"People Are Missing the Point": Matthew Fox Reflects on Lost 15 Years Later

In a rare and candid interview with The Independent, Matthew Fox has opened up about his time on Lost — and his reflections come with a quiet but powerful message for fans still debating the show's controversial ending.

Fox, best known for his role as heroic spinal surgeon Jack Shephard on the iconic ABC series, is currently making his return to television in the Australian dark comedy Caught. But the actor took time to revisit the project that defined a generation of television — and his career.

"I've never actually watched the show all the way through – I've seen episodes," Fox revealed. "At that time in my life, I was not keen on watching myself on screen. I felt like it was somehow going to corrupt my work. I don't really feel as intensely now about that as I did."

Fox also shared insight into his collaborative relationship with Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof, who would call him before each season to map out Jack's character arc.

"He wasn't mapping that out for me to get notes; he was just mapping that out, kinda like, 'This is what your journey's gonna be.' And inevitably, there'd be stuff coming along in the script where I'd be like, 'Woah, holy s*** – that's a turn that I didn't see coming.'"

While the show's finale in 2010 drew backlash from some fans frustrated with unanswered questions, Fox remains a staunch defender of its conclusion.

"That was clearly Damon Lindelof's intention. He wanted it to be something that could be interpreted by every single person's relationship with the show. The people that were frustrated by the fact they weren't given the answers to why there was a polar bear on the island are missing the point a little bit."

"For them to believe that six years of mysteries and asking questions were going to be wrapped up in the final two hours of the show, or even the last half of the last season – that's not how Damon wanted to do it."

Looking back, Fox also reflected on how the show shaped not just his career, but his family life. He and his wife, Margherita Ronchi, relocated to Hawaii with their two young children during the show's run.

"For me, when I look back on it now, it feels like a chapter in my life where the thing I remember the most about it is where our kids were during that period of time."

"It was almost a foundational part of their life and so that's mainly how I reflect on it."

Now, 15 years after the finale, Fox says he's continually amazed by how Lost continues to resonate.

"The legacy of the show is pretty incredible. I do think it's a show that will stand up over time. Considering where it takes place and what it's really about philosophically, it feels like it doesn't get dated quickly."

"I'm so grateful to have had the experience. It was great and I'm glad people are still finding it. With the way streaming works... there are new groups of people coming to the show constantly and I think that's going to continue."

Caught is now streaming on ITVX in the UK. Lost is available on ITVX, Netflix, and Disney+.

Watch the full interview here:

Source: The Independent