Walking Dead Vs. Lost: Others, Doomsday Clocks and More Shared Blood

TWDvsLOST.jpgLeading up to The Walking Dead's season finale, the thematic and story point similarities between AMC's freshman series and ABC's dearly departed Lost had been amassing not much unlike bludgeoned "geeks." Movieline even noted a few of them earlier during this short first cycle. But it was the Walking Dead season-ender that pushed us to detail just how much "blood" the two series share. Warning -- finale spoilers ahead!

Lost: Jack Shephard, who worked in a hospital, takes a leadership role among group of people who amazingly survived a calamitous event.

Dead: Rick Grimes, who woke up in a hospital, takes a leadership role among group of people who amazingly survived a calamitous event.

Lost: Jack meets Michael and Walt, an African-American father and son who have been trying to put their life back together after losing the mother.

Dead: Rick meets Morgan and Duane, an African-American father and son who have been trying to put their life back together after "losing" the mother.

Lost: Brunette beauty Kate is very torn between do-right Jack and the rougher-around-the-edges Sawyer.

Dead: Brunette beauty Lori is barely torn between her do-right husband, Rick, and the rougher-around-the-edges Shane.

Lost: As the survivors explore their environs, they discover and clash with "The Others." It is ultimately revealed that these seemingly nefarious people have pledged their lives to protect the Island.

Dead: As the survivors explore their environs, they discover that other non-infected humans live among them. It is ultimately revealed that these seemingly nefarious people have pledged to protect a nursing home.

Lost: Sawyer, the resident redneck, proves handy at felling a charging polar bear with a pistol.

Dead: Daryl, the resident redneck, proves handy at felling any charging "walker" with a crossbow.

Lost: Survivor John Locke hopes for salvation -- if not some answers -- as the door to a mysterious hatch bathes him in light.

Dead: The survivors hope for salvation -- if not some answers -- as the door to the CDC opens, bathing them in light.

Lost: Beyond the hatch door, we find an on-the-edge man named Desmond living with creature comforts (Food! Hot water!). He's in possession of a jumpy film reel chronicling the agenda of the Dharma Initiative.

Dead: Beyond the CDC door, we find Dr. Jenner, an on-the-edge scientist living with creature comforts (Food! Hot water!). He's been compiling a jumpy video diary chronicling the aftermath of the "Wildfire" outbreak.

Lost: Desmond introduces the survivors to a countdown clock that, should it reach zero, will have explosive consequences.

Dead: Jenner introduces the survivors to a countdown clock that, when it reaches zero, indeed has explosive consequences.

Feel free to add your own observations in comments!



Comments

  • BobJ says:

    LOST: Premiered September 22, 2004.
    DEAD: Comic book debut October 2003.
    While an overall tone may shared, some of the comparisons are a bit of a stretch.

  • NP says:

    Can we just let _The Walking Dead_ be what it's going to be and stop talking about _Lost_? _Lost_ is done. Miss it a while before bringing it back into the discussion.

  • Trevor Hall says:

    I truly enjoyed this film too although there were instances where the timeline felt bunched, the movie still worked.

  • Treznor Rent says:

    John Locke = Dale ? (Old handy outdoorsman)
    Hurley = Glenn ? (Friendly likable comic relief)
    Sawyer = Daryl (Hot-Headed Redneck)
    Kate = Lori (Bitch)

  • dave says:

    there's also the new season 2 situation where there's drama over who gets to hold the guns. that was a big Lost dilemma as well. I'm not trying to argue which came first, and i'm sure a lot of these similarities are inevitable for this type of show, but they can be frustrating sometimes. overall i'm not as ecstatic about the walking dead as everyone else seems to be, but i'll keep watching cause it's pretty entertaining.

  • Bruno Lima says:

    I totally agree with ya!!! Look at the soundtrack! It´s very similar:
    Lost 1st Season: The Florest (island/green scenario)
    Dead 1st Seanson: The City
    2nd Season is the opposite!!
    Anyways, I love them both!!

  • Ben says:

    The Walking dead is a decent show but dosent have anywhere near the character depth, multi layered mystery or great story.

  • Stevo says:

    I gave up on WD weeks ago, its nothing compared to LOST. 2 years later and i still rewatch LOST, ive seen all the episodes at least 6 times each, says it all.

  • sparx says:

    the walking dead is a great show lost was a stupid boring pile of crap

  • anne says:

    Both lost and WD introduced a Chinese guy. I Love the guy in lost though cause of his easy going character.

  • Jackie says:

    I've just started watching The Walking Dead, and as a huge ex-Lost fan I couldn't help notice all the similarities. Mainly with the characters. I found that the characters I liked on TWD closely resembled characters I liked from Lost & same goes for characters I dislike. I guess it's a similar situation with characters from all walks of life trying to survive together in a surreal and scary world.

  • Scott tk421stormtrooper says:

    Were just getting s1&s2 in the UK jan 2013 I've watched s1 and thought great but what a ripoff of the lost storylines, it's been great knowing others think the same. Rip jack Shepard