Culture Surfing

YOU CAN CHANGE: Your own diaper

Ah yes, the long awaited Miles episode! I usually complain about needless backstory episodes (cough, Jack’s tattoos, cough) that don’t push the narrative forward enough, but “Some Like it Hoth” was a crowd pleaser, and I thereby refuse to judge it harshly. Miles the Swindler Ghost Whisperer held court this week as we sprinted through his life story: toddler Miles in a single-parent low-rent household; punk Miles uneasy with his gifts and searching for answers; and adult Miles, exploiting the grieving for cash and about to be recruited by Widmore. Finally, we learned that Dr. “Douchebag” Chang is Miles’ “Douchebag” Dad. Fellow watchers inform me that the rumor of Chang as Miles’ father has been around for some time, but since I apparently missed that boat my mouth was suitably agape at the thought. Of course, Miles has had three years to get used to the idea since, “on the third day here I was in line in the cafeteria and my mom got into the line behind me.  That was my first clue.”

At first gander, “Some Like it Hoth” feels chock full of island lore, but for most “Lost” devotees the reveals weren’t anything new.  Hey, there’s the Hatch! Hey, Kate’s messing something up! Hey, everyone on the island has Daddy issues! We saw the beginnings of study regarding the island’s electromagnetism (thanks to an unfortunate Dharma Denizen’s filling being yanked through his brain. It’s not a plane but … it will be). We don’t know what Chang is learning from the bodies (or what he’s doing with them when he’s done), but we do know something even stranger — he loves country music.

On a similar note, is anyone else on board for the Miles-Hurley show? Their interactions are among the best. From Hurley suggesting Miles was jealous because “my power’s better than yours” to Hurley prompting Dr. Chang that Miles is his son, and finally, the rewriting of Empire Strikes Back (with improvements!), “Some Like it Hoth” proved that an episode can be both entertaining and informative without being melodramatic (here’s looking at you, Kate). Even Miles watching his baby self with Daddy Chang, only to have Chang come out and call to him “I need you!” answered by Miles’ timid “you … you do?” was tender without being overly maudlin.

As much as I love me some Miles, the episode wasn’t anything particularly special. The hottest thing about “Some Like it Hoth?” Miles handing the crown to Faraday for next time.

In Two Weeks: The 100th episode, which will be epic (as Faraday reveals all he knows about the island). Hold on to your seats — it’s called “The Variable.” If this is a response to “The Constant,” arguably one of, if not the best, “Lost” episodes of all time, I think we’re in for a real treat.

Musings and Miscellanea:

- One of the biggest questions I’ve had about the show was Widmore populating the “faux” plane with bodies at the bottom of the sea and matching their dental records. There was a hint about it tonight when Miles, during his “test” for Naomi (wearing what looked like a Vegas hooker wig), whispers to a recently deceased lackey delivering pictures of empty graves to Widmore.

- Miles Quip: “He fell into a ditch with a bullet hole in his head? The ditch had a gun?”

- Jack really sucks at cleaning blackboards.

- If there’s one thing “Lost” never lacks, it’s Bromance.

- Whose side is Bram on? Ilana/Ceasers? Who are they, anyway? As much as I say I could spend all my time with Desmond, Faraday and Ben, I do kind of wonder now who those “other” crashees are.

- Classic Hurley: “Maybe you can change your own diaper.”

- Do you know what lives in the shadow of the statue?

-  Winning exchange of the night: Hurley: “Dude, that guy is a total douche.”  Miles: “That douche is my dad.”

-  What are your currents bets on Lost Deathwatch ‘09?  I now fear for Miles’ life.

(Photo courtesy ABC)

Bookmark It

Posted in movies & tv, the televangelist | Add a comment

Tags: ABC, Lost, Lost Deatwatch '09, movies & tv, the televangelist.