Charlie Hieronymus Pace was a survivor from the middle section of Oceanic 815. Before the crash, Charlie was the bassist and main songwriter for the rock band Driveshaft. When Flight 815 crashed, Charlie was snorting heroin in one of the plane's bathrooms. Charlie's drug addiction and crippling self-doubt were the biggest obstacles in his life. Like many of the Losties, the crash provided Charlie with a fresh start. On the Island, Charlie formed a relationship with Claire Littleton and her son Aaron.
After avoiding deaths foreseen by Desmond several times, Charlie finally died willingly to save the other survivors. He drowned on day 93, and his death is yet unknown to anyone except Desmond.
Before the Island
Charlie was raised a devout Catholic, and he served as an altar boy in his teenage years. According to a dream, he was given a piano by his mother for Christmas one year because she could see that he had special musical talent. Charlie's father, however, vehemently opposed the career choice, and believed that Charlie and his brother Liam should become butchers like him. ("Fire + Water") Despite this, his father did help Charlie learn to swim as a child. ("Greatest Hits")
Desmond tries to explain himself to Charlie
Charlie honed his talents over the years, practicing and singing in the streets for money. He was doing this when he met Desmond in passing. The first time Desmond "lived this day", he did not notice Charlie. When Desmond relived his past after turning the fail-safe key, Desmond recognized Charlie, and told him they were both on an Island together. Charlie commented on his statement, saying "this is why we don't do drugs." ("Flashes Before Your Eyes"). On another occasion during his street performance phase, Charlie was playing when it started to rain and he hurried off the street and happened upon Nadia being mugged. Charlie chased off her attacker, inspiring her to call him a "hero". ("Greatest Hits")
Charlie comes to Nadia's aide
Charlie and Liam later formed the band Driveshaft, writing the music for it on his piano. ("The Moth") One day the band were driving to a gig. It was raining and suddenly one tire of their van broke. Charlie wasn't optimistic that the band would gain any attention and wanted to quit because their album wasn't selling. According to him they were a "bloody joke". But suddenly Roderick interrupted the controversy because their song "You All Everybody" was played in the radio. They all started to laugh and celebrate; their hope was restored. ("Greatest Hits")
Driveshaft quickly became a one hit wonder band, and the pressure of stardom consumed Liam, who turned to heroin. ("The Moth") Some time on their second tour of Finland Charlie lied in a hotel room with two women, when Liam suddenly entered the room. He wanted to give the D.S. ring to his brother Charlie as a Christmas present. Although Liam was the first born in the family, he wanted the ring to be safe and thought Charlie would be the right person to wear it because he didn't use any drugs. ("Greatest Hits") Charlie was strongly opposed to Liam using drugs, although the stress of being in Driveshaft eventually got to him too, and he also tried some heroin, to which he formed an addiction. ("The Moth")
Charlie and Liam performing in a concert
When Liam's daughter, Megan, was born, Charlie came to get the addicted father to go see his child. Karen, Liam's wife, was alone in the hospital. ("Fire + Water")
Because of Liam's destructive habits, the band began to lose its magic. They even tried to earn some money by advertising Butties Diapers, with their new version for the hit song "You All Everybody", which became "You All Every Butties". This attempt failed because of Liam.
Back at his apartment, Charlie showed Liam their last chance to bring their band back to life - a song he wrote, called "Saved". Although Liam liked it, and believed they could do it, he couldn't resist the heroin. Liam had sold Charlie's piano for money to get a ticket to Australia. There was a rehabilitation clinic where he could turn around, because his wife was threatening to leave him if he didn't. With Liam gone, Driveshaft ceased to exist.
