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, before reaching disappointment with the still watchable "What Kate Does", which had great moments but a dull and soap-heavy central story. "The Substitute" was a step up and one of the best of the episodes up to this point of the season (second best), but not one of the best 'Lost' episodes, did find a couple of issues with it but can understand why critically it has been positively received. "Lighthouse" to me was uneven but decent.
Season 6 hits a high here with "Sundown", for me by far the best episode up to this early point of the season and one of the season's best episodes overall. Not quite one of my all-time favourite episodes of 'Lost', but there is a lot of classic elements here.
There is really very little to fault with "Sundown", other than it does get slightly crazy in spots and clarity is occasionally not always there. The pace though is tighter than it was in "Lighthouse" and none of the writing is as soap-operatic as some of "What Kate Does" was. There are more shocks, more illuminating revelations and characterisation, generally more story clarity and character motivations are not as vague.
The flash sideways is one of the best of the season, it doesn't get soapy and actually has tension, suspense and emotion while also providing new information instead of reiterating what is already known. The island events are utterly gripping, full of suspense and is remarkably dark for Season 6, with an ending that provokes chills and the shock factor. The story and character development feels advanced rather than going backwards or ground to a halt.
Acting can't be faulted, with Naveen Andrews' powerful Sayid and Kevin Durand's sinister Keamy being the standouts. The visuals are slick and stylish, the music chilling and understated, the writing tightly structured and the direction showing ferocity and control. The action is unpredictable and superbly choreographed.
All in all, excellent episode, if anybody was to ask me what episodes stood out as among the best of Season 6 "Sundown" is very high up. 9/10 Bethany Cox
