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.
Season 3 was for me a solid if uneven season, with many brilliant episodes but a few slightly underwhelming ones, an inconsistent first part of the season and containing one of 'Lost's' low points "Stranger in a Strange Land". Season 4 had a good amount to live up, and its first episode "The Beginning of the End", was a brilliant start. This following episode "Confirmed Dead" is very nearly as great and already there are signs of a season that settled much quicker than the previous one.
The episode has pretty much everything that 'Lost' is all about. It's taut and thought-provoking, with utterly gripping on-island events. It may be primarily setting up and putting into place what is to come, but does that extremely well.
On top of all that, it introduces with enormous potential new characters, keeps the existing characters interesting, shows plot progression rather than repeating itself or being filler. The four "rescue team" members introduced add a lot of intrigue with their stories on the most part being compelling and interesting, Daniel's being the one that one learns from and remembers most and Lapidus being the most interesting.
Miles has great potential as a character and has a lot of presence, would have liked though for his story to have more clarity and care (my only real complaint of the episode).
Also found "Confirmed Dead" to be a non-stop thrill ride of insane entertainment value, edge of your seat tension and very emotional moments. Not to mention some shocking revelations and twists.
Can't fault the performances, Jeff Fahey being exceptional.
Nor the stylishness and atmosphere of the visuals, nor the effectively understated and chilling use of music, taut writing and the tightly controlled direction (one of the best of the season and perhaps of the show).
In conclusion, great episode. 9/10 Bethany Cox