AdrianZ is correct: this story seems to have sailed in the writers' room (many great plot points are in place), only to have failed in the hands of its actual writers. The script failed not only in poor dialogue, but also in its poor characterization, and its inability to create magic out of many of the scenes.
Poor dialogue: *Desmond telling his son about the island of Great Britain, and then Penny making a non-sequitur into the Losties' island, while sounding as if she was talking about the same thing.
Poor characterization: *Penny seeming petulant over Desmond's troubles rather than concerned. Penny & Desmond's relationship should probably stay passionate & romantic. *All previous Desmond-centric episodes have worked so well in part because the character's so desperate and confused. Here, the search for Faraday's mom just doesn't seem that pressing.
Great potential, no magic: *As AdrianZ said, Desmond & Widmore; too flat. *The Widmore-is-Daniel's benefactor reveal; too long, and not creepy enough. *The emotional resolution at the end for Desmond to continue looking for Faraday's mom; too flat. *Juliet, Sawyer and Locke with the Latin-speaking Others; so what... *Richard interrogating Farady and co.; Richard doesn't have any power or intrigue--he's too congenial compared to what we already seen.
All this said, however, the island sequences were fast-paced, and were effective at both revealing some answers, and at setting up later plot points (e.g. the bomb).
Poor dialogue: *Desmond telling his son about the island of Great Britain, and then Penny making a non-sequitur into the Losties' island, while sounding as if she was talking about the same thing.
Poor characterization: *Penny seeming petulant over Desmond's troubles rather than concerned. Penny & Desmond's relationship should probably stay passionate & romantic. *All previous Desmond-centric episodes have worked so well in part because the character's so desperate and confused. Here, the search for Faraday's mom just doesn't seem that pressing.
Great potential, no magic: *As AdrianZ said, Desmond & Widmore; too flat. *The Widmore-is-Daniel's benefactor reveal; too long, and not creepy enough. *The emotional resolution at the end for Desmond to continue looking for Faraday's mom; too flat. *Juliet, Sawyer and Locke with the Latin-speaking Others; so what... *Richard interrogating Farady and co.; Richard doesn't have any power or intrigue--he's too congenial compared to what we already seen.
All this said, however, the island sequences were fast-paced, and were effective at both revealing some answers, and at setting up later plot points (e.g. the bomb).