Jeff and Miles’ relationship in ITSV and ATSV
I really really love how Spiderverse tackle Miles’ relationship with his parents, more specifically Jeff and Miles’ relationship. Jeff’s main arc in both movie has been on how to connect to his son so he doesn’t loose him. His relationship with Aaron was what helped him to realise how he could loose Miles.
In Into the Spiderverse, we see him as a father who direct where his son should be as someone who wanted the best opportunity for him. He also forced Miles to say “I love you” back even though Miles was reluctant to do because other kids were watching. He pushed Miles in the direction he think is best but doesn’t considered what Miles find important (fitting in) and his feelings.
Then we saw his relationship with Aaron and how they had drifted apart due to their differences with Jeff being the one who actively disconnected it. When Aaron died, he was devastated because despite all the things he doesn’t approved of Aaron, he still cared for him. Despite all, he regrets not reconnecting his relationship with Aaron and their relationship end with no resolve and no goodbye.
He probably realised then that his relationship with Miles could go down the same path as Aaron and he’s afraid of loosing his son. So when he goes to Miles, he doesn’t demand Miles to talk to him or come out. He stand on the other side of the door and give Miles the option to talk to him when he’s ready to talk. He also said “I love you. You don’t have to say it back, though.”
Because even though he want what’s best for Miles, his life is still his own and he would accept Miles no matter what. He doesn’t want one more important relationship in his life to drift apart until it’s too late to put back together.
And he worked hard to understand Miles, both in ITSV and ATSV. He doesn’t get what’s going on with Miles half of the time, either from his secret identity or him being a teenager, and he does fucked up here and there but he continues to try and learn to understand him. He just loves Miles so much and I think we should talk about Jeff more.
This is also why I think Miles’ “one person” being his dad is actually so important and significant. They both love the other too much to loose them.
“You can’t think about saving the world, you have to think about saving one person.”














