Miles Straume
From Lostpedia
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Miles Straume is a spiritualist. He parachuted onto the Island on the survivors's ninety-second day from the freighter. Like the rest of the science team, he was aware they weren't here to rescue them, but was also unaware of Keamy's plans. Miles chose to stay, despite the direness of the circumstances, however it seemed that he didn't realise that the Island would have been moved in time and space, so he has since been stranded there.
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Before the Island
As a Spiritualist
Around the time that the supposed wreckage of Flight 815 was recovered, Miles was visiting the house of a woman named Mrs. Gardner in Inglewood, California. Her grandson had been murdered and she wanted his spirit exorcised from her house. Miles agreed to talk to the spirit for a fee, and after he was paid $200 in advance, he entered the boy's former bedroom. There, using a ghostbuster device, he appeared to talk to the spirit, and through it located a stash of money and drugs which the boy had hidden in his room. He took the money and left the drugs. He then went back to Mrs. Gardner, and refunded her $100. ("Confirmed Dead")
When Naomi and Matthew Abaddon discussed his recruitment, Naomi disparagingly referred to him as a "ghostbuster". ("Confirmed Dead")
On the freighter
Before the Kahana left port, Miles indicated that he knew Michael was using a fake name without having previously met him. He then added that 80% of the people were lying about something. ("Meet Kevin Johnson")
On the Island
Season 4 (Days 91-100)
Miles was one of the three passengers to parachute from a helicopter which had taken off from the freighter. He appeared to have landed on a rocky outcrop near the north shore of the Island.
As Jack, Kate and Daniel approached him, he pretended to be incapacitated, but threatened Jack with a handgun as Jack attempted to examine him. He then informed Daniel that it was the survivors that killed Naomi, and demanded to be taken to her body. During their journey to Naomi's remains, he held Jack and Kate at gunpoint. When Naomi was found, Miles spoke in quiet tones over her body and afterwards confirmed Kate's story about her death.
Soon after, he was informed by Jack that they were in fact covered by their friends with firearms. Miles was forced to drop his gun when Sayid and Juliet came out of the jungle firing their guns.
He behaved aggressively toward Sayid when he was questioned about who he was and what he did. Upon hearing from Frank that Juliet was a "native" of the Island, he became hostile and demanded to know where "he" was. Showing a photograph, Miles said that the team came to the Island to find Ben Linus. ("Confirmed Dead")
Miles, Sayid and Kate took a journey to The Barracks to retrieve Charlotte Lewis from Locke. Upon arriving, they found Hurley tied up in a closet. Hurley told them Locke was losing it and insisted Miles and the others were there to kill them. Hurley asked him if they were, to which Miles replied, "Not yet."
As they continued searching the house, they were ambushed by Locke and Sawyer, who had used Hurley to set a trap. The three captives were taken to different areas of the compound, and Locke and Sayid agreed to trade Miles for Charlotte. ("The Economist")
While at the barracks, Miles used Kate to gain access to Ben. He demanded $3.2 million in exchange for telling his employers that Ben is dead. When challenged that Charlotte already knows that Ben is alive, he said that he will take care of Charlotte. Miles explicitly stated that he knows exactly who Ben is, including the fact that Ben has access to a large amount of money. Kate then attempted to take him back to the boathouse, and he revealed he knows what she's done and who she is. Locke took him back to the boathouse. The next day, Locke put a grenade in Miles' mouth and pulled the pin, forcing Miles to keep his jaws clamped down on the trigger. Locke then left him there. ("Eggtown")
After learning who Ben's man on the boat was, Locke called his group together and retrieved Miles from the boathouse. Miles did not protest when Ben claimed that the freighter team's orders are to kill everyone on the island once Ben is captured. Despite his promise that there would be no more secrets, Locke failed to mention Miles' attempted deal with Ben, which Sawyer questions. Miles laughed at Locke's assertion that Ben would not be able to procure $3.2 million and claims that Ben will always find a way to get what he wants. ("Meet Kevin Johnson")
