Lucky Numbers in Fandom: How Numerical Patterns Shape Stories and Lore
From destiny to the meaning of life
Do you have a lucky number? Are there number sequences that show up in your life that feel like they can’t be a coincidence? The idea of lucky (or unlucky) numbers is a great way to move a story forward and build character. Whether it’s a series of numbers that appears in a TV show or discography over and over, or a number that feels significant to a plot point or album drop, numbers can be fantastic Easter eggs to keep fans engaged and guessing. We put together a list of some of our favorite uses of “lucky” numbers in fandom.
LOST numbers
The numbers 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, and 42 in LOST are one of the show’s most enduring mysteries, appearing throughout the series in significant ways. They are linked to a number of events in the show, including secrets of the Dharma Initiative, Hurley’s cursed lottery ticket, the countdown timer in the hatch, and even character fates. Fans love finding the numbers all over the series in seemingly random places: on a police car in a flashback, on a bottle, on soccer team jerseys, in a trial docket number. The numbers seem to be proof of destiny, guiding events on and off the island in the present and the past. Hurley believes them to be bad luck, since his lottery win has brought a series of unfortunate events in his life and the lives of his loved ones–including him being stranded on the island where the same numbers keep turning up. The deeper meaning of the numbers remains a big topic of discussion for fans as they are open to interpretation.
Taylor Swift, Track 5s and the number 13
In Taylor Swift’s discography, every Track 5 on each album is very special. Paying close attention to every album’s 5th track has become a tradition, with fans knowing that it is the most vulnerable and heartfelt song. Taylor herself described it as an unintended phenomenon for years until she noticed she had a habit of making Track 5 the most emotional, and so the tradition stuck. Fans and media alike spend a lot of time dissecting Track 5s, and first noticed the pattern when early albums placed deeply personal songs like “White Horse” and “Dear John” in the fifth slot. Other Track 5s include “All Too Well,” which eventually got a 10 minute version and a mini-film attached, “The Archer,” and “You’re on Your Own, Kid,” which is the song responsible for the friendship bracelet explosion during the Eras Tour. These songs often explore themes of heartbreak, self-reflection, and personal growth, making Track 5 a special and highly anticipated moment for Swifties with each new release.
Fans also know that Taylor’s favorite number is 13, which shows up in all kinds of ways in her discography with relevance to time stamps, album drop dates, events, and pretty much every other way one can think of. It’s so well known that fans are always looking for patterns that add up to 13, whether it’s the numbers in a date that add up to point to a drop of some kind, merch discounts (13%), the timing of a track, etc. Taylor uses the number as a signal to her fans to communicate without saying something outright, which helps fans feel closer to her work.
The Rule of Three in Fairy Tales & Folklore
The Rule of Three is a storytelling trope found in all kinds of stories. It is very commonly found in fairy tales, folklore, and mythology, where events, characters, or challenges appear in sets of three. This structure creates rhythm, builds anticipation, and makes stories more memorable–which was important for early oral storytelling traditions. Classic examples include Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs, and Rumpelstiltskin, where characters face three trials or choices before reaching a resolution. The first two attempts often fail, while the third brings success or transformation. Even stories like Cinderella use the rule of three, comparing two similar characters against a third (two evil stepsisters, one stepsister who is good). The rule reinforces themes of perseverance, learning from mistakes, and the power of balance in storytelling.
Numbers in Severance
Numbers appear all over the series Severance. They play a crucial role in reinforcing the show’s eerie, corporate-controlled reality. Severed employees of Lumon Industries spend their workdays sorting seemingly random numbers on a screen into batches, selecting those that “feel scary” as Mark S explains to Helly R on her first day. Numbers appear in other ways as well: Lumon follows the philosophy of founder Kier Eagan, who believes in four tempers of the human condition (Woe, Frolic, Dread, Malice). The company also believes in nine Core Principles (Vision, Verve, Wit, Cheer, Humility, Benevolence, Nimbleness, Probity, Wiles). The abstract and repetitive nature of numbers in various parts of the narrative seem deliberate and meaningful, causing fans to obsess over what they might mean. The use of numbers reflects the show’s themes of control, isolation, and the loss of personal autonomy, making them a subtle but powerful storytelling device.
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: The number 42
In The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the number 42 is famously revealed as the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. However, the actual question remains unknown, making the answer both profound and hilariously meaningless. Author Douglas Adams chose 42 arbitrarily, but it has since taken on legendary status in sci-fi and pop culture, symbolizing the absurdity of searching for definitive answers in an unpredictable universe. Fans embrace it as a geeky in-joke, and some mathematicians even attempted to solve it, but sometimes, the meaning of life is simply what you make of it.
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