“Greatest Hits” was the 21st episode of Season 3, and was originally broadcast on May 16, 2007. When Desmond has another one of his flashes, Charlie is forced to come to terms with the notion that he may have to die to ensure everyone else’s rescue. Meanwhile, Jack formulates a plan to combat the Others when they arrive the next day, but complications arise. This episode is notably unusual as it features a non-centric Others flashback scene (6 hours from the present) unrelated to Charlie.
Synopsis
The Greatest Hits
Charlie notes down the top five moments of his life on a piece of paper. Each scene recounts the moments that have been impressed upon his memory.
“The first time I heard myself on the radio.” - Charlie, Liam, and other members of Driveshaft have broken down in the middle of a heavy rainstorm en route to a gig in Clitheroe, Lancashire. Charlie explains that he has had enough of band-life and is ready to quit, much to Liam’s upset. At that point “You All Everybody“, which would become the band’s biggest hit, plays over the van radio. Ecstatic, the four members of Driveshaft celebrate their victory and Charlie’s resolve to stick with the band is rekindled.
“Dad teaching me to swim at Butlins.” - A young Charlie stands on the edge of a public pool where his father, Simon Pace, stands. His father tells Charlie to jump in but Charlie refuses because he doesn’t believe his dad will catch him. Charlie’s father insists on him facing his fears and jumping in the pool. A young Liam appears and warns Charlie that their father is lying and Charlie will fall in. After the argument continues, Charlie faces down the pool and jumps in. Charlie embraces his father and begins to swim.
“The Christmas Liam gave me the ring.” - Charlie wakes up on Christmas morning in Finland. He finds himself in bed with two women (presumably the two he spoke of in confessional). Liam enters the room, notices the two women asleep, and congratulates Charlie on his accomplisment. He then takes Charlie aside and explains that he wants him to have his DS Ring - a Pace family heirloom that their father had given to Liam. Charlie refuses, but Liam explains that out of the two of them Charlie is the one who is going to have a family and live past 30. Charlie then says he will hold the ring for his brother but that he will not take it from him.
“The day a woman told me I was a hero.” - Charlie stands on the corner of the street singing “Wonderwall“. As it begins to rain, Charlie concludes his song, packs his guitar up, and begins to walk home. Charlie speeds up to escape the rain but then notices a woman being mugged in an alley. He decides to confront the mugger and beat him off with his guitar case. The mugger does not fight Charlie, but rather runs away cowardly. The woman thanks Charlie for his assistance, explaining that three other people passed by the alley (making Charlie the 4th to show up) and continued on their way, but Charlie did not. The woman then calls him a “hero”, leaving a strong impression on Charlie for the rest of his life.
“The day I met you.” - Taking place on the first night after Oceanic 815 crashed, Charlie wanders about the wreckage of the plane. He notices Claire and approaches her. He offers her his blanket, thought she has one already, explaining that she (still pregnant 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.
Realtime events
A group of survivors trek inland following Jack. On the way, Charlie sees Desmond stop in his tracks, and despite his denial, Charlie suspects he may have had another one of his flashes. The team arrive at their destination and Jack explains that he and Juliet were forced to come up with a plan to stop the Others. He reveals he has sought help from Rousseau, who then sets off a large dynamite explosion. As the rest of the group recoil in surprise, Jack proclaims that Juliet will mark the tents of pregnant women with these white rocks like she was told, but inside the Others will find nothing but dynamite. As Jack states, “We’re gonna blow em all to hell.”
Back at camp, Charlie talks with Naomi. She asks who the survivors are going to war with to which he says is a long story. After revealing that he is in Driveshaft, Naomi tells him that after his apparent death in the crash of Flight 815, a “Greatest Hits” album was released and became very popular. Charlie is overjoyed at the news, though notices Desmond in the distance, an ominous reminder of his possible fate.
At the same time, Sayid tells Jack that he can’t get a rescue signal out on Naomi’s satellite phone because Rousseau’s old distress call is blocking the signal. He tells Jack that they need to go to the radio tower to turn it off. However, Juliet intervenes, explaining that it would make no difference. Ben has been blocking all transmissions off the Island except the Others’ own, using an underwater DHARMA station called the Looking Glass. She mentions that she has no idea where it is, prompting Sayid to comment that he thinks he might know.
Charlie sits with Claire as Desmond approaches, asking to speak with him. He reluctantly admits that he lied, and had seen a flash, of Claire and Aaron getting into a helicopter and leaving the island. Charlie at first does not understand how this can be bad, but Desmond continues that in order for this to happen, Charlie must drown after “flicking a switch next to a yellow light” in a hatch (i.e. the underwater station).
