19 Years Ago Today, Lost Killed One of Its Best Characters Way Too Soon (but in a Great Episode)

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In 2004, J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof launched Lost, and its incredibly costly first episode debuted on ABC, attracting over 18 million viewers. The show quickly became a complex survival mystery, filled with memorable characters like Jack Shepard, played by Matthew Fox, and John Locke, portrayed by Terry O’Quinn. It proved to be so popular that by the start of its second season, with the episode “Man of Science, Man of Faith,” viewership had increased by another 6 million.

The second episode of season two introduced a particularly fascinating character: Mr. Eko, portrayed by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. Although the creators, Lindelof and Abrams, had envisioned a significant role for this mysterious Nigerian priest – who was among the survivors found on the other side of the island – his time on the show was unexpectedly cut short. He was killed off in the Season 3 episode, “The Cost of Living,” on November 1st, 2006.

Mr. Eko’s Integral Role in Lost Season 2

As the character Mr. Eko wisely stated, things happening together don’t necessarily mean they were meant to be. Though only on Lost for one season, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje’s Eko quickly became a central figure for the show’s spiritual themes. He was a complex character with a mysterious past – a former warlord haunted by a childhood act of violence where he killed a man to save his brother. Later, that same brother became a priest, and the two unknowingly used a plane to smuggle drugs, with the Virgin Mary statues concealing the contraband. When the plane crashed on the island, Eko’s story became crucial to the show’s overall narrative. His journey from a life of violence towards a strong and unwavering faith provided a compelling contrast to Locke, whose own beliefs were starting to waver, and in many ways, Eko took Locke’s place as the show’s primary figure of faith.

Honestly, Eko’s exit in season three’s ‘The Cost of Living’ really got to me. It felt way too soon to say goodbye! We learned he became a priest after his brother died, trying to make things right. He vowed to build a new church for him after a terrible act of violence. Then, on the island, he kept seeing visions of his brother, and it was classic Lost – just when you think you understand things, a huge twist hits you. It turned out his brother was the smoke monster, and Eko faced his past only to be judged and ultimately killed by him. It was heartbreaking. The rest of us on the island – dealing with the Pearl station and Hydra – were left with Locke repeating Eko’s final, chilling message: “We’re next.”

Why Did Lindelof and Abrams Kill Off Mr. Eko?

This episode delivers everything fans love about Lost: a compelling character-focused story, an enjoyable secondary plot, and hints about the show’s bigger mysteries. However, Eko’s sudden death raised a lot of questions. Viewers wondered about his connection to the Island, his relationship with Charlie, and his potential role in the show’s exploration of faith versus science and its overall spiritual themes. Some fans believe the writers originally planned for Eko to have the premonition about Charlie’s death that ultimately went to Desmond. There’s even speculation that Eko was once considered a key figure in the show’s ending, possibly with a similar destiny to Locke. The crossword clue linking “Enkidu” and “Gilgamesh” led many to believe Eko was meant to be Locke’s spiritual counterpart, ultimately siding with either Jacob or the Man in Black.

There’s a good reason why Eko’s storyline ended the way it did. While some fans believe the decision was creatively flawed, it was actually the actor who played Eko, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, who asked to leave the show. After dealing with personal loss – the death of his adoptive parents – he felt lonely filming in Hawaii and wanted to return home to London, even proposing a dramatic exit for his character. The writers honored his request, but this likely disrupted planned storylines and may have contributed to issues with the show’s later seasons. Even now, almost twenty years later, fans still wish Eko’s story had continued. Despite the premature exit, the episode “The Cost of Living” remains a powerful and moving hour of television, exploring Eko’s regrets and his search for forgiveness.

What’s your favorite quote from Mr. Eko? Share it in the comments and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-11-02 00:43