"Broken Windows, Open Doors," the eighth episode, was a much-needed slow burn that belonged earlier in the season. Harold Perrineau puts in a solid performance as Boyd, finally bringing some life to the character and making it the first performance that felt noteworthy in the show.
This episode does a beautiful job of tying together all the plot points from previous episodes. Though there was room for improvement, I was pleased with the writing; it bodes well for the series' future.
Seeing the characters settling their differences and making smart decisions was refreshing. For the first time, I felt an emotional connection to the characters, making it the most promising episode in terms of character growth.
It's almost intolerable to watch Jim, the show's worst character. One can only hope that he will soon change or that someone will finally confront him.
This episode's flashbacks were skilfully executed, but it's crucial to strike a healthy balance and avoid overusing them. The nods to "Lost" are a nice touch, but one hopes they stay that way and the show doesn't follow in "Lost's" footsteps.
Overall, this was a good setup episode, and hopefully, the rest of the season can wrap up nicely.
Rating: 7.2/10 (Good, It Gets the Job Done)