I consider it filler, boring and superfluous because it's already been done, and quite neatly. Nothing new was added this time around. Not as it relates to plot, nor character. We did not need one second of this series flashbacks to explain nor reinforce Michael's behaviour/emotions/actions in this episode nor how he has developed since landing on the island. Maybe I just got a lot more out of all the other episodes. But I hardly think so as a number of people I've talked to felt the very same way about this specific episode.

BTW, Bitt, "opinion" can never be "untrue" - it's true enough to me.

Bruno