Star Wars

"A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..."

Star Wars is an epic science fiction/fantasy film saga created by George Lucas and Lucasfilms. The first three films in the series were released in 1977, 1980, and 1983. Three prequels to the first trilogy were released in 1999, 2002, and 2005.

J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof have expressed their admiration of the Star Wars films. The day they met to begin collaboration for Lost, Damon Lindelof was wearing an original official Star Wars fan club T-shirt and the pair found an instant connection as a result. In January 2013, J.J. Abrams was hired direct the first film in the third Star Wars trilogy titled The Force Awakens, following Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm. In September 2017, J.J Abrams returned to direct the third and final film of the Star Wars sequel trilogy titled The Rise of Skywalker.

In Lost

Direct references

"The old Wookie prisoner gag" ("Not in Portland")

• After Jack helped Shannon through an asthma attack by simply talking to her calmly, Hurley said, "Wow, man. That was awesome. I mean, that was like a... Jedi moment", a reference to the Jedi mind trick. ("Confidence Man")
• While on the raft, Michael and Jin argued about the flare in two different languages (English and Korean), just like Han Solo and Chewbacca. Sawyer then said, "Hey, Han, you and Chewie want to slow down a second and talk to me here?" ("Exodus, Part 2")
  • "Chewie" was Chewbacca's nickname throughout the Star Wars series. Sawyer referred to Jin as "Chewie" twice more. ("Orientation")  ("Abandoned")
    • Additionally, Michael and Jin at one point argued over the building of the raft, at which point Michael told Jin "No, no, this one goes there, that one goes there!", a direct line from The Empire Strikes Back that Han said to Chewbacca. ("Exodus, Part 2")
• Sawyer once called Hurley "Jabba". ("Fire + Water")
• Hurley's imaginary friend Dave made a reference to movie special effects. After Hurley made a comment about the photo Dr. Brooks showed him, Dave said, "What, do you think they really blew up the Death Star?" ("Dave")
• While attempting to rescue Karl from Room 23, Sawyer played a trick on Aldo that he called the "old Wookiee prisoner gag". ("Not in Portland") In Star Wars, Han Solo and Luke Skywalker dress up as stormtroopers and Chewie impersonates a prisoner in order to infiltrate Detention Block AA 23 where Princess Leia was being held.
• Sawyer once referred to Ben as "Yoda". ("Confirmed Dead")
• Jack accidentally stepped on Aaron's toy Millennium Falcon. ("Something Nice Back Home")
• In 1977, Star Wars had just opened in theaters, so while living in that year with the DHARMA Initiative, Hurley decided to write the script to The Empire Strikes Back, "with a couple of improvements", and send it to Star Wars creator George Lucas to make life easier, because "Ewoks suck, dude." ("Some Like It Hoth")
• Hurley compared Jacob to Obi-Wan Kenobi in how, although dead, he appeared when he chose to do so. ("Lighthouse")
• Sawyer pointed out that Sayid had turned to "the dark side". When Hurley suggested they try and bring Sayid back from the dark side "like Anakin", Sawyer responded in confusion, "Who the hell's Anakin?" ("The Last Recruit")
• Hurley said Jacob was "worse than Yoda," in how he was vague about what exactly was going on when he gave Jack the job of protecting the island. Then before the group splits up, he says, "I've got a bad feeling about this," referencing a well known phrase in the Star Wars series. ("The End")

Indirect references

• Ben's character shares a number of similarities Darth Vader/Anakin:
  • Anakin Skywalker spent his adolescence determined to reunite with a lost mother; similarly, Ben was first tempted away from the DHARMA Initiative by a vision of his lost mother. ("The Man Behind the Curtain")
  • Darth Vader defected from the Jedi to the Sith and was instrumental in the Jedi purge; similarly, Ben defected from the DHARMA Initiative to the Others and was instrumental in the Purge of his former people. ("The Man Behind the Curtain")
  • Both commanded great power, yet carried out orders from a higher authority, Darth Vader from the Emperor and Ben from Jacob.
  • Both characters chose redemptive paths at decisive moments, Darth Vader in the destruction of the Emperor and Ben in his choice of siding with Jacob's followers over Locke. ("Dr. Linus")

Note the similar expressions on their faces.

