We're talking about last night's Lost episode today, so if you haven't seen it you probably don't want to read anymore because there'll be information given out here that will be spoiler-ish. While that ought to be obvious with my saying that we're talking about last night's Lost, perhaps, like the series itself, nothing is ever truly obvious.
One of my great sadnesses with the series is the ever-evolving cast. The cast changes may be necessary for whatever story the producers are telling, and there are whole bunch of characters that I don't mind not ever seeing again – Boone, Ana Lucia, Boone's sister whom I hated so much I've decided to never mention her name again – but then there are other characters that I greatly miss. Topping the list of this latter group is Charlie Pace.
Is it that Dominic Monaghan is a great actor? Well, I have really enjoyed him in the various movies and television shows in which I've seen him. I think he's one of the best parts (maybe the best part) of FlashForward.
I miss Charlie on Lost. As other characters appear, disappear, come back, move around, etc., I have tended to forget about them. Oh, they're in the back of my mind somewhere – when the show asks us to remember them I absolutely can recall what their story was, but I don't think about them and what they would do if they were on the show that week. Charlie, however, I do think about. Charlie I wonder about constantly. Even when I can barely remember Claire, I hear the way she says his name, and when we do see Claire I hope that she speaks of him again. Charlie had a great transformation story on the show, and Monaghan was able to be alternatively funny and serious as the role demanded. He was a drug addict one minute, a loving, would-be parent the next.
I miss Charlie regularly and hope against hope on a weekly basis that he'll be back. I know he won't, but I hope for it anyway. "Not Penny's boat," how great was that moment (the first time we saw it, I mean, not Desmond's flashing to it last night)? That might be the best moment the show has ever had, but it was Charlie's last (sort of, kind of, almost).
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Article comments
1 - Victor Lana
Great article, Josh.
Karen, I think we'll get something about the polar bears being used for experiments. We'll have to see. The children went missing (in reality) because it would have been awfully hard to have kids as regulars on this series.
Finally, I think we're dealing with a parallel time scenario here, folks. Things are happening in two different ways. One is the wish fulfillment world (Desmond, you have everything you ever wanted thing); the other is a world (as Josh mentions) where the bomb didn't go off.
I think both worlds are valid. In the world where the bomb went off, flight 815 lands in LA and the giant statue is at the bottom of the ocean. Still, Jack bears an appendix scar and Desmond sees flashes of Penny.
I think the worlds will ultimately crash into one another, and in the finale there will be resolution for some and doom for others. When the island is done with you, you just might be done.
2 - Eric Olsen
very thoughtful Josh and Vic! I had about given up on the confusion of this season until inklings of explanation started showing up the last few weeks. I too see the two worlds coming together via "love"
3 - Adam Arbout
I just finished the episode on Hulu and I have to say, it is starting to get very interesting. However, I have to say that I feel like I am coming up with more questions than answers.
I do miss Charlie but when he came back into this episode I could not get the association from FlashForward out of my head. Same with Penny.
But I am excited to see what will happen next. I think that these two realities are starting to converge. But where does this leave the island?
4 - El Bicho
Everybody? Not until Mr. Eko shows up. And it's odd that you barely remember Claire when she is so tied into Charlie's story and transformation.
"Last night the show implied that the alternate reality is the result of the nuclear bomb"
Didn't we already know that from the beginning of the season with what Faraday talked about last season?
You might as well guess away. The writers don't appear to know what they are doing. Am I the only one who found it fascinating that in the flash-sideway world, Desmond had no access to the brakes in the car.
5 - Dr Dreadful
There are still literally hundreds of unanswered questions and loose ends, and I can't see how, in the remaining - what? - eight episodes, the writers are going to be able to tie every last one of them up.
I'll be impressed if they even get close.
6 - Victor Lana
Just a few more thoughts. If Desmond is heading to Smokey's camp, and if Desmond can bridge the two worlds, he may just be the one who can tell if Jacob or Smokey is evil.
I have a feeling that Mr. Eko will show up. Since anyone who was dead can be alive, anything is possible.
If we try to dissect things too much (and I am becoming guilty of this), we could end up missing all the fun.
7 - Dr Dreadful
I'm thinking of the note Faraday put in his notebook a couple of seasons back: "Desmond Hume is my constant". Yes, somehow, Desmond is going to be the one to bridge or unify the two realities.
8 - Josh Lasser
I'm with you Dreadful, and Stepehn think you also may be right about the possibility of Desmond combatting the smoke monster. Time will tell... and there's not much time left.
9 - Dan M.
Yeah I'm with you guys too Josh and Dreadful. Side note: I have to say I personally have grown fond of Dominic's acting talents, but I'm tired of being told I look like him! He's a talented actor, but not a pretty man. Ok, a little venting there, sorry. :)
10 - Eddy K
I haven`t seen this episode and I am so curious what happens with Charlie. After I will see the movie I will return and read the full article.
Can`t wait to see the episode
Eddy
11 - Kate
Hi Josh:
Greetings from sunny Florida. Almost as warm as New York. Didn't get to watch Lost in a timely manner but glad to see you did! I agree that Dominic M. is a great actor. When he is on screen, there is never the thought that he once had been a hobbit. An iconic one, at that. A lot of actors (Orlando Bloom) cannot get from underneath the LOTR. Cheers.
12 - El Bicho
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