And now for something completely different: a "Lost" interpretation

I’m a fan of the ABC series "Lost" but – to be honest – I can't wait for the series to be over. I think they've run out of good ideas and they're just shining us on with side-stories and back-stories and good vs. evil narratives. But after last night's episode, I had a revelation and it relates back to an old Twilight Zone episode titled "The Howling Man."

In this tale, an American stumbles into a European castle populated by monks who are keeping an articulate but disheveled man prisoner. This man pleads with the American to release him from his jail cell, claiming the monks are zealots. The brothers of the order, in response, tell the man that the prisoner is the devil himself, Satan in the flesh.

Here's the twist (spoiler alert)! The devil's prison cell is held closed merely by a long staff of wood which any man could reach down and remove. The point here is that the Devil cannot remove the staff; only a man can free the Devil. Sure enough, the American lifts the "Staff of Truth" off the door latch and the Devil is let loose upon the world.

Now back to "Lost." So far this final season has taken on a strong religous "God" vs. "The Devil" vibe with the angelic and white-clad Jacob pitted against the black smoke monster now known as John Locke. But since Jacob was "killed" by Ben Linus, we still see "John Locke" vanquishing all enemies before him in the Temple before moving on to (apparently) Charles Widmore and his crew. But in all these efforts and in spite of his unique powers, "John Locke" constantly needs to enlist the help of mortals. He convinced Sayid to kill Dogen and then he recruits Sawyer to spy on the Widmore camp. Heck, he even got Ben to kill Jacob. But why? Why can't he perform all these things with the powers he already has?

I think "John Locke" can only escape from the island for the same reason the Devil needed that gullible American: they derive power by playing upon the frailties of man. Thus, I speculate that the rest of the series plays out as "John Locke" continues to manipulate the Losties for his own purposes but also to see how far he can corrupt mankind. We've already seen the beginning of this corruption in Sayid who sat by passively as Claire almost killed Kate. Also: take note that "Locke" had to knock out and restrain Richard Alpert who knows something about the history behind Jacob and the Man in Black; the fact that he's (probably) incorruptible may also explain why he does not age.

All of this leads to a man-versus-Devil showdown, where Locke/Satan is thwarted by a virtuous character, almost certainly Jack. The good-evil climax will be reminiscent of Mr. Eko's faceoff with the Smoke Monster way back in season two. Somebody will hold their ground, the Devil will fall, Jacob will rise, and everybody will be rescued by Charles Widmore.

Or it could all be a dream by Hurley who is living in the insane asylum. Good night!