Revolution: Miles & Charlie: Father or Not a Father?

"Thanks da-uhhh uncle Miles"

               Father's Day is around the corner and I thought I'd point out the "father/daughter" team from Revolution: Charlie and her uncle Miles. When Ben Matheson died, there was an empty hole in Charlie's life. She had Maggie as sort of a mother figure (despite her initial dislike of Maggie) but no other father figures to speak of. Some would argue: what about Aaron? Aaron's more of a grumpy uncle (as opposed to Miles in the beginning). So that just leaves Miles.

Guess who?

          We all know that Miles and Rachel were having an affair while she was with Ben. Some would even suspect that Charlie is Miles's actual daughter but we could debate that forever and I doubt Rachel even thought about it. That being said, Miles didn't feature much in Charlie's life before the Blackout. He did visit once when she was about 4 years old. He took her for a ride in his truck and sang with the music on the radio (badly I suppose) and Charlie couldn't help but laugh. If the Blackout never happened I would think Miles would have been the fun uncle. But "what ifs" can drive someone crazy.

"I'm not going anywhere..."

           So after Charlie's dad died I suppose Charlie felt that big missing piece and when she found Miles, a washed up drunk, that hole just sunk deeper. She thought that family would mean something to Miles but he didn't want to hear it. Miles was weighed down by more than just a few bottles of whiskey, it was his guilt, shame, and self loathing about how he let things get too far and murdered a lot of people to build the Monroe Republic. Needless to say, Miles didn't believe he was worth saving or nothing could redeem him. So why did he decide to join Charlie on her quest? Maybe he did it as a favor to his niece after she saved his life. I guess you can say Miles felt obligated to help rescue his nephew but he kind of dragged his feet half the way. 

"Open your eyes, Charlie... Come on open them!"

         Charlie's innocence kind of annoyed Miles at first. Her exasperation over his role in building the Monroe Republic just reminded him of how much of a monster he was. Miles even thought about bailing. Yet Maggie said something to him that didn't make sense to him until she died and Charlie was crying uncontrollably: "You need her a lot more than she needs you." Holding Charlie in his arms as she cried, "Everyone leaves me" I think the old Miles, the decent man who's heart hurt for the weary, began to rise from the dead. So for the second half of season 1, Charlie's innocence and sense of nobility in a way inspired Miles. In season 2 we remember him saying that "people will do the stupid selfish thing 9x out of 10" but with Charlie Miles was reminded that maybe that's not true. 

Charlie will be a shoulder to cry on.

            We see Miles in season 1 be very protective of Charlie. Yes she's capable of taking care of herself but she had become a symbol of hope for Miles. He hated to see her hurt emotionally and woe be to the person who beats on her. No matter the danger, Miles would dive in head first to save his niece and so Charlie began to rely on Miles. He was becoming the surrogate father that she needed. Even though there were a few times that Miles's past caught up to him and he was in danger of falling back into old monstrous habits, Charlie was there to give Miles a good kick in the pants and keep him on the good path. And when Charlie was going through those rocky patches with her mom, Miles seemed to become even more of better father figure. 

"Run, you idiots!"

          In season 2, Charlie becomes a different person early on: indifferent, detached, and bent on revenge. Miles didn't make Charlie stay in Willoughby even though Gene and Rachel wanted her to. Miles was one of the few people who saw Charlie as a young woman capable of making her own decisions. I guess you can say that Miles and Charlie were kindred spirits. Sometimes you have to go out on your own to deal and get away from your problems. Miles did that before and I think he knew deep down that Charlie would come home when she was ready to come home. Miles also began to see Charlie as not only a young woman but as a warrior he could rely upon on and off the battlefield. She didn't let her emotions rule her. Then there was when Bass was "executed". The old Charlie would have pestered him but the more mature Charlie didn't say a word. She just let Miles know that if he wanted to talk then she was around to listen. Miles appreciated that. 

"It's like that thing we did in Ann Arbor." - Bass
"What happened in Ann Arbor?" - Charlie
"Drop it." - Miles

            When Charlie brought Bass back to Willoughby, Miles's first reaction was to attack Bass. He believed that Bass either assaulted her or worse and like a protective father, Miles was ready to rip Bass's head off. We know Bass likes 20 somethings but I think as a favor to Miles and even Rachel he didn't make a move on Charlie. Besides Charlie would have kicked Bass's ass if he touched her. But Miles continues to watch out for Charlie's well being. She had become a big part of his life that he couldn't bear to lose. And for Charlie I think to lose Miles would be like losing her dad all over again. 

The 3 of them should do a family portrait.

           People speculate that Charlie is Miles's love child with Rachel and that may be true. We may never know, but even if we found out I don't think it would have changed much. Charlie and Miles were already like father and daughter. Miles was pissed at Bass for letting them both get captured just to make Connor look good for his boss but Bass fired right back, "You wouldn't do the same for Charlie?" And then there was that time Bass called Charlie "Mini-Miles". So already everyone sees these two as a father daughter pair. Charlie even gave her uncle the green light to try and make it work with Rachel. I guess Miles getting the official okay with Charlie made him and Rachel an official couple as well as the three of them an official family. Miles and Charlie began to rely on each other, each other's confidant. Charlie saved Miles and Miles will never stop saving Charlie. They're a team come hell or high water.