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“Lost” (9 p.m., ABC, r, TV-14) returns next week for its final season, and ABC helps viewers prepare with a repeat airing of last season’s epic two-hour finale.
While watching this absorbing head-scratcher last May, I couldn’t help but note how the show’s sci-fi storylines and soap-opera plots were giving way to overt religious allegory. ABC has only confirmed my suspicions with their recent promotions for the final season. TV commercials feature a Willy Nelson version of “Amazing Grace.” and just last week, ABC’s publicity department released a photo of the cast sitting at a table resembling the figures in Da Vinci’s the Last Supper. Or was it the “Lost” Supper?
Some may argue that I’m reaching here. but hints of religious symbolism on “Lost” are as hard to ignore as they are difficult to fathom.
Locke returns as both a resurrected figure and as a leader/rebel of sorts who plans to kill and overthrow the God-like Jacob. To complicate matters further, Locke is both a risen “savior” and a man who died by hanging, like Judas. so who is he?
A complete enigma, the Jacob figure not only sports an Old Testament name but is surrounded by hieroglyphs and other signs of ancient beliefs.
All of this takes place against the backdrop of a scheme to use a nuclear device to “reset” time itself. and what about Juliet, last seen sitting on top of the big One? does she return, too? In “Romeo & Juliet,” Juliet fakes her death only to wake and die again. OK, that’s Shakespeare, not religion, but you see how even the characters’ names reverberate with meaning.
Speaking of names, how about Jack’s last name, Shepherd? Or the name of his dead (?) father — Christian Shepherd?
To make matters muddier, Ben, the liar (“That’s what I do”) has been given some of the show’s more overtly religious lines. In one scene, he speaks of the apostle Doubting Thomas and, in another he complains jealously that he cannot see Jacob, but that Locke can walk right up to him, “Like Moses.”
“Lost” is not alone here. Recent movies like “Avatar” and “The Book of Eli” have been noted for their religious subtexts. “Battlestar Galactic” and now “Caprica” prominently feature a battle between polytheists and the Cylons, who zealously believe in one true god.
Broadcasters and advertisers in search of large audiences have long avoided programs with dogmatic religious content, considering them divisive and controversial. Recent statements by Brit Hume and Pat Robertson have only confirmed those suspicions.
But religion is so woven into our lives that to ignore it entirely leaves an arid spiritual and cultural void. there was a time not long ago when popular songwriters from Bob Dylan (“Highway 61 Revisited”) to Burt Bacharach (“I Say a Little Prayer”) could reference faith without fear of resentment or worries that their audience wouldn’t get the references. Bravo to shows like “Lost,” brave and smart enough to wade into these waters and to do so with a sense of mystery and wonder.
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
– A repeat “NOVA” (8 p.m., PBS, check local listings) looks at Monarch butterflies.
– Avril Lavigne and Katy Perry guest judge on “American Idol” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
– Ted’s brother needs help on “Better off Ted” (8:30 p.m., ABC, TV-14).
– An agent becomes a target on “NCIS: Los Angeles” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
– “Frontline” (9 p.m., PBS, r, check local listings) exposes credit card risks.
– Alicia finds herself attracted to a fellow lawyer on “The good Wife” (10 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).
– “David Bowie: A Reality Tour” (11 p.m., Fuse) features new songs and old favorites.
CULT CHOICE
A singer (Betty Hutton) fears for her life in the 1949 musical comedy “Red, Hot and Blue” (Midnight, Eastern, TCM).
SERIES NOTES
Death flies coach on “NCIS” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG,V) … Cox chooses Lucy on “Scrubs” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-14) … Halloween descends on “90210″ (8 p.m., CW, r, TV-14,L,V) … Embassy Row action on “Human Target” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14) … One-hour photo on “Melrose Place” (8 p.m., CW, r, TV-14,L,V).
LATE NIGHT
Mel Gibson appears on “The Jay Leno Show” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14) … Ethan Watters chats on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” (11 p.m., Comedy Central) … Sofia Vergara and Jamie Kennedy appear on “Lopez Tonight” (11 p.m., TBS) … Mika Brzezinski appears on “The Colbert Report” (11:30 p.m., Comedy Central) … Denzel Washington, Dr. O. Wayne Isom and the Low Anthem are booked on “Late Show with David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS) … Harrison Ford, Kristen Bell and Silversun Pickups appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (12:05 a.m., ABC) … Amy Adams, John Oliver and Jim Meehan are scheduled on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” (12:35 a.m., NBC) … Craig Ferguson hosts Quentin Tarantino and Adrianne Palicki on “The Late Late Show” (12:37 a.m., CBS).
Kevin McDonough can be reached at kmcdonough@unitedmedia.com.