The Prestige TV Podcast

Hall of Fame: “Lost” — “The Constant” (Aired: Dec 9, 2025)

Host: Joanna Robinson
Guest: Rob Mahoney

Episode Overview

This Hall of Fame edition of The Prestige TV Podcast takes a deep dive into Lost's iconic episode “The Constant” (Season 4, Episode 5), which topped The Ringer’s “100 Best TV Episodes of the Century” list. Joanna Robinson and Rob Mahoney unpack the emotional, narrative, and cultural impact of this seminal hour of television—exploring both its high-concept structure and universally human themes.

Main Discussion Points

1. Why “The Constant” is Hall of Fame Worthy

• The episode is repeatedly cited as not just the best of Lost but also one of the greatest in television ever.
• [02:09] Joanna: “Mallory [Rubin] launched a full scale attack...to make sure ‘The Constant’ was the top. But it didn’t budge.”
• [03:07] Joanna: “If I were to try to argue something to the top of a list to get consensus, I would pick ‘The Constant.’”

Episode Context

• Lost Season 4 marked a dramatic tonal and pacing shift—shorter seasons, higher intensity.
• “The Constant” is a midseason episode, not a premiere or finale, which is unique for such acclaim.
• Recap of premise: Desmond and Sayid travel to the freighter seeking answers; Desmond's consciousness becomes "unstuck in time," risking his life unless he finds his “constant."

2. Premise, Structure, and Emotional Impact

• The genius of “The Constant” is binding high sci-fi stakes (time travel, ticking clocks) to a fundamentally human love story: Desmond and Penny.
• [05:51] Joanna: “It culminates in, as Lindelof properties often do, a very emotional...conversation between Penelope Widmore and Desmond Hume..."
• Rob emphasizes how emotional storytelling overtakes exposition:
  [06:54] “We are learning things, but those things are strapped to an emotional rocket ship...that kind of sleight of hand I’m always fascinated by.”

Editing & Storytelling Approach

• [12:06] Joanna: “They were going to do fancier tricks to delineate between time periods ... But they decided to go with this mid-sentence [transition].”
• [12:52] Rob: “You never feel like you’re being pulled out of the story. You feel like you’re being yanked forward.”
• The visual and narrative cues (beard, haircut, weather) help orient the audience as Desmond slips through time.

3. Themes: Faith, Love, Regret, & Time

• Lindelof's philosophy: the best answer to a mystery is a person.
• The term “constant” becomes cultural shorthand for soulmate or emotional anchor.
  [07:58] Joanna: “What is my constant? That becomes a cultural touch point...Penny, it’s the love of his life.”
• Discussion of “faith” on both sides: Desmond believing Penny will answer; Penny believing he’ll call.

Regret and Yearning

• Exploration of longing, second chances, and the difference between the life you could have had and the life you fumbled.
  [16:00] Rob: “Is it too late to undo the damage I’ve done?...Maybe all you have to do is call her.”
• The mythic dimension—Penelope as Odysseus’s wife—emphasizes the “trying to get home” theme in storytelling.

4. Character Dynamics and Rankings

• Desmond as the emotional nucleus of Lost; Penny’s limited but powerful presence.
• Sayid as the ultimate wingman (“if it comes down to it, Sayid will snap your neck with his thighs,” [15:12] Joanna).
• General rankings: Sawyer, Juliet, Ben Linus (Rob’s top three); Daniel Faraday, Frank Lapidus (Joanna’s additional favorites).
• Daniel Faraday’s thematic importance and quirks (naming his rat after his mom) discussed.

5. Iconic Moments & Scenes

• The Phone Call is universally declared the best and most moving scene.
  • [41:41] Joanna: “Best moment scene also has to be the phone call…it’s just some of the most important television you’ve ever seen.”
  • [37:36] Rob: “They really are the two tent poles in terms of propping this thing up…and the moment has to be the call at the end.”
• The use of the red phone as an indelible visual icon.
  • [34:25] Rob: “If you’ll forgive me for being basic again, Joe. It’s just the red phone.”
• The episode’s emotional power endures on rewatch; both hosts admit to still crying every time.

Under-Recognized Details

• Charles Widmore’s overflowing sink as time marker, power play, and seamless transition device.
• Daniel Faraday’s emotional attachment (or not) to Desmond as his “constant.”

6. Legacy & Influence

• How "The Constant" and Lost reverberate across TV storytelling; its coining of cultural ideas like the “constant.”
• [44:11] Joanna: “But Lost...just echoes through all the television storytelling that follows it.”
• The challenge of filling the void left by Lost’s bold ensemble storytelling.

7. The Ringer’s Top 100 Episodes: Debates & Hot Takes

• Joanna and Rob discuss how “The Constant” compares to other shows and episodes (Mad Men’s “The Suitcase,” Game of Thrones’ “Reigns of Castamere,” etc.).
• Critiques on rankings: succession’s high placement, Fleabag’s seemingly low rank (#60), ideal Buffy and Leftovers episodes.
• Joanna: “Bloody Harlan, season two, episode 13 of Justified. Number 26, way too low.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [07:58] Joanna: “The greatest answer to a mystery is a person.”
• [16:00] Rob: “Is it too late to undo the damage I’ve done?...Maybe all you have to do is call her.”
• [22:58] Rob (joking): “Is ‘The Constant’ a Christmas episode?” Joanna: “Yes.”
• [31:19] Joanna: “I have watched this episode so, so many times, and yet it still makes me cry when I watch it.”
• [34:25] Rob: “It’s just the red phone.”
• [53:05] Joanna: “If I wanted to do maximum trolling...the Lost finale.”
• [54:52] Rob: “We all get one ghost dad. And it’s Christian Shepherd for me.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:16 – 06:54] — Episode context, why “The Constant” tops the list, and summary of its premise
• [06:54 – 12:56] — How the episode balances sci-fi with emotional storytelling; editing and structure
• [12:56 – 20:34] — In-depth on themes: time travel mechanics, high emotional stakes, and orientation cues
• [22:21 – 26:18] — Character dynamics: Desmond, Penny, Sayid, and supporting players
• [31:01 – 36:13] — Best performances, emotional highlights, and phone call scene analysis
• [43:32 – 44:38] — Lost’s legacy, skeleton key for modern television, and cultural influence
• [45:12 – 51:06] — The Ringer’s top 10 episode debate, alternate picks for best TV episodes, and genre representation
• [51:10 – 52:53] — Lindelof’s other works, The Leftovers, Deadwood, and broader TV love

Conclusion & Takeaways

• “The Constant” earns its place not just through narrative cleverness, but because it wields sci-fi mechanics in service of deeply relatable love and regret.
• The phone call scene stands as a masterclass in performance, editing, and emotional build.
• Lost’s DNA permeates TV storytelling to this day, setting a template for ensemble ambition and genre-melding audacity.
• The episode’s continued resonance with viewers and critics alike underscores the rare achievement of blending cultural impact with personal, affective storytelling.

Listener Call-Out

• Rob invites listener feedback:
  [52:37] “I would love to hear from anyone listening…for your Lost alternative episodes to ‘The Constant,’ if not ‘The Constant,’ what?”

Summary compiled by The Prestige TV Podcast – December 9, 2025