Misplaced Pages

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Overview

This page gives guidance and instructions on how to create and maintain articles for the television series Lost.

Guidelines

Each episode should have its own article, which is linked from List of Lost episodes.

Title

The title of the article should be the name of the episode, followed by the word "(Lost episode)"

Television infobox

{{Infobox Television episode | Title =
| Series = Lost
| Season = 
| Episode = 
| Airdate =  
| Production = 
| Guests = 
| Writer = 
| Director = 
| Episode list = ]
| Image= 
| Prev = 
| Next = 
}}

Article sections

• Opening paragraph: This should include the name of the episode, where it is in the series, the names of the writers and directors, the original airdate, and the name of the episode's main flashback character.

• Plot: Summaries must avoid speculation and original research. Further, they should not be a detailed "step by step" description of the episode, but instead, only mention notable events. For example, events that relate to the storyline, the central character's flashback, and other events that emphasize story elements and thematic motifs in the series. There should be little or no references to actual dialog, unless there are lines that are or appear to be pivotal or episode-defining in some way. Events should be described as they happened, without any speculation about a character's internal thoughts or motivations, unless the motivations are explicitly stated as part of the episode.

• Significance to the ongoing storyline: Important references to events in other episodes may be mentioned here. Great care must be taken that this does not include original research or fan speculation. Use of reliable sources is preferred. Comments by the series producers may be included if properly sourced.

• Media and fan reaction: If an episode prompts a particularly notable reaction from fans or professional TV reviewers, this may be discussed if properly sourced through reliable sources (i.e. no blogs or fan sites).

• Trivia: Listing of trivia that exists entirely within the fiction of the story (e.g. The song John sings while exploring the jungle is The lion sleeps tonight. ) should be avoided. Insignificant details do not meet the above guidelines, while significant information should be included in the main summary. Trivia that exists entirely outside the narrative of the episode (e.g. The underground scenes were filmed in an air-raid shelter built for families of sailors stationed at Pearl Harbor. ) may have a place somewhere but not in the episode summary article. Trivia that crosses the fourth wall (e.g. The storm was written into the episode after a real storm damaged the sets on location. ) may be included provided it is properly sourced.

Templates to include on the article page

• {{spoiler}}
• {{LostNav}}
• {{LostSeason3}}

Templates to include on the talk page

• Normal episodes: {{Lost}}
• Future episodes: {{Lost policy}}

Category

• Category:Lost episodes

Images

The use of television screenshot images on Misplaced Pages is very controversial, and as such, their use is discouraged except for very rare and specific situations. Any image used in an episode article must include a rationale that it is needed to illustrate some relevant point in the article, such that a simple text description would not suffice. For example, the image of the Dharma logo on the shark, in Adrift (Lost). Images should never be used for simple decoration.

Future episodes

Descriptions on future episodes should be limited as follows, per consensus achieved in November 2005:

• Information on future episodes must be limited to official broadcasts, information taken from the ABC website, official LOST websites, official episode descriptions, and interviews with cast/producers/writers/directors.
• Information extrapolated from commercials or previews, or spoiler websites will NOT be included. This includes unverified episode titles, plot elements or flashback information.

Summary

The goal in providing Lost episode articles on Misplaced Pages is not to provide a replacement for seeing the actual show, or to provide a central location for speculative observations, but simply to provide a useful additional resource of information, which includes only factual and verifiable data.

See also

• Misplaced Pages:Naming conventions (television)

• WikiProject Lost