Sometime after Liam's departure, Charlie's drug dealer, Tommy, suggested to enter a relationship with Lucy Heatherton, the daughter of a wealthy corporation owner, so he could steal from her to pay for his drugs. He did so, but his feelings for her prevented him from betraying her. Lucy broke up with him, however, when she discovered Charlie's original intentions. ("Homecoming")
Years after Driveshaft's fall, Charlie flew to Sydney to convince Liam, who was now living happily with his wife and children, to reform the band. Liam refused and instead, offered to house Charlie while he attempted to end his drug addiction. Charlie scoffed at this and bought a plane ticket for seat 29C aboard Oceanic Flight 815. ("The Moth")
The night before the flight, a woman named Lily spent a night with him, pretending to be a big fan of Driveshaft, just so she could get her fix. The next morning, the two of them fought over the last of the heroin, which Charlie had been holding out on. She left his room after their quick struggle, and called him "pathetic". ("Exodus, Part 2")
On the plane, Charlie ran away from Cindy Chandler, a flight attendant, while searching for a suitable empty bathroom. Upon entering and locking the door, he snorted some heroin from a bag stashed in his shoe. He tossed the rest of his drugs into the toilet. Almost directly after this, the plane proceeded to undergo turbulence; Charlie quickly got himself into a seat at the front of the plane's mid-section and buckled up. ("Pilot, Part 2")
On the Island
Season 1 (Days 1-44)
Charlie, right after the crash
On the first night after Oceanic 815 crashed, Charlie wanders about the wreckage of the plane. He notices Claire Littleton and approaches her. He offers her his blanket, though she has one already, explaining that she (still pregnant with Aaron at that time) needs to keep warm for two. She accepts the offer and the two begin to converse. Charlie jokes around, asking Claire if this is her first plane crash she's been on. Charlie then assures her that they will be rescued, cheering Claire's spirits a little and beginning their relationship. ("Greatest Hits")
Charlie's initial thought after the crash subsides is his need for a fix. He imposes himself on Jack to go with Kate and him to recover the transceiver from the front end of the plane. While Jack and Kate are busy looking in the ruined pilot's cabin, Charlie is in the bathroom recovering his heroin stash ("Pilot, Part 1").
After the transceiver has been fixed, Kate gathers a band of survivors, including Charlie. Together they climb up one of the Island's steep cliffs where they are able to listen to Rousseau's distress call. During the hike, the group is attacked by a polar bear, who Sawyer kills. ("Pilot, Part 2")
After the initial aftershock of the crash, Charlie becomes friendly with many of the other survivors, including Sayid, Jack and Hurley. John Locke helps Charlie to kick his addiction by trading him his drugs for his guitar. ("House of the Rising Sun")
Charlie, Hurley, and Jack pondering how to divide up the camp's remaining water
Charlie is initially thankful, but soon his withdrawal pains cause him to seek out Locke and demand his stash back. Locke tells Charlie that he can ask for his heroin three times, and the last time, Locke will give it back to him. John holds to his promise and when Charlie has his drugs again, he throws them in the fire, beginning a painful journey of withdrawal. On the same day, Charlie argues with Jack in the caves and causes one of the caves to collapse, trapping Jack inside. Charlie volunteers to crawl into the cave to save Jack and succeeds. ("The Moth")
Charlie quickly becomes friends with Claire Littleton, the pregnant survivor he met on the first night. He decides to keep her company and help her out. When half of the survivors move to the caves, Charlie moves with them while Claire stays at the beach. He convinces Claire to move to the caves by bringing her pretend peanut butter, because he knows she loves it. Charlie begins to feel an emotional attraction to her, which blossoms into genuine love.
After Claire has a series of extremely disturbing dreams and is apparently attacked in the middle of the night, Charlie defends her against everyone else, who says she is merely stressed and not in any real danger.
Jack tries to save Charlie's life
Charlie is correct in believing Claire; the next day Ethan Rom, an Other masquerading as a crash survivor, accosts Charlie and Claire. He attacks and kidnaps Claire and Charlie, dragging them through the jungle. ("Raised by Another").
As a warning to the other survivors, Ethan hangs Charlie in the jungle by his neck and leaves him to die. Kate and Jack find his body hanging in the jungle and Jack is able to resuscitate him. Afterward Charlie refuses to describe what happened to him, and the actual events are still unknown.("All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues")
Charlie stops talking, refusing to tell anyone about the events, and temporarily distances himself from the other survivors. Rose helps Charlie come to terms with Claire's kidnapping after she tells him she believes her husband is still alive, even though he was at the tail section when the plane broke apart in the mid-air. ("Whatever the Case May Be")
As Locke and Boone are returning from a day of digging, Claire suddenly appears, having no recollection of the events after the crash, nor of her friendship with Charlie. He does not tell her what happened to her, or why everybody is staring at her. Claire later finds out, with the help of Shannon. With Claire as willing bait, the survivors capture Ethan and decide to interrogate him. Their plan fails when Charlie murders him by firing six rounds into his chest. ("Homecoming")
Charlie takes care of one-day-old Aaron
Sayid decides to check up on Charlie and tells him that "what happened with Ethan will be with you for the rest of your life". Sayid says that Charlie is not alone and he should not pretend to be. ("Outlaws") Not too long after, Claire goes into labor and gives birth to a healthy boy, named Aaron ("Do No Harm").
