X-Files 7.15 "En Ami"

Hello everyone from cloudy Concord, California. There's no place like
home, even when your old room is now your parents office. I'm writing this on
my parents laptop, which has that little mouse in the keyboard which i find
unmanageable. For those who got my test message, sorry if that freaked
anyone out but I didn't want to take the time to write out a review and
then have it lost in cyberspace. For whatever reason, this review is very very
long. Okay, it's because I'm egotistical and I can ramble and I have
your e-mail addresses. Let us begin:

I was so thrilled that this episode took place in Virginia and not
California I can't begin to tell you. I was also relived that the whole
Christian science angle wasn't the focus of the episode. Not that it
wouldn't be interesting if they wanted to do it right: I distinctly
remember that when Scully was cured of her cancer, they said it could
have been the chip OR a miracle, and Scully had done all that, you know,
praying with her priest? But even as we approach the end of the show they still
have SCULLY DOESN'T BELIEVE IN ANYTHING EXCEPT SCIENCE in bold type
highlighted in the show's bible, even though every season in three or
four episodes we see her believe in other stuff. They just don't want to
develop the characters to the degree I would like, even as we near the end.

Which is why having the actors write is ideal because they DO want to
develop the characters and give them new sides and all that. Anyway,
back to the Christian scientists. I've just seen that story on every medical
and legal show ever made. Law and Order's done it a couple of times: I love
Law and Order but if a person is wearing a cross on their neck, they did it.
Christians: BAD, reads the L&O bible. If there was an X-Files/Law and
Order crossover, I'd see Scully and say, "Oh she SO did it!" Then I'd get all
confused. Not to offend anyone, but Christian Scientists, and others who
refuse medical treatment because they believe only God can cure them,
remind me of this old joke, where there's this flood and this guy's on his roof.
You know this one? A boat comes by and they say "Hop in!" and the guy
says, "No, God will save me." Another boat, same thing and another. Then a
Helicopter comes by and lowers a rope and they say "We'll save you!" And
the guy again refuses, insisting God will save him. He drowns, naturally.
He gets to heaven and says to God "What happened? Why didn't you save me?"
And God says "I SENT THREE BOATS AND A HELICOPTER, WHAT MORE DID YOU
WANT?" Which I say not to mock anyone, but that's where I stand too. I pray for
my doctors (insert Kaiser Permanente joke here).

Okay, so I like Scully's clock and was so stunned it wasn't a digital
clock--maybe she didn't want to hear God telling her to kill people by
playing old R&B songs on the radio anymore (that's an over
generalization, but isn't that what she was kind of saying a few months back?
Book her, Briscoe!) Now, Scully goes down to Virginia and starts flashing her
badge and questioning people, and she's not acting in any official capacity
whatsoever, am I right? I don't think it works that way. I don't think
a cop or an agent can come into your house and just ask you questions about
something that happened in your life just because someone put an
out-of-city
newspaper on your doorstep. She has no jurisdiction. In the old days,
this was acknowledged. Mulder would flash his badge, ask questions and Scully
would fret and say "Mulder, this isn't our case, we have nojurisdiction!"
Jim brought this up to me when he responded to my review of the silicon
cyber-murder episode--Mulder and Scully come in, apparently at the
request of their buddies, to clear up this mystery, and Scully does an AUTOPSY.
Under whose authority? It's not like being a pathologist gives you the
right to wander the country doing autopsies like they were haircuts.
X-Files, in its heyday, was a show that dealt with the incredible and
inconceivable in a professional matter-of-fact way. Without the nefarious
bosses and conspiracy, I must once again question why Mulder and scully
are in the FBI anymore. Where's the obstacle? What's the point?

All that aside, I liked the episode, probably because it was so
Scullycentric. Loved Scully with the Virginia family--unlike her
partner, Scully doesn't sneer at regular folk, and I love her with kids. Loved
her reaction to the kid's scar "Been there, had that done to me," she seems
to say as she realizes this kid has the chip. That whole thing's a mess
too, the way I had understood it, the cancer was a RESULT of having the
tracking device REMOVED.
Cancerman implies he saved Scully without her calling
him on the fact that he gave it to her in the first place (all those
abductees died of it after they took out their implants, and Scully was
abducted...what, three or four years before she got cancer? If someone
has a better grasp on all that feel free to enlighten me. I liked the whole
moral dilemma, with Scully being lured into service with the devil by
something so noble and irresistible on the surface: CURE CANCER. Mulder
was lured with stupid old Diana Fowley.

