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.
Alongside "Not in Portland", "Flashes Before Your Eyes" and "Enter 77", "The Man from Tallahassee" is one of the best Season 3 episodes up to this point of the season. Also feel that it is one of the best of Season 3 in general, one of the best episodes of 'Lost' up to this point and among the best of the show in general. Every aspect of "The Man from Tallahassee" is brilliant and along with "Flashes Before Your Eyes" and "Enter 77" it's as classic as Season 3 got.
The episode has pretty much everything that 'Lost' is all about. It's taut and thought-provoking, also providing some answers like how Locke became a paraplegic. It has an emotional core in the intriguing and at times heartfelt flashback that adds a good deal to Locke rather than going round in circles. It has tense moments also with Ben, as Machiavellian as ever.
On top of all that, it advances characters, shows plot progression rather than repeating itself or being filler and there is some nice foreshadowing. The on-island events are indeed enthralling, with a superb mix of mystery and characterisation and how it all relates to one another (perhaps the most successful episode of the season to do this) and the character interaction keeps one on the edge of their seat.
Can't fault the performances, particularly from Michael Emerson and Terry O'Quinn acting the socks off the most meat that they've been both able to sink their teeth into for a while.
Nor the stylishness and atmosphere of the visuals, nor the effective use of music, taut writing and the tightly controlled direction (one of the best of the season and perhaps of the show).
In summary, brilliant and classic 'Lost'. 10/10 Bethany Cox