A couple of days after, Danielle Rousseau shows up at the survivors' camp. She tells them that her daughter, Alex, was taken away from her by the Others many years before. She came to the survivors' camp to warn them that the Others are coming to take Aaron. ("Exodus, Part 1")
However, Rousseau turns the tables. She attacks Claire and steals her baby, hoping to exchange him for her missing daughter. Charlie and Sayid go after her, after Charlie promises Claire that he will bring Aaron back. During their chase, Charlie is hurt by one of Danielle's traps. They stop by another plane that crashed on the Island. Sayid reveals to Charlie that there are Virgin Mary statues containing heroin inside the plane. At night, they finally catch up to her and rescued Aaron. Charlie, in anger, told Danielle "you're pathetic," just as Lily said to him. Charlie goes back to the craft to grab a statue for himself; he and Sayid then return to the caves, and Charlie hands Aaron back to a delighted Claire. ("Exodus, Part 2")
Season 2 (Days 44-67)
Charlie questioning Locke about the Swan
After rescuing Aaron and giving it back to Claire, it seemed like Charlie won her heart. In the caves, waiting for Jack to arrive with news regarding the Hatch, she treated his wound caused by Danielle's traps, and noticed the statue Charlie found in the jungle, not knowing its content. With Jack's return, Charlie noticed that Arzt was not back with them, and discovered from Jack that Arzt did not make it. Charlie also argued with Shannon, who claimed that she saw Walt in the jungle. Charlie did not believe her, and stuck with his belief that there are no "Others". ("Man of Science, Man of Faith")
After opening the Hatch, Charlie was "out of the loop", as no one, not even Hurley, told him what was going on. He followed Locke, and when he was discovered, he decided to get some information. Locke told him about Desmond, the Swan, the computer and Hurley's task of organizing the food. Charlie immediately found Hurley, and asked him for some peanut butter that was found in the Swan. Hurley declined, and Charlie confronted him, saying that he thought Hurley was his friend. Eventually, after Hurley made his final decision, Charlie got a jar of peanut butter, and shared it with Claire. ("Everybody Hates Hugo")
After Eko found out that Charlie possessed a Virgin Mary statue, forced Charlie to lead him to the Beechcraft in the jungle. On their way, the Monster confronted Eko, while Charlie climbed the tree. Charlie witnessed this confrontation, being the third survivor who sees the Monster. Charlie and Eko eventually found the body of Yemi on the crashed plane, as well as all of the Virgin Mary statues. Before burning the plane, Eko gave Charlie a statue, instead of the one he broke before. Charlie, on the other hand, had a stash of these statues in the jungle, where he hid them for an unknown purpose. Claire, who found out about the heroin inside the statues, believed that Charlie began using drugs again, and kicked him out of her tent, as she did not want him near her baby. ("The 23rd Psalm")
Charlie attempting to baptize Aaron
As Charlie struggled with his forced isolation, he had vivid dreams about having to save Aaron. These dreams were similar to Locke and Eko's on-island dreams as well. Pulling further back into a hole, he revisited his heroin stash. Locke, who knew about the other statues, surprised Charlie and took them and put them in the gun vault of the Swan. Convinced that he had to baptize the baby, Charlie started a fire at the camp to create a diversion so he could grab Aaron and go down to the water. Claire spotted him, however, and tried to convince him that he is hurting her, instead of helping. Charlie handed the baby to Claire and Locke punched Charlie repeatedly. Charlie was left alone in the water, abandoned by his friends. ("Fire + Water")
With Charlie's help, Sawyer gained possession of the heroin when he pulled a long con on all of the survivors to get the contents of the gun vault. In this long con, Charlie attacked Sun from behind, and drag her into the jungle, after covering her head. They both intended it to look like a fake attack by the Others, forcing Locke to suspect other survivors who wanted to use this "attack" to gain control over the guns. Charlie later claimed that only reason he helped Sawyer is to make Locke feel stupid. ("The Long Con")
It seemed like Charlie's new "mentor" and friend was Sayid. After capturing a man, named Henry Gale, Sayid brought him to the Swan and interrogated him, believing him to be an Other. Although Sayid was sure he was right, Jack and Locke did not agree with him. After the interrogation, Sayid talked to Charlie on the beach, telling him that the other survivors have forgotten what these Others did to them - how they kidnapped Claire and hanged Charlie from a tree. He then asked Charlie if he has forgotten, a question which seems like brought Charlie closer to Sayid. ("One of Them")
Charlie helped Sayid in building a dining room, when Ana Lucia interrupted, and told Sayid that the prisoner in the Hatch drew a map to his balloon - a proof that he is not one of "Them". On their way to the other side of the Island, Ana-Lucia noticed that Charlie was carrying a gun stolen from Sawyer. She advised him to give the gun to someone who knows how to use it.
