X-Files 5.5 "the Post-Modern Prometheus"

Well, kids, what did you think? I liked elements of this episode,
but personally it bothered me, and please don't be upset with me because
I can be too critical, and if you loved it, well your opinion is as vaild
as mine. That being said, I felt this episde was too derivitive of last
season's "Home" and the witty "Small Potatoes", both of which dealt
with (on some level) mutants and how they might procreate. Now, let me
start by saying that I know this was a fun, fantastical episode and it probably
shouldn't be taken too seriously. I love Cher, and I loved how her
music was used in this episode. I loved Scully's looks of scorn and
contempt, her "insert appropriate insult here" look. She just pauses and makes
sure Mulder's following her train of thought. I loved how Scully deals
with the not-so-bright interviewees, and the self-aggrandizing scientist. I
especially loved how he threw her a challenging question to try to
make her look bad, and realizing this, she tries to answer even though she
clearly doeasn't know he was talking about. Wouldn't want to admit you don't
know something in front of Mulder, would you Dana? I loved that Scully
uses the word "dopey" I love that she makes a possible reference to
Cher's "Half Breed", and soon after, we hear "Gypsies tramps and Thieves,"
both of which were #1's for cher in the early seventies.

BUT, whereas stylish direction is usually used to envigorate, to
enliven an already fine script, I felt that Chris carter wrote the script to
serve his directorial interests. I'm not explaining this the way I want, I
guess I found the style a bit stifiling. i know, it's just a comic book,
it's in good fun, but it was too dereivitive of those episode's a I mentioned
before, except in those, the agents, and the audience feel disgust at
the idea of Mutants seeking out unwilling sex-partners, but in this one,
it's Okay, because the women are glad to have their mutant babies and get
on Jerry springer. I found it all a little alarming. I didn't like
that they broke the forth wall, having the characters stop the action of the
script to change the episode? I mean, this isn't Moonlighting, it's
X-Files. I just felt a little manipulated, what with Mulder sweeping up Scully
in his arms, it's like chris Carter saying "It's my show, my characters, and
I can do whatever I want with them, even if it drives you to do desperate,
terrible things." Ok, but I don't have to like it. That being said,
I'm glad the monster got to see Cher, despite the fact I think he's a
rapist.

Did Chris carter watch "Edward Scissorhands" on acid? I didn't hate
it, I was just unsettled. i had my frying pan violated. write back and
tell me to chill, if you feel the need. Speaking of the unexplained, has
anyone seen the infomercial for The Kelly Family CD? If you haven't seen
it, this is a non-sequiter, but if you have, you know why an X-Files
episode about genetic mutants, distasteful subject matter, and unexplainable
things would bring it to mind. My twin liked the episode a lot. She was
moved by the sweet ending and thought it was "Home" with heart. Maybe she's
right, maybe chris wanted to tackle the subject from a lighter point of view
and I'm just cranky. Either way, Jen and I are the results of a genetic
mutation ourselves, and our difference of opinion on this matter is rather
fitting, as it speaks to mysteries of the procreation, of genes, of
nature vs. nurture, of mutants. We ain't all that bad, even those of us who
like 70's music perhaps a tad too much (but you won't find Me violating
anyone's frying pan, if you catch my drift, I'm not that kind of mutant.).
:)

Christine

Talks with vickie are always enlightening...X-Files 5.4 supplemental!

So, I was talking to Vickie at work today, as I do after every
X-Files. We dish it out and people wander in and comment on our
comments. ANYWAY, she wrote me a very humorous e-mail in response to
mine, saying that at the end of the episode,
Mulder was rushing back to the motel because he'd finally realized
that Scully had been trying to come on to him, and now he's rushing to BE
WITh her. :) Vickie states that she will commit a crime very soon if the
mulder/scully thing isn't consumated. Start raising that bail money.

