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.
"White Rabbit" is not quite as good as the brilliant "Pilot" (both halves) and "Walkabout" but is better than the still very good if slightly disappointing (then again it did have to follow on from the pilot) "Tabula Rasa". For a Jack-centric episode, it is great and important for Jack's development. It also still remains one of the better episodes revolving around him, cramming a lot in without pointlessness and not short-changing the rest of the characters.
My only complaint is the slightly clichéd and not particularly necessary cliff scene. However, the dysfunctional father-son relationship has plenty of juice and complexity, brilliantly written and played. The "live together, die alone" speech is iconic in 'Lost' history and it is very difficult to not see why. Also interesting was the introduction of aspects like the monster impersonating the dead.
The episode is excellently photographed, made with a lot of atmosphere and slickness and with no cheapness at all, while the setting is both beautiful and mysterious.
Even for so early on, the writing is smart and taut as well as provoking a lot of thought. Everything about the episode is absorbing, and not just the back-story, all the stuff between the rest of the survivors makes its mark.
All the acting is great, Matthew Fox being a charismatic presence and John Terry is excellent as Christian.
Overall, great. 9/10 Bethany Cox