10 Mystery Box TV Shows That Tried to Be the Next Lost

When it comes to the definitive TV shows within the thriller and mystery genres, it’s unsurprising that Lost rises to the top and is still copied by other series to this day. The best mystery box TV shows that have premiered in the years since Lost hit our screens have learned a lot from the successes and failures of the iconic work, even if no series has come close to capturing the cultural phenomenon of Lost.

The Wilds (2020–2022)

Prime Video’s The Wilds was an exciting and refreshing take on the survival genre that could’ve gone on for much longer than the show’s two-season run. However, the seasons that we did get were thrilling from start to finish, especially the debut installment, which might have initially been modeled after Lost, but quickly took on a life of its own.

Digging into the intensity of coming-of-age as a young woman today, The Wilds sees its characters crash on a deserted island and learn to survive, while grappling with the events of their past that put them on this trajectory in the first place. A group of young men is introduced in season 2 as the mystery grows more convoluted, making the audience question everything they see.

Travelers (2016–2018)

Though time travel does eventually become part of the DNA of Lost, it’s the central premise of Travelers, Netflix’s short-lived but memorable science fiction show. The series follows a group of agents who have their consciousness sent back into the bodies of people in the past to change the outcome of the future. However, Travelers still finds ways to root itself in the lives and relationships of the characters.

Similarly to Lost, the characters in Travelers are grappling with two different parts of themselves, as the agents have to mimic the lives and personalities of the people they’ve taken over. This creates an interesting challenge for the actors as well as the writers, since Travelers creates so much interpersonal drama alongside the questions about Earth’s fate in the future.

Yellowjackets (2021–Present)

Kailey Schwerman / ©Paramount+ with Showtime / Courtesy Everett Collection

One of the ways that Yellowjackets might be unfavorably compared to Lost is in the fact that while its initial premise is strong and compelling, the series has struggled to maintain the same sense of momentum as the show has progressed. However, Yellowjackets has retained its popularity through the skillful development of both of its parallel timelines, similarly to Lost.

Like Lost, Yellowjackets relies on the chemistry and intrigue of its ensemble cast, and is unafraid to put its characters through the wringer as they are forced to make choices in unbelievable circumstances. Yellowjackets season 4 has many lingering questions to answer, as the show has yet to reveal if the supernatural elements it’s been hinting at are real or imagined.

Manifest (2018–2023)

Some mystery box shows follow in Lost‘s footsteps through tone and storytelling style, but Manifest borrows a lot more than atmosphere from the 2004 show. Dealing with plane derailments, multiple timelines, and deep character-driven dramas, Manifest didn’t shy away from Lost comparisons at the beginning, but there was more to the story than met the eye.

As Manifest progressed, it found its voice and identity outside of the projects that influenced it, allowing it to shine after moving networks for the fourth season, which would prove to be its last. Though Manifest might have continued gaining ground with additional seasons, the show remains part of the conversation because it got to tie up most of its loose ends.

Orphan Black (2013–2017)

Tatiana Maslany gives a star-making performance in all five seasons of the acclaimed sci-fi series, Orphan Black, which has only become more renowned as the years have passed. Maslany stars as Sarah Manning and her many clones, who slowly piece together the reason for their existence and face off against the company that created them and wishes to control them.

Each twist in Orphan Black succeeds because the show doesn’t rely purely on shock factor to draw the audience in. Like Lost, Orphan Black introduces red herrings and makes the viewer question the nature of reality, but doesn’t do this without laying the groundwork and thinking through the ramifications of the narrative turns.

Under The Dome (2013–2015)

Credit: MovieStillsDB

Bringing to life Stephen King’s novel of the same name from 2009, Under the Dome is an intense character study that puts human behavior in life-or-death situations under a microscope. After being trapped in their small town with no escape, some characters attempt to maintain authority and gain power, while others struggle to remain the people they were before the events of the story unfolded.

Under the Dome isn’t a Stephen King adaptation that is closest to his books, but the series understands the underlying themes and purposes of King’s work. Extending the narrative so that the series could run for three seasons was something of a risk, but Under the Dome justified its run reasonably well, even when the more otherworldly elements came into play.

Colony (2016–2018)

Fans of Lost will instantly recognize Josh Holloway, the protagonist of Colony, even if his role as Will is markedly different from his portrayal of Sawyer on Lost. In Colony, the science fiction elements, which Lost only hints at and dances around for the first few seasons, come right to the forefront, as the show is set in a dystopian future where aliens have taken over Earth.

This might sound like a far cry from some of the more realistic parts of Lost, but there’s no doubt that Colony intended to draw the viewer in with the same mysteries surrounding how the characters came to be in their situations. Additionally, Colony uses its otherworldly premise as an allusion to contemporary issues and themes that are rooted in the relevant social context.

From (2022–Present)

Lost and the recent thriller series From are a like in many ways, and not just because they both feature amazing performances from Harold Perrineau. However, From leans much further into horror territory than Lost, using very real monsters, not just imagined ones, to spark dissent and terror in the contained community of the story.

By keeping all of the characters in one physical location, like in Lost, From is able to explore the ways in which human nature is pushed and tested in intense survival scenarios, but in a refreshing way. Since From is still on the air, there’s still a chance that the series could overtake Lost within the mystery box genre, even if it hasn’t quite yet.

Westworld (2016–2022)

If not for Westworld​​​​​​’s disappointing second season, the cultural and critical perception of the sci-fi Western series could’ve had the longevity of Lost. Like Lost, Westworld debuted with a fantastic pilot episode and a riveting first season, breadcrumbing the audience with enough plot twists and reveals to make the lingering questions all the more burning as the series progressed.

While Westworld season 2 was a disappointment, sticking with the series rewarded the viewer with a slow and steady return to form, as the show pushed itself to recapture the beating heart of the premiere installment. The fact that Westworld never got the chance to finish its run will always be a shame (via The Hollywood Reporter). It’s likely that the show still had a few tricks up its sleeve.

The Leftovers (2014–2017)

HBO’s underrated but critically acclaimed drama, The Leftovers, is one of the network’s best projects of the 21st century and arguably the best mystery box show since Lost. Starring Justin Theroux and Carrie Coon, The Leftovers provokes many of the same deep philosophical questions and debates as Lost, but The Leftovers‘s ideology is distinct.

The Leftovers is a better show than Lost in some ways. In terms of being a direct successor to the original show, The Leftovers deliberately subverts the mystery box genre by not answering most of the questions it poses. Lost sparked some controversy in the way that it wrapped up its loose ends. However, the series’s clear sense of identity and purpose has cemented its legacy.

Lost

9/10

Release Date

2004 – 2010-00-00

Showrunner

Damon Lindelof, Carlton Cuse

Directors

Jack Bender, Stephen Williams

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