Before I get into dissecting this week’s offering, I want to take a moment to explain a theory I’ve been developing about the nature of the island and its many inhabitants (and would-be inhabitants). In particular, I’ve been wondering about the significance of all the Egyptian imagery and considering the possibility that the island exists within the realm of Egyptian mythology. But the more I think about it, the less I’m able to discount all the allusions to other religions and philosophies. Christian Shepherd. The DHARMA Initiative. Rousseau. Locke. Locke dying and being resurrected three days later. Jacob. Benjamin. The Virgin Mary statues. Locke sending Boone on a vision quest (and then taking one himself). And when you get right down to it, the central conflict between Jack and Locke: science vs. faith.

Miles speaks with the dead.

I’ve begun to wonder if — at least on an allegorical level — the show is about opposing spiritual ideas fighting over ownership of paradise. Who has claim over the Truth? Christianity, Buddhism, science, New Age mysticism? Man, that’s sure an eternal struggle (and like the island, a constantly moving target). And the island both saves people and kills people. It separates them into different groups. Some try to harness its power. Others defend it against…the impure? And lastly, some unfortunate souls have been cast out entirely.

 I toyed with the idea early in the series that the island was actually the Garden of Eden. And though I’m not prepared to rule that out completely, I’m now more attracted to the idea that the island is religion incarnate. Maybe those are the same thing.

I also came to the conclusion a couple of weeks ago that Jacob — mysterious man in the cabin with an unexplained relationship to Christian and Claire — is actually our own Jack Shepherd! I don’t know how Jack (which is usually a nickname for John, but I suppose could also be one for Jacob) becomes the apparent ruler of Mystery Island, or what brings him to go back in time again and enter that strange, alternate plane of existence Jacob seems to be on. But I’m going to spend the rest of the series looking for clues that back up my theory. And as Jason Kramer pointed out to me when we discussed this, it would be wonderfully ironic if prototypical “man of faith” John Locke had actually been putting his faith in Jack all along.

As for this week — I wasn’t really waiting with baited breath for a Miles episode. I suppose it’s necessary sooner or later to explain what the hell he’s doing on the show, and I found the episode entertaining enough. I suppose there are two noteworthy revelations I should mention:

1. Pierre Chang (aka Marvin Candle) is Miles’ father. Duh. We figured that out months ago. But I think we can also infer at this point that Miles will have some role in separating his father from his mother (and infant self). Whether he does this to protect them or for some other reason, I don’t know. If nothing else, we know now that being in the same vicinity as your past self does not cause the space-time continuum to rip apart.

2. The guy who was with Ilana when she clocked Lapidus in the face tried to stop Miles from going to the island aboard the freighter. This guy is decidedly anti-Widmore, but it’s hard to believe he’s working for Ben. So how many sides are there to this thing?

I think we’re about to start barreling toward the season finale. Roger is going to want to know where his son is, and someone is going to discover that Phil — and by the way, I can’t get past the fact that Jimmy Barrett has apparently quit doing comedy to work for the DHARMA Initiative — is missing, along with one of the security tapes. As Juliet said, “Here we go.” Things are about to fall apart quickly for our Losties.

And the return of Daniel means…? If nothing else, he’s probably the only person who will be able to get our beloved castaways back to their own time. Or at least get everyone back in the same year.

There were some tense moments this week — I was impressed by Matthew Fox’s subtly growing menace in his scene with Roger Linus — but all in all, this seemed to be about setting up the end of the season. Not a whole lot to talk about, except, “Oh my God, what do you think is going to happen when they find out about … ?” My favorite moment by far, however — and probably the funniest of the season — was Hurley writing The Empire Strikes Back. You know, to make it easier for George Lucas.

Did you know that Empire is all about how parents and children should talk rather than fight with each other? See, with Lost you get action, suspense, laughs, and insightful critical analysis of beloved motion pictures.

Comment away, but please no spoilers for future episodes.