SO, anyway, While we were chatting I was struck with a revelation about
the wine and cheese!!! I had to pass it on to a chosen few: Scully got
tipsy with Faux Fox in "small Potatoes", and one thing didn't quite lead to
another because (maybe because) they were interupted by the real
mulder. So, perhaps Scully wanted to try a little experiment, you know, see
what getting toasted with THE REAL FOX might be like, and what he might
say, and do. And maybe she wanted to share her intermost thoughts and
dreams. Or you know, maybe they'd have just watched some crappy movie on cable
and had a few laughs, what do I know?

Christine

X-Files 5.4 "Detour"

Say, let me know if you don't want to recieve these commentaries, I
realize they're long winded and self indulgent, but HEY, it's the internet...

I LOVED THIS EPISODE. Having watched the Darin Morgan scripted
"Millenium", I was lamenting his seeming unwillingness to write
another episode, but Vince Gilligan proved he could do fun with last year's
tail babies episode, and now Frank Spotnitz does them both better by
writing a very funny episode that is also really scary. Ok, that
twin-growth-monster in Humbug was scary, but, the glowing eyes in the
shadows of that kid's
house was terrifying. Bad things happen in the woods, and if there's
anyone in the country stilll going camping, they don't watch the X-Files.
I mean, I won't even use a porta-potty at an Indigo Girls concert,
ok?

I love when Mulder and Scully have to deal with mere mortals.
Mulder andScully's wonderfully witty exchanges were priceless. Mulder was just
plain adorable. I love how he cut out, and of course Scully went cuz she's
supposed to, but she's not above slipping some wine and cheese into
her purse. Was she planning on getting him drunk? heh heh. Later,
when they're in the dreaded woods, and Scully's trying to light the fire,
it struck jen and me: is he really flirting with her? I mean, I really
believe he may hve been trying to gauge her interest. I know for a
fact that many of you spent most of the episode squealing with delight
(and terror). I love how Mulder can't resist being a wise-ass, so scully
just habitually ignores the first thing he says. Then she dives in to the
serious issues. Scully's a Three Dog Night fan, who knew? You know,
it occurs to me, that with her bad singing, Mulder's scary stories and
both of their encyclopedic knowledge of useless facts, they're both
probably pretty annoying on a long car trip (my twin jen likes to
refer to scully as a female cliff clavin from "Cheers? "It's a little known
fact..." And remember that "I'll try to keep you warm" line, girls it seemed
to work. (He looked happy) Scully was very maternal through out, i
especially love her reassuring him like you would a child "You were
never out of my sight..." Scully would be the one I'd want to have around
if I were stuck somewhere--she could start a fire (next time) drive a boat
shoot a gun gather berries etc while I warm up Mulder... And wasn't it nice
that the other agents helped out in the end--team work!!! And wasn't it
cruel of the gang at X-files to remind us of those damn monsters under the
bed. Sigh, Why do you think I'm at the computer and not there
myself...Well, This is an episode to savor, like a cold slice of pumpkin pie for
breakfast the morning after Thanksgiving....MMMMMM. Scully's a Betty, Mulder's
an indian Guide but I still feel the need to remind them both, it's
never a nice trip to the forest...happy thanksgiving, go 49ers, Do Not go
camping ;)

Christine

X-Files 5.3 (sort of) "Unusual Suspects"

Well, just wanted to weigh in, but I'll be brief as it is late, and
also because without the Mulder Scully interaction, I'm simply not as involved.
There, I said it. Later this season we'll have a Scully solo
episode, but it involves her family with whom I'm obsessed so i am anticipating
getting really into unless little brother isn't there and no one mentions it.

I'm easy: Dana: "Where's Charlie, Mom?"
Mom: "He's in rehab again...Who wants Egg Nog!!"
Simple. So, anyway I'm glad for the information on the lone gunmen,
and It was nice to see how they met up with Mulder. I love any and all
references to pre-"Spooky" Mulder, how he was a big shot in the
bureau, a rising star, and when he turned to the X-files, he let everyone down.
I mean, even in disgrace, Scully's hearing legends about him 'round the
Quantico campfire...It was cool to see Mr. X, and of course his
"nobody touches this man" speaks to the significance Mulder has to somebody
in power. Mulder HAS to be important in order to justify why he hasn't
been killed. Say, cancerman was pretty upset last week when he thought
mulder was dead, yet he killed him himself in the boxcar...Okay, so anyway,
it was fun to see how crazy Susanne seemed to everyone, when we all know
they'll be sounding just as kooky in a few years. Great to see Dig Dug making
an appearance, as well as Dungons and Dragons. I would like to know how
Mulder was drafted into the FBI. Did he come home from England and
they met him at the airport? He says in the pilot he was recruited...out
of school. Scully too, I mean did she go to a career fair and say "FBI,
that'd piss off the folks..." I want the truth! All in all a good
episode, and didn't Byers just break your heart, poor guy? Now
whenever I see him I'll think of how sad he is about susanne...I look forward to
next week--I love it when they dress down!

