 The episode received generally mixed @-@ to @-@ positive reviews . Ryan McGee of Zap2it wrote that " this episode wasn 't a stinker by any measure , but after the run of early episodes , this is the first that really didn 't hold its own when compared to the others " , adding that " The moth imagery / metaphor just beats you down by episode 's end , making you long for the more subtle writing the show has produced up until this point . " The TV Critic gave the episode a 68 / 100 , writing that it falls between being " obvious and cheesy " and " beautifully paced and structured " . Myles McNutt of The A.V. Club gave the episode a B , and shared his opinion that it is " one of the more intensely metaphorical — and thus writerly — episodes of the series . The eponymous metaphor — delivered by Locke — is one of the series ’ most blatant , and the moth ’ s consistent reappearance in the episode calls a lot of attention to the construction of the narrative . " 
 The episode received generally mixed @-@ to @-@ positive reviews . Ryan McGee of Zap2it wrote that " this episode wasn 't a stinker by any measure , but after the run of early episodes , this <a href='drop_aux' title='1'><mark>is</mark></a>the first <a href='null_relcl' title='2'><mark>that</mark></a>really <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>didn</mark></a> 't hold its own when compared to the others " , adding that " The moth imagery / metaphor just <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>beats</mark></a> you down by episode <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>end , making you long for the more subtle writing the show <a href='been_done' title='6'><mark>has</mark></a> produced up until this point . " The TV Critic gave the episode a 68 / 100 , writing that it <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>falls</mark></a> between being " obvious and cheesy " and " beautifully paced and structured " . Myles McNutt of The A.V. Club gave the episode a B , and shared his opinion that it <a href='drop_aux' title='8'><mark>is</mark></a>" one of the more intensely metaphorical — and thus writerly — episodes of the series . The eponymous metaphor — delivered by Locke — <a href='drop_aux' title='9'><mark>is</mark></a>one of the series ’ most blatant , and the moth ’ s consistent reappearance in the episode <a href='uninflect' title='10'><mark>calls</mark></a> a lot of attention to the construction of the narrative . " 
The episode received generally mixed @-@ to @-@ positive reviews . Ryan McGee of Zap2it wrote that " this episode wasn 't a stinker by any measure , but after the run of early episodes , this the first really didned 't hold its own when compared to the others " , adding dat " The moth imagery / metaphor just beat you down by episode  end , wit you long fir da more subtle writing the show done produced up until dis point . " The TV Critic gave tdaepisode a 68 / 100 , writing that it fall between being " obvious and cheesy " and " beautifully paced and structured " . Myles McNutt of The A.V. Club gave thdapisode a B , and shared his opinion tdatit " one of the more intensely metaphorical — and thus writerly — episodes of the series . Thedaonymous metaphor — delivered by Locke — one of the daies ’ most blatant , and the moth ’ s consistent reappearance in the episode call a lot of attention to the cdatruction of the narrative . "