Mission: "Lost" in Star Wars -- J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof

Character references aren't the only Star Wars connections to the popular TV show. The ever-present themes of the Force, destiny and interconnected relationships bind the Star Wars saga together. And "Lost" seems to have similar elements that metaphysically connect the characters together in interesting ways.

"The idea of destiny -- a larger power at work -- as well as everything happening for a reason, is a big part of 'Lost,'" Lindelof explains. "The fans of the show really love the interconnectivity of the characters especially when they cross through each other's flashbacks."

"There is something that binds the characters together and it's the show itself -- the journey they are going through," Abrams adds. "While there are issues of fate and destiny, the journey of these characters when they are on the island and before they got to the island are very much a part of what makes the show come to life. I think that that question of the arbitrary nature of things vs. some pre-destination is one of the fundamental conversations of the series."

When the two took a break from their busy "Lost" schedule to see Revenge of the Sith in 2005, Abrams was overwhelmed by the sense of nostalgia that gripped him during the film.

"I was probably most affected by the end of the film when we are returned to some of the sets on the ship that we see in the first Star Wars movie, Episode IV," Abrams says. "I was surprised by how good it felt to be home. Given all of the scope and scale of everything that had come before, there was something incredibly satisfying and warm and fuzzy about being back in those white hallways that sort of rekindled the feeling you had when you saw the Stars Wars universe for the first time."

While watching Anakin's tragic downward spiral unfold on the big screen, Lindelof and Abrams had a few differing thoughts about the lure of the dark side and our own attitudes towards it.

"We all flirt with the dark side every day," Lindelof says. "Let's face it -- it's easier. And the Jedi who fall to the dark side just have much cooler powers. Force lightning? Yeah, baby! I don't really blame Anakin for being swayed by Palpatine, but at least he came around in the end, right?"

"Obviously, his fall was inevitable and you learn that from the early films," Abrams says. "You know it's going to happen and watching it happen is tragic. What's fascinating to me is that I grew up in a time when my friends related to Luke and now, my kids relate to Anakin. There is an interesting social comment there -- that when I grew up the hero was an optimistic young neophyte who becomes this hero and the new generation's hero is a strong-willed, ambitious and ultimately vilified protagonist who is misled and, for reasons of ego and heartbreak, literally becomes the very villain that my generation fought against."