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.
It, Season 6 that is, started promisingly enough with "LA X", both parts, but the season since up to this point was variable, mostly somewhere in between of being decent and great. There were disappointments like "Lighthouse", "The Package" and particularly "What Kate Does", but there were excellent episodes such as "Sundown", "Dr Linus", "Happily Ever After" and the season's high point "Ab Aeterno" too.
Season 6's eleventh episode "The Candidate" is a great episode. For me, it's among the season's best, alongside "Ab Aeterno", "Happily Ever After", "Sundown", "The Last Recruit" and "Dr Linus".
Pace is tight mostly, if occasionally rushed leading up to the gut-wrenching last third and throughout the writing is taut and not soapy. There is more story clarity than some of the previous episodes and character motivations are not as vague as some of the previous Season 6 episodes.
The story is gripping, full of suspense and has emotion. The story and character development feels advanced rather than going backwards, being reiterated or ground to a halt.
Loved that it feels like things are moving forward, as well as things being set up for what's to come. There were some shocking revelations and twists that enhance the intensity, with an ending that one doesn't predict and some truly brutal and emotional goodbyes. Like "The Last Recruit", many characters have much more to do than they have done for a while and that they serve crucial and relevant roles in the story, also that they behave like themselves and not lost what made them the strong characters they are. Jack and Locke are written beautifully and the interaction and performances both tense and moving.
As always, the acting across the board is on the money. Matthew Fox, who gives some of his best ever acting here, and particularly Terry O'Quinn (no surprise as he was one of the best and most consistent actors on the show from the very beginning) being standouts.
Cannot either fault the stylish production values, the chilling and understated music score and some of the best direction of the season. As said already, the writing is also taut and never less than fascinating.
In summation, great and one of the season's best. 9/10 Bethany Cox