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And I think that's both the strength and weakness of season one. The island isn't the show's biggest mystery at that point, the characters are. We meet them at the same time they meet each other, and the flashback structure allows for us to discover their layers in time. A character like Sawyer, who at first seems a racist asswipe, evolves into a loveable rogue, for example. This works wonders for some characters, while not really helping with others. I don't know if it's a flaw in the writing, or if it's that the actors couldn't pull off character complexity the way Josh Holloway can, but, upon rewatching, I found I was glad many of our now-dead characters are gone. Liberal Boone is just dull and uncompelling, while his Paris Hilton-esque sister Shannon never evolves beyond shrill. Michael is intolerant and angry, no surprise he turns traitor. Charlie, at first a fan favorite, is pretty petulant and obnoxious from the start. Even Claire exists only to be the pregnant one. Really, beyond just her expectant status, what is she really like? She has no personality, no point of view. She's just a plot point, a motivation for Charlie, and a mother for Aaron.

For that matter, some of the show's most compelling characters have yet to make an appearance. Okay, I'm not gonna say Ana Lucia, Nikki and Paulo are all that great, but what is Lost without Ben? Without Desmond? Juliet? Daniel? Even Miles and (RIP) Mr. Eko? I'll tell you what, far less interesting. Far more season one.

Then there's the island mystery. It's pretty light in the first season. The Others are a rumor, only embodied by Ethan whom Charlie kills before too long. We see hints of the monster's smoky nature, but Hurley's still thinking it's a dinosaur. The Dharma Initiative exists only in the mystery of the hatch upon which Locke spends half the season, and in some wire Sayid finds buried in the sand. Let's see, what else? Oh yeah, there is the Adam and Eve bit, but I have a feeling that's an explanation we won't see until the end of the show. And polar bears.

Then, despite complaints of wheel spinning, season two introduces the Dharma Initiative, we discover the tail section, we learn about the Nigerian drug plane, we meet Ben, Mr. Eko and Desmond, not to mention more Others, we learn about the Dharma system of stations, Jacob gets his first shout out, we discover magnetic anomalies and island-caused healing, annoying characters die - another leaves the island, and there's a pretty damned awesome statue of a foot.

This isn't to say the second season is flawless. The "build an army" thread fizzles out, Ana Lucia alienates other characters and viewers alike, and Libby dies without a proper reveal as to the significance of her presence in Santa Rosa. Lindelof and Cuse claim we know all we need to know about why she's there, I'm crying shenanigans on that one.

Nevertheless, despite reputations to the contrary, there's a lot more going on in season two than in one. One sets up the mystery, two develops it. One introduces characters, two trims the fat. One shows us the island, two gives us our first peek under the surface. As good as season one is, it's really just a primer for the incredibly layered temporal mosaic to come.

It's not that this is such a bad thing. The first season provides the story a solid foundation. The later developments would be far less successful were the establishment not so strong. It's great work. It's just that what follows is beyond what we've come to expect from network television. The complex puzzle Lost has now become is mostly thanks to the brilliant seeds Lindelof and Cuse plant in the first chapter. Thing is, what those seeds have grown into is really stunning. Kinda like that moth metaphor Locke uses in the first season.

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