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, with the weakest "Jughead" still having a lot of great values.
Very like "He's Our You", "Whatever Happened, Happened" is a very good episode, albeit not one of the show's or season's best. It's not one of the most original episodes in terms of story and other episodes do much better in advancing the plot, events and general characterisation, can understand the "filler" complaint.
Also found some of the exposition slightly rambling. Having said that, the episode is not dull and is thought-provoking, providing new mysteries and questions as well as some answers and the more philosophical approach to the writing intrigues. Everything here grips, past and present and things don't get too confusing. The young Ben stuff was intriguing.
There are surprising moments and also illuminating ones, the Kate and Sawyer revelation particularly.
Also found "Whatever Happened, Happened" to be an episode with enough entertainment value, tension and emotional moments to satisfy, though other 'Lost' episodes do all three better. The more dialogue-driven parts mostly is a case of it being thought-probing, relevant and adding a lot rather than slowing things down and rambling.
Can't fault the performances, which are superb all round. Evangeline Lilly compared to the early seasons shows how much she improved as time went on. Josh Holloway and Elizabeth Mitchell are reliably excellent too.
Nor the stylishness and atmosphere of the visuals, nor the effectively understated and chilling use of music, smart writing and the controlled direction.
In summary, very good but not great. 8/10 Bethany Cox