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In its first season. Lost was a tense human drama about the survivors of Oceanic 815 trying to live on a strange Island. Then came the Hatch. And the Black Smoke Monster. And DHARMA. And the Others. And Ben Linus. And Charles Widmore. And time traveling bunny rabbits.

As it's grown, Lost has steadily embraced its science fiction roots, and with tonight's season 5 premiere, the sci-fi elements take center stage. The opening two hours of this season firmly and proudly state: "This is science fiction, and if you don't like it, leave."

The shift is brave, bold and exciting. Showrunners Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse told reporters at the Winter Television Critics Association press tour that people who haven't seen Lost before will find the season 5 premiere nearly incomprehensible. They're not kidding.

Even casual fans may have trouble understanding everything that happens in the opening two hours. There are characters who return after only appearing in one or two episodes, and the writers of Lost expect you to know exactly who they are and what the implications are. The show is more than willing to abandon any hope of broad appeal, instead catering to the fans.

For those fans, the payoffs will be extraordinary. Lost only has two seasons left, and the writers are already starting to wrap thing up by presenting a clear endgame for the series. All those viewers who spent countless hours theorizing about the show's many complexities will be rewarded.

It's fascinating to watch a show that has had a rather large audience turn into a true cult show, but that's what it is, no matter how big the ratings. Lost is for those who want to devote themselves to figuring it out, for those who obsess over the tiniest of details and the most minor of characters.

Season 5 of Lost is for the fans. Casual viewers may still tune in, and they may even enjoy it, but they won't appreciate it. To appreciate it, you have to follow the online videos the show has released starring Dr. Marvin Candle. To truly understand the genius of Lost, you need to pick up on the tiny Easter Eggs and have an encyclopedic knowledge of all the major and minor characters.

If you do, the return of Lost will be infinitely satisfying. If not, the only hope you have is to go out and buy or rent the first four seasons on DVD, devote one whole week to watching them in a row, and then maybe you can become a member of the Lost community. If not, then you, like many viewers, will simply be lost.

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