• Sawyer, in many ways, is a Han Solo-esque character throughout the series; they are both wisecracking, self-interested, ladies'-man, antihero, reformed criminals.
• Michael seemed to understand Jin, even though Jin spoke Korean, in much the same way that Han Solo understood Chewbacca, even though he spoke in his native Wookiee language of otherwise unintelligible, animal-like grunts and roars. ("Exodus, Part 1")  ("Exodus, Part 2")
• When Jack and Kate went out to The Line to trade Ben for Walt, they became caught in a net trap created by Rousseau. In Return of the Jedi when Han Solo, Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, and C-3PO are caught in a similar trap set by the Ewoks. ("S.O.S.")
• Ben tried to convince John to kill his own father; the Emperor tried to coerce Luke Skywalker into killing his own father in Return of the Jedi. ("The Brig")
• Ben confessed to Ilana that at the moment he stabbed Jacob he had succumbed to anger and fear, hallmarks of the dark side. ("Dr. Linus")
• Sawyer killed Anthony Cooper by choking him from behind with a chain, the same way Princess Leia killed Jabba the Hutt in Return of the Jedi. ("The Brig") Both scenes are very similar in the art direction (lighting, set dressing/design, and camera placement).
• Jack and Claire are siblings, but did not learn this until later in the series, much like Luke and Leia.
• Charlotte's first scene on the Island showed her unconscious, suspended upside down with her arms over her head, visually similar to Luke in the wampa cave in The Empire Strikes Back. ("Confirmed Dead")
• The Man in Black removed Ben's leg iron with a slight gesture, much like how Emperor Palpatine un-cuffed Luke in Return of the Jedi. In both cases a weapon was also made accessible in a bid for violence, yet both characters chose not to kill. ("Dr. Linus")

References to Lost

• With J.J. Abrams serving as writer and director of the 2015 release Episode VII The Force Awakens, he slipped in a reference to Lost. A character is named Ello Asty as both a reference to the Beastie Boys album Hello Nasty and a phonetic reference to the shows title (El-Oh-Es-Te).

Shared dialogue

• While talking about moving to the caves, Sawyer said, "Well, that's the real trick, isn't it?" In Star Wars, Han Solo said this exact same line to Obi-Wan Kenobi when discussing the need to avoid "Imperial entanglements" on the Millenium Falcon's trip to Alderaan. ("House of the Rising Sun")
• When Charlie re-entered the cave to help Jack, he told Jack, "I'm here to rescue you", just as Luke says to Leia in the Death Star in A New Hope. ("The Moth") Faraday later said the same thing to Jack and Kate, shortly after he parachuted onto the Island. ("Confirmed Dead")
• When Sayid told Sawyer he found his boar situation funny, Sawyer replied, "Laugh it up, Mohammed", which may be a reference to Han's line, "Laugh it up, Fuzzball", in Empire Strikes Back. ("Outlaws")
• While they were working on the raft, Michael ran over to Jin, gesturing and shouting, "No, no! This one goes there, that one goes there!" In The Empire Strikes Back, Han said this to Chewie while they were repairing the Millennium Falcon on Hoth. ("Exodus, Part 1")
• Both Jack and Kate at various times said, "Here we go again"; C3PO said the same thing when leaving the forest moon of Endor in Return of the Jedi. ("Greatest Hits")
• On the way to the Temple, and just prior to a shooting ambush, Karl told Alex, "I've got a bad feeling about this". This phrase is repeated throughout the Star Wars saga, heard eight times in the six films. ("Meet Kevin Johnson")
• After being tortured by Dogen, Sayid said, "They didn't ask me any questions." In The Empire Strikes Back, after being tortured by Darth Vader, Han Solo tells Princess Leia, "They never even asked me any questions." ("What Kate Does")
• Kate skeptically asked Sawyer about the Ajira plane: "Who's going to fly it?" Han Solo posed a similar question to Luke Skywalker in A New Hope when Luke entreated Ben to decline Han Solo's services as pilot. ("Recon")
• In "The End", Hurley said one of the most repeated lines in the Star Wars franchise: "I've got a bad feeling about this".

Shared themes

Parent issues

• Luke and Leia are both separately raised to believe their father is a dead, then later in life they find out that their father is alive and evil. John was lead to believe his father was dead, until he found out his father was alive and criminal.
• Luke and Leia are long-lost siblings who go through most of the story not knowing their connection. Jack and Claire are half-siblings who did not know they were related even though they were trapped on the island together.
• Luke Skywalker is raised by his uncle and aunt; Aaron is being raised by his uncle and aunt-to-be (Jack and Kate).