Christine

X-Files 5.2 "Redux II"

OK, don't read this if you haven't seen X-files and you don't want it
spoiled, I just once again must comment. First, every time scully is
in the hospital, it's a different hospital. How many are there in
Washington (John, can you shed some light?). I loved how Mulder got the wind
knocked out of him at the mere sight of his beloved scully on her deathbed.
And Skinner's rage, his need to understand her motivation for lying, he
NEEDS to believe in her, he loves her. Skinner and Mulder had a definite
"I love her more than you" current between the two, but a pal-thing too,
Mulder refuses to believe Skinner is a bad guy, despite betrayals and doubts
all around. Scully thinks he's bad ( she's hurt, but she went along with
it pretty easily. If you remember the third season episode "Avatar"
with Skinner's wife, where he's being set up for murder, Mulder has to
almost drag Scully into helping skinner, she's profundly disappointed in the
fact that he's an adulterer (or maybe that he was married in the first
place ;) At the End, Skinner's invited into Scully's inner-circle, her
family, with an apologetc, sorry -I thought you were a rat smile. But hey, I'm
ahead of myself! Mulder kissed Scully many times and it was wonderful, how no
one freaked out about it (viewing audience accepted of course). He's so
full of love and compassion and kindess for her, trying to ease her fears
with smiles and kisses--it'd work for me. And all she can worry about is
everyone else, she'll take the fall for him. I love that little
small voice Gillian can do, it gets to me. Mrs. scully is happy to see Fox, Bill
not so much. I liked how Mulder took the anger that Bill dished out.
Mulder has the same anger and he understand an older-brother's concern for
an endangered sister. Bill may also see Mulder as sort of a rival, as
Mulder is a brother-protector -pal to scully that he can't be cuz he's at
sea.

I loved Scully's being mediator even on her death-bed, as her various
loved once try to protect her. Bill's comment that Dana' s Mulder's
biggest defender speaks to arguments about Mulder, he's a topic of discussion
at Thanksgiving perhaps. Bill knows his sistert well. In the finale he
comments that the ever-strong ("I'm FINE") scully thinks she can heal herself, and
now he warns mulder that Scully may be trying to please Mulder by going
along with his kooky idea. In the talking-tattoo episode "Never Again" Scully
told her date that she usually tries to please father figures at all
costs, and brother bill recognizes this pattern, and that both he and mulder are
"other fathers" as Scully called them. Skinner's probably one to. "He is one"
ho-ho. SO is brother charlie in Antarctica? Sigh. It really bothers me.

Hokay, Samantha. The senate committee hearing s cloning weren't very
subtle, but that could be part of their plan. Mulder doesn't seem to
know wht to believe either. I love the IDEA that after all this,
Samantha doesn't want to be found, I mean, it could be a whole new quest. She
has kids. But she could be a clone. Is she cancer man's daughter? who
knows. Mulder's mom was vehement that she'd never cheated, but who wouldn't?
.....not cheat, I mean, most people wouldn't tell their kids they cheated
on dad...

Maybe cancer man enginneered a daughter to signify a union he could
never actually make. I mean the guy is pretty sick, eh? So who knows.
Are most X-philes aware that they are watching a soap? HAHAHA. The scene
with Scully's Mom was beautiful. DON't we all go home, turn to our
families, when we need to remember who we really are? Mother and daughter are
able to fall apart and gain strength with each other at once, that's
family.

