Lost' among TV shows that faith finds its way into

Scripted shows that overtly dwell on religion rarely do well. One need only look at NBC's worthy yet poorly treated and short-lived 2006 series "The Book of Daniel" for proof of that.

Perhaps viewers—or, more likely, broadcast networks—aren't quite ready for a series that delves into specific faiths. Because they're on the margins, genre shows such as "Supernatural" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" usually get away with the use of religious imagery and ideas. TNT's "Saving Grace" has at least attempted to examine spiritual matters, but the drama has been frustratingly uneven in that arena (among others). In any case, shows that are meant to be crowd-pleasers are usually skittish when it comes to the hard questions about faith, God and doubt.

Yet "Lost" (8 p.m. Wednesday, ABC), one of the most passionately followed shows in the history of television, has freely examined spiritual questions for five seasons. And "Battlestar Galactica," the show that most resembles "Lost" in ambition and density, concluded its fourth and final season as it had begun—with characters debating the existence and intentions of God.

Killer robots and polar bears—now I see what "The Book of Daniel" lacked!
In all seriousness, though, you have to give "Lost" top marks for timing. A few days before Easter, it broadcast an episode in which a character who had been dead but who had risen again received special orders from the unseen, powerful force that has been manipulating events.

From all indications—not least the beatific look on his face—John Locke (Terry O'Quinn) is now the island's "chosen one." To continue along this line of speculation, it's hard not to see the crafty Ben Linus (Michael Emerson) as a fallen angel—one who thought he was fighting for the right cause but who may have lost his soul along the way.

Whatever Ben is—a fallen angel or just a manipulative man—he's surely in hell now. The island, which subjected him to its Smokey-style "judgment day," didn't kill him, but he must live with the knowledge that he let his daughter die, and now he must serve Locke, whom Ben thinks is pathetic.

And just who or what is Locke, anyway? The title of the April 8 episode was "Dead Is Dead," but is that really true?

Like Jack's (Matthew Fox) father, Christian (John Terry), Locke came back to the island in a coffin, but now both are doing the bidding of whatever entity controls the island. That entity either is, or speaks through, the mysterious, unseen character Jacob. Meeting that guy ought to be interesting.

"All this has happened before and will happen again"—that was a phrase often heard on "Battlestar," and characters on "Lost" have been debating whether they can change the past or the future. (And to digress for a moment, if the show has had one flaw in an otherwise strong and engrossing season, it's that the time-travel math can be pretty confusing.)

But the good news is, even if certain events seem fated to occur (and re-occur), even if some are fated to destroy themselves, personal redemption is possible, "Lost" appears to be saying. Even within epic time loops in which history seems to be repeating itself, individuals have some free will, and how that free will is exercised matters.

Tuning in every Wednesday? That's no longer a matter of free will for "Lost" fans. Especially now that time's running out on "Lost." A recent ABC press release indicated that the show's April 29 outing marks "Lost's" 100th episode. And next season will be the series' last.

God only knows what we'll do when it's over.