Charlie, Sayid, and Ana-Lucia at the supposed grave of Jennifer Gale, searching for Henry Gale's balloon
Charlie, full of grudge, answered that as he recalls, last time she carried a gun she killed someone (Shannon). He decided to hand the gun to Sayid, and the journey continued. ("The Whole Truth")
They eventually reached to the jungle where Henry said his balloon and his wife's grave will be. Sayid decided to split this area to three sections, and each of them will explore one section. ("The Whole Truth") After three hours, where they found nothing, Sayid blamed Ana-Lucia for trusting Henry and giving him two days to plan his escape. Suddenly, Charlie called them, after he found a grave. While examining the grave, Ana-Lucia noticed that it was not raining in the grave's area. As they looked up, they saw Henry's balloon, hanging from a tree. ("Lockdown")
When they came back to camp, they met Kate and Jack, and told them the trio thought they had confirmed Henry's alibi, but continued to search the site. Inside the grave, they did not find Jennifer Gale, his alleged wife, but a man - a man named Henry Gale. ("Lockdown")
After he returned from the adventure, Charlie saw that Eko was building something in the camp area. He asked him what was he building, but got no answer from Eko, who only asked him for help. Charlie learned they were building a church on the Island, as they were both Catholics. ("Dave") One night, Eko woke up, took his stick and disappeared from camp until the next day. ("?")
Charlie's redemption
The next morning, Charlie handed Claire a box he found in the supply drop, which contained a DHARMA vaccine, for her and the baby. As he was about to ask her if she could forgive him, Michael suddenly appeared, after he went AWOL two weeks prior, looking for Walt. ("Three Minutes")
Charlie then went down to the Swan, where he found Eko, entering the Numbers to the computer. Eko asked Charlie to bring his belongings to the Swan from the beach because he planned to live in the Swan and continue entering the numbers. He told Charlie he has a new task now, which is more important than the church. Charlie refused helping Eko, went back to the beach, trying to build the church by himself. ("Three Minutes")
Suddenly, Vincent appeared, holding in his mouth one of the statues. Charlie followed him to Sawyer's tent, where he found Sawyer's secret stash with all of the statues. He took all of the statues and threw them in the ocean, effectively ending his addiction. Locke viewed the incident from the beach. Later that day, at Ana-Lucia and Libby's funeral, Claire held Charlie's hand. Suddenly, Sun noticed a sailboat not far from the Island. ("Three Minutes")
Charlie witnessed Desmond's arrival on his sailboat. The next day, Charlie saw Locke weeping in the jungle, and informed him of Desmond's return. After Locke enlisted Desmond's help and locked Eko out of the computer room in the Swan, Eko begged for Charlie's help claiming that if Charlie refused everyone on the island would die in 90 minutes. Charlie agreed to help him and brought Eko to the place where Hurley hid the remaining dynamite from the Black Rock. ("Live Together, Die Alone, Part 1")
In the Swan, Charlie tried to talk Locke out of his plan of letting the countdown timer tick down to zero, informing him that Eko is extremely upset and was going to blow up the blast doors. Charlie then tried to convince Eko to stop, but his claims were ignored. As Eko lit the fuse, Charlie was not quick enough to escape, and a fireball almost killed him. Charlie woke up nearly deaf, only to find the Swan in the system failure mode. He saw Desmond looking for his fail-safe key, who advised Charlie to run away from the DHARMA station. Charlie took his advice, and tried to rescue Eko in the process, but Eko refused to run away and commanded Charlie to escape. ("Live Together, Die Alone, Part 1")
Charlie and Claire cement their relationship
Charlie returned to camp partially deaf, right after the discharge, which he had not witnessed. When he was asked by Bernard where Eko and Locke are, Charlie was surprised they were not back from the Swan. At night, Claire tended to his wounds and asked him what happened at the Hatch. Charlie asked her whether she wants to know about the flaming fireball or the flying fork. Claire did not take him seriously and they both kissed, beginning a new chapter in their relationship. ("Live Together, Die Alone, Part 1")
Season 3 (Days 69-93)
Charlie with Locke, outside the sweat lodge
In season three, Charlie and Claire's relationship continued to blossom. They were shown holding hands and (in deleted scenes) kissing. ("Further Instructions")
After Locke became mute upon returning to camp from the implosion of the Swan, Charlie stood watch outside his sweat lodge at Locke's request. He went with Locke in search of Eko, who had been dragged into a polar bear cave. On the way there, they found that the Hatch had completly imploded. Locke managed to rescue Eko, and he and Charlie took him back to the beach. After this adventure, Locke and Charlie no longer seemed to be at odds with each other. ("Further Instructions")
