"Lost" Almost Ended with a Volcanic Bang: The Untold Finale Story

Did you know that "Lost" almost went out with a bang? And we're not talking about a mind-bending plot twist – we mean a real, fiery, volcanic explosion!

The hit TV show "Lost" kept viewers on the edge of their seats for six seasons. But the ending we saw wasn't the one the creators first dreamed up. Imagine if instead of that church scene, we got to see a volcano erupting and an epic battle on its slopes. Sounds crazy, right? Well, it almost happened!

Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, the masterminds behind "Lost," spilled the beans to Entertainment Weekly about their original plans. It turns out, a family trip to Hawaii's Big Island sparked a wild idea in Cuse's mind. He thought, "What if we ended the show with a volcano?"

This wasn't just a random thought. The show had been dropping hints about a volcano since way back in season three. Remember when young Ben learned about the island's volcano in a flashback? That was supposed to be the first clue to the big finish!

The plan was to use the volcano as a way to show how the island kept evil away from the world. It was like a giant cork in a bottle, holding back all the bad stuff. In the final episode, the volcano would wake up, setting the stage for an epic showdown between Jack (played by Matthew Fox) and the Smoke Monster (in John Locke's body, played by Terry O'Quinn).

Lindelof explained it like this: "We wanted to show how the island was the only thing stopping the world from turning into a fiery mess. And what better way to do that than with a volcano?"

But here's where things got tricky. ABC, the network that aired "Lost," loved the idea but had one big problem – money. They basically told Lindelof and Cuse, "We love you guys, and we're letting you end the show your way. But please don't bankrupt us in the process!"

So, at the last minute, the writers had to think fast. Instead of a volcano, we got that cliff-side battle as the island crumbled into the sea. Many fans felt let down, and it made the ending even harder to understand.

But don't feel too bad for Lindelof and Cuse. They still got to tell the story they wanted – just without the lava. They say the real heart of "Lost" was always about the characters and their journeys. The final episode flipped the show's motto from "Live Together, Die Alone" to "Live Alone, Die Together" as Jack and his friends reunited in the afterlife.

"Lost" first hit our screens in 2004 and wrapped up in 2010. It's still considered one of the most influential TV shows ever, winning Emmys and launching the careers of stars like Evangeline Lilly, Michael Emerson, and Josh Holloway.

Now, as we approach the show's 20th anniversary, "Lost" is finding new life on Netflix. And for those who want to dive even deeper into the island's mysteries, a documentary is in the works.

So, next time you rewatch "Lost," imagine what could have been. Picture Jack and the Smoke Monster duking it out on a rumbling volcano. It might not have happened on screen, but it's a pretty awesome "what if" to think about!