When the Barracks came under attack by Keamy and his men, Keamy gave Miles a walkie to bring to Ben. Miles rang the bell and was let in. He told Ben that Keamy has his daughter. After Keamy killed Alex, Miles showed a look of shock and sympathy. Later when Being rushed out of the house, he showed another look of horror and amazement as the smoke monster attacked Keamys people. When Sawyer decided he is going to the beach Miles tags along. ("The Shape of Things to Come")
On the way, Miles heard the voices of Danielle and Karl, and subsequently discovers their corpses in shallow graves. He claimed that the mercenaries are "not his buddies" and that he didn't "sign up for this." He is also told by Sawyer to stay away from Claire and Aaron, and that he has a "restraining order." After encountering Frank, he, Sawyer, and Claire hid from Keamy. They then continued on after the mercenaries left. Upon taking rest, he witnessed Claire talking to Christian Shephard, and watched her leave. He did not follow because of his "restraining order," however. He informs Sawyer of Claire's departure the next day, and Sawyer finds Aaron, abandoned, crying in the woods. ("Something Nice Back Home")
Miles, Sawyer and Aaron continued their journey back to the beach. Along the way they chance upon Kate and Jack who are following the chopper inland. Jack asked Kate to take care of Aaron, and take him back to the beach along with Miles. Jack recommenced his trek inland, along with Sawyer. ("There's No Place Like Home, Part 1")
When Faraday started ferrying people off of the island in the raft, Miles stated that he intended to stay on the island, despite Faraday's warnings. He showed surprise that Charlotte was considering leaving, and then he surprised Charlotte in turn by suggesting that he knew Charlotte had been on the island before. ("There's No Place Like Home, Parts 2 & 3")
Trivia
- Miles was the twenty-sixth character to ever have a flashback.
- Miles' episode count so far is 8 (as of "There's No Place Like Home, Parts 2 & 3").
- Miles, out of the main cast, has only met Daniel, Charlotte, Michael, Jack, Kate, Juliet, Sayid, Locke, Hurley, Sawyer, Claire and Ben.
- When Miles is talking to Naomi's body in a hushed tone, he is actually talking in reverse - much like the Whispers. When the audio is reversed he is clearly saying "You've got to see it through".
Name
- In an interview in EW Magazine:, Damon Lindelof said, "With Miles Straume, we just thought it would be cool if his name sounded like maelstrom."
- "Miles" is a main character in Henry James' The Turn of the Screw, an American ghost story previously referenced on Lost. ("Orientation") ("Live Together, Die Alone") In the novel, Miles is a ten-year-old boy whose governess becomes obsessed with the idea that he and his younger sister are going to be (or have already been) corrupted by the ghosts of their deceased former governess and her lover.
Unanswered questions
| Unanswered questions |
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- For fan theories about these unanswered questions, see: Miles Straume/Theories
- Where did he get the photo of Ben that he showed to Jack and Juliet? ("Confirmed Dead")
- What is the nature of his spiritual abilities?
- Why was he selected for the freighter team by Abaddon? ("Confirmed Dead")
- Is he truthful about his intention to leave Ben alone if he obtains the $3.2 million?
- Why does he want exactly $3.2 million dollars?
- What does he mean by "I'll take care of Charlotte"?
- How did he know "Kevin" wasn't Michael's real name? ("Meet Kevin Johnson")
- Why did he choose to stay on the Island? ("There's No Place Like Home, Parts 2 & 3")
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flashback episode | "Confirmed Dead" | |||
| Flashback characters | Mrs. Gardner • Mrs. Gardner's grandson | |||
| Items | Ghostbuster device • Grenade | |||
| See also: Main Characters | ||||
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | Brandon • Naomi Dorrit • Captain Gault • Hendricks • Jeff • Kevin Johnson • George Minkowski • Frank Lapidus • Ray • Regina | |||
| Science Team | Daniel Faraday • Charlotte Lewis • Miles Straume | |||
| Mercenary Team | Martin Keamy • Kocol • Lacour • Mayhew • Omar • Redfern | |||
| Associated characters | Matthew Abaddon • Charles Widmore | |||
| Items | Black box • Calendar • Daniel's experiments • Daniel's journal • Daniel's machine • Daniel's map • Dead man's trigger • Desmond's photograph • Gas masks • Helicopter • Satellite phone | |||
| See also: Freighter | ||||
