Finding Lost, Season Four: The Unofficial Guide

Robin Chamberlain is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of English and Cultural Studies at McMaster University.

Nikki Stafford’s guide to season four of Lost is another treat for fans of the show and of Stafford’s amazing eye for detail. The format is the same as that of Stafford’s two previous guides to Lost, and includes thorough analyses of each episode in the season. Each episode analysis includes highlights, a temporal context, “did you notice?”, interesting facts, connections with the online game, nitpicks, a summary of where “the numbers” appear in the episode, a note on injuries incurred by the characters, a translation of any non-English or unclear dialogue, and questions to ponder. The episode summaries are complemented by chapters about time travel, the online game Find815 and the life and thoughts of philosopher Jeremy Bentham and how they related to the series. One also finds fascinating analyses of Lost’s literary references, which include Slaughterhouse-Five, The Tempest, Valis, and The Invention of Morel. Sidebars contribute amusing trivia, such as Sawyer’s nicknames, favourite online Lost parodies, and the meaning of Abaddon’s name. Stafford also provides biographies of the new actors on the show and a discussion of how the writer’s strike affected it. The text is supplemented by photographs, including pictures of the filming locations in Hawaii.

As fans of Lost know, the series is incredibly detailed and complex, making Stafford’s book a helpful and enjoyable roadmap. This is an entertaining and informative companion to one of television’s most intriguing shows, and will be enjoyed by any serious fan.