Why Dominic Monaghan's Charlie Was Killed Off In LOST Season 3 (2024)

While the show has a lot of heartbreaking storylines, when Charlie dies on Lost, it was a particularly heartbreaking moment that devastated many fans. Charlie Pace (Dominic Monaghan) is a musician and when he boards Flight 815, he is struggling with his addiction to heroin, which continues on the island itself. Charlie dies in the emotional season 3 finale while trying to help Desmond Hume (Henry Ian Cusick) communicate with Penny Widmore (Sonya Walger) about an escape, which cements his character arc as a kind-hearted and loyal person who will do anything for those he cares about.

Charlie's death is harrowing and his final heroic warning of "Not Penny's Boat" before he dies is unforgettable. While several Lost characters die in heartbreaking ways, Charlie is aware that dying is part of his destiny, and that sets this moment apart. Along with the flashbacks, flashforwards, and flash-sideways, Charlie's Lost demise is still one of the most discussed parts of the series. However, as iconic as the moment is, given the character's popularity, there is still some question as to why Charlie was killed off.

Charlie Drowns In The Season 3 Finale "Through The Looking Glass"

Charlie Heroically Saves Desmond And Warns The Others

In the final episode of season 3, Charlie dies when he tries to help Desmond make contact with a boat that seems to belong to Desmond's long-lost love, Penny. Charlie perishes in the Looking Glass station, which is part of the DHARMA Initiative and which signals to nearby boats.

Ben Linus (Michael Emerson), the leader of the Others on the island, wants Mikhail Bakunin (Andrew Divoff) to kill Bonnie (Tracy Middendorf), Greta (Lana Parrilla), and Charlie, but Desmond is able to shoot Mikhail. However, Mikhail survives and floods the station with a grenade. In order to save Desmond, Charlie seals the radio room he is in, sacrificing himself to drown. Before Charlie dies, Penny is able to let him know that the boat offshore isn't hers and Naomi Dorrit (Marsha Thomason) is a stranger to her. Charlie writes this on his hand, using his final moments to warn Desmond.

While the deaths on Lost are upsetting, this one is more meaningful because of what Charlie learns beforehand. Desmond can time travel and is intuitive and perceptive, and after he stops Claire Littleton (Emilie de Ravin) from drowning, Desmond explains that Charlie will die because he had a vision of it. Charlie's belief that his death is the natural order of things is brave and heartbreaking, and he goes out to save his friends.

Charlie's "Not Penny's Boat" Scene Proves His Desire To Change

Charlie Found Purpose On The Island

Charlie's death in Lost is emotionally affecting because it speaks to the show's theme of fate, destiny, and life unfolding the way that it's supposed to. When Charlie uses the code and hears Penny's message through video transmission, he is motivated by his friendship with Desmond and his desire to help the couple find each other. Charlie often writes on his fingers, and since he is used to relaying important information this way, it works perfectly that he writes "Not Penny's Boat" for Desmond to see.

Before crashing on the island, Charlie is lost, frustrated, and in pain, and he would never have predicted that he could look out for anyone but himself. Now, Charlie proves to himself that he can be there for other people and that his life and death can mean something. Charlie's death scene speaks to how the Ocean 815 plane crash survivors were meant to meet each other and spend this important time together. It's his time to go, and he appreciates the lessons that he has learned from the island and the friendships he has formed.

Dominic Monaghan Left Lost To Pursue Other Projects

Charlie's Reduced Roles Also Added To His Exit

While there were many fans who were heartbroken by Charlie's death on Lost, Dominic Monaghan was happy to hear that he was leaving the show because he wanted to take on other roles. The actor also said that he felt that Charlie's screen time had dwindled since season 1. Monaghan said (via Digital Spy):

“I've been kind of frustrated for a while. I've wanted to do a little bit more. The difference between how much the audience got to see Charlie in Season One as opposed to how much they got to see Charlie in Seasons Two and Three was significant. It's been kind of frustrating for me for a while. So I think it's time for me to move on, you know."

Following his memorable exit from the hit series, the actor turned to both TV and film roles. He starred in the 2008 horror comedy I Sell the Dead, played Chris Bradley/Bolt in X-Men Origins: Wolverine in 2009, and portrayed Simon Campos in the 2008/2009 TV show FlashForward. He also reunited with lost co-creator J.J. Abrams in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker as the rebel fighter, Beaumont.