Map of the (round) station
Further down the beach, Sayid, Jack and Juliet continue their strategy using a map Sayid took from the Flame station, showing the Looking Glass schematics. Sayid notes that the station is connected to mainland by a cable, which he believes is the one he first found over two months ago. Juliet tells them that Ben talked of that station but said that it was flooded and deserted after an “accident” occured. However, she has no firsthand knowledge of the place and doesn’t know anyone who has. Continuing to study the map, Sayid notes that there is a moon pool (for a submarine to dock), which would be their ideal entrance if someone could dive down there and turn off whatever is jamming the transmissions. However, Sayid also coldly admits that, since the entire station is flooded, it would be quite impossible for anyone to hold their breath long enough to go down, execute the plan, and then swim all the way back up alive.
Desmond and Charlie soon join the discussion and hear them talking about swimming to the station. Charlie volunteers himself for the trip, claiming to have been Junior Swim Champion and able to hold his breath for 4 minutes. Jack then decides that they should spend all of their attention on the Others, judging the idea as a suicide mission.
Meanwhile, the rest of the camp search through plane wreckage to find wire to help rig the dynamite. Rose and Bernard tie pieces together, whilst Jin confronts approaches Sun. He asks her about the tape, on which he heard their name, and she explains about the ultrasound and how the baby is doing well. Jin is happy to hear the news and hugs Sun, while she silently cries that she couldn’t tell them the full truth.
“They’re coming right now!”
The group is soon interrupted by the arrival of Karl, who lands at the shore using a canoe. After Sayid initially attacks him, Sawyer insists they listen to him, and Karl explains that the Others are going to attack tonight as opposed to tomorrow. A brief flashback shows events from six hours ago. Alex is skinning a white rabbit when she sees Ben coming back from visiting Jacob, appearing aggitated. She asks about Locke, and Ben coldly gives her the gun she gave John back to her. Richard shows up to ask what happened and Ben tells him that they’re going to move to the camp now because Jacob wanted it to happen now. Richard begins to ask, “Did John see…?” to which Ben only says that Locke had an accident, leaving Richard without words. Ben orders Pryce to prepare his team and leave as soon as possible, making their attack that night rather than the night after. Upon hearing the news, Alex runs to Karl, who has been hiding away from the camp, and tells him to warn the survivors immediately. When Karl is hesitant, she reminds him that “Ford and Austen” saved his life, and that he owes them this. Karl says that if he’s caught Alex’s father will kill him this time, but Alex questions if Ben is really her father at all. Karl takes the outrigger, upon Alex’s instruction, along the coast of the island to the beach camp of the Losties, allowing him to get there before Pryce.
Back in realtime, the group hold a crisis talk on what they’re going to do now. Realizing that they do not have enough wire, Sayid proposes camouflaging the dynamite, and shooting it from a distance when the Others get to each tent. Jack agrees, saying that minus the shooters, everyone else should trek to the radio tower, so they can be rescued when the signal is freed up. Of course, that means someone must go to the underwater station, and Jack concedes to offering Charlie the job. Both he and Desmond agree to the mission, and the whole camp start to prepare for their assigned tasks in the battle to come.
While the majority of the camp gather at the south end of the beach, Bernard shoots cans off a branch, proving to Sayid his credentials as a marksman. Rose expresses her concern about leaving him behind, but Jack convinces her otherwise. Sayid then tells Jack that despite it being his plan, he must take on his leadership role and take the survivors to the radio tower. Though Jack objects, he admits that he must start acting like the leader once again.
Hurley talks to Charlie, telling him he wants to come with he and Desmond on their mission. Hurley says that everyone is going to the radio tower and he is tired of trekking and explosions. Charlie, however, refuses to allow it, saying that Hurley is too large and won’t fit on the canoe. As Hurley leaves upset, Charlie runs after him and hugs his close friend, with Hurley adding that its fine and that he didn’t want to go on the stupid boat ride anyway.
“Bonnie”
“Greta”
All the survivors prepare to leave their camp, as Jack asks everyone if they’ve got water. He talks to Juliet and asks if Sayid has found a third and final shooter yet, and Juliet coldly gestures towards Jin, who is helping Sun pack her bag. As Claire gets Aaron and leaves with Hurley, behind the crib, and inside it is Charlie’s “DS” ring.
