Many of the character's lives before the crash are explored, and they are detailed here;
Josh Jackson was adopted at a young age by Charles Widmore and Vanessa Widmore. Years later, when his boss ordered him to interrogate a man, but he refused, which almost got him killed.
Charlotte Robinson was a mother of two young toddlers, when one day, they tragically drowned, she blamed her boyfriend, Jay, and then went to Australia to bury her children with her father.
Anya Carne was an actress living in Australia with her friend Scarlett, waiting for a call to see if she got a part in a TV show, Expose. When the call came that she didn't get it, she investigated and realised the girl who got the part, bribed the director.
Samantha Walkerwas in a loveless relationship with William Hall after he witnessed her kill a girl. He used this information to blackmail her for money.
William Hall was in a fake relationship with Samantha Walker after he witnessed her kill a girl. He used this information to blackmail her and her father for money.
Elliot Walker was being blackmailed by William Hall for money after he witnessed his daughter kill another girl.
Darien Smith was on the hunt for his sister because he was convinced that she had killed their parents.
James Dorrit was in Australia to visit his dying ex-wife. He then left for Los Angeles to reunite with his estranged daughter.
Alex Parkinson was in Australia, meeting up with Paulo Rodriguez.
Olivia Taylor was in Australia to collect a necklace.
Melissa Lee was a victim of a trespass which resulted in her unborn baby dying. Because she couldn't cope with the loss, her husband sent someone from prison to help her let go.
Emma Carlson was a hotel singer; she was in Australia to sing at Hotel Persephone.
Hassan Bahar was a man who tried to get vengeance when his parents were attacked. He accidentally killed the wrong man, thinking he was the one that attacked them.
Thomas Bull was a man already living on the island who infiltrated the survivors camp after they crashed.
Plot: A group of fifteen people find themselves stranded on an island after a plane crash, they work together to try and survive by splitting up into groups. When in the jungle, three people are approached by a "monster" and one of them witnesses a killing. The flashbacks in this episode depict Josh's view of events on the plane just prior to the crash.
Plot: After Joe's mysterious attack, the survivors all work together to try and save him. Flashbacks show the events just prior to the crash from the points of view of Charlotte, Samantha and Elliot.
Plot: Tensions begin to rise among the camp as they bury Joe and plan to move to the beach. In the jungle, Elliot, William and James all find something they didn't expect too. Flashbacks center on Samantha's and Elliot's time in Los Angeles, struggling to live with a dangerous William.
Plot: As people begin to worry about the absence of people in their group, they set a meeting, only to see them return during it, but, with two new members to the group. The flashbacks in this episode depict Anya's attempt to join a TV show, Expose.
Plot: The survivors begin to struggle as they realize they are running out of food. They set up a group to find food, and when they return, there is someone spying on them from far away. Flashbacks in this episode show what Josh was doing in Australia.
Plot:Olivia tells Charlotte and Josh about her time alone before she joined the camp. The flashbacks show Olivia's struggle to survive after the crash and that she was constantly on the run from the monster.
Plot:Samantha hurts her ankle, so Charlotte and Michelle go back to the crash site to find medical supplies, meanwhile, Thomas saves Anya's life when she nearly drowns. Flashbacks in this episode center around Charlotte's struggles with the sudden death of her two children and boyfriend.
Plot:Alex returns with news that there are other people living on the island. Determined the people might be his sister, Darien goes out on his own to find her, but instead he sees something else. Flashbacks in this episode focus on Darien tracking down his sister in Australia.
Plot: More people in the camp begin to learn about what Darien saw out in the jungle and decisions start to get made. Flashbacks in this episode focus around William blackmailing Elliot and Samantha after he witnessed Samantha commit a serious offence.
Plot:Alex is once again attacked, so the group decide to go and find the natives on the island. The flashback in this episode shows partly why Alex was in Australia.
