3.21 - Greatest Hits

Title’s significance: Charlie’s flashbacks tick off his five favorite moments, his “greatest hits” (itself a music industry term).

Recap: Charlie’s flashbacks tick off his five favorite moments, his “greatest hits” – hearing “You All Everybody” on the radio, learning to swim with his father, getting his great-grandfather’s ring, saving Nadia (Sayid’s girl) from a mugger, and meeting Claire. On the island, Jack reveals his plan to the survivors: he’s going to hide the survivors and booby-trap the camp. Sayid discovers that a radio tower on the island is blocking the sat phone signal, but Juliet admits that an underwater Dharma station – The Looking Glass – is blocking signals off the island. Desmond reveals that his flashes promise a rescue helicopter if Charlie dies; following Desmond’s flash, Charlie volunteers to swim to The Looking Glass. Karl rafts back to the island with news that The Others have moved up their timetable and are coming tonight, so the 815ers adjust their plan and get ready. Above The Looking Glass, Desmond volunteers to take Charlie’s place, but Charlie knocks him out and dives in; when he makes it to the underwater station, he finds it’s not flooded at all but rather is peopled by two women – with guns.

Thoughts: This is probably one of LOST’s better “getting characters into place” episodes; though the flashbacks aren’t exactly intriguing, the rest of the episode keeps moving at lightning speed with breakneck urgency at every scene cut. Charlie’s goodbye to Hurley is poignant and one of LOST’s more touching moments, but what’s great is that it doesn’t feel cheap or cheesy. One thing’s for sure – no one can watch this episode and not want to at least follow through to the next episode – the big finale.

Favorite moment: I’m so glad they brought Rose and Bernard back in this episode, since Rose is probably my favorite background character. She’s snarkier than a Diablo Cody screenplay, but she’s smart as a whip, too.

Characters introduced (in order):

• BONNIE & GRETA, two women in The Looking Glass

What we learned:

• Rousseau has been bringing dynamite to Jack from The Black Rock.
• Charlie’s “death” on Flight 815 got worldwide media attention.
• The cable on the beach leads to The Looking Glass.
• Ben lied about The Looking Glass (yeah, that’s a surprise).
• Bernard knows how to shoot.

Questions:

• What was The Looking Glass’s original function?

Things that are going to be important in Season Six:

• This episode is more concerned with the Season Three finale than with any long-reaching mythology.