Desmond and Charlie follow the cable along the water before it sinks into the depths, signalling that this must be where the Looking Glass station is. Charlie gives Desmond the list he has been writing since he heard about the latest vision, of the five “greatest hit” moments of his life. 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, however, Charlie knocks him out with an oar, weighs himself down, and dives into the water.
As he descends and approaches the Looking Glass, he begins to struggle for air. However, he sees the “moon pool” and swims up it. However, instead of a flooded room, he enters a pressurized chamber, which is not flooded at all. Charlie gasps for air, and climbs over the side onto the flooring, screaming in happiness that he survived. His jubilation is short-lived, however, as two armed women run into the room after hearing the noise. One approaches Charlie with her gun pointed at him.
Trivia
General
The sticker on Charlie’s guitar
- Driveshaft’s van with a flat tire has a license plate that says “YRE2OL” when spelled backwards it is “LO2ERY”(Lottery).
- It’s just a vanity plate that’s meant to be read as “You’re too old.”
- Liam gave Charlie the family heirloom ring with initials DS.
- DS stood for “Dexter Stratton”, Charlie’s great grandfather on his mother’s side.
- Driveshaft was named after Dexter Stratton.
- Charlie was in Helsinki, Finland.
- Charlie leaves the ring for Aaron.
- As Charlie puts away his guitar in the rain we see a sticker that reads “I was here moments ago.”
- It can be reference to encounter with Desmond in Flashes Before Your Eyes where he played the same song on the same street (”Wonderwall“). In fact, the encounter with Desmond never happened or was changed to this version because of “travel in time logic”.
- The DHARMA logo for the Looking Glass station is a White Rabbit.
Cultural references
- The Looking Glass-station name and DHARMA symbol (a white rabbit and hole) are a clear reference to “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There” by Lewis Caroll.
- Naomi said to Charlie: “Are you having a laugh?” This exact sentence is a frequently used catchfrase in the fictional series ‘When The Whistle Blows’ in the second season of ‘Extras’ (a British TV show written by ‘The Office’ creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant).
- The five “Greatest Hits” Charlie writes down for Claire could be a reference to High Fidelity by Nick Hornby.
Recurring themes
- Desmond told Charlie he had to sacrifice himself, so that Claire and Aaron could be saved. (Sacrifice), (Salvation)
- Charlie said he hasn’t been in a fight since he was 8 years old. (The Numbers)
- Charlie was the fourth person to pass by Nadia being mugged in the alley. (The Numbers)
- Charlie states he can hold his breath for 4 minutes. (The Numbers)
- One of the DriveShaft members in the van while tuning the radio sets the volume level to 23. (The Numbers)
- Charlie helps Nadia in the streets by stopping a mugger. (Character connections)
- “Wonderwall“: Charlie performs Oasis’s “Wonderwall” as seen previously in “Flashes Before Your Eyes“. (Music), (Driveshaft#Oasis influence)
- Charlie pretended to let Desmond take his place, but then he hit him in the head with an oar. (Deceptions and cons)
Literary techniques
| Literary techniques |
|---|
| Flashbacks • Irony • Juxtaposition • Mindfuck • Symbolism |
- Nadia called Charlie a “hero”. In the next scene, Charlie and Desmond are discussing how Charlie can be a hero again. (Juxtaposition)
- Charlie’s Drive Shaft ring was given to Claire and Aaron, because he considered them family. (Symbolism)
- Ben hands Alex the gun she gave to Locke so he could protect himself which she accepts with a bloodied hand. (Irony)
- Even though Juliet said the the Looking Glass station was flooded and abandoned, the underwater station turns out to be occupied. (Mindfuck)
Production notes
- Locke does not appear.
- Vincent briefly appears when Hurley and Claire leave the beach.
- This is the first episode of season 3 that Bernard and Rose appear in.
Unanswered questions
| Unanswered questions |
|---|
|
- For fan theories about these unanswered questions, see: Greatest Hits/Theories
- In White Rabbit Charlie fails to rescue Boone from the drowning water because he can’t swim. Was he lying?
- Why did Ben want to attack the camp a day earlier than planned? Is he lying?
- Who are the women with guns in the The Looking Glass station?
- What do Alex and Karl know about Alex’s parentage?
- Could Desmond have lied to Charlie about what he saw in his flashes? If so, why?
- Why did Ben lie to Juliet about The Looking Glass being flooded and abandoned? Or are the two women not affiliated with the others?
- Did Ben lie to all the Others about the condition of The Looking Glass station?
- Will Desmond’s flashes end when Charlie dies?
- Who is Dexter Stratton?
- What does the death of the white rabbit mean?
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