Black and white

• The Dark side of the force vs. Light side of the force.
• Darth Vader dresses in black, while Obi-Wan and Luke are dressed in white/light colors.

Faith versus science

• The Force is eventually explained to have measurable, scientific qualities, yet can only be manipulated by a person's will.
• Obi-Wan instructs Luke to "let go" of his conscious efforts and "act on instinct."
• Han Solo argues that "hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side." He later fires his blaster at Darth Vader to no effect.
• The Death Star obliterates the planet Alderaan in an unprecedented feat of technology, the effects of which are immediately sensed by Obi-Wan Kenobi far away.
• During the Rebel attack on the first Death Star Luke turns off his targeting computer and uses the Force to guide his shot.
• Obi-Wan declares to Luke that Darth Vader has become more machine than man, linking the transformation to his seduction to evil.
• Luke severs Darth Vader's mechanical right hand and sees a reminder of his own adoption of cybernetics.

Fate versus free will

• Anakin Skywalker is believed to be a prophesied hero of the Jedi.
• Anakin has visions of his beloved perishing in childbirth, which come true despite his actions.
• Luke Skywalker has visions of his friends being tortured, which come true despite his actions.
• Darth Vader attempts to sway Luke towards the Dark Side, saying it is "destiny."
• Darth Vader reveals the Emperor has forseen that Luke can destroy him.
• A captive Luke forewarns Darth Vader of his passive intent and probable death at Vader's hands, to which he sneers: "If that is your destiny."
• As Luke disengages their fight, an impatient Vader threatens: "If you will not fight, you will meet your destiny."
• The Emperor taunts Luke that his conversion to the dark side is "unavoidable", later urging him to "fulfill your destiny", claiming it to be replacing his father's position.

Irony

• The prophecy that Anakin Skywalker "will bring balance to the Force" comes true, with the net result being that two Sith and two Jedi remain alive.
• The Emperor misinterpreted Luke to be the threat of his vision and tried to kill him, inadvertently creating the scenario of his death.

Deceptions and cons

• Darth Vader tries unsuccessfully to recruit Luke to kill the Emperor, a treachery which he must later conceal in the Emperor's presence.
• The Emperor had planned for Luke to replace Darth Vader as his apprentice, encouraging their fight to the death.
• Obi-Wan Kenobi does not correct Luke's belief that his father is dead, and adds to the deception by disguising the identity of Darth Vader.
• Obi-Wan correctly discerns that the torture of Luke's friends is a con to lure Luke into a trap.
• The Emperor allows intelligence to be gathered on his whereabouts, luring the Rebellion into a massive attack which turns out to be a trap.
• Palpatine ascends to progressively greater power & public acclaim by manipulating a series of artificial conflicts.

Life and death

• Following the attempted purge of the Jedi only two survivors remained.
• Palpatine claimed to Anakin that the strongest powers of the dark side could cheat death and even create life.
• Palpatine's claim that his powers can save Anakin's seemingly-doomed beloved from death clinches the seduction to the dark side, after which his new disciple is dispatched on a murderous errand to the temple of the Jedi.

Missing body parts

• C-3PO lost an arm falling off a cliff.
• Obi-Wan Kenobi severs an opponent's arm in the cantina at Mos Eisley.
• Darth Vader severs Luke's right hand in battle.
• Count Dooku severs Anakin Skywalker's right arm in battle.
• When bested by his former master, Darth Vader looses his left arm and both his legs.

Shared cast and crew

Before Lost

• Billy Dee Williams played Mr. LaShade in the "Expose" TV series. ("Exposé") He is most famous for his role as Lando Calrissian in the Star Wars series.
  • In the DVD audio commentary, writers Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz noted that the color scheme of Mr. LaShade's suit was intentionally made the same as Lando's costume in The Empire Strikes Back. ("Exposé")
• Bai Ling played Achara. ("Stranger in a Strange Land") She also played senator Bana Breemu in Revenge of The Sith. Although most scenes with her character were cut and may only be seen on the DVD Disk 2 Deleted Scenes Section, she still appears on-screen, in the background, with no lines.
• Wayne Pygram played Isaac of Uluru. ("S.O.S.") He also had a small roll as Governor Tarkin Revenge of The Sith.
• Nick Jameson has voiced many characters on Star Wars including Palpatine and Kyle Katarn.
• Fionnula Flanagan played Catarine Towani in Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure.

