A look at four sci-fi series-Taken, Westworld, The OA, and Silo-that share Lost's mystery box DNA but remain underrated compared to the cultural phenomenon.
There is no exaggeration in saying that Jeffrey Lieber, J. J. Abrams, and Damon Lindelof's Lost revolutionized not just science fiction television, but American broadcast television as a whole.
This cult classic was a pioneer of the mystery box genre, a storytelling style all about stories that rely on endless mysteries and shocking twists. With this kind of groundbreaking serialization and complex mythology being brought to mainstream network TV, things were never the same again. Thankfully, for all those who love Lost and crave similar experiences, there are many shows out there that are remarkably similar.
But while some masterpieces, such as Dark or Severance, can be argued to be superior to Lost, there are other similar shows that are actually somewhat overshadowed by ABC's genre-defining classic. They are still absolutely phenomenal series, but for one reason or another, they are not quite able to live up to the pop-cultural phenomenon that was Lost. One such show is Taken, a 2002 miniseries executive-produced by Steven Spielberg.
It is one of the greatest sci-fi miniseries masterpieces of all time and a must-see for fans of the filmmaker. Taken is a generations-spanning epic taking place from 1944 to 2002, and following the lives of three families connected by an alien visit. This sort of multi-generational storytelling is the kind of hyper-ambitious concept you typically expect to see in shows spanning several seasons.
That only makes the fact that Taken condenses its story over the course of just 10 episodes all the more admirable. Like Lost, Taken is a highly complex sci-fi series with a fascinating mythology, intertwining character storylines, and sprawling mysteries. And while Lost's full-series format allowed it to push the envelope far more often than Taken ever did, ensuring the timelessness of its cultural impact, this criminally underrated DreamWorks Television production should nevertheless not be underestimated.
Another series that shares DNA with Lost is Westworld, which aired on HBO from 2016 to 2022. Over the course of the 21st century, HBO has produced several of the greatest shows of the modern era belonging to all sorts of genres, sci-fi included. Westworld is a prime example.
Though the consensus is that the show's only truly great season is its first one, since it quickly became one of those sci-fi shows with several plot holes as it went along, this is nevertheless one of the most iconic HBO sci-fi series ever. After all, if there is anything that Lost fans are already perfectly familiar with, it is a sci-fi series that squanders some of its potential as it nears its end, but is absolutely exceptional nevertheless.
Lost may have a stronger balance of complex mysteries and deeply resonant character work, but Westworld's tremendous production values and philosophical depth are still enough to make it an incredible series. Netflix's The OA, which ran from 2016 to 2019, is another show that captivates Lost enthusiasts. Any sci-fi fan who has had a Netflix subscription for a while should know that throughout its history, the streaming giant has canceled many a show that had outstanding potential.
The OA is one such show, ending on a cliffhanger due to its massive budget and relatively low viewership. But even with its cancellation, The OA has only kept growing more and more of a passionate cult following in the years since its tragic conclusion. Like Lost, this is a heavily non-linear mystery box puzzle that never gets tired of throwing a hundred unanswered questions at the audience.
And while the fact that Lost was actually afforded the chance of finishing off the many mysteries of its mythology almost automatically makes it superior, The OA's radical creativity and exquisitely avant-garde tone make it essential viewing for those who prefer more intellectually elevated science fiction. Finally, Silo, which premiered in 2023 and is still ongoing, demonstrates Apple TV's prowess in the sci-fi genre.
Based on Hugh Howey's trilogy of novels, Silo is one of many pieces of proof that few players in the streaming game are nailing sci-fi quite as well as Apple TV. It is one of the sci-fi shows with the best world-building, a gripping and deeply claustrophobic mystery led by Rebecca Ferguson at the top of her game.
It is definitely a bit of a slow-burner, but that pace feels essential to the way the story has evolved over the course of three amazing seasons. It is not exactly a mystery box show like Lost is, but Silo is also about a group of people slowly uncovering the truth about the strange environment they are trapped in.
Lost had better character development and a far larger level of cultural impact, but there is no denying just how incredible the world-building in Silo is, making the mystery resolutions the show occasionally offers incredibly rewarding. In summary, while Lost remains a towering achievement in television history, these four series-Taken, Westworld, The OA, and Silo-offer fans of complex, mysterious, and character-driven sci-fi a wealth of entertainment.
Each brings its own unique strengths, whether it is Taken's compact multigenerational saga, Westworld's philosophical explorations, The OA's avant-garde narrative, or Silo's meticulous world-building. They may not have reached the same cultural zenith as Lost, but they are absolutely worth watching for anyone who enjoys a good mystery
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