Lost: Bad Character Development: Charlie Pace

Lost: Bad Character Development: Charlie Pace

Lets talk about Charlie Pace. Charlie was an instant fan favorite. He was the lovable goofball who loved to have fun and flirt with the pregnant girl. We could relate to Charlie. When we learned that he was a drug addicted musician trying to get clean, we rooted for him. He was a well-intentioned guy trying to pull his life together. This made it devastating when he was hung from a tree and left for dead. Audiences across the world were on the edge of their seats as Jack pounded on Charlie’s chest over and over, thinking we had seen the show’s first major death. It was easily one of the most intense moments of Lost until Charlie woke up and we all breathed a sigh of relief. Charlie lived! At least for a few more seasons.

Then Season 2 happened….Amazingly, Charlie the newly recovered heroin addict happened to stumble upon a seemingly endless supply of heroin on the island. Whether you call it coincidence, fate, or convenient writing, this could’ve been a great device for an interesting story arc to give Charlie. What was the culmination of this plot device? He had crazy dreams that led him to start a fire, steal a baby and try to baptize him in the middle of the night. No, I’m not kidding. That’s the jist of Season 2’s “Fire + Water”, which is easily one of my least favorite episodes. Then he spent the rest of the season off in the background, building a church with Mr. Eko. It’s just such a weird switch that happened with Charlie going from fan favorite to “top of everyone’s most hated list” according to Sawyer.

Luckily they were able to rebound from Charlie’s “Sophomore Slump” in Season 3. Charlie went right back to being the captivating fan favorite that he was in Season 1. Sadly, Charlie warmed his way back into our hearts just he was told that he was going to die. All season long, Charlie dealt with his looming mortality. This prophesy was ultimately fulfilled in the third season’s tragic finale. Fans everywhere cried as we saw those famous words “NOT PENNYS’ BOAT” right before we had to say goodbye to Charlie Pace as he promptly drowned. In my opinion, Charlie remains one of the greatest characters, but it’s hard to look back on his story and forget the mess that was his season 2 story arc.

More on Lost: Good or Bad?
Lost: Good or Bad?
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Good Mystery: Desmond Hume
Bad Mystery: Walt Lloyd