X-Files 5.7 "Emily"

Hey kids, I'm up here in rainy northern Californai, where it
is very very cold. High of 54 today. OK, cold for ME, because I'm a
lightweight. So, that's why the return address is different on this e-mail--I'm at my Dad's computer! Dad liked the episode very much (last week's was one of his top five of all time:
he loves the Scully's like I do ) but all the morphing had him so thrown that
when Mrs. Scully reached for Dana at the funeral scene, he was afraid it was an
alien! Then he thought the baby was an alien. He doesn't know who anyone is
anymore. Was that the same music being played in the "Scully of
Arabia" opening that we heard in the "One Breath" flashback, where Scully
kills the snake? LOT of allusions to past episodes in this one. A great
episode,though I didn't feel as great as the first, only because all this
hybrid-clone-alien stuff is frustrating, and I wanted more Scully's.
All Scully's all the time, that's what I say. But they were busy helping
a new one into the world while Dana guided one out. I knew this was gonna
be a gut-wreencher, and so did Mulder--note him eyeing Dana with concern
before putting on his game face and approaching her with a brave smile.
There were plenty of moments in this one that made be think what good parents
Mulder and Scully good be. These moments led to me thinking about what good
parents they could be TOGETHER. This led me to thinking about things
I shouldn't be discussing while on my Dad's computer. Suffice it to
say, "SIGH." Notice how Mulder was worried at Scully's investment in the
child when he sees the cross. Scully has given up perhaps to much of
herself? Now, if you've seen "Pusher" and "Tooms," you know that you should
never have Mulder testify on your behalf in court. In "Fire" he jokes to
Scully that one of the great things about working on the X-files is that one
rarely has to testify in court. I think they just don't tell him. I thought
the Bill-glare was gratuitous, if you're not gonna give me a fight, why
bother? He doesn't trust him, we know already. Loved the Federal bureau of
Imagination line, and you may have recognized the exterior of the San Diego
court building if you watched a lot of Simon and Simon years back.
We learn that Scully didn't know about the eggs (Is that a jar of my ova in
your pocket or are just happy to see me?) so she must have learned she
was sterile during her cancer bout?? When Scully gets the call from the ghost
(couldn't have her talk, or we'd have to pay Melinda for another
line? Or maybe only dana can hear the voice? Felt like role-reversal, usually
it's Dana who can't witness and thus verify Mulder's paranormal
experiences), the scene is shot exactly like that scene where Scully gets the call from
her Mom, tellling her of her father's death. Dig the hateful look on
Dana's face when the doctor implies she has no authority over the girl.
Loved Mulder going Sipowicz on the evil Doctor. No one messes with the
woman he loves, nor the fruit of her womb, er, ovaries. Note that the whole
Scully abduction storyline was invented as a way to get around Gillian
Anderson's real-life pregnancy. that's when this child was made. So now,
Gillian isplaying scenes where she is a mother helpless to protect her child
from pain and death. A child that is the same age as Gillians own daughter.
Must have been hard on her, I would think. It is rare, but so compelling,
to watch the usually clinical, rational dana to lose all objectivity.

Mulder's discovery of the fetus (Yee!) was identical to Scully's finding the
alien fetus in "the Erlemeyer Flask" a step too far, felt cheap to me, but
still effective the second time around (Just me, or did Mulder almost say
the F-word). will he tell her about the scores of children she has in
tubes all over the world for all we know? Nah. I'd appreciate your thoughts
on why she was taken and tested. She seems a poor choice, as she has the
resources to get answers and fight back, and the other women didn't. Was it a
way to punish Mulder? Was she always a candidate, and that was in the works
when she was paired with Mulder? Or did Duane Barry jsut give her to the
bad guys, and she was experimented with before Cancer-man could get her
back to Mulder. Ah, poor Detective dumb guy, don't get Mulder to testify
but when he tells you not do something, even if doing that thing makes sense,
don't do it. He's seen things, you and I haven't seen. Dana allows her
daughter to die as her own Mother was willing to do. Mulder's bringing
flowers for Emily mirrored a similar gesture he made for Melissa in "Apocrypha,"
in both instances it's more a gesture of support and comfort for Scully.

For a second, I was afraid that Sheila Larkin (Mom) was actually shorter
than Gillian, but then realized Gillian was in "Bill-hugging" heels. Her
family was there for her, and she will be there for them, especially this
new little guy. Mulder's comment that the child's PURPOSE was, in part,
to be loved by her, was quite spiritual and wise. His crying here, quietly
suffering for his best friend was so much more moving than those
histrionics he had in that past-life regression mess. Scully opens the casket
looking for answers. Does she find them? No. But she finds something she
thought she had lost; the faith to keep looking.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, ("It's hotel California, I just know it!")

CHRISTINE :)