Backstory for Miles?
Now that Season 8 is complete, I do have some thoughts on Miles and his lack of progress this season.
He’s a great addition to the cast but at times it’s felt like they aren’t really sure what to do with him. Or he’s stagnated a bit.
He started off in Season 7 as a cocky, charming, charismatic cop with “2 years of policing under my belt back in Texas” and now at the end of Season 8 - no further forward than he was when he started. If anything, he’s further back than he should be. Professionally and personally. I’m not sure what’s going on with him. Or what it’s all building to.
As much as Seth was extremely problematic - putting it mildly - he was a fascinating character and they could have done so much with him and delving into his backstory. Instead they went with Miles who started off so promising and yet, seemed to just drift along and has made IMO no real impact. Which is such a shame because the potential is there.
Why did he leave Texas? He had been a cop for two years there. What made him join the LAPD and start all over again? Did he ever say why?
What about family? Does he have any?
Why do they always leave Miles out of team get togethers? He wasn’t at the gala in S7, he wasn’t at Wesley’s Fundraiser or his commiseration party. Nolan didn’t even visit him in hospital - his actual boot - after the station explosion. He was one of the last to know about Tim proposing and that’s only because he overheard. It really gives “outsider” vibes to me. Even Aaron knew before him and he doesn’t even work there.
He’s made mistake after mistake - some serious, some not and the constant TO changes did not help. He’s been written as if he knows nothing about policing but he was a cop before. He’s an LAPD rookie, not a rookie cop.
I really hope in Season 9, he starts to get treated like one of the team, he cracks some cases and starts to settle down in his personal life. The comments he’s made about his lack of love - give him someone to decompress with!
I can’t help thinking it’s all leading somewhere but I’m not sure where yet.