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"I'm not apologizing for this." Thankfully, there's no need to. After falling victim to a quite a few plotholes last week, things are now moving full speed ahead in "Drive" . It seems, as the most consistently reliable writer on the show's staff, we can always trust Vince Gilligan to put things in the right gear. I think what I liked the most about this episode was that it was so fresh. It's not some corny rip-off of "Speed" (and Gilligan is even smart enough to reference that film to nip those comparisons in the bud), but a unique, well paced, and compelling X-Files tale. This week the X-Files worked like the well- oiled machine we know it can be.
I had a very good feeling about this one from the teaser. I love it when the show experiments with new twists because, as this episode pointed out, "if you stop moving you die." Having to wait through a few seconds of dead air before going into a video-taped "SPECIAL REPORT" was a very clever idea (even if they were still paranoid enough to feel they had to put that little stealth "X" in the corner just so we'd know for sure). I'm positive more than a few folks watching even had a momentary fear that some bulletin on the situation in Iraq was about to cut into the show. I knew this ruse had worked when the person I was watching with said "damn it" when the warning came up.
One way that I can really tell an episode works is when I don't even care that Mulder and Scully spend the majority of the episode separated. Not only were they working towards a common goal when they were apart, but they were firmly a team when they were together. Apparently hell bent on breaking their spirits the Bureau quite literally has Mulder and Scully doing "shit work" . However, like the little mystery magnets that they are, these two can't even investigate manure without stumbling onto something good.
"Drive" was a prime indicator of the real effect of the last five years on Dana Scully. Sure, she puts up a few cursory "no" replies when she first spies Mulder telling someone "We'd be happy to help" and knows immediately what is going on. However, as the woman just has no willpower once Mulder starts laying out his little plans she's in Elko Nevada quicker than you can say "bye, bye Buhlie" . What an absolute treat to get to have Dr. Scully put all the pieces together on this one and use her science to solve the mystery complete with a rather wild theory (thank you Vince we could use a lot more of this on the show). It's fun to see her tentatively and then firmly making the leaps usually reserved for Mulder. Plus, as a special bonus, we even got Bossy!Scully quarantining the exam room and nervously worrying about Mulder's safety while avoiding telling him she thinks she may have been exposed herself.
On the guest star front Bryan Cranston does a fine job as that "peanut picking bastard" *Mr.* Crump. He and Duchovny do good work in portraying this uneasy alliance in one of those bonding via adversity kind of ways. I liked Mulder working purely out of the good in his heart to save a man that so obviously repulsed him.
Now I'm about to spout off with what I'm sure will be an unpopular opinion (much like the fact that I like Bill Scully for the conflict he causes): I like Kersh. A lot. I think James Pickens Jr. did a great job with that part. I like the malice and the conflict this new wildcard brings to the table. Frankly, with Skinner having proven himself more an ally to the two of them we needed some new internal obstacle, a threat from within for Mulder and Scully to join against. Someone to yank their chains. I like the way he makes them stand in his office like truants before the principal. And, I even like the fact that Kersh seems to have taken to picking on Scully (finally someone sees where the power is). Mostly because we get to see that little attitude thing she gets when she feels authority figures are being unjust. She winces when he calls because she hates those treating her like a child phone conversations ("think carefully" ) and Gillian Anderson has Scully saying a whole hell of a lot more than "right" when she answers Kersh in the final scene. I can't wait to see how this relationship plays out in the weeks ahead.
-The date stamp (seen in Crump's mug shot) starts the events of this episode on the day it aired 11/15/98.
-What I learned from Dr. Scully this episode: poking around in a dead person's ear is not a good idea. Blech. I bet she was relieved when someone else got to be ground zero for the dog brains.
-Like "Kaddish" the answer to the question of Mulder's heritage is carefully skirted in this episode. While we have plenty of insinuations from Crump, I mean Mr. Crump, that Mulder might be Jewish what we got from Mulder in return was indignation and sarcasm but no verification either way.
-Well, the new set dressing team was just a little excited this episode in filling the homes with knick-knacks and the like. We had everything from plate collections, to framed trout, making each home look like a cluttered mess just waiting for the right flea market.
-While I'm on set dressing, just how many lawn mowers does someone who lives in a trailer in the middle of nowhere with a dirt yard need? I counted at least six. Is this some sort of backwoods "days of the week" thing like the underwear that I just don't know about?
-In a really cool trick Mulder's rent car odometer actually runs backwards. He starts out around 2092 then drives and drives and drives and runs out of gas around 2043.
-I think it was really helpful of that CDC person to walk behind a deaf woman and verbally warn her to watch her step. That was thinking.
-In the it's the little things that count category I loved the way the annoyed slap of Scully's cell phone number on the glass contributed to the edgy energy. Her new number is (202) 555-0166 in case you need to reach her about something.
-Speaking of, you gotta love Scully's new cell phone. Especially since it allows her to do that one handed whip it out trick that makes her look oh so cool.
-While Mulder claimed in "Home" that he could live without it, I think this episode was more of a true indicator about just where his cell phone ranks in his life. I thought he was going to cry when the thing got tossed out the window. I loved the way Duchovny reacted here. Luckily Scully manages to get him back a lifeline to get him over the "terminal cell phone withdrawal."
-We can bitch all we want about that glaring L.A. sun, but you must admit they did manage some very cool fog effects for the visit to the Crump's trailer, and, more importantly, those monster sized flashlights were back after being gone far, far too long. Here's hoping new Director of Photography Bill Roe is able to block out the actors whining about how heavy they are.
-Frank's Fashion Spot: There's not many women that can look fetching even in a bio-hazard suit. Nuff said.
-It's a good thing Mr. Project Seafarer obviously doesn't play poker since even though she tries, God bless her, our Scully still needs to work on her bluff.
-Someone PLEASE tell me that shot from behind as Scully ran to the car was Gillian's body double because I refuse to believe my Scully would ever prance that badly.
-For a guy that had to go to the bathroom I don't think staring sadly out into the crashing waves was going to help the situation unless that's what he was really doing.
Autumn Tysko
"Big piles of manure."