Dana is worried that she's shunned God, and her mother, but it
doesn't work like that . both God's love and her parent's love are unconditional
and asmuch as she feels she's turned away, she's still in the embrace of
her mother and her faith. Scully extends the embrace to Mulder when she
tells him she will be praying for him. He too was worried, and his quip to
Skinner at the show's start about only being half dead is true for
without her, his heart's dead and he knows it. I love that he wept at her
side and wish she'd awaken to wipe those tears but who's complaining, not me.
In the end he finds his strength in his integrity, in his devotion to the truth.
Good vs. Evil, it's so basic and so compelling. Scully and Mulder
are on the verge off losing it all, health, security, reputation, they've
lost loved ones, innocence, so much. We can lose anything, our homes, our
things, people, but we cannot lose our soul, our integrity, unless we give
it away ourselves. Mulder won't go along with the lie, and Scully won't
despair. they are true to themselves and to their faiths, and even
death can't rob them of this victory. I loved Mulder's joy as he revealed
Scully's remission to skinner, and nice of Chris Carter to gives us
our choice of endings. I'm going for divine intervention but you
skeptics can say it was medicine or the chip. Choose your own adventure. I liked
Mulder's cynical smile as he heard of Cancer man's death, that
mirrored myown--yeah, right. And what's with this mysterious "Roush" besides
being a tribute to USA TODAY critic Matt Roush who's a big supporter of the
show? Thanks for letting me ramble, love to hear your
thoughts....Oh, and Blevins murder, made to look like he shot himself in the chest,
reminiscent of Navy Admiral Boorda's recent suicide, which some thought fishy.
Blevin's was the second character we saw in the pilot episode, even before
Mulder. Sometimes we must come full circle to find the truth...:)

Christine

X-Files 5.1 "Redux"

Diana--so, I hope my e-mail doesn't get lost amongst all those other
x-philes. I hope you get to this before thursday or whaatever. I'm glad
I showed you JFK, ol' Chris Carter will have no problem suceeding in film
if he keeps ripping off the masters ( and very well, I might add.) My ONLY
complaint would be, I thought it was overly narrated, and that narration
got a little pretentious. I mean, they're gret poets, but who are they
writing this for, AN AUDIENCE perhaps? oooh or maybe each other. sigh,
it's almost love poetry, forget the complaint ha ha. Jen and I thought the
guards rattling the doors was such a rip off of the sound of music ( :) ),
and in the BEDROOM scene, was Mulder's crack a reference to "Butch Cassidy
and the Sundance Kid?? the keep going line...(and oh, how he wanted her to
keep going.) they are all useless to resist her, like Pendrell before him,
the lab doctor looks into those blue depths almost pooling with tears and
says, aw hell, i'll drop everything and get ths done before 7, since
everything in you r life depends on it, beautiful stranger...I was gad to
see the return of Holly from Pusher, that's the great thing about
vancouver, it's not hard to get continuity. They all call they're agents
and say "forget 'Highlander, I'm doing X-Files again!" Also glad they've
officially gotten rid of that old 1992 timeline. It was hurting my brain.
My main joy was all the delicious sexual tention between Skinner and Scully.
The betrayal each felt, the jealous rage. Scully does contempt really
well "No you weren't..." the best was when Skinner asked how she could
identify him without a face and she said from the clothes he was earing
earlier that morning. We know they're always running around at odd hours,
but Skinner, I think really thought she could have meant earlier that
morning after they'd, you know, been together. And she let him think that.
Later, she wonders to herself, Why did I let him think that, unable to
acknowledge the passion this buff and bald god stirs within her. Ahem,
sorry, that was very bad fan fiction, eh? But she falls into his arms and
you know, HE LOVES HER. Last think, Mulder needs to lose the dippy
sideburns. Next week looks delicioso, let me know if you want me to tell
you about the scene for it I saw on FX this morning, it was great--a fight
between mulder and brother bill. They better at least mention little
brother "too bad Charlie's climbing Mt. Everest again..."or I'll be
mightily miffed. :) P.S. to every one but Diana, I decided to sent this to
you because i was to lazy to send you an edited non-Diana message. It's
late.

Christine