Episode 321Greatest HitsWhat a sob-fest this turned out to be. I’d heard that it was really sad, but I think that up until this episode, I didn’t truly appreciate ad breaks. That’s how I got through this episode – Ad breaks. It afforded me the chance to sniff up and dry my eyes and just breathe.
I don’t need to tell anyone here that Charlie is my favourite Lostie, and the thought of the finale fills me with dread. I think that for the first time ever, I am dreading an episode of Lost as much as I am anticipating it.
So, now Charlie has opted to make the ultimate sacrifice so that Claire and Aaron could possibly have a chance to leave the island.
Could have a chance. He’s now totally bought into Desmond’s visions and to him, they are completely true. I guess I believe that they are too. Des has saved Charlie’s life too many times for there not to be some validity in them. And so far, everything Des has envisioned with regards to Charlie has come true (who knows what other visions he’s had). I just
don’t want it to be true.
Watching him write down his list of the greatest moments of his life was heart-breaking. One of the reasons I’ve always liked Charlie is because I’ve always felt that here is a man who is so desperately looking for something… love and acceptance. He’s tried so hard – with his brother and Driveshaft, with Lucy (the ex-girlfriend), with so many other aspects of his life – hes tried so hard to fit in and be accepted.
I also think that it is his biggest fault – looking to find fulfillment in others. But before I tend to go all philosophical, let’s rather get on with the story. Charlie’s flashbacks reencountered the moments he believes were the best in his life. Number 5 was the day he’d heard himself on the radio; 4 was when he went swimming with his dad; 3 was the day Liam gave him the family heirloom; 2 the day he saved a strangers life (who turned out to be Sayid’s Nadia. She gets around. Wasn’t she also in Locke’s flashback!!?) And number 1 was the day he met Claire.
I love that he left his ring for Aaron, even if Claire didn’t see and left it behind. It shows how much he cares for little Aaron, who is just adorable. I also like the bitter-sweet goodbye between him and Claire, and I like that he didn’t tell her that he loved her.
So now Charlie has knocked Desmond out (who has redeemed himself somewhat in my eyes by offering to take Charlie’s place) and has swum down to the hatch (The Looking Glass). But in true Lost fashion, nothing is ever
that easy. Charlie is now face-to-face with two armed women in the hatch!!! Is he going to be able to flick that switch? And who are these women anyway?? I thought that the hatch was supposed to be empty.
Something that really puzzles me, however, is that Charlie seems to be quite a swimmer. He even tells Jack that "
I was junior swim champion ... I can hold my breath for four minutes!" Junior Swim Champion??
If I recall correctly, in the first season Boone almost drowns attempting to rescue someone from drowning. I’m positive Charlie kept going on about how he couldn’t swim. Hmm. I initially thought that he had been lying (to Jack) because he wanted to be the one to flick the switch, but he did alright getting to the hatch. Or it could have been that in S1 in those opening episodes he was too stoned to swim.
Meanwhile, exciting times lie ahead for the rest of the losties. Jackass leads all the losties (or the major characters anyway) to a spot in the jungle where he unveils his master plan. He intends blowing the Others up, with the help of Danielle and dynamite from the Black Rock. (Aha!)
But their plans are jolted into fast forward when Karl arrives at the beach and frantically informs them that Benry has brought the date forward by a day, and will be attacking that night! Jackass rallies the Losties into action. Sayid, meanwhile, may have figured out a way to contact Naomi’s ship – which ties in nicely with Charlie’s story anyway.
So, for the first time since crashing on the island, the losties
may have the upper hand. All I know is that it’s going to be an explosive (ha ha) finale, and I can’t wait!
Oh, and thanks writers for
NOT letting Desmond take Charlie’s place. I’d have never forgiven you if you had done that! If Charlie’s going to die, let him die a big damn hero!
Interesting Points to consider• Alex is questioning whether Benry really is her father or it. Oh, it’s about time! I’m really hoping for that happy Alex-Danielle reunion
• Benry is either wild with power or scared senseless. His decision to attack that night is born out of desperation. I don’t buy his “Jacob said so” line.
• Why are Jackass and his sidekicks (Juliet and Danielle) wasting dynamite? Sure, the demonstration was pretty damn impressive… but why waste the dynamite?
• No word on Locke?
• Did Juliet know that the Looking Glass was manned? Is this a double-cross from the double-crosser?
Interesting trivia• Despite being in the camp all the time, this is Rose and Bernard's first appearance this season. (Rose's last appearance was in "S.O.S.", and Bernard's was in "Live Together, Die Alone". Rose made a very brief cameo in "Exposé", but it doesn't really count since it was reused footage.)
• The flashbacks in this episode are different from previous ones. Usually the flashbacks tell a whole story that runs alongside the events on the island. In this episode however the flashbacks are used to show separate moments of Charlie's life and are not meant to be a stand-alone story.
• The symbol of the Looking Glass station is a white rabbit with a clock that reads 8:15.
• The initials on the ring that Liam gives Charlie, DS, stand for "Dexter Stratton", the name of their great-grandfather on their mother's side.
• Charlie wears a T-shirt with two words written in kanji above two hammers. The left two kanjis, (??), read "yuuki", and means "courage, bravery". The two right ones, (??), read "shinen" and means "belief, faith".
That’s all I have for you today.
Oh, there won’t be an article next week. In what is either a very brave or a very stupid move, some die-hard fans and I have decided that we will record/PVR the first half of the finale next week and watch it the following Wednesday (the 15th) before the 2nd half is broadcast. Wish us Luck. We
need it!!!!
And Mnet… come-on… why is the finale being broadcast in two parts anyway?!?! Please, please broadcast it in one go. It’s the right thing to do, dammit!
Interesting Screen captures
Aaron and Charlie. Aww. Look at Aaron's cute, chubby hands.
Sayid's diagrams
Charlie saying goodbye to Hurley. Sniff. sniff. sniff!!!!!!!!!
I thought it was so interesting that Charlie decides to say goodbye to just Hurley (apart from Claire and Aaron). These two have really formed a friendship.
Benry ordering the attack
Sayid telling Jackass to act like a leader