Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: B | 1953 USERS: C+ YOU GRADE IT I Will Be Your Father Issues
By Cindy McLennan | Season 5 | Episode 13 | Aired on 2009.04.15
Miles says, "I don't know where you've been getting your intel, but I stopped caring about my father a long time ago." Bram rolls his eyes, but Miles won't be distracted. "What I do care about is money. So I'll tell you what. You want me to pass on going to the island? It's gonna cost you double what they offered -- $3.2 million." Bram says his team isn't paying. "All the money in the world isn't going to fill that empty hole inside of you, Miles." Right, which is why you should have been more careful with his supper, Bram. Plus? That too sounds dirty. Miles stares him down, so Bram moves back to the front seat (although I never noticed when he got in back -- weird). Miles wants a little more attention so he snips, "That's sad, isn't it?" Heh. Bram shouts his orders to his goons. "Toss him!" The van has barely stopped when they throw Miles out the side door. Bram then yells at Miles. "You're playing for the wrong team." Oh, so that's how he's going to get his hole filled? I didn't think you were going there, Bram. Miles looks like he's thinking the same thing, as he eyes Bram up and down. "Yeah? What team are you on?" Bram is comfortable with his masculinity. "The one that's gonna win." The goons slide the side door shut, the van speeds off, and we jump to...
Island; Nighttime; 1977: Hurley tells Miles about the hatch, and that there's going to be an accident. "Then they're gonna have to build a computer with a button you have to push so the world doesn't end." Miles looks at Hurley, but a "Phhhht," is about all he can muster in response. Hurley wants to know if Miles' dad is around in, "You know, when we came from? The future?" When Miles says no, Hurley keeps working Miles' daddy issues which all the best cowboys have, and I include Darlton in that. They may have Joss Whedon beat.
Hurley suggests all the cool things he can do, like hold the baby version of himself or change his own diaper and is generally joyous because Miles has a chance to get to know his pop, so Miles slams on the brakes and nearly sends Hurley flying through the front windshield, because nobody wore seatbelts in the 70s. He then explains slowly and clearly that he has no desire to hang out with his father or get to know him, and contrary to the theory Hurley throws at him, Daddy didn't beat Miles when he was little because he was not around when he was little. After he confesses that he never met his father until just now, Miles asks, "Why am I even telling you this?" Hurley suggests it's because Miles is in pain and needs to vent. Awww. He's not wrong. Miles won't admit it though and replies, "I'm not in pain. It doesn't matter. My father is dead. He's gone. He never cared about me, and nothing I can do will ever change that."