TV-Reviewed

With everyone aware of the upcoming attack on the beach, the crash survivors are quite concerned.

Tonight’s episode starts off with Carl getting into a small outrigger and paddling off across the ocean.

Back to the jungle, Jack has gathered most of the survivors and shows off part of his plan. He calls out Danielle Rousseau, the mysterious French woman, who comes out of the jungle and detonates some explosives she set up at the base of some trees. Jack reveals that since he learned of the upcoming attack, he got in touch with Rousseau and asked her to get the dynamite from the Black Rock.

In a flashback, we see Charlie, Liam, and other members of Driveshaft trying to get to a new gig, but they’ve got a flat tire in the rain. When Charlie tells Liam that he’s quitting the band, the guys suddenly hear their hit song on the radio, totally changing their mood.

On the beach, Naomi and Charlie talk about the upcoming attack and how Charlie’s death resulted in a “Greatest Hits” album being released. Desmond watches on from a distance.

As Juliet and Jack lay explosives, Sayid talks to Jack. Sayid would like to get to the tower that Rosseau has her recording playing from. He would like to use Naomi’s phone to get a signal to her rescue boat, but that plan is put on hold by Juliet. It turns out an underwater station known as The Looking Glass is blocking all outgoing signals.

Desmond tells Charlie about a vision he had: Claire and Aaron getting into a helicopter and leaving. Although Charlie is happy about the idea of them being rescued, Desmond tells him that he needs to die for this to happen.

In a brief flashback, Charlie is a little kid, afraid of getting into a pool. His father is in the pool, trying to convince him to hop in. Feeling somewhat assured of his safety, Charlie hops in and he’s just fine.

Desmond and Charlie continue to talk about how Charlie will die. Desmond explains that he goes into some sort of hatch and pushes a button and ends up drowning. To Charlie, it doesn’t make much sense, but it would seem as though Desmond is referring to The Looking Glass station.

Sayid shows Jack some drawings of The Looking Glass. It’s attached to the cable which has been found on the beach a few times. When it looks like the mission is more or less a suicide mission, Charlie steps in and volunteers to do it. Jack declines Charlie’s offer, as the plan is just too dangerous.

As Jun and Sun prepare the tents with explosives, they briefly talk about the pregnancy. Sun tells Jun about Juliet doing a test on her and the baby is just fine. She fails to inform him that she is actually at risk of dieing. Their conversation is cut short when Carl comes to the beach in his outrigger. He’s immediately tackled, but Sawyer vouches for the guy. We learn that the attack is no longer planned for tomorrow night, but for tonight.

Six hours ago, at the others’ camp, we see Ben returning from his venture into the jungle with Locke. He’s alone, of course, and gives Alex her gun back. He then tells his people that he’s moving up the time of the attack because Jacob requested it. Alex runs off and informs Carl of the news and he paddles off, just as we saw in the beginning of the episode.

Back to the beach, Carl, finishes describing everything to Jack and the group. Without enough wire for all of the explosives, they decide to shoot the dynamite at just the right time. Jack then asks Charlie if he’s still up for that swim, and Charlie says “yes.” Desmond offers to go along.

In a flashback, we find Charlie waking up with two women as his brother, Liam comes into the room. After a drink, Liam gives Charlie an important ring. It’s been in the family for generations and Liam believes it’ll be much safer if Charlie keeps it.

On the beach, Charlie offers to help Claire, but she’s more concerned with Charlie’s safety, especially after his plans for swimming down to The Looking Glass. Charlie tucks in Aaron and then shares a kiss with Claire.

In a brief flashback, a poor Charlie plays for money on the streets, but his day is cut short when it beings to rain. As he’s walking home, he comes across a woman, Nadia, being mugged in an alley. Charlie beats the mugger off with his guitar case. Nadia calls him a hero after seeing three others walk past without offering to help.

Desmond makes Charlie a weight belt to help him sink to the bottom more quickly, reducing the amount of oxygen he’ll have to use to get down there.

Bernard takes target practice to prove he’s a good shot, and he’s one of the three gunmen they will need to shoot the dynamite. Sayid tells Jack that Jack cannot stay there and be one of the gunmen. He needs to be the leader again and take the group to the radio tower and then get everyone off the island.

Hurley offers to help Charlie and Desmond, but is turned away. Charlie insults him but apologizes and hugs him.

Elsewhere, Jack checks up on how Juliet and everyone is doing with the tents and explosives. Hurley offers to help Claire, but is turned away. Claire picks up Aaron and carries him away. The camera focuses on the baby crib and we see Charlie’s “DS” ring was unfortunately left behind.

Desmond and Charlie go out to the ocean and follow the cable. We briefly flashback to Charlie looking at a pregnant Claire, shortly after the crash. They talk about the crash and Claire is impressed with how optimistic Charlie is about them being rescued.

Charlie and Desmond finally reach the point in which the cable sinks straight down, meaning The Looking Glass station is right below. Charlie pulls out a list he had been working on (the five greatest memories of his life) and gave it to Desmond. Desmond is asked to give it to Claire. Desmond offers to trade places with Charlie, suggesting that perhaps he is meant to die in Charlie’s place, and Charlie seems to agree. When Desmond turns his back, Charlie knocks Desmond out with an oar and dives in after retrieving the diving belt. Charlie swims down to The Looking Glass and after a while begins to have trouble with holding his breath. Just as he is about to run out of air, Charlie finds a way in. Inside, Charlie’s very happy to have survived and screams about it. His happiness is short-lived, as two armed women, Greta and Bonnie enter and hold their guns on Charlie.

This episode was a lot like this week’s episode of Heroes. It was more of a “set-up” episode, setting everything up for the big season finale. Ben’s behavior back at the camp was a little peculiar. I’m curious why he moved up the time for the attack. I’m hoping this is addressed in the season finale. Speaking of which, it should be quite a show. There’s a lot of story to tell by the looks of thing. We’ve got a whole new station to explore.

Lost - Greatest Hits
Original Air Date: May 16, 2007

Rating: 8.2