Fire + Water

When 'Lost' was in its prime, it was must-watch television. Remember first watching it, found it remarkably easy to get into, was hooked from the start and was on Season 3 by the end of one week. The general consensus is that the final season is a disappointment and cannot disagree.

Am not sure as to whether to call "Fire + Water" the worst ever 'Lost' episode. To me, and many others, it is down there and easily one of the weaker episodes of the earlier seasons. Wouldn't go as far as to call it terrible or a waste of time, at the same time it tries to do something different and fails to execute it very well.

There are things that work in "Fire + Water's" favour. It is beautifully and stylishly photographed with a good deal of atmosphere and the surrealistic/symbolic images being quite striking visually. The beautiful and mysterious island setting is made the most of and like its own character.

Music is still chilling and understated. Although the characterisation is severely wanting here, the acting is without complaint, Dominic Monaghan carries the episode very well. Hurley is pretty fun and the episode's stronger moments are actually with him. Some of the direction is neat, if more visually and in the direction of the actors than in how the story is told.

"Fire + Water" sadly is not particularly compelling on a story level, and says very little illuminating or interesting about Charlie and does very little with advancing the island events, making one question the point of it.

It is further hampered by dull pacing and pretty much all the characters being out of character and inconsistent, especially Locke (Charlie also goes from being one of 'Lost's' most likeable characters to a character one is very frustrated with well before the episode is over). The writing has been tighter and smarter elsewhere, little stands out here. What really hurts "Fire + Water" is the surrealism, as visually striking as it is it features far too much, is very heavy-handed and with the subtlety of an axe and just gives the episode an unintentional weirdness that fails to ignite any intrigue or fire.

Overall, very odd and not very fiery. One of the few early season major disappointments. 5/10 Bethany Cox

I dont get why this episode is rated as low as it is, perfectly fine episode....

Probably the most underrated episode of Lost. Great imagery, quite disturbing and it's quite amazing that they made us sympathize with Charlie despite his actions in this episode. The flashback tied in perfectly with what was happening on the island.

Seeing Charlie trying to save Aaron on the beach and then Locke hitting him and everybody else turning their back on him was gut-wrenching. We can really understand his actions in 'The Long Con' after this scene.

I don't watch Lost for the mythology or the action, I watch for the characters. And this was a great character based episode. We learned a lot about Charlie, why he's so attached to Claire and Aaron and how he desperately wants a family to take care of.

"Fire plus Water" centers on Charlie Pace, providing a deeper look into his past and his ongoing struggle with addiction. The episode opens with Charlie experiencing disturbing dreams and visions, leading to growing tension among the survivors. The direction by Jack Bender effectively captures the emotional intensity and surreal quality of Charlie's journey.

Dominic Monaghan delivers a standout performance as Charlie, portraying his vulnerability and desperation. The flashbacks reveal more about Charlie's tumultuous relationship with his brother Liam and the rise and fall of their band, Driveshaft. This backstory adds significant emotional weight to Charlie's present-day actions and interactions, particularly with Claire and Locke.

The writing in "Fire plus Water" explores themes of addiction, redemption, and the search for purpose. Charlie's struggle to overcome his past and his efforts to regain Claire's trust create a compelling narrative. The script skillfully balances character development with plot advancement, gradually revealing more about Charlie's inner demons and the island's mysteries.

The cinematography captures the episode's emotional and surreal moments, using close-ups and dynamic camera movements to convey Charlie's inner turmoil and the eerie atmosphere of the island. The editing maintains a steady pace, ensuring a seamless flow between the flashbacks and present-day events. The sound design, including the use of ambient noises and haunting music, heightens the episode's tension and emotional resonance.

In conclusion, "Fire plus Water" is a haunting and emotionally charged episode that delves into Charlie Pace's complex character and the island's mysteries. The performance by Dominic Monaghan is compelling and multifaceted. The writing, direction, and cinematography create a rich and engaging narrative, adding significant depth to the series' character dynamics and overarching themes.

Charlie has surreal daydreams with Aaron, and he believes that the baby is in danger. However, Locke believes he is using heroine again. Charlie clumsily advises Claire to baptize Aaron with Mr. Eko, while he recalls his past with his addicted brother. Hurley is attracted by Libby, who seems to correspond his affection and attention.

"Fire + Water" was a quite deceptive episode of "Lost". I felt sorry for Charlie, who is full of good intentions with Claire and her baby, but is absolutely misunderstood. The disappointment of John Locke with him is understandable, but his coward aggression is totally unnecessary. I do not understand why John Locke has not destroyed the heroine he took from Charlie. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): Not Available.

Note: On 29 March 2013, I saw this episode again.