Before Lost premiered back in 2004, I was convinced the show wouldn't last more than a season.  Not only did I assume the series would be great and therefore unjustly canceled after five or six episodes, but I had no clue how a drama about a bunch of people stranded on an island could last.  Wouldn't they run out of stories to tell?

Over the years, Lost has silenced any and all doubts as it's evolved into one of the most thought-provoking, intricately complex shows on television.  With season 5 premiering on January 21, we've decided to celebrate all things Lost by coming up with a list of the show's all-time best episodes.  We need BuddyTV readers to help shape the ultimate countdown, so read on to find out how you can vote for your favorite Lost installments.

Over the next four weeks, we'll be asking BuddyTV readers to vote in four different showdowns to determine the best episodes of each season.  The results of this week's showdown will help us determine the best of season 1.  At the end of the four weeks, the five highest ranking episodes from each season will be pitted against one another, allowing readers to determine the greatest Lost episodes of all time.  The final ranking of the all-time best installments will be revealed on the day of the season 5 premiere.

To start voting, simply click on the picture below.  The showdown will pit two season 1 episodes randomly against one another, asking you to determine which you think is better.  At the end of the showdown, only one will be left standing.  Voting ends on Monday, December 15, and we'll reveal how fans ranked the season 1 episodes on Wednesday, December 17.

It's tough for me to choose the best of Lost's first season, as nearly every episode that's not ShaBoone related is pretty awesome.  Does the pilot rank higher than "Walkabout"?  Does the gut-wrenching season finale top the heartbreaking "House of the Rising Sun"?  That's for you to decide, so vote now and vote often.




- Don Williams, BuddyTV Staff Writer
(Image courtesy of ABC)