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"He's lied to me from the beginning. He never trusted me."
"Scully, you are the *only* one I trust."
"You're in on it. You're one of them. You're one of the people
who abducted me. You put that thing in my neck! You killed my
sister!"
One word: YOWZA! The showdown at Mrs. Scully's is going to have to go down in X-Files history as one of the show's best dramatic moments. I sense that I am going to gush about this episode so I'm warning you all here. I absolutely loved it. I've mentioned before that the best episodes are where our characters are emotionally involved. Most times we get one or the other (as in "Oubliette" or "Revelations" for example), but when they both are effected - when it has something to do with their partnership or trust - it makes for the best possible X-File. Usually we only get this sort of charge from the mythology episodes, and technically one would I guess have to classify this as an odd blend of a monster of the week and conspiracy - where the monster (as we have seen before upon occasion) is in the mind.
Kudos from the top to the multi-talented Mat Beck (who shines in this episode with his spectacular story and consistently top-notch effects - I really liked that glitchy visual) and, of course, to Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny. Gillian gives yet another brilliant tour-de-force performance as Scully finally snaps. What other actress can so effectively say so much without uttering a single line. We've seen Scully on the edge before, but the old snap-o-meter went off the chart on this one. Duchovny doesn't often allow us to see Mulder looking at his partner with such unguarded affection and honesty, but it worked to a very compelling degree here. Mulder the picture of calm kindness with a wild-eyed Scully, sweat beaded on her forehead, seeing her life crumble. I'm applauding at my keyboard.
Before I move on, congratulations also to Sheila Larkin, Mark Snow, Rob Bowman, and editor Heather MacDougall. Sheila Larkin is nothing if not consistently wonderful. What an under used treasure she is to this show. Snow's throbbing score effectively intensified the tension and paranoia throughout. Bowman and MacDougall construct that wonderfully choreographed sequence of Scully, eyes darting, systematically trashing her hotel room in an odd parallel to a similar Mulder incident in "E.B.E.". The team was firing on all cylinders for this one folks.
This script really tapped into one of the "big" themes of the X- Files - trust. As the years have passed and the conspiracy against our heroes has heightened they have become entrenched, despite their differences, in a tightly wound symbiotic relationship. What is Scully's worst nightmare now? Thinking Mulder would betray her. Pretty powerful stuff. Poor Scully. Who can blame her the paranoia after thinking she heard a whispered phone conversation about tapes and herself - and then the ultimate betrayal - Mulder and CancerMan smiling and tape swapping. The tension in that shocking scene was almost unbearable. The depth that Mulder cares about Scully was also obvious. He cares enough to tape the first X on his window since "Anasazi" despite how much X repulses him. The moment he has in his car, head bowed as if in prayer, before going to identify the body was also very telling.
The role reversal between Mulder and Scully was very interesting and much more believable than the believer/skeptic switch we've seen before. It was funny to hear Mulder seemingly echo all Scully's "It's science fiction" lines with "What you're talking about is pseudo-science". I hope that it wasn't lost on people that despite her mental state this was the an example of an X-File where Scully was right, and right from the start. She becomes the obsessed one, staying up late to piece things together while Mulder goes to sleep.
More great scenes: Scully compulsively checking ashtrays and acting odd as Mulder begins to sense something is wrong - you can see the puzzled looks on his face as he starts missing the unspoken communication link. Scully in the dark like a betrayed wife dropping even the standard "Mulder it's me" and launching directly into the accusing "where are you" before crouching to the ground like a cornered animal when he arrives. The hospital sequence with an ashamed Scully and understanding Mulder. Cute the way he lifted his hands and smiled as he entered. I also like her last look in this scene as she senses Mulder is off to do something alone that he shouldn't and she can't help him.
A few notes on Mrs. Scully. Apparently Mulder is always the bearer of bad news as she immediately asks him what is the matter. I've always liked the way she refuses to call him Mulder. Fox just sounds right coming from her. It is interesting to note that in his conversations with her mother he always calls Scully "Dana" as well. We also learn in this episode why Scully is such a terrible liar - she got it from her mother. No one would believe that "she isn't here" story she was trying to feed Mulder.
The pieces are also falling together for the story of X. Frankly, I was not surprised at the little revelation at the end. We've always known X was not the most above board guy - "One Breath" and especially the end of "Soft Light" told us that. After all, Deep Throat was a consortium member as well. Despite his appearance as some sort of double agent, his motivations and loyalties continue to remain unclear. Is he really helping Mulder? Definitely not to be trusted by anyone. Mulder pegs him dead on: "You make me risk my life, you risk my partner's life, and you never risk your own."
I told you I was going to gush. This one was a 10.
-First the retread report. Two from Colony/EndGame - and both of whom were impersonated by the Mighty Morphin Bounty Hunter. Mulder's new informant (Tim Henry) played the marshall Scully handed the Gregors over to, and Dr. Stroman (Colin Cunningham) was the whiny Lieutenant in the sub.
-I always knew cable guys were evil.
-Ooo. Pendrell is becoming a player - you go techno-nerd! Scully has gotten to the point where she immediately suggests him: "Maybe it's a job for Special Agent Pendrell and the sci-crime lab. "Not quite the same as "a job for SuperMan", but I'm sure Scully saying this would have the same effect on him. What a special phone call that must have been for him with a "wiggy" Scully calling to check up on Mulder.
-I think the Lone Gunmen were actually proud of the fact that they were all officers in the high school AV club.
-You know it's funny. We can go episodes without any semblance of a time or date stamp to give us a reference, but by God if there wasn't a reference to date and time on almost every scene here - and it was *never* 10:13 or 11:21. We should have known something was really wrong from the top.
-Scully may go through her whiny "Quagmireish" moments about the X-Files, but she always seems to be concerned that they are working on one. Her "so what's the X-File" reminded me of a similar question in "Our Town". She has also always been very protective of them not being used - hints of the paranoia that has become a part of her life before she watches the first tape.
-Mulder and Scully drawing their guns on a big screen TV showing. LOL! They were right and didn't know it.
-A few fun videotape moments - the look Mulder got when he asked her if there was "anything good", and the new X-Files repeating in joke - one of the tapes Scully sees in the chest is marked "Jeopardy".
-I always find it funny to hear our little scientist who can say so many words I can't even spell come out with descriptions like wiggy and freaky.
-So what was with that hotel they were staying at? Was it rooms to fit your personality or what? Mulder looking scruffy in his T-shirt is staying in a scary little single bed without a headboard hovel with sunflower seeds and tapes strewn about. Meanwhile, it appears Scully (who hasn't even bothered to remove her heels) got the luxury suite - complete with couch and fireplace. Her tapes are so neatly piled one wonders if they are alphabetized.
-I, for one, enjoyed the fact that the "evil TV" that sent Scully careening over the edge involved Pat Buchanan and Bob Dole.
-So, Mrs. Scully's bed table has cute pictures of Dana and Melissa, but NO BROTHERS. Furthering my theory that they don't really exist.
-Yet another scary vest for Frohike. This one was kind of a rug with fringe. Yikes.
-I'm not sure about this whole color blind thing - though it does partially explain the ties. I would have to assume that Mulder is only mildly color blind as it varies greatly in degree. I'd hate to think he's been going around all this time thinking Scully has green hair.
-The TV in Scully's hospital room was on a news station discussing a plane crash. Hmm. I wonder why planes go down...
-One continuity error I spotted. Scully knocks a bunch of tapes to the floor when she searches behind the TV, but in the next shot they are again neatly stacked.
-We are told in dialogue that Scully fired four rounds. We heard six.
Autumn
"Everybody was out to get me."