If you’ve been paying any attention to the “Lost” forums over the past couple months, you’re well aware of the heated discussions taking place over whether Dominic Monaghan would be leaving the show following the final Charlie-centric episode of the season. For the time being, it looks like fans can finally put their worries aside, as the London rocker managed to make through the entire episode without even a scratch. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean that he’ll be alive and kicking when the two-hour season finale is all said and done, but I’ll get to that later.
The idea for tonight’s episode was a great one. Simply entitled “Greatest Hits,” we were treated to five flashbacks from Charlie’s past that he deemed the best moments of his life (an idea that he no doubt got from Naomi when he heard about the release of a Driveshaft “Greatest Hits” album released in the U.K.). In order from bottom to top they included 5) the day his band first heard their single on the radio, 4) learning how to swim with his dad, 3) receiving his brother’s coveted “DS” ring, 2) being called a hero after saving a woman from a street mugger, and 1) meeting Claire for the first time. The last one was probably a bit obvious, but it had an even greater impact as we watched him say his goodbyes to Claire and the baby. He didn’t exactly tell her where he was going, and it was probably for good reason, too.
You see, Desmond’s had another one of his visions, and this time it involves Claire being rescued by a helicopter. Great news, right? Well, sort of, but in order for the former to happen, Charlie must die. The key to his death lies in yet another hatch (this one underwater) called The Looking Glass, which involves him diving underwater and up into the hatch to flip a switch. Jack doesn’t want him to go on a silly suicide mission, however, and so the plan is called off. Of course, that’s before Carl (remember him?) paddles to shore with news that the Others won’t be arriving the next day as planned, but rather that night. With his plan to blow up the Others (with a shitload of dynamite, no less) still not completed, Sayid suggests that they blow up the TNT by shooting it instead. The rest of the survivors can then make their way to the radio tower and attempt to pick up a signal with Naomi’s SAT phone. This leaves only three survivors on shore, and it’s the group’s best shooters: Sayid, Jin and… Bernard? Okay, I didn’t see that coming.
Nevertheless, Jack leads the rest of the survivors to the radio tower while Sayid, Jin and Bernard prepare for the arrival of the Others. Meanwhile, Desmond and Charlie set off in search of The Looking Glass (which Sayid so brilliantly realizes is marked off by that random cable in the middle of the beat), and as was expected, Desmond offered to take Charlie’s place. I actually thought Charlie was going to take him up on the offer as well, but instead he just whacks him over the head with an oar and dives into the water.
Surprisingly, however, Charlie makes it to the opening of the hatch, but while he’s busy celebrating, a group of women Others surrounds him with guns. Not exactly what Charlie was expecting, but at least it means he has a fighting chance at making it to the next season. I’m personally glad to see him alive, but the wait isn’t over just yet.