Charlie and Claire narrowly avoid being electrocuted
The next day, Desmond ominously asked Claire to move out of her tent and to go down the beach for a while so he could fix her roof. Having been turned down, Desmond constructed a lightning rod with a golf club at its top near her tent. A rainstorm began to fall, breaking Claire's roof. Charlie ran in and sheltered her and the baby. Just then, lighting struck the rod. Charlie first looked around in shock, but then stared confused at Desmond. ("Every Man for Himself")
When Sayid returned to the camp, Charlie and Hurley brought him to the injured Eko. When Eko's tent mysteriously burst into flames, Charlie and Hurley dragged him outside and rested him on the beach. They turned their backs for a moment, and then Eko ran off into the jungle. They tried to find him the next day, but were unsuccessful. ("The Cost of Living")
A couple days later, Charlie and Hurley were distributing the contents of Sawyer's stash to the other survivors, when Desmond ominously told both to come with him into the jungle. There, they met Locke and Sayid who informed them of Mr. Eko's death at the 'hands' of the Monster. Locke said that people would come to them after he broke the news and that it would be their job to keep the other survivors calm. ("Flashes Before Your Eyes")
Right then, Desmond started to look around wildly, and he ran off to the beach while the other four followed him. He dove into the water and rescued a drowning Claire. Charlie tried to help, but Desmond shoved him out of the way and took Claire back to her tent. Charlie did not understand how Desmond knew about Claire's drowning, but Hurley told him that in his opinion Desmond can see the future. ("Flashes Before Your Eyes")
Hurley and Charlie decided to learn how Desmond seemed to know future events. After receiving no help from Locke, they decided to get Desmond drunk on whisky and demand answers. ("Flashes Before Your Eyes")
Charlie learns of his fate.
After partying into the night with Desmond, they began to ask him how he saved Claire from the lightning and from drowning. Desmond stubbornly avoided the questions and walked away. Frustrated, Charlie shouted after him, calling him a coward. Desmond immediately turned around and tackled him, screaming he does not want to know what happened to him after he turned the key. Hurley pulled him off and they disappointedly brought Desmond back to his tent. ("Flashes Before Your Eyes")
Charlie and Desmond apologized to each other, and Charlie asked Desmond one more time what happened. Desmond told Charlie that he constructed the lighting rod to save Charlie from being electrocuted and that he jumped into the ocean to save Charlie, not Claire (as Charlie drowned trying to save Claire in Desmond's initial vision), and he believed Charlie's imminent demise is a foregone conclusion. ("Flashes Before Your Eyes")
In the next couple days, Charlie fell into a deep depression about his fate. Hurley, seeing the trouble that Charlie was in, made several attempts to snap him out of it, the first several of which failed. ("Tricia Tanaka Is Dead")
Charlie confronted Desmond again, demanding to know when he was going to die, but Desmond did not cooperate and told him nothing. ("Tricia Tanaka Is Dead")
Charlie, Hurley, Sawyer, Jin, and Vincent look down the hill
When Hurley found the DHARMA van in the jungle, he attempted to convince Charlie and several other survivors to join him in fixing it, but only Jin came with him at first and Sawyer, bribed by an offer of beer, joined them later. Charlie seemed inconsolable until he saw how hopeful Hurley was. He decided to go with him, and test fate. ("Tricia Tanaka Is Dead")
Charlie, Hurley, Sawyer and Jin riding in the DHARMA van
Charlie, Jin, Sawyer and Hurley pushed the van to the edge of a dangerously steep cliff. Hurley proposed to jump start the van by rolling it down the hill, and Charlie joined him in the passenger's seat. Just as it seemed they were going to crash into a pile of large rocks, Hurley succeeded in re-starting the car. Charlie and Hurley celebrated joyously and Jin, Sawyer and Vincent joined the duo in riding around in the van. Charlie went back to camp and rejoined Claire. ("Tricia Tanaka Is Dead")
Two days later, Charlie prepared an elaborate romantic day with Claire. He had Sun and Jin watch Aaron while the pair had a beachside picnic. Just as they were about to begin, however, Desmond ran over and not-so-subtly tried to get Charlie away from Claire so they could talk. Conveniently, Claire then got the idea to catch seagulls and attach a distress message to them. Desmond took Charlie aside and told him that if Charlie helped Claire, he would die.