When Scully goes to the DARPA offices to find Cancerman, it ticked me off
that his CBG Spender name was on the door. It implied that it was public
knowledge, and the fact that Mulder and Scully didn't know it for so long
if it isn't the secret thing that I had always been led to believe it WAS,
just makes them look stupid, like they couldn't do a basic background check or
something. Loved Scully's eye-rolling as cancerman tried to flatter her.
Cancerman claims to be dying as a result of his alien brain surgery
earlier this season, which was supposed to make him immune to the alien goo,
wasn't it? But, maybe he's dying. Or maybe he didn't do it right. Or maybe
the artifact knows he's lying. Do you thing he could read Scully's mind?
When Cancerman said he wanted to do something "In service to man" my sister
Jen shouted "IT's A COOKBOOK SCULLY!!!" I've made that old twilight zone
reference before, but it's a classic. I felt the shots of Scully's bra
were a bit gratuitous but i'm sure some of you didn't object a'tall.

Scully's telling Mulder she has a "family emergency" is a terrible lie,
since he knows her family and would be concerned. Since she has
absolutely NO LIFE and is super dedicated to her job and to Mulder,
family is the
only plausible reason she'd abandon him like that. And, Mulder knows that
when Scully says she's "fine," it means she's in terrible pain or distress. I
liked the Cape Fear like score whenever Scully was with Cancerman--very
appropriate. Notice that when she's with cancerman, as opposed to
mulder, she gets to drive--maybe that's what won her over. Was he coming on to
her or what? The whole thing was very odd. Especially the whole "you fell
asleep so I undressed you" thing. Hey Guys, don't try that one at home.
Cancerman and Scully's landlord are just many of Scully's victims--they
are powerless to resist her. Scully's landlord thinks she's a Nice girl.
Mulder's line about "do you know how many people have died in that
apartment?" was hilarious. I can only think of two actual killings, but
when one's your sister, it counts extra. Cancerman's observations about
Scully were great: his line about her being drawn to powerful men yet
afraid of them having too much power over her, echoed a sentiment she expressed
several years ago to crazy-tattooed-one-night-stand guy, where she traced
that fascination back to Captain Dad Scully. Yes, I was grateful for the
mere mention of Momma Scully (once again Mulder must call her and say
"uh, have you heard from Scully lately? She's missing.") Speaking of
Scully's fascination with powerful men, what's with Scully having Skinner's
private number on speed dial, hubba hubba? ;)

It was odd that Scully didn't have that envelope addressed BEFORE she was
in the gas station bathroom under all that pressure--maybe she was afraid
cancerman would find it? But so what, he knows he's her partner and
friend, what would an envelope prove? Loved Scully's look when Cancerman offered
her a lifesaver. Don't take candy from strangers, Dana.

Mulder answers the door in his soft gray T-shirt and flannel jammies--was
he expecting...ME? Sigh. Anyway, Cancerman seems to be trying to set
himself up as Scully's sugar daddy, buying her designer gowns and all. Loved
Scully as avenging-bad-ass-in-black, zipping along in the motorboat. Cancerman
saves her out of love? Was there ever REALLy a cure to anything? Or was
he just trying to drive a wedge between our partners? Or was this just the
only way a guy like cancerman can get a dinner date with an attractive
red-head? I liked how hurt Mulder was, like he'd been cheated on. He
hates it when she believes other people's wild stories, as she's so rarely
inclined to believe his (or at least admit that she does). Very few of you will
get this reference, but Scully's running through the empty DARPA office
insisting that there had been an office there full of people reminded me
of the last episode of "Edge of Night" when Det. Egan was trying to tell
those cops about "Wonderland Lane." Scully was kinda pulling a Luke, insisting
to Mulder "There's still good in him, I felt it!" That felt a little
doubtful. It seemed like she was saying he was human and capable of telling her the
truth just to save face. I mean, it's kinda hard not to look like a
dumb ass when you trusted cancerman. She ends it by saying she thought he was
"longing for something he could never have..." I expected her to add,
"Me." All in all, interesting, good, confusing (like that's new).

