Its never been controversial to claim that Stranger in a Strange Land is the worst episode ofLost.
Yet,Lostfans everywhere should be at least a little grateful for Stranger in a Strange Land.
Without Stranger in a Strange Land,Lostmay have become something far worse.
What Makes Stranger in a Strange Land So Bad?
On paper, Stranger In a Strange Land doesnt seem worthy of widespread scorn.
whereas many other flashbacks gradually revealed richer character tapestries.
At the very least, they were often more independently entertaining.
Those flashbacks are the main reason why Stranger in a Strange Land is despised rather than disliked.
A shocking amount of the episode focuses on a trip Jack took to Thailand.
While the episode captures the thrills of hearing about some dudes trip to Thailand (Bro, hell claim.
Itswild),its the tattoo plot point that is most often remembered and ridiculed.
Previews for Stranger in a Strange Landteased answersto three ofLosts biggest mysteries.
A bad filler episode in a 23-episode season is one thing.
However, that doesnt mean they were above using that despised episode to their eventual advantage.
Said circumstances include a bad casting decision, a bad premise decision, and a bad flashback story.
ABC disagreed and seemingly felt that moreLostwas goodLost.
That is until they saw Stranger in a Strange Land.
This is the future of the show: how Jack got his tattoos.
Everything weve been saying for two years about whats to come, is now all here on the screen.
But now that were doing his ninth flashback story, you just dont care.
ABC eventually agreed and allowed the showrunners to share their outline for a six-season version of the series.
The three seasons ofLostwe got after that conversation are hardly perfect.
Theyre filled with lesser episodes and build towardsa finale that continues to divide fans to this day.
Yet, we never really got anything as bad as Stranger in a Strange Land again.
Yet, Stranger in a Strange Land reminds us that such episodes can cut both ways.
Such arguments for the return of that format should be taken with a grain of salt.