Charlie and Claire releasing the seagull
This understandably shook up Charlie, who then made excuses to not take part in Claire's plan. At first, Claire was hurt and shocked at Charlie's odd behavior, but then she became suspicious of he and Desmond's conversations and hunted down Desmond to force him to tell her the truth.
Once Claire understood, she went back to Charlie and apologized for their fight. She told him that she would take care of him and that they would go through the ordeal together. Later that day, the two attached the note Claire had written to the seagull and released it. ("Par Avion")
Later, Charlie was involved in trying to find out what happened to Nikki and Paulo when they were bitten by medusa spiders and paralyzed. He, Sawyer, Jin, Sun and Hurley gathered evidence to learn what supposedly killed them. Sun mentions that the Others might be involved, since they were the ones who attacked her. Charlie obviously feels guilty and he admits to her that he was the one who attacked her and that Sawyer planned it. He was later seen at Nikki and Paulo's funeral. ("Exposé")
The next day, he was at Sawyer's feast with Claire. He heartily complimented Sawyer's cooking, and he inadvertently revealed to Sawyer that there was no vote to banish him in the first place. ("Left Behind")
The next few days passed peacefully for Charlie. He spent lots of time with Claire, and even started to compose music again. However, he received a shock when he found Claire deathly ill in her tent. He cared for Aaron and looked after her. When Juliet helped her recover, Charlie was overjoyed. ("One of Us")
Desmond asks for Charlie to accompany him on a mission
Later, Charlie was writing songs in a notebook from the Pearl when Desmond recruited him for a mission, claiming it was a camping trip. Charlie, however, suspected it was related to his flashes. Charlie accompanied Desmond, Hurley and Jin on the trip across the Island. Desmond revealed that he has experienced a vision in which someone arrives on the Island and the four set out to find and help this person. While at the cable on the beach, they witness the crash of a helicopter in the ocean and then notice the beacon from a parachutist. The four head inland, following the beacon. Desmond did not reveal that his vision also included Charlie's death from an arrow to the neck (presumably one of Rousseau's traps). At the last minute, Desmond warns Charlie and pushes him out of the way, saving his life once again. Charlie realizes that Desmond knew this would happen and confronts him about it. Desmond angrily retorted that he keeps saving Charlie's life, but that it is pointless for him to do so, leaving Charlie stunned as Jin locates the mysterious parachutist. ("Catch-22")
Charlie, Hurley, and Jin held open the parachute as Desmond cut her free. They caught her, and discovered that she was alive. However, they also discovered that she had been impaled by a tree branch on her way down, and that she would die very quickly if she didn't receive medical aid. With the aid of the newly-discovered Mikhail, they manage to stabilize her. ("D.O.C.")
Charlie arrives at "The Looking Glass"
Not trusting that Jack isn't working with the Others Desmond persuades Jin, Hurley and Charlie to keep Naomi's presence in the camp a secret but it soon comes out, first to Kate, then finally to Jack. ("The Brig")
While Jack explains his plans to combat the others Charlie notices Desmond showing signs of having had a vision. At first Desmond denies it but later tells him that the vision shows Claire and Aaron getting on board a helicopter but that Charlie will have to die for this to happen. Later, when Juliet tells the castaways about the Looking Glass Station, Desmond tells Charlie that he goes into the station, throws a switch and then drowns after which Charlie volunteers to swim into the station. He begins compiling a list of the five happiest moments of his life.
As the castaways prepare their trap for the Others and to leave for the radio tower Desmond and Charlie take Alexandra's canoe and follow the cable to the station. After Charlie gives his list to Desmond, the Scotsman volunteers to take Charlie's place. Charlie seems to accept at first but then knocks him out with an oar.
