Looking at the influences for Lost, we can plainly see some of the obvious books and maybe films that have played into the creation of the show. However there are few TV shows that plainly lend themselves as creative inspiration for Lost. And among those shows, one could argue that Oz doesn't belong there.
One might say that Lost and Oz hold no real comparison. On the one hand, a gritty cable drama based in a high security prison, centered around violence and crime; and on the other hand a sci-fi/drama on network TV about a group of people who survive a plane crash on a mysterious island. And while the textual comparisons for the two shows might end at the metaphorical prison that is the island, we would do well to notice Oz as a show that paved the way for--not just modern drama--but smart and challenging television, that we can undoubtedly call Lost, too.
Simply put, Oz is like no other show. Its style and tendency to challenge viewers through its use of profanities, on-screen drug use, violence, nudity and male-homosexual references re-trained television executives and viewers alike. The show paved the way for other challenging and thought provoking shows on the HBO network such as The Corner, The Sopranos, Deadwood, Carnivale and The Wire.
Oz is a drama series created by Tom Fontana, based in the fictional Oswald State Correctional Facility (nicknamed "Oz") a maximum security prison in New York. The plot centers around the idea of an experimental section of the prison called Emerald City, a special unit for dealing with alternative methods of rehabilitation for repeat and high-risk offenders, and the inmates who are held there.
Oz aired on HBO and concluded in 2003 with 56 episodes over 6 seasons, all of which were approximately 1 hour long (the first show on HBO to air for a full hour).
Things to look out for
Oz has delivered some of the finest actors to our screens; many of the cast of the show went on to be regulars in shows such as The Sopranos, Dexter, Deadwood, Kings and The Wire. While you're watching, also keep your eye out for Lost cast crossovers.
| Actor | Character on Oz | Character on Lost | Notes | |
|
Harold Perrineau | Augustus Hill | Michael Dawson | The show is narrated by Augustus, who is wheel-chair bound. |
|
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje | Simon Adabesi | Mister Eko | Both characters are African gangsters involved with the drug trade. As we go into season two, Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Perrineau share a fair amount of screen-time, as was the case in Oz. |
|
Zeljko Ivanek | Governor Devlin | Edmund Burke | |
|
Lance Reddick | Detective Basil | Matthew Abaddon | Reddick shared the screen with Kirk Acevedo (Miguel Alvarez) on both Oz and then later Fringe, J.J. Abrams' latest television creation. |
|
Ken Leung | Bian Yixue | Miles Straume | Leung makes a brief, but notable appearance on Oz as part of a group of immigrants who are sheltered in the prison temporarily. |
Where to watch
Various networks are repeating episodes of Oz. DirecTV recently began an entire re-airing of the show in May of 2009, also announcing that it would be adding the show to its on-demand catalogue. Similarly, HBO are often frequently re-airing the show and recommend checking the HBO schedule regularly. Oz is unfortunately not part of HBO's on-demand catalog.
Of course, the full boxset of the entire series is available for purchase at:
- Amazon
- Play (for only £52.99)
- The HBO online store, and;
- Netflix
We are confident that this show is that good that you'll eventually want to pick up the boxsets. With that said, if you're strapped for cash, there are also less-reliable online methods for viewing the show. We can't stress enough that this is one of the greatest shows in television history, and that you really must watch it; we urge you to do so, and then of course to credit those involved at your convenience.
