The question raised by the Lost episode last night is whether it represents salvation for the show, with 48 episodes left. By which I mean, will the show’s shift into the future allow it to jettison the flashbacks that have really run their course now? Even more important, are the writers going to explain the 97 mysteries they have set up and left unresolved, or are they going simply to make up more new mysteries as they go along? I think it’s more likely than not that the answer is they’re just going to continue with their maddening habit of forgetting to unravel the twists they’ve established. But if they do, the show’s 40 percent ratings decline this year is going to continue and ABC will cut the show off before all 48 final episodes are made.