Enjoy the Oscars, even if you don't care who wins this year( I don't.)
My favorite movie of the year was Toy Story 2 and it didn't get anything.
I'm looking forward to seeing what they do with the "Blame Canada" song from
the South Park movie, if nothing else. If I could be granted one wish
regarding all award shows, it would be to ban all jokes regarding how long they
are. I mean, by now, don't we all know that it'll take over three hours? If
that's too much for you, tape them or don't watch. I say, bring on all
the clips and make it even longer--it's once a year.

New episode in two weeks--looks, dare I say it, Scary? here's hoping!
Have great weeks even though you're all at work and I'm chilling with my
family and the dog and sleeping til 11 every morning :)

Christine :)

No, a theef didn't steal my review...X-Files 7.14 "Theef"

I just forgot! I'm unemployed and have started aggressively cleaning my
apartment--I even framed all my posters! I think I'm obsessive
compulsive but it goes in remission for years. Then it comes out and I must CLEAN!
CLEAN!

I thought this episode was REALLY scary and cool for the first..forty
minutes or so, but then it sort of fell apart in the end. AGAIN, we are
in California (high falootin' Marin County) FOR NO GOOD REASON
WHATSOEVER. This episode could have taken place anywhere in the
country, wouldn't have
mattered. Again, Mulder and Scully make no mention of yet another trip
to California. Sigh. I think they are actively trying to annoy me. The
beginning was grizzly and scary and I was actually saying things like
"dont' do it! Don't go in there!" The villain was positively creepy, as
were his poppets--"It was sport, Uncle!" If you recall, playing with
poppets was one of the things that got Abigail and the girls in trouble
in Arthur miller's "The Crucible"--that and naked dancing. The poppets were
hella freaky, too. "Do you believe in Folk magic?" by the Loving
Spoonful, perhaps? Did anyone see them at the Hall of Fame induction?
It was pretty bad. Rusty is one thing, but it was just humiliating to watch
people give that bad a performance in front of such a talented audience.
I like their songs, but they didn't seem Hall worthy to be, not with Steely
Dan and Aerosmith getting passed over. But, what do I
know, maybe it's a 60's thing. Maybe i "had to be there." I have some of
their 45's, I'm not dissing them hardcore, just...softcore.

I liked the lady in the magic store, I liked how clinical she was--the
Scully of folk magic. I liked that she wasn't the flaky flowerchild
stereotype one would expect to be written into a San Francisco Magic
store. I missed Mulder and Scully interacting--remember how we used to spend
time with them in the car, at crime scenes, just listening to them talk to
each other? They just weren't that involved in this one until the dumb
ending. I liked Mulder when he was figuring it all out, but Scully's doubts were
vague--again, I think I've said this before--it's like the writers are
tired of writing the scenes where she doubts everything, but, especially
as we wind down (presumably) why not have her acknowledge SOME belief? They
don't want to write the same old scene, but they won't give us anything
new--so they give us nothing. Scully was afflicted by Voodoo in the
second season, and she has seen the spiritual at work--she's professed belief in
God's working in the world--why not Satan? Why not have her display a
belief in Satan? In Darkness? Not that she Hasn't, but X-Files seems to
want to play her belief as a totally amazing surprising thing everytime
it happens, and it just makes her look like a hypocrite.

An evil black magic nut-job is pursuing you--let's take you to a secluded
scary cabin in the forest--a decision worthy of a Friday the 13th movie,
and where the episode loses it's power. Scully get's poppet'd, her faith
in God offering no protection (as I believe it would) and they get the
bad guy. Mulder's "you keep me guessing" line at the end, echoing their
brief banter in the beginning episode is not Nearly as clever as our writing
team thinks it is. Rather then illustrating some poignant truth we've
discovered about our heroes, this cute little dialogue trick seems to be
the REASON scully believed in the stuff in the first place.

So, Strong start, weak finish. next week's episode will be written by
William B. Davis, aka Cancerman. I'm no longer fearful of all the
upcoming actor-penned episodes, because they aren't bored with writing this show,
which is more than I can say for the staff. I will be visiting my family
the next couple episodes so...I'll try to get the review to you all from
my parents computer or what have you. Hope it's a good week, christine :D>