Autumn Tysko's X-Files Reviews

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Revelations

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Merry Christmas - X-Files Style
Miracles need no rational, no justification.

"That makes me afraid... afraid that God is speaking but no one is listening"

I've said it before and I'll say it again - the best episodes of the X-Files are where it is personal. It doesn't matter to me if it is one of the alien/conspiracy episodes or a monster of the week - seeing one of our heroes involved in the story makes the X-Files fire on all cylinders. What a coming out for first time writer Kim Newton - she delivers a frightening and intense script with a wonderful, thought provoking glimpse into Scully to which Gillian Anderson responds with a passion. It was a perfect Christmas present.

This episode is a Scully show through and through. Even in the teaser we can't help but think of Dana "swamp gas" Scully who can even justify toads falling from the sky as the preacher mentions the unbeliever who expects "proof for all that they see" and thought it was high winds and ocean currents that parted the Red Sea.

One of the things that has always impressed me about the X-Files is its ability to deal with religious issues without passing judgement. This show is kind of the anti-Calusari - there we saw evil in the person of a little boy, here we see good in the form of another. The show discusses Jerusalem Syndrome, gives us a smoke and fire agent of satan and even slips in town names such as Loveland and Jerusalem. It begins in a church with a wonderful cameo by R. Lee Ermey and ends in a confessional.

How many of us have really wondered about that cross on Scully's neck? She doesn't wear much jewelry. Her earring are always small and the only time she ever wore any other necklace it was used as a plot device in "Squeeze". It had to mean something more to her than just a gift from her mother. We have been drawn to its significance again and again - Mulder wears it when she is missing and she doesn't wear it when he is gone. Here we began to see the part it plays in her life.

We've always known Dana is a good little "mass on Christmas, fish on Friday" catholic girl who listened at catechism (so good in fact that she has no sins to confess in six years), but now we see the extent of her faith. Maybe the recent events of her troubled life make her grab ahold after she has "drifted away", but something tells her that she is the "someone who is strong enough to make the sacrifice" when it comes to protecting Kevin.

So what about Mulder? Well, I have to say I was again disappointed in his reaction to the events. He gets off some memorable one liners "You never draw my bath" and the comment about "Homer Simpson's evil twin", but he treats everything with a rather cocky attitude. Both times when Scully is shaken and tries to talk to him about her beliefs she is met with incredulous statements such as "You're serious?" and "Do you really believe that?" and even the cutting "Even if science can't explain them?" His questioning makes her question. She is reduced to being almost ashamed as she tells Mulder "I believe in the idea that God's hand can be witnessed. I believe He can create miracles". She is more than justified in asking him "What about what I've seen?" After all, this is the woman who follows Mulder to the ends of the earth on his whims but he can't even bother to give her backup at the recycling plant when she has a hunch.

Which brings us to the ever popular "Scully Psychic Moments" and this episode is rife with them. She syncs in on the father's "full circle to find the truth", she knows Mulder's phone call is about Kevin, she knows she has been chosen to protect Kevin, and she guesses Kevin's location by gazing at a recycle bin - is she good or what?

OK, let's talk about the last scene. Or maybe we should refer to it as the "just another in a long list of reasons why Gillian deserves an emmy" scene. Mulder has managed to distance himself enough from her on this case that she can't talk to him about it so we get one of those great scenes where Scully confesses to someone else. These scenes, be they with a therapist or a priest, are always a window into Scully's soul. We can see how much her friend's disbelief has hit her - she doubts because he didn't believe - and heck, he believes *everything*. I loved her desperate latch onto the priest's idea that these things weren't meant for Mulder, they were meant for her, and the repeat of the full circle line brought it all home.

Great Moments

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-The shot of Scully, shadows across her face through the confessional was brilliant.

-The kids describing the "monster" to Mulder.

-Jarvis jumping through the second story window after he tells Scully "I don't question His word... whatever He asks of me - I'll do".

-A new Scully lie (instead of the usual "I'm fine") - "Look, I know about getting personally involved - and I'm not". Where have we heard that one before - oh yeah - Mulder in "Oubliette".

-The doorknob falling to the carpet still glowing.

-The stigmata through the wicker basket.

-The paper shredder - what a way to go.

-Scully hugs Kevin desperately and he tells her "I knew you'd come".

Thanks for the early Christmas present - it is just what I wanted.

Autumn
"Mulder, would you do me a favor? Would you smell Mr. Jarvis"
My new favorite Scullyism

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