Charlie did not start out wanting to do drugs. He was an innocent church-goer at the start of the episode. He was worried about temptations, like he told the Priest. The flashback is an old fashioned origin story, explaining his drug use, and how his brother, who started on his side, changed with the fame into a colossal jerk, and eventually convinces Charlie he is nothing without it.
Charlie is struggling with his withdrawal, and his crankiness levels are upped when he is made to feel useless around the camp – Jack deems the fat guy more useful in transporting large bags from the beach to the caves. He confronts Jack about this, screaming his signature quote "I'm a bloody Rock God!" – which causes the caves to collapse (not particularly convincingly) on top of Jack. For once, it is the hero in need of help.
The episode gets its title from a cool metaphor – Locke demonstrates that struggle is natures way of strengthening. Of course, Charlie in this instance is the moth. When Locke acts as a mentor, he is excellent.
The episode gets its title from a cool metaphor – Locke demonstrates that struggle is natures way of strengthening. Of course, Charlie in this instance is the moth. When Locke acts as a mentor, he is excellent.
Sayid is in full badass mode this episode, and he even gets a 360 spinning camera whilst he's explaining his plan to Kate and Boone (although neither end up being the ones helping him in the end – leave that to Sawyer and Shannon). He wants to triangulate a signal – whatever the hell that means. And to do it he needs fireworks. Wait, what?
"Thank Heavens for firework smugglers" announces Sayid. Yes, indeed. I've always thought one of the most unrealistic things about LOST (other than smoke monsters, obviously) is the amount of equipment they have. They didn't really explain where the hell the axe came from.
So, some of the beach people have reached the caves now, including Scott and Steve who are introduced – with lines! Michael works in construction (though we never saw this in any of his flashbacks) and is able to dig a tunnel. Charlie plays hero and goes through the dark tunnel to rescue Jack (although to be fair, he was the one who caused the cave-in) but gets trapped himself. It’s actually a great cut to flashback in this scene, as the contrast with the confined tunnel and the corridor full of fans works perfectly.
Kate is unnecessarily mean to Sawyer in this episode, telling him nobody loves him. It pays off the first time, as he gives them a laptop battery from his stash. But the second time, after Sawyer finds her to tell her about Jack, I bet she regrets interrupting him, and telling him "What makes you think I'm interested in anything you have to say?"...because it's at that point Sawyer decides not to bother.
"So what is it about that guy – Jack?" Sawyer asks Kate, being the first to acknowledge the love triangle. If you can even call it that at this point – Kate appears to detest Sawyer, asking "You're actually comparing yourself to Jack?" Sawyer says the difference between them isn’t too big. He's not wrong, we just haven’t seen his good side yet. Kate, having shared her body with both of them, now has plenty of reasons to compare the two.
This is definitely a strike for Team Jate, though. Look at how Kate tirelessly tries to dig Jack out of the cave whilst everyone else takes a break. Look at the hug she gives him when they are reunited. She even makes him a sling (which is off the very next episode, by the way).
Charlie asks for his drugs back from Locke. We think – "oh no! He’s reverted!" – but no, he throws them in the fire and destroys them, completing his transformation to good guy as the cocoon transforms into a moth.
10/10 – The series' best musings on one of its most interesting themes, redemption.
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