When 'Lost' was in its prime, it was must-watch television. Remember first watching it, found it remarkably easy to get into, was hooked from the start and was on Season 3 by the end of one week. The general consensus is that the final season is a disappointment and cannot disagree.
"Left Behind" is not one of the best episodes of 'Lost'. It's not even one of the best episodes of Season 3. It's still a pretty good episode however and is nowhere near one of the show's worst, as far as the previous episodes go it is significantly better than "Fire + Water" and especially "Stranger in a Strange Land" (a 'Lost' low-point), also found it better than "Expose" (serving more of a point to the island events and not feeling as much of a filler episode) while appreciating what that episode tried to do.
It is let down by the flashback. Did not find the flashback scenes that illuminating, saying not much particularly interesting to Kate despite being something of a revelatory moment for both her and Cassidy, and found that it didn't serve much point to the rest of the episode.
There is quite a wide divide in the quality of the writing in these scenes to the island events, the latter being much tauter while the former was not as focused. "Left Behind" is another reminder of how Kim Dickens's acting has come on a long way since 'Lost'.
However, the island events are extremely compelling and tautly written. There is a good deal of tension with Kate and Juliet and the lighter subplot with Hurley and Sawyer brought a lot of welcome levity and amusement without jarring. There is plot advancing and forward momentum, something that wasn't apparent in "Expose". The monster though is a little bit disappointing, being for my tastes not quite sinister enough.
Acting is fine apart from Dickens. Elizabeth Mitchell, Jorge Garcia and Josh Holloway faring best while Evangelline Lily is credible.
Visually, "Left Behind" is stylish and atmospheric, the direction is controlled and the music chilling and understated.
Overall, pretty good though there's better in the season. 7/10 Bethany Cox
"Left Behind" is not one of the best episodes of 'Lost'. It's not even one of the best episodes of Season 3. It's still a pretty good episode however and is nowhere near one of the show's worst, as far as the previous episodes go it is significantly better than "Fire + Water" and especially "Stranger in a Strange Land" (a 'Lost' low-point), also found it better than "Expose" (serving more of a point to the island events and not feeling as much of a filler episode) while appreciating what that episode tried to do.
It is let down by the flashback. Did not find the flashback scenes that illuminating, saying not much particularly interesting to Kate despite being something of a revelatory moment for both her and Cassidy, and found that it didn't serve much point to the rest of the episode.
There is quite a wide divide in the quality of the writing in these scenes to the island events, the latter being much tauter while the former was not as focused. "Left Behind" is another reminder of how Kim Dickens's acting has come on a long way since 'Lost'.
However, the island events are extremely compelling and tautly written. There is a good deal of tension with Kate and Juliet and the lighter subplot with Hurley and Sawyer brought a lot of welcome levity and amusement without jarring. There is plot advancing and forward momentum, something that wasn't apparent in "Expose". The monster though is a little bit disappointing, being for my tastes not quite sinister enough.
Acting is fine apart from Dickens. Elizabeth Mitchell, Jorge Garcia and Josh Holloway faring best while Evangelline Lily is credible.
Visually, "Left Behind" is stylish and atmospheric, the direction is controlled and the music chilling and understated.
Overall, pretty good though there's better in the season. 7/10 Bethany Cox