After Lost

• Ken Leung portrayed Admiral Satura in The Force Awakens.
• Greg Grunberg portrayed Snap Wexley in The Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker.
• Dominic Monaghan portrayed Beaumont in The Rise of Skywalker.
• J.J. Abrams wrote, directed and produced The Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker.
• Bryan Burk was a producer for The Force Awakens.
• Mary Jo Markey was an editor for The Force Awakens.
• April Webster and Alyssa Weisberg served as casting directors for The Force Awakens.

Producers' commentary

Cuse and Lindelof in front of a Star Wars poster.

• Audio commentary on the Season 1 DVD made several references to Star Wars, such as a comparison of the British and American pronunciation of the name of the planet Hoth.
  • They also joked that Charlie would eventually will find his lightsaber. ("The Moth")
• During the audio commentary on the Season 2 DVD, Jack Bender joked that he was surprised that something as complex as Star Wars was made, seeing as how he had great difficulty just getting Hurley's bag to rip open. ("Dave")
• The 11/03/06 podcast was all about how Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse had a "Lost cross" involving George Lucas and their mutual love of Star Wars.
• There is a Star Wars poster in Damon Lindelof's office, visible in the DVD extra "Lost in a Day" on the Lost: The Complete Third Season (DVD), in the "6:42 pm Los Angeles" segment.

Outside Lost

EXPANDED UNIVERSE This article/section contains information officially created to be part of the Lost expanded universe, but may not be considered canon. It may be endorsed by ABC, or feature cast members.

In The Lost Experience

In the alternate reality game The Lost Experience, DJ Dan said in his podcast on September 24, 2006:

“

Dan: All right, all right, you know what, there’s something I wanna say to you, and listen to me very closely. SHUTDOWN! Oh yeah, folks, you know what folks, when I was younger, I took a test, right. And then I went to an academy, and then little green men trained me, and then I could shoot lightning bolts from my hand, and I don’t mean the dark side power lighting bolts, no. I mean the light side pow, power side lightning bolts called electric judgment, okay. That’s what I’m talking about. JEDI DAN! THAT’S WHO I AM! Okay, folks… Johnny: (Does Darth Vader breathing) Dan: I’ve had enough of this role-playing. Let’s have one more call, then there’s something I gotta talk about. (Laughter)

”

In Lost: Via Domus

• When Elliott asked what was in the cave, John answered, "Only what you take with you". This is the same answer Yoda gave to Luke Skywalker during a very similar situation in The Empire Strikes Back. ("Via Domus")
• Mikhail told Beady Eyes, "You are stupid as you are clumsy". In The Empire Strikes Back, Darth Vader said a similar thing about Admiral Ozzel; "He is clumsy as he is stupid". ("Whatever It Takes")

Enhanced captions

• The captions of the enhanced episodes explicitly note several Star Wars references; however, these captions were not written by the creative authorities of Lost, but by the production company Met/Hodder that was hired by ABC to produce these versions.

“

By the way, Charlie's mission / is an homage to Return of the Jedi / as many writers and producers on LOST / are big fans of the Star Wars saga. ("Through the Looking Glass-Enhanced") Sweet ride, Hurley! / And another tip of the hat to Star Wars / inspired by Han Solo saving the day / with the Millennium Falcon. ("Through the Looking Glass-Enhanced") This turn of events Hurley luring Kate and Sayid into being captured by Locke is an homage / to The Empire Strikes Back / when Han Solo was lured into a trap / by Lando Calrissian. ("The Economist-Enhanced") Karl's line, "I have a bad feeling about this" / is a line spoken in all the Star Wars films. / All of the writers on LOST / are big fans of the Star Wars saga. ("Meet Kevin Johnson-Enhanced") The toy is a miniature Millennium Falcon. / All of the writers of LOST are big fans / of the Star Wars saga. ("Something Nice Back Home-Enhanced")

”

External links

• Star Wars official site
• Wookiepedia, the Star Wars wiki
• [http://lucasfilm.com/