentially since her birth. She was one of the show's real tragedies. 

39.) Elizabeth "Libby" Smith

Libby had theories flying long after Michael's impulsive shot. Although she never made the kind of return fans suspected, she permanently changed several characters with her death, and her past has always been a point of speculation and theorizing. 

38.) Eloise Hawking

First known only as "the ring lady" her introduction made infinitely compelling. Through the performances of several actors, we learned of Eloise's tragic backstory, and her key role in the island's past and future. 

37.) Charlotte Lewis

Charlotte's demise was unfortunate, but not altogether unwelcome. She was compelling, but also a little irritating as far as the main cast goes. But hey...she was no Nikki and Paulo. 

36.) Martin Keamy

You don't have to like them for them to be great. Keamy was a little shit from the moment we saw him and he only turned into a more twisted and vile creature as time went on and things got more desperate. You hated him, but you also couldn't ignore him. He was a fantastic villain and his showdown with Ben was a perfect send-off for him. Initially, anyway.

35.) Pierre Chang

We loved him before we ever met him...and then we loved him even more. Each new Dharma video was like a gift. He had theories flying for seasons before he actually showed up...and no one expected him be the bombastic grouch that he was. 

34.) Tom aka "Mr. Friendly"

No matter what Ben claimed...Tom was not one of the good guys. He put on a great smile, but the fact is he did a lot of a really dirty things. The complication is most of those things were done under orders. He was a fixture of the show from the moment he took Walt. 

33.) Shannon Rutherford

Shannon started out as such a stereotype. I hated her for much of the first season, but slowly her complexities were revealed (we all remember that backstory with Boone) and she became a more dynamic and interesting character. I think she went at the right time, though.

32.) Charles Widmore

A show like Lost needs a super villain and Widmore wanted to be it desperately. He captured our theories and our scorn. Alan Dale delivered to us a typical antagonist for many seasons, but ultimately there were more complex villains out there on the island.

31.) Ethan Rom

And speaking of villains, you never forget the first. When Hurley figured out the manifest, and Ethan showed up with Claire and Charlie in the jungle I nearly hit the ceiling. He was one of the first big shocks of the show, and it was hard to see his more dedicated and loving side in flashbacks after his hating him so long ago. 

30.) Mikhail Bakunin

The man who wouldn't die and you never wanted him to. The man who many speculated when you first saw him on that surveillance camera, was the mysterious "Jacob". Andrew Divoff's performance as Mikhail was spectacular and I loved every minute of it. 

29.) Frank Lapidus 

I feel a little bad about having Frank this low, but there wasn't much too him when you get right down to it. Lapidus was a great man, a dedicated team member, and the man who ultimately got them off the island. There was a lot to love, but not a lot to think about.

28.) Rose and Bernard Nadler

Perhaps the most loved couple on the show. Their one and only backstory was worth the wait, and their reunion in season two was tear-worthy. When The Man in Black came to their camp in season six, admit it, your heart came to a complete stop.

27.) Vincent

Vincent might be the most debated character on the show. From the very first shot, he was a fixture of online theories and discussion. Ultimately the theories of the whole show being in his head proved false, but no matter. We all loved it when Vincent showed up. Except of course that last time...when you cried your eyes out.

26.) Anthony Cooper

This is the one name I was constantly surprised was left off of many other lists. Anthony Cooper was a sly, shading, shit head of a father and a great contributor to John Locke's downfall. He had a shocking amount of Lost-connections, and a wonderful performance backing them up. 

25.) Walt Dawson

If Vincent wasn't the most theorized-over character, his owner was, at least for the first two seasons. Walt might never have been fully-realized, but he certainly captured your attention. There was much more ground to cover there, and I was always upset we never saw it. 

24.) Danielle Rousseau

Danielle was the first character we met on the island that wasn't on the plane. Mira Furlan did a wonderful job bringing this long-lost soul to life in a believable, compelling way. 

23.) Boone Carlyle 

Another fine example of a character that departed just when they got interesting. Boone's backstory played a large part in what made him such an unforgettable character. He was the first big loss for the show, and one we always wish we could have had back. 

22.) Claire Littleton

Claire's story took an unexpected twist when she disappeared for almost an entire season. Through her backstory, initial time with the survivors, and ultimate transformation due to her isolation, Claire underwent perhaps the biggest transformations of any of the characters on the show.   

21.) Miles Straume

He put out a tough exterior shell, but underneath that Miles had a very vulnerable core. His relationship with his father, although only briefly explored, was very well done. He had one of the stranger backstories on the show, but with him, it was never doubted.

20.) Michael Dawson

Michael did his best. Through all of his efforts, for all his different goals, after everything life tossed at him, one can safely say that Michael Dawson tried to do what he thought was right. Along the way, he made series of unforgettable, and shocking decisions that rocked the show.

19.) Penny Widmore

Penny drifted into the show like a dream. She a was a strong-willed woman that immediately showed us what Desmond was fighting for. As time went on, we quickly started rooting for her as much as for him. 

18.) Kate Austen

I think it was the writing that brought Kate this low on my list. Coming into the storyline, she was a wonderfully complicated character, but as time went on she back the fixture of a tired love-triangle and, ultimately, never knew what she wanted.

