Ep 12. Fire + Water

Charlie's journey on the island takes a strange turn in Lost season 2 episode 12, titled "Fire + Water." As the episode opens, Charlie wakes from a nightmare that seems to be a premonition of events to come. He sees a vision of Eko baptizing baby Aaron in the ocean, but as the ceremony begins, the water turns into a blazing fire. Charlie is disturbed by the vision and doesn't know what to make of it, but he can't shake the feeling that something bad is coming.

Meanwhile, Hurley is trying to organize a celebration for Jack's birthday, and asks Charlie to help him organize a surprise party. Charlie is reluctant at first, still preoccupied with his vision, but ultimately agrees to help. The party preparations provide a welcome distraction for Charlie, but as the festivities get underway, things start to go wrong. Charlie's band, DriveShaft, performs a disastrous set, and Charlie seems unable to focus. In the midst of all the chaos, Charlie's issues with drugs and addiction start to resurface. He steals Claire's baby, Aaron, and takes him into the jungle, convinced that he needs to baptize the child to protect him from the dangers of the island.

As Charlie wanders through the jungle, he has a series of hallucinations that seem to be connected to his vision from earlier. He sees Eko as a priest and himself as a young boy, and hears a voice that tells him he must be "baptized by fire." Charlie becomes convinced that he's destined to baptize Aaron with fire, and begins searching for a way to accomplish this. He crafts a makeshift crib for the baby and surrounds it with kindling and gasoline, believing that he can baptize Aaron in the flames.

Meanwhile, the other survivors are beginning to realize that Charlie is missing. Claire is beside herself with worry, and recruits Locke, Sayid, and Kate to help search for her baby. They eventually discover Charlie's makeshift baptismal pyre and find him in a state of near-delirium. In a tense and emotional scene, Charlie admits his addiction and his fear that the island is calling him back to it. He acknowledges that he needs help and asks for forgiveness.

The episode ends with Charlie back at the beach, attending Jack's birthday party. Although he's not entirely healed, he's taken the first step in confronting his addiction and working toward recovery. The other survivors offer him support and acceptance, and it seems that Charlie may finally be on the path to redemption.

"Fire + Water" is a powerful and emotionally charged episode of Lost, which delves deep into the psyche of one of the show's most troubled characters. It explores themes of addiction, redemption, and the struggle to find meaning in a seemingly chaotic world. The performances are excellent across the board, with Dominic Monaghan delivering a particularly strong turn as Charlie. The use of hallucinations and dream sequences adds to the surreal and unsettling atmosphere of the episode, making it one of the most memorable and haunting installments of the series. Fans of Lost are sure to be captivated by "Fire + Water," which is a standout episode of one of the greatest television dramas of all time.