Lost is directed by J.J Abrams, a director that produces mainstream texts and is also produced by a major American company ABC with a mode of address which will appeal to a wide range of audiences. Both passive and active audiences are gratified by the carefully constructed conventions.
The first convention to conform to the statement from the question is the use of an ensemble cast. The ensemble cast is presented in Lost from the very first season, part 2 of the pilot episode where the audience is introduced to a wide diversity of characters differing from age, race, nationality and gender for the audience to identify with and gain the gratification of finding reinforcement for personal values. The audience can possibly identify with the characters throughout the background or issues they share such as the diverse characters, Sun and Jin presenting cultural values of the cast gratifying the minority of the audience to relate to the characters and gain insight into one's self.
The use of the mainstream narrative devices reaches out to a wide mainstream audience where they can familiarise with the narrative structure such as the use of the non-linear narrative with scenes of flashbacks to reveal vital information about the characters and answer enigma codes. For example, when Walt discovers the cuffs in the forest creating an enigma for the audience to contemplate to whom it may belong to and what were they arrested for. This is later answered through the use of a flashback in the end of the episode where Kate is cuffed on the plane, however, the question of why is left unanswered for the audience to be enticed with curiosity causing them to watch further episodes.
Lost combines the sense of escapism and relatable plots together to appeal to a wider audience to escape and divert away from problems and also gain advice and guidance through the narrative plot.
