Autumn Tysko's X-Files Reviews

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Apocrypha

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"I think the dead are speaking to us Mulder, demanding justice. Maybe that man was right, maybe we bury the dead alive."

I commented in my "Piper Maru" review that I thought that episode was missing something - that it didn't have the drive or intensity that I had come to expect from the mythology episodes. I think of it now as a lengthy preamble to this show - necessary exposition that allows "Apocrypha" to move at a harrowing breakneck pace. Anytime I actually need to get up and pace during the commercial breaks I know the show is succeeding on all levels. This episode gave us a lot, and in a somewhat uncharacteristic fashion, gave the audience bits of resolution on some nagging issues. Of course, there is much more that we need to know, but I was quite satisfied with where things stood at the close of this chapter.

The theme of this two-parter seems to be the effect of the dead on our lives, and it echoes throughout both "Piper Maru" and "Apocrypha". Of lesser import this time around is the whole quest for Samantha. These shows are about justice or revenge for the dead. The two-parter starts with Scully frustrated by the complete lack of investigation into her sister's death and ends with her mourning her in the cemetery. The shows are full of references to the dead being our conscience, speaking to us, and seeking closure that can't be found.

The teaser gives us our first secret, as we see a young Bill Mulder and (this was scary) a young and even attractive CancerMan (which just goes to show you what 40 years of smoking will do to a guy's looks). It seems that it is Mulder's legacy to atone for the sins of the father who wasn't willing or able to "make sure the truth gets out" as the sailor requested. Nice touch to loop William B. Davis' voice in as the young CancerMan with the eerie "you can trust all of us."

I have often wondered if it is maybe just the hospital setting that puts Scully into her major bossy overdrive mode. I love it when she orders other agents around. Actually, I'm surprised that she even lets other doctors look at her friends. One senses that she's got what it takes to make a heck of an A.D. herself one day. Her whole interplay withthe other agents was quite interesting. She took the investigation and ran with it uncovering all of, if not most of the major clues while the others consistently offered excuses "we've pretty much exhausted our avenues". What an interesting parallel to her comments about Mulder from "Piper Maru" dealing with his relentlessness - I'm sure the willingness of others to give up so easily gives her a further appreciation for Mulder's tenacity.

Another X-Files staple: it's an old familiar scene and they know it, as Mulder awakes in a hospital to find Scully patiently waiting at his bedside. Their slight smiles betray the all too familiar aspect of this scene as Mulder mentions "I guess I'm not dead" and Scully gives him her "not this time" look. I could feel those of us concerned with the interplay between Mulder and Scully draw a sigh of relief during "Apocrypha" as it appears the cold front has apparently moved on for a while. I especially liked the scene where Mulder explains his theory of the oil based medium to her and Scully struggles to maintain a straight face and ask pertinent questions until they both just have to laugh over it.

That said, I still believe the best character interplay we are seeing these days is between Scully and Skinner - not Scully and Mulder. From her hand holding concern at the hospital to their scene in his hospital room, Anderson and Pileggi are getting the most out of these moments. Scully may not believe in aliens, but she has come to recognize a large scale conspiracy through her experience. The slow burn she does, as Skinner warns her "anger is not a luxury that you can afford right now" plays great. For a second I found it interesting to see Skinner lecturing Scully about keeping her head and warning her about making mistakes, but then I remembered that he has seen her lose it big time - and making the mistake of distraction that allowed him to pull his gun on her back in "Blessing Way".

Skinner may say he is "not advancing any conspiracy", but his actions speak highly of his character and both Mulder and Scully realize it this time around. It’s quite a switch to see Mulder with a new found respect for Skinner - shaking his hand, helping him, and even thanking him. Even though Skinner claims he just did his job and that it isn’t "his crusade" he did, as Mulder points out, put his job and life on the line for Scully. I never thought I’d say this, being a bit of a Mulder/Scully purist, but I’m actually looking forward to the upcoming Skinner episode now.

The consortium also had a few interesting twists for us. It was nice to see John Neville back, and even nicer to see that they seem to be getting real impatient with CancerMan’s shoot ‘em now - get answers later style. What a sad life old CM lives - every time we see him at home he's drinking, smoking, and watching old WWII movies in black and white while someone breaks into his house. I think that he's got a bit to worry about now that Well Manicured Man has found out via Mulder that not only is Krycek alive, but the tape is still out there.

What a pleasant surprise to get a visit from Action Scully - we really don't see her enough. Kicking doors open gun drawn and giving chas ethrough the streets - all leading to one of those amazing moments when that always present Scully snap factor kicks in big time. That scene with her screaming "You shot my sister!" while the fugitive begged for his lifegave me goose bumps. You could see such a wonderful war of emotions in her eyes culminating with the fact that she really really wanted to shoot him.

The last act was fast paced and fun as we move to North Dakota and our poor unlucky heroes are caught by the cavalry a mere few feet from the UFO behind door 1013 - you just have to laugh sometimes. The cemetery scene was well-played with a quiet introspective nature - it was nice to know that Mulder was able to find her - and he brought flowers. Though anyone who actually thinks that Krycek was buried alive - think again.

Random Musings

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-The alien evacuation scenes were wonderful - the ooze "bleeding" out of the felled captain, and even better Krycek expelling the alien back into the ship. (Remind me never to have whatever he was drinking).

-What Mulder really said to Scully on the phone: "Meet me at the airport for a trip to North Dakota - and - uh - pack the good flashlights."

-The Lone Gunmen Icecapades scene was fun, but a throw away. Only Byers would skate in that silly suit - and they were just too pleased with themselves on their "G-men" activities. Too bad they didn't know about the old pencil trick.

-Retread alert - Agent Fuller from "Squeeze".

-M "It looked great on me in the store".

-Why in the world does Mr. Italian Consortium guy pronounce UFO as you-fo?

-I've decided I really like Agent Pendrell - the poor guy is just pining away, doing his best to do all that he can to help and impress Scully just so she'll stop long enough to notice and perhaps touch his arm again.

-Great moment: CancerMan lighting up right after the line "massive and malignant cancers".

-Scully psychic moment: Isn't it amazing that she just *happened* to be wearing slacks and ... low heeled shoes ... on the night she had to chase Hispanic Man through the streets. Coincidence? I think not.

-Scully's comment of "1 down, 199 silos to go" could lead to a new X-Files rendition of "100 bottles of beer on the wall" - Hmm, maybe *that* was Krycek's problem.

-Do you ever think they start a new X-Files script with one line: "Mulder, it's me. Where are you?" and just work from there?

-I never knew one could get such a nice luxury rent car in Black Crow, North Dakota.

Autumn
"I’ve seen stranger things - believe me"

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