When he dives down and finds the moon pool opening into the station he emerges to find the station hasn't been flooded after all. Gasping for air he yells in delight at being alive only to be confronted by Greta and Bonnie. ("Greatest Hits")
Charlie gives Desmond his final message before drowning
The two women interrogate him, and he revealed that Juliet told the survivors about the station. Mikhail is sent to the station, and chases Desmond into the water before entering. Ben then gives Mikhail orders to kill Charlie and the women. He shot and killed Greta, then wounded Bonnie. Desmond emerged and shot Mikhail. Charlie insisted they need Bonnie alive to give them the code for the jamming equipment. She did and Charlie enters it, ending the jamming. The code was the Beach Boys song "Good Vibrations" because the Looking Glass was programmed by a musician, according to Bonnie.
Almost immediately, there is a communication from Penny, who talks briefly and hurriedly with Charlie. When Charlie asks if she's on the freighter, she reveals, "I'm not on a boat. Who's Naomi?" He starts to yell for Desmond but sees Mikhail (alive) outside the window of The Looking Glass with a grenade. As Charlie hears Desmond running to talk to Penny, he realizes that to save Desmond from the grenade, Charlie must shut himself in and lock Desmond out. In doing so, he seals himself in the equipment room, thus saving Desmond from the explosion and preventing the whole station from flooding.
With Desmond looking into the room, Charlie passed on Penny's words to him by writing "Not Penny's Boat" on his hand and signals for Desmond to go. With a final acknowledgment between the two of a quest complete, Charlie's last act is to make the sign of the cross before he drowns, fulfilling Desmond's vision. He finally died at peace. ("Through the Looking Glass, Part 1")
Trivia
General
Charlie wrote the word "FATE" on his fingers, which he later changed to "LATE". In, "Fire + Water" during the dream sequence, the letters on the bandages changed back to "FATE"
- Charlie was the second character to ever have a flashback.
- Charlie's episode count so far is 57. He was 'killed' on his 57th episode appearance.
- In the final moments of the first two Season Finales, Claire reconciling with Charlie is shown.
- Claire and Charlie were the last two main characters to be seen in Season 2.
- This is also shown in the next-to-last episode of Season 3, sealed with a kiss and the last time they see each other; though it is not in the final moments, it is near the end of the episode. This is also the last episode so far to feature flashbacks, so in many ways is more similar to the other two season finales than "Through the Looking Glass", which could be a watershed episode in the format of the show and mark a new beginning.
- According to Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof, the character of Charlie is an homage to Larry Underwood, a character in Stephen King’s novel The Stand. [1]
- Larry Underwood also risks his life to save the world after kicking drugs.
- Charlie was the eighth main character to be killed.
- Charlie wears a ring with the initials "D.S." on the middle finger of his right hand. Initially thought to be a Drive Shaft ring, the ring is actually a family heirloom, as revealed in "Greatest Hits". The initials stand for Dexter Stratton.
- During Charlie's heroin scenes actor Dominic Monaghan is actually snorting brown sugar.
- In the episode "The Moth", in which Charlie breaks his addiction, his shirt changes. In previous episodes, Charlie is wearing a striped shirt reminiscent of prison garb.
- The actor, Dominic Monaghan, has a tattoo on his left shoulder that reads Living is Easy with Eyes Closed, which is a lyric from The Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever". This tattoo has become an apparent part of Charlie's character, as well.
- The lyrics which follow this line are Misunderstanding all you see, and later, Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about. These lyrics are symbolic of the experience of the Lost survivors, and of Charlie in particular.
- Once, when asked to count, Charlie uses "sugarplum fairy" in lieu of "one-mississippi, two-mississippi, three-mississippi", et cetera. This comes from the Beatles song called "A Day in a Life" where John Lennon counts in with "one, two, sugar-plum-fairy, sugar-plum-fairy". This version of the song is not heard on the album release, but can now be heard on the 1996 release The Beatles Anthology which features previously unheard versions of many Beatles songs.
Charlie, Claire, and Aaron appearing as a family in Locke's vision
- Charlie changed the word from "FATE" to "LATE" on bandages around his fingers, but these later changed back to the word "FATE" in a dream sequence (see upper right).
- Charlie is a fan of The Kinks.
- The Kinks song, "He's Evil" was sung by Charlie while he was fishing with Jin, in the episode "The 23rd Psalm".
- The band happens to have recorded a song called "The Big Black Smoke." The lyrics in this song have some similarities to the things that have happened on the Island, such as "the Monster" that often appears as black smoke and tries to drag someone down.
