LOST: Walk Miles In His Shoes

Even in this shortened season format, there were bound to be LOST episodes that were less-than-stellar. Although some thought differently, I felt the writers failed in giving us a great story about a fascinating character. I mean, you have a guy who can communicate with the dead; how can possibly make that boring?

Well, for starters, introduce yet another character with Daddy Issues. Then portray him as suddenly interested in seeing his father in one flashback, even though in the previous one it didn't seem that he could care less. Also, put his powers into question by having him (1) con a guy who grieving for his lost son and (2) compare his abilities with that of a crazy rich guy. Top it off with him being asked to deliver a dead body that he has little interest in even talking to, and you've got the Most Boring Episode About a Quirky Power Ever.

It doesn't help that the episode involves Kate running her mouth, Jack embracing his inner janitor, Juliet apparently on medication and Sawyer having to give up his fantasy life as a Dharma's answer to Worf. Really, it doesn't.

OBSERVATIONS

1. Is it me, or has all of the male characters changed roles? Jack is in the background occasionally giving out tidbits of info like Sayid used to do. Sawyer is the leader Jack was. Miles has become the self-involved, snarky nickname machine (see: Sawyer, Seasons 1-3). Sayid has become a guy who believes in destiny. It's like some twisted psychological version of Musical Chairs.
2. On the other side of the gender wall, the female characters are proving to be as useful as lollipop made of earwax. Kate has essentially wrecked everything, Juliet offers next to nothing in terms of advice, Sun's "stuck" in the present and Claire's still missing.
3. Roger Linus is the real douche.

THEORIES

1. I would say that Roger Linus' jerk-induced paranoia causes the Purge, but we all know that (1) like most Dharma people, he didn't see it coming and (2) Ben isn't old enough yet. so maybe what's coming up will be the precursor to that event.
2. I think the reason Miles wasn't trying to gang out at the Dharma Bar with his father was because he preferred to observe him from afar. That, and he's probably thinking that seeing himself as a kid is kinda weird.

QUESTIONS

1. What's the story behind the dead body Miles and Hurley delivered?
2. How, as Miles puts it, "does it work?"
3. Is the Dharma Initiative looking for Sayid?
4. Why are the Others just letting the DI build hatches everywhere?
5. Where has Daniel been? How did he recover from his, um, mental breakdown?
6. How long before someone notices that Phil is missing?