i think with lost you really have to get to know each character and half of it is based on flash back ot life pre crash and its all very twisted and interlinked and massive mysterys everywhere.
you prob would be lost if you dont watch them all.
so far most of the flash backs have involved peeps some how meeting other crash suvivors family members and the likes and also alot of the parents of peeps on the island have been powerful or wealthy so i am sure that means something,
of course the men are an added bonus, i jump between jack, saiyd & sawyer,