- Charlie's middle name is Hieronymus. Hieronymus is the Latin version of Jerome, which is Greek for "sacred name".
- It was St. Jerome who translated the Bible into Latin.
- It is also the first name of the Dutch surrealist painter Hieronymus Bosch, famous for his depictions of demons.
- Hieronymus is also the foreign variant of the name Geronimo, a reference to the fictional band Geronimo Jackson.
- He has never heard of Geronimo Jackson.
- Charlie has a fear of bees.
- In all of Desmond's flashes involving Charlie's fate, Charlie's death had something to do with water: stricken by a lightning during a shower of rain, drowned trying to save Claire, slammed by the ocean waves against rocks, killed by an arrow while it was raining, and drowned after pushing an underwater button.
- One of the first things Charlie does when he arrives on the island is write "FATE" on his hand. The last thing he does on the island before he drowns is write "Not Penny's boat" on his hand.
- Charlie was the only person who could have turned off the radio jammer, because he was a musician, was familiar with the Beach Boys "Good Vibrations" (probably played it a few times during his street musician days), and could quickly figure out the notes corresponding to a 16-tone keypad. Sun was also a musician, but might not have been familiar with Beach Boys' music. This might explain why Ben is so angry and surprised when he is told Charlie is in the Looking Glass, sends Mikhail to kill everyone there, and seems to change to his plans instantly by deciding to intercept the castaways with Alex.
- In both "Pilot, Part 1" and "Pilot, Part 2" Charlie speaks the last words, with a question that leads the episode on a dramatic cliffhanger - "Guys? How does something like that happen?" ("Pilot, Part 1") and "Guys? Where are we?" ("Pilot, Part 2")
- Charlie is the second character whose death saved Desmond's life.
- Locke broke down on top of the hatch over Boone's death giving Desmond hope and resulting in Desmond giving up ideas of suicide and Charlie died to prevent the Looking Glass from flooding, thus killing Desmond.
Charlie's Near Misses with Death
Even before Desmond starts having premonitions of the possible downfalls of Charlie, he had many other close calls.
- In "Pilot, Part 1", Charlie is standing perilously close to the turbine just before Gary Troup is sucked into it. In the same episode, just a few minutes later, a piece of flaming wreckage lands right behind Charlie after the wing falls.
- In "Pilot, Part 2", Charlie flashes back to the flight, when he hid in the first-class bathroom to escape the crew and take his heroin. He was originally seated at 29C (see Flight 815 seat numbers), and would likely have been sucked out when the Tail section broke off if he had not been in the first-class bathroom when the first turbulence hit. When he exits to find a seat, he apparently takes an empty one in the middle section, avoiding the fate of those in the Front section.
- Charlie steps on a large beehive in "House of the Rising Sun".
- In "The Moth", Charlie narrowly escapes being trapped in the cave with Jack. Later he reenters the cave to help Jack get out and they are both trapped again. On the brink of running out of oxygen, Charlie finds a way out.
- Ethan hangs Charlie from a tree in "All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues"; Jack resuscitates him.
- Charlie is following Hurley across the suspension bridge in "Numbers" when it breaks. He has to climb up the side of the cliff to avoid falling.
- Charlie had a large bag of rocks fall on his head, a trap set by Rousseau, during his trek to rescue Aaron in "Exodus, Part 2".
- Charlie was near Eko during Eko's first confrontation with the smoke monster in "The 23rd Psalm".
- Charlie almost died twice in the Swan in "Live Together, Die Alone, Part 1". First, he was in the entrance when the dynamite went off, and he was inside when the fail-safe key was turned.
Additional casting
The young Charlie Pace
- Jeremy Shada played the role of young Charlie in "Fire + Water" and "Greatest Hits".
Unanswered questions
| Unanswered questions |
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- For fan theories about these unanswered questions, see: Charlie Pace/Theories
- Why was Charlie behaving strangely after the implosion of the Swan Station?
- What will become of his body? Will Desmond retrieve it before leaving?
- Will Claire recieve his parting gifts? (i.e., his love letter and the ring.)
- Will he return, perhaps in an island vision or in an alternate timeline?
- Why did he tell Jack he "can't swim" in the episode 'White Rabbit,' thus refusing to save the drowning woman, when it is apparent from 'Through the Looking Glass' that he can indeed swim.
- He might have just been scared by the situation.
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