After playing Meriadoc Brandybuck in the Lord of the Rings films, Monaghan voiced him in a few early 2000s video games. Outside of scripted movies and shows, Monaghan also hosted the travel series Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan as well as a podcast The Friendship Onion alongside Lord of the Rings co-star Billy Boyd. In 2024, Monaghan and Boyd reunited on stage for a Canadian production of the play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.

Charlie Lives In The Flash Sideways World And Hurley Continues To See Him

Charlie Was There For The Lost Finale

While Charlie remained dead throughout the series, he continued to appear on the show in two different ways: in the flash-sideways in Lost's season 6 and in Hurley Reye's (Jorge Garcia) mind. In the episode "LAX," Jack Shephard (Matthew Fox) stops Charlie from dying when he passes out with heroin in his mouth on Flight 815, which reaches its destination instead of crashing.

Charlie, Kate Austen (Evangeline Lilly), and Claire see each other at a concert, and they have fond memories of being on the island, harkening back to their romance. This proves that the characters will always be in each other's lives in different ways, even if they don't always recall.

When Hurley goes back to the Santa Rosa Health Institute, Charlie appears to him, explaining that Jack will have a vision of his father, Christian, and that Charlie can let go of the feeling that he should be the father to Claire's son, Aaron. These moments speak to the magical connection that the characters have to each other and to the island and prove that even though Charlie dies, he is never disconnected from his friends.

What Dominic Monaghan Said About Charlie's Death

Charlie's Final Scene With Aaron Was A Difficult One

While Dominic Monaghan was ready to leave the show by the time Charlie's death in Lost season 3 came about, that doesn't mean all of the circ*mstances around his exit were easy for him. In an interview about Charlie's death scene (via YouTube), Monaghan discussed the physical aspects of filming the death scene, which were difficult yet enjoyable for the actor. However, he admits there was one aspect of Charlie's final episode that struck an emotional chord:

"[The] hardest scene for me to read was Charlie saying goodbye to the baby. There's a scene where he slips the Drive Shaft ring into the crib and he tells the baby to take care of his mom and be a good boy and stuff. That was a that was a rough one for me. I love kids. I've loved my relationship with those kids on the show."

It is fitting that Charlie's final moments with Aaron were the most emotional for Charlie, as those moments were such a big part of the character finding purpose in the end.

Charlie's Death Might Be Lost's Most Iconic Moment

Charlie's Death Tops Lost's Biggest Moments

Part of the reason Lost became such a huge show was that it was constantly delivering moments that gave people something to talk about. The show was packed with iconic moments that ranged from heartbreaking to shocking to wondering what was going to happen next. Charlie's death incorporated all of those aspects which helped make it the most iconic moment in the entire series. That is saying a lot as it had plenty of good competition throughout Lost's five-season run.

Lost especially knew how to deliver a terrific cliffhanger finale. This includes the season 1 ending with Walt getting taken and the hatch being opened. Perhaps the best example of this is the season 3 final reveal that Jack's flashbacks have actually been flashforwards, revealing that he somehow makes it off the island. It is a game-changing moment in the series, but the fact that it happens in the same episode as Charlie's death and still doesn't overshadow it is a testament to how great of a moment the death scene is.

A lot of it has to do with the fact that Charlie was one of the most beloved characters on the show. When a show kills a character like this, it can be poorly received if done carelessly. However, Charlie's death served the character well while also impacting the story in a meaningful way. There is the emotion of seeing Charlie die in such a heroic way, but also the suspense of the revelation that Penny has not come to save them. Not only is it Lost's most iconic moment, but it is a standout moment in television history in general.

Lost

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Drama

Mystery

Sci-Fi

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Lost is a mystery drama series created for TV that follows a group of survivors of a plane crash and tells its story between the past, present, and future via flashbacks. When Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 crashes and lands on a mysterious island in the pacific ocean, the castaways discover their new temporary home may have a mind of its own, as strange supernatural events keep them locked to the island. From an unknown black smoke creature to dangerous islanders, the passengers must work together to survive the island's seemingly deadly intentions.

Cast

Evangeline Lilly , Naveen Andrews , Henry Ian Cusick , Daniel Dae Kim , Harold Perrineau , Dominic Monaghan , Emilie de Ravin , Jorge Garcia , Josh Holloway , Michael Emerson , Terry O'Quinn , Matthew Fox , Ken Leung , Elizabeth Mitchell , Yunjin Kim

Release Date

September 22, 2004

Seasons

6

Creator(s)

J.J. Abrams , Damon Lindelof , Jeffrey Lieber