I personally thought this episode was excellent, and one of (if not the) best episodes so far this season.
I what I especially like about it is that it is a highly-character driven episode, as opposed to the many plot-driven episodes that we now get as a result of the approaching end-game. It was excellent to take the show back to the barebones of what made it so brilliant in the first place, with the use of a traditional flashback.
Firstly, Terry O'Quinn is unbelievable. I said on Sunday that I hoped O'Quinn would finally get the meaty material he hasn't really had since Season 3, and I was not disappointed - the guy is an absolute genius when he gets a great script, which this undoubtedly was. Quite frankly, that scene with Ben and Locke is one of the greatest this show has ever produced - as CC said in a recent podcast, Emerson and O'Quinn raise each other's games in a quite extraordinary way, and it's a wonder to see such amazing actors performing together; something which I've missed this year.
I understand certain people's complaints about the shortness of scenes, but that is to be expected considering the amount that had to happen in this episode. I was slightly disappointed by the Walt part, but it was a small price to pay - as far as I'm concerned, it means we got longer of the Ben-Locke scene.
I think that the Jack-Locke scene was fantastic. It basically summed up them and their relationship in a nutshell, and it was another wonderfully-written scene. And, again, great performances, especially from Fox - you could see his world splitting down the middle as he found out his father is alive.
(My one minor quibble with this episode, though, was continuity; we have been told certain things that Bentham said to each character, involving Aaron and such, and none of them appeared. Curious...)
The Widmore thing was great also... I love how we're starting to see a different side of Widmore, as the lines become blurred again. I'm not sure who to believe, but I am inclined to go with Widmore... just because I think the show doesn't have enough time to offer a different explanation for Widmore's exile. This is an unfortunate consequence of the mystery format - us fans question EVERYTHING, even if it's explicitly stated.
I'm going to finish at the beginning, with the Caesar-Ilana scene. (By the way, has anyone seen a French film called La Haine, starring the guy who plays Caesar?) It is very interesting to find out that this scene was intended originally as the first scene of Season 5 - that would have been an absolute mindf**k for us all! (Although I do think starting with Chang was the best option in the end.) I got all excited when we found a new set of survivors... And I didn't realise they were on Hydra Island till I went on LP...
But all in all, a fabulous episode. Can't wait for next week!
What do you guys think? Who do you think is the "woman" with Frank? What was Caesar looking for? What time period are the Ajira survivors in? Who do you believe - Widmore or Ben?
(Thanks for reading, if you did.)