One mistake should be avoided at all costs when watching Lost episodes are now streaming on Netflix and Hulu, and have continued to be discovered by new audiences in the 15 years since the series finale was released. The addictive mystery-box storytelling and tantalizing cliffhangers make it the perfect show to binge-watch, but it can be just as satisfying to watch at your own pace.

In addition to being an excellent show in its own right, Lost's memorable cast and gripping story to its enduring impact, the show is well worth watching for the first time as long as you do not make this mistake.

You Shouldn't Look Up Lost Theories While Watching The Show

The Show's Mysteries Should Be Experienced Without Spoilers

Not looking up theories while watching a fully released show for the first time is always a good idea, but it is especially important with Lost. Many of the theories revolve around the show's various mystery boxes, which are better to experience without having any prior knowledge or spoilers. Given how interconnected most of the mysteries are, it is difficult to look up any Lost theory without accidentally stumbling onto multiple spoilers that will undermine your viewing experience.

The only exception to this would be to find archived theories that came out as the show was being released from 2004-2010. These theories would only contain the information that viewers had at the time as the show was gradually being released. Finding archived theories without straying into spoilers from later seasons will be a difficult feat, though. It is best to simply not look up any theories while experiencing Lost for the first time.

A Lot Of Lost Theories Use The Finale To Explain The Rest Of The Show

Finale-Related Theories Can Also Contain Common Misconceptions

Another reason to avoid looking up theories is that many of them are based on Lost's ending. Regardless of whether someone loves or hates the series finale, some of the events that transpire recontextualize other information in the show. This makes it perfect for creating new theories, even after the show ended, but it also makes it even more difficult to find theories without having the finale spoiled.

Choosing not to look up theories is the ideal way to avoid spoilers and misconceptions about the ending.

To make matters worse, there are several common misconceptions about what happens in the finale and what this means for the rest of the show. This means that not only is it challenging to find theories that won't spoil the ending, but some theories are based on inaccurate information about how the story actually ended. Choosing not to look up theories is the ideal way to avoid spoilers and misconceptions about the ending.

There May Never Be Another Show Like Lost When It Comes To Fan Theories

Lost Can Never Be Fully Replicated

While it is best not to look up theories while watching Lost for the first time, it is important to acknowledge the vital role that theories played in making the show a popular culture phenomenon. Fans loved coming up with theories for the show, and it was one of the first series to have a thriving internet fandom based on these theories. The theories shared between each episode and season of Lost were an integral piece of the show's popularity and its overall identity.

Generating theories is important to many modern-day shows, but it is not the same as it was for Lost. It was must-see television that had to be watched when it aired on ABC, which made each episode feel like an event, and contributed to the lively conversations and abundant theories surrounding the show. Viewers now tend to watch shows at their own pace and coming up with theories is more so taken for granted. As important as theories are to the legacy of Lost, they should not be looked up by those watching the show for the first time.