Index to all seasons | Abbey Home Page
"That's a pretty extreme hunch."
"I seem to recall you having some pretty extreme hunches."
"I never have."
"Aubrey" is one of those episodes that is often overlooked. I've never been sure why this is because it has always been, in my mind, a standout first episode from writer Sara Charno. X-Files has had its share of female writers on staff through the years, contributing a mere handful of scripts, but in "Aubrey", more than any other, a woman's touch is clearly visible. Charno writes of motherhood, pregnancy, women's intuition, abortion, rape, and the like. The case centers on Detective B.J. Morrow who, while pregnant from an affair with her married boss, experiences nightmares that put her front and center in uncovering an old murder mystery involving two other maverick FBI agents. Everything begins to revolve around the idea of somebody taking the "blame" for events as they progress: son being blamed by his mother instead of his sisters, a woman blaming her child because it reminded her of a brutal rape, the tension involved in the blame of an unplanned and problematic pregnancy, and who is to be blamed for the 50 year old murders as well as the ones currently happening. "Somebody's got to take the blame little sister."
There was also an interesting, subtle exploration of Mulder and Scully's partnership. Here they were working like a well oiled machine in their teamwork. This was illustrated in little ways like Scully acknowledging Mulder's interest in uncovering the mystery of their predecessors with a simple "I guess that's why we're going to Aubrey", or then, upon their arrival, using their different skills to solve the case together as Mulder waxes poetic while Scully looks at bones. They bounce ideas off each other and banter back and forth - even joking and smiling about hunches. I love it when they are like that. Compare their interaction through this episode to that of the lovers - who are tense, angry, and unhappy in their situation - communicating in notes and veiled references ("I'm willing to go with ya - for the appointment"). It is an interesting juxtaposition highlighted at the end where after the standoff both Tillman and Scully try to comfort their partners.
Of course, you know I have to enjoy this episode if for nothing else than my fondness for Psychic!Scully. She can be downright eerie sometimes. While Mulder questions B.J. and Tillman in the field she gets that pensive squinty look on her face and before you know it she's filling the usually observant Mulder in on the what's what with those two. I absolutely adore that back and forth: "It's obvious B.J. and Tillman are having an affair." "How do you know?" "A woman senses these things." To which Mulder grunts at her. Obvious? I'm with Mulder here - and then she pulls the big whammy on B.J. in the bathroom with her "You're pregnant aren't you?" Is that gal good or what? I think she especially enjoys rubbing it in with Mulder when she returns - after all she doesn't get to do that too often. Unfortunately, her psychic side took a nap later in the episode when she is actually surprised to find out Mrs. Thibodeaux had a child or when she guessed that B.J. would go after Tillman instead of Cokely.
In addition to all that, this was a creepy episode. The flashbacks had a real edge to them and the sequence where B.J. awakens from her nightmare to find her blood soaked chest carved with "Sister" was nicely scary - and still did not give away the mystery. To be honest, though, I wish they'd waited just a little longer to reveal that it was B.J. that was inhabited by the evil Cokely genetic memory (or however they explained it). I liked the guessing game that was going on. It was effective to have her develop the same rashes as the transformation began to take hold - that and the creepy voice. Also, in typical X-Files fashion, we are left with an open ended resolution - if indeed this all started happening with the pregnancy do we have another incarnation of that evil awaiting birth?
Director Rob Bowman conspires with Director of Photography John Bartley (and some good supporting help from editing) to create a visually stylish episode. The intercut flashback sequences in their muted jerky black and white colors and bright lights with reflections are compelling to watch. The teaser's establishing shot - long and low - winding through the police room discussing a murder and settling on the obviously disturbed B.J. leads the viewer right to the heart of the matter. I also am quite fond of the swoop over the buzzing bright neon sign of the Motel Black and that great crane shot set to blinking lights when the body is discovered in the pool. All this combined for a real atmospheric triumph.
-My biggest problem with this episode has always been that I didn't buy it time wise. We find out that the rape took place in 1945 and that B.J.'s father should be "almost 50" when this takes place. Well, while I think Deborah Strang does a wonderful job in this episode, and to tell you the truth I have no idea how old this actress is, well - she just looks to old for the part. The character should be early 30s at most (and that's if her parents had her very young) and to me this character looks 40 on a good day.
-There was a time when the whole "motherhood" theme was a bit much - having B.J. gasp at the fallen child and talk about the "mothering instinct" was overkill in a usually good script.
-Frank's Fashion Spot: This time out is a tough one for this particular category as Scully is firmly in that mid second season phase that had us all wondering - "Just how big is the beige section in that woman's closet?" Here she is stuck on beige and black. Black suit. Beige top. Beige suit. Black top. And, just to mix things up for some excitement during this sad fashion rut period, she sports a black jacket and beige slacks. Oooooo. Now that's exciting. (Though I guess I could comment on those scary yellow gloves B.J. was wearing when she was "possessed" what was up with those?)
-Mulder and Scully also go through a "munchies" phase about this time second season - they are eating in almost every episode. Here, we see them chowing down on pizza (which oddly does not come in a traditional pizza box - it looks more like a chicken box to me).
-Mulder must have a head like a rock. I can't for the life of me figure out how he managed to stay conscious after being beaned with that oxygen tank.
-I love that remote control that Cokely had. Four buttons. Those were the days. Now I wish I only had four remotes.
-This is one of those episode that features the mysterious Danny. Here, Scully refers to him as "Danny Valadejo" on the phone - no telling if I got that spelling right. However, as she refers to other agents as "agent" I don't think Danny's even got that far in FBI food chain.
-Boy that Mulder's good. A woman draws a primitive triangle and a circle on a notepad and he, because he has apparently memorized all the World's Fair symbols through the ages, immediately recognizes it for what it is.
-Talk about your teamwork this episode - they are even at the point where Mulder carries the pen and Scully carries the paper.
-That makeup on Cokely was creepy. I just wanted to go after him with a big bottle of Bactine and some bandaids. His whole face looked like a big open sore. That was a bit more intense than a simple rash.
-Mulder really gets away with one here in walking the fine line of inappropriate sexual comments with his mock innocent "I've always been intrigued by women named B.J.". Scully's less than thrilled look after this pretty much says it all.
-Welcome to the wonderful world of high technology. So, obviously they found their scanner. Personally I would have enjoyed seeing the scanner they found that was capable of rendering that pile of bones into a 3D diagram like it did. Mine just does pictures and stuff. Though I haven't tried shoving a bone through it. I also want what ever modem was in that computer that could link from Aubrey to Quantico and display graphics that fast.
-There is a small moment I like when B.J. runs off to the bathroom and Mulder just looks at Scully. Like it is a "girl" thing for her to go after B.J.
-For the continuity junkies out here, this episode is linked to "Paper Hearts" in which Scully repeats to Mulder the line he utters here: "Well, I've often felt that dreams are answers to questions we haven't yet figured out how to ask."
-They made no bones about making Cokely the villain here - bathed him in shadows, had him constantly smoking despite an oxygen tank, and had him talking down to Scully with that "little sister" business - which made her get that look on her face that she saves for people she despises.
-So, there was a dead guy in a burlap sack underneath the floorboards in a house and nobody noticed the smell? I guess as Cokely had rented the house he didn't mind it.
-Watch carefully as Mulder and Scully head down the stairs behind B.J. as she is digging up the floorboards. Gillian Anderson comes dangerously close to taking a header down the stairs.
-In the "woman's touch" department I'd have to add the bit about Scully being thoughtful enough to bring B.J. a bag of new clothes in the hospital.
Autumn
"I've had feelings for people I've worked with."