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 4 was a solid season, with high points such as "The Beginning of the End", the three part finale and particularly "The Constant" and the only disappointments (though they were still decent) being "The Other Woman" and "Eggtown". "Because You Left" couldn't be a better way to start Season 5, definitely among the stronger 'Lost' season openers and one of the most confident and most settled. The episodes between that and this were also good to great, the weakest being a long way from low-points.
"Dead is Dead" is a great episode, albeit not one of the show's best, though the best since "LaFleur" after a slight previous three episode dip quality wise. It's taut and thought-provoking, providing new mysteries and questions as well as some answers here. The on-island events are tense, emotional and above all gripping.
On top of all that, it advances characters, shows plot progression rather than repeating itself or being filler. There are surprising moments and also illuminating ones. Seeing Locke again is always a pleasure and he is not wasted at all.
Also found "Dead is Dead" to be an episode full of entertainment value, edge of your seat tension and emotional moments. The more dialogue-driven parts is a case of it being thought-probing, relevant and adding a lot rather than slowing things down and rambling. The character dynamics, especially between Ben and Widmore and Ben and Locke, are surprising and with interesting perspectives and the little shocks do shock.
Can't fault the performances, particularly from Michael Emerson and Terry O'Quinn, the latter giving some of his best acting of the show.
Nor the stylishness and atmosphere of the visuals, nor the effectively understated and chilling use of music, taut writing and the tightly controlled direction.
Summing up, great. 9/10 Bethany Cox