X-Files 8.10 "Badlaa" Not half bad...dare I say good? Not a joke!

I know, I know, I don't quite believe it either, but I thought X-Files was
pretty good. In the words of Scully, "I appreciate your resistance."

Let me start with a remark about last week's terrible episode: My
co-worker Laura pointed out a glaring problem with last week's episode,
that I failed to notice as I sifted through the minutiae of the show: Why
the heck were Scully and Dogg investigating that case in the first place?
All it is is a car accident: an abandoned car with some serious damage to
the front of the car and yes, blood--but no body. No missing person
really, at that point. Scully finds the show prints and our X-File is
afoot--but, without the show prints...there's no reason they'd be called in
on this at all. Feel free to cut and paste this into the other review ;)

But, onward and, surprisingly, upward. The main problems still exist:
Scully's either 7 months pregnant and not showing, or they're still messing
with our heads and she's lost the baby and its none of our business. Why
why why's all around on everything still in place. (Why is Scully in the
FBI? etc.)

But this episode did scare the pants off me, and that hasn't happened in a
good long while--the squeeeeeeeek of the wheels? The freaky intensity?
Scary.

I don't get all of it--it doesn't all add up--what were his motivations for
killing these SPECIFIC people? He crawls into people's bodies and controls
them...how? If he, uh, cuts his way out, how does he get in
without...noticeable damage? Or does he will his way in and then tear his
way out? I'm not afraid to ask the gross questions.

I don't understand how a somber mute man gets hired based on his
"enthusiasm."

Liked Scully and Dogg's interplay throughout the episode--the way he
watched her at the first crime scene, intensely interested in what she's
going to come up with.

Autopsy Scully, yay! There's something so fundamental about how at peace
Scully can be telling someone else about her slicin and dicing. So SCULLY.

We see a lot more hesitation from Scully in this one--we see her wincing
with pain as she wedges her foot in the door to her open mind. She's a
little less Yoda about everything...

They still haven't solved the problem that she does make these leaps--even
if they're reluctant ones, it implies that she always could, she was just
unwilling--they need to make her stronger. Having her "play Mulder" just
makes her seem like the loser. She's beaten, defeated--"Uncle! I believe,
forget all that silly science stuff I based my life on!" If Scully was
just as strong as she's been in previous years the show would be so much
better--how are the ratings, anyone know?

BYOS: Bring your own subtext to the scene where Dogg watches Scully
interview the young boy abort his father's death--is he keeping his
distance because he's thinking about his own son? Probably not, but it'll
help you like him if you pretend...

We learn the first time Dogg saw a dead body was when he was "19 and in the
Marines..."

They work the case together! Yay! Woooo!

Scully, truly emulating Mulder, ditches Dogg so she can get herself in a
jam, and so that he WON'T be there to SEE the little guy come out of the
dead guy. Sigh, just like old times.

Yet another visit from Chuck, the expert on photography and weird mysticism
that Mulder consults a lot--sense 2nd season, I think. I assume all his
comments about Indian religious beliefs are bogus, since his insights into
Christianity always are. Liked how uncomfortable he was with Scully
listening to him and (almost) defending him when Dogg got all mocky. He's
having the reaction we've had all year: "Weren't you the one...but...did't
you used to...uh, nevermind." Later, when she calls him down to her office
and confides how difficult it is for her to think like Mulder, but she's
trying so hard, etc.--he's uncomfortable...and perhaps a bit smitten? Of
course he is.

All the murders were truly terrifying. the stakes were high, our agents
cared deeply, I was freaked out. good, good, good.

Oh wonderful, "Dolluhs to DOH-nuts" is Doggs catchphrase.

Loved the argument Dana and Dogg have by the pool--Dogg's had it, and loved
Scully's "are you questioning my integrity?' They aren't partners yet, and
it shows. BUT, this shouldn't have been episode 10. this should have
happened much earlier--third or fourth. Now Dogg seems kinda chumpy for
NOT yelling at Dana like she's a lunatic over the last few months, and Dana
seems kinda like a liar for acting like she believes all this stuff when
maybe she's not sure. But, at least we finally have some meaningful
exchange between the two.

Isn't it interesting that we DON'T sympathize with Dogg? That's your big
failing this year. Think about it: In most episodes of the X-Files,
Mulder's right and Scully doesn't believe it--not really, not enough to go
on record, not enough to apply what she's seen to other case etc. Yet, I
loved her. She frustrated the hell out of me, but I loved her. Dogg
hasn't managed to engender any of that good will, and that's a problem. I
want to like him, but they aren't giving me anything to go on. A bad
accent and a picture of a little kid? You have to do better than that
X-Files.

The end was great--Scully reaction to the shooting, and her breakdown, with
Dogg telling her not to be so hard on herself--it was nice, human stuff.
The coda made no real sense, but I'll let that slide.

A flawed outing, to be sure, but a GIANT leap in the right direction and I
give props to (drumroll) John Shiban. Yes, he's erratic (co-wrote most of
Scully's cancer arc, but also "teso dos bichos, the killer kitties ep.)
But he dates back to season three and he obviously knows Scully and cares
about her. As for the director, it was another guy I never heard of--was
there a "Direct an episode of the X-Files contest" that no one told me
about? Re-run next week, but scenes for "February" included a shot of
Momma Scully (oh yeah!) and Scully waking up from a nightmare of delivering
a gross alien baby--like Scully didn't watch "V" with the rest of us back
in the 80's? So..does that mean she's pregnant???? I guess?!?!?!?

Some Golden Globe commentary. If we're going to give awards out to movies
that looked cool and we liked them even though they lacked any real
substance, than my Golden Globe for best picture goes to "Charlie's
Angels." Gladiator is just Braveheart five years later and not nearly as
good.

Someone tell Dick Clark to get over himself.

Someone tell Lara Flynn Boyle to eat something.

Enjoy the Super Bowl. Go Giants! Not even an issue for me once Ravens
coach Brian Billick opened his mouth. UGH. Insufferable!
To spice up your game enjoyment, keep track of commentator stats: 1) How
many times will Phil Simms mention his own Super Bowl experience? and 2)
How many times will Greg Gumbel correct Simms' grammar.?

Have a great week and SUPER weekend :)