Exactly Why Charlie Died a Hero
Posted: May 24 @ 10:57 PM
by: fedrich519 (954 Posts in the last 90 days)
Registered: Oct 13, 2004

I've been reading a lot of crazy things about Charlie's death. About how it was silly, that he didn't have to die, he could have lived and escaped with Desmond. Not just here on this board, but other boards and feedback on other sites.

Some examples..

"Charlie should have left the door open, he could have ran over with Des, put on the diving gear and escaped long before the main chamber flooded."

"Charlie could have swam out the window and survived."


I've been reading these things with surprise. Here's why. First and easiest, the window was nowhere near big enough for Charlie to fit out of. It just wasn't that big, watch it again for yourself.

Now, on to the bigger complaint people have been saying all over the internet and its driving me crazy. Why didn't Charlie just leave the door open, run over to the diving gear and escape with Des? Here's why:

Air pressure.

That is how a submarine bay works. A submerged station with a submarine bay, or moonpool, works solely on air pressure. The main chamber is highly pressurized to keep millions of gallons of water from pouring in thru the entrance. Without a pressurized room, nothing would hold back the water from flooding the room.

Watch the scene again. Charlie closed the door to the control room, sealed it shut and locked it, making it airtight. After that happened, Mikail detonated the grenade, shattering the window and filling up the room.

If Charlie hadn't sealed the door shut, the sudden drop in air pressure and the rush of water would have in effect broken the air pressure seal on the submarine bay and the water from the entrance pool would have shot up into the room like a water cannon. The main chamber would have been demolished with water in a manner of seconds. Desmond would have died along with Charlie.

But Desmond didn't die, he was alive to read Charlie's final message about Naomi's deception. Because of Charlie's sacrifice, Desmond will be able to put on the diving gear and leave The Looking Glass to warn the Losties that rescue may not be waiting for them on the boat.

Charlie did in fact die a hero. He sacrificed himself bravely for his fellow Losties.