17.) Daniel Faraday

The show's misunderstood and under-appreciated genius. Jeremy Davies gave us three wonderful seasons to enjoy his work on the show, and he never let up for a second. 

16.) Jacob

The big reveal of Jacob was a long-time coming. He was a central character of the show long before we had a face to go with him, and once we did he was that much more interesting. But, if we're being honest, he was nowhere near as compelling...

15.) The Man in Black

...as his brother. We saw him as smoke, we saw him as John Locke, we saw him as countless other incarnations, but it was in his backstory where Titus Welliver showed us what The Man In Black was really all about. Much was to be speculated about TMIB, and much will never be learned.

14.) Christian Shephard

Remember that first time Jack saw his father standing down the beach? (Of course, that was actually The Man in Black, but never mind that now) from that moment on fans were fascinated with Christian. existing primarily in backstories, Christian was a confused and desperate soul. 

13.) Jin-Soo Kwon

Of the original 'pilot' castaways, perhaps it was Jin that grew the most. I don't think anyone liked him when the show started. Well that certainly changed, now didn't it? Over the years Jin underwent a total reformation. Of course, we wouldn't learn he was reforming as opposed to transforming for quite some time.

12.) Mr. Eko

A man of a few words, that Eko, but it didn't take much for him to leave an impact. There might not have been a single other character on the show the fans were more upset with when they left. He was a man too wise for the island to let live. After all, he spotted that someone was impersonating his brother a mile away, and TMIB didn't care for that much. Nevertheless, his final scene with "Yemi" was devastating.  

11.) James "Sawyer" Ford

Sawyer was never short on surprises. Let us not forget how naturally at home he was as LeFleur. He proved to have many more layers than we initially expected, but ultimately he was the show's "Han Solo" from the minute he was introduced. 

10.) Richard Alpert 

In one single flashback, any doubts you had about how you felt about Richard Alpert were erased. It took a few appearances in a few different decades for Richard to really capture everyone's attention, but once he had it, he never let it go. In Ab Aeterno many of our questions about him were answered, and we learned more about him than we had ever wondered. 

9.) Charlie Pace

It was never easy being Charlie, and it never got any easier for him as time went on. But Dominic Monaghan turned in an incredible performance over Charlie's three seasons. Although he made some terrible decisions, his ultimate sacrifice more than redeemed him.

8.) Jack Shephard 

The born leader, who didn't want to lead, yet totally did. It wasn't until the final season that Matthew Fox really got some good stuff to work with with Jack. For most of the series it was just, well, Daddy issues. In that sixth season Jack almost became a whole new character, and I have to say...I liked the new Jack.

7.) Sun-Hwa Kwon

Unlike her husband, we saw that Sun had been both transformed and would transform again. The island gave Sun strength and once she found it she became a force to be reckoned with. Her secret understanding of English  also helped make her one of the more interesting characters early in the series.

6.) Hugo "Hurley" Reyes

For awhile it seemed like Hurley was only there for comic relief. If there was one thing Lost loved to do, it was prove people wrong. Hurley did just that. Hurley quickly proved to be a central part of the Oceanic family, and ultimately, The Island, but what made him stand out was his ability to see past external issues, and realize when the group was crumbling from within. 

5.) Juliet Burke

Juliet definitely took some warming-up to. I don't think I realized just how much I had come to care about her until she was killed. Her backstories were tragic and made you feel for her after initially viewing her as an enemy. The writing treatment with Juliet was excellent. 

4.) Sayid Jarrah

If anyone should have been leading the group, it probably should have been this gentleman right here. Sayid's backstories and decisions helped him standout as one of the most honorable characters on the show. Late in the series he became quite lost on his path, but ultimately gave his life to find it again.

3.) Desmond Hume

When we met him, no one expected Desmond to become as key of a player as he eventually became, but he was always fascinating. A Desmond backstory was a treat. The Desmond-Penny relationship was just perfect. Eventually, the man who came to the island by accident would be the man to save it. 

2.) Benjamin Linus

Enough cannot be said about Ben Linus. You either loved him, or loved to hate him...but love was there. There was a reason Michael Emerson was nominated for four Emmys: he was nothing short of captivating. From the Henry Gale days to when he actually, truly did become one of "the good guys", Ben Linus demanded your attention. 

1.) John Locke

And then there is John Locke. The physical embodiment of the central themes of show: dark and light, good and evil. John was perhaps first real mystery of the show. Oh sure, there was something in the jungle, but you knew that from the ads...that's why you watched the Pilot. You didn't know about this orange-eating, backgammon-playing, boar-hunting, scar-faced, ex-paraplegic named John Locke.You didn't know the shock he would deliver to you in "Walkabout", or in countless episodes after that. You could not have known how many people he would leave in his wake in his search for purpose: Helen, Boone, Naomi, the submarine, The Swan Station, etc. On a greater scale Locke became a walking metaphor when he, unbeknownst to us, became The Man in Black from the man who once just tried to find where he belonged. On a smaller scale, he is  the show's tragic hero: the man of faith who puts it in all the wrong places and all the wrong people, who is betrayed by even his gut feelings. Ultimately, despite how much he loved it, how much he felt he belonged to it...even The Island rejected John Locke.