"Now how do we get things back to normal?"

I liked "Dreamland II" significantly more than "Dreamland". 
Still, I've been wrestling with something about this two-parter. 
Trying to pin point exactly why, on the whole, I seem to have 
come down with a big case of "coulda, shoulda, woulda" in 
reaction to it. I think the key lies in what we have known all 
along: the X-Files really succeeds on the interaction of its 
stars. You know when "Dreamland" and "Dreamland II" worked? 
When Duchovny and Anderson shared the screen. Unfortunately, 
for a two part episode those times were too few and far between. 
Try as they might Duchovny/Dunn or Anderson/McKean don't have 
that magical undercurrent. It is just not as interesting.

Case in point is that wonderful meeting between Mulder and 
Scully towards the end when they lament about getting things 
back to normal. Funny, but it is this scene and not all the 
silly goofing for laughs that I'm sure looked good on paper, 
that makes sitting through these episodes worth it. Anderson 
and Duchovny pushed the UST pedal to the metal as Scully and 
Mulder said goodbye to what they had. When they work it they 
can even make sunflower seeds seem like the most touching gift 
in the world. A beautifully acted scene perfectly lit in a 
wash of headlights.

As much as I enjoyed the bedroom tour scene I couldn't help 
but once again hunger to see this all through Scully's point 
of view. The few shots through the mirror served only to tease 
us with what could have been. Still, hats off to Anderson here. 
I delighted in the way she played the scene on the edge of 
uncomfortable at Faux!Mulder's touches, and the forced 
seductiveness as she put her plan in place. There was also a 
certain wistfulness in her "No, I don't hate it" that made 
this a very layered scene for Scully. 

I think a big factor in making this episode more successful 
was we were not forced to endure a clueless Scully running 
about the whole time getting her ass slapped and looking 
shocked. Scully once again shows her willingness to go with 
the unbelievable once she's gathered enough evidence to 
convince herself, and she's going with the evidence of her 
heart on this one. She's still a bit afraid as she has to 
ask more than once if it is really Mulder inside of Morris' 
body. Even the Lone Gunmen seem more than a little taken 
aback as she tries to explain. I really thought it was funny 
how it was Scully providing them with all the direction and 
answers here but they kept asking "Mulder" the questions. 
They just aren't used to Scully seeking their help yet, but 
I have to say I find her willingness of late to use them as 
a resource delightful.

The corruption of Scully to the ways of Mulder it seems has 
neared total completion. You can hear her chastising herself 
when she says "I've been telling you for years you should play 
more by the book, haven't I?" It is finally to the point where 
she is categorized as "willful, insubordinate, and not a team 
player" and she continues that behavior until she is fired. 

This was also our first exposure to the new guy on the team: 
director Michael Watkins. I was impressed with his touch in 
this effort. Especially the way in which he handled the 
previously mentioned "goodbye" scene and the lovely little 
phone conversation at the end where Scully is genuinely sorry 
for Mulder at what she thinks is a lack of paranormal phenomena 
and Mulder actually *thanks Scully* (excuse me I feel faint) 
for giving up normal life for him. Watkins obviously has a keen 
emotional handle on how these characters interact and highlighted 
it nicely.

Despite all the good points about "Dreamland II" it was once 
again the over the top, trying too hard to be funny moments 
that brought this Gilligan/Spotnitz/Shiban script down. The 
X-Files has always had a natural humor to it. However, too 
often here you could see them working for it. The bedroom 
joke for one. I'd buy a messy bedroom sure, but the old closet 
joke? Give us a break. They could have also toned down Morris 
a notch or two on the letch-o-meter and still found a lot of 
humor. Or perhaps not gone for the obvious throwing all the 
belongings in the front yard gag. When you take away the 
small window of believability you lose the natural humor of 
circumstance that Darin Morgan was such a master at. It's 
easy to go for the obvious laugh, like telling us that Saddam 
is a low rent Tulsa dinner theatre refugee, but in doing so 
you cheapen the effort on the whole.

I've always been a fan of experimental episodes. I enjoy the 
forays into humor. I adored "Post Modern Prometheus" and 
"Triangle". However, at this point even though "X-Files Lite" 
may taste great, it is less filling. Timing is everything, and 
right now I'm in the mood for a good old fashioned spooky tale. 
Yes, and I'm even pining for a little angst. How twisted is it 
that I've reached the point where I want the X-Files to depress 
me? God, I hope it happens soon.

Random Musings
--------------

-Lot's of interesting info from "Field Office Criminal 
Investigative and Administrative File" # X-71009. Mulder's 
Social Security Number: 123-32-1321, his place of birth is 
listed as Chilmark, MA, he's moved back to his almost 
identical Alexandria digs after that movie Arlington booboo 
(maybe this means Scully's apartment will be back to normal 
soon too), his start date with the FBI is listed as 10/24/86, 
and even though in the credits her name appears as "Tena" 
here we learn his mother's maiden name is Teena Kuipers. 
Plus he won an "Award for Public Service" from the FBI at 
some point.

-OK, I'll admit it. Mulder as little Spock was pretty damn 
funny. And it was interesting to hear another person's take 
on Mulder's life. Even if you drop out the whole alien 
abduction scenario, there was a real impact to just hearing 
about his sister disappearing overlapping a goofy home movie. 
It's a family tragedy no matter what the circumstances.

-I did like the effect of the champagne ejaculation complete 
with the confused "Baby?" - which we learn is NOT the endearing 
phrase to use around Ms. Scully, especially when she has a gun.

-Speaking of that gun, I found Scully's continued threats of 
using it ("Still got my gun") quite entertaining - especially 
at the end when Morris tries one last shot and even calls her 
"Danes". (I know the closed captioning reads different here, 
but I swear that is what he said. Then again what do I know, 
I'm one of those who still hears "I saw it" every time I watch 
the movie...)

-Frank's Fashion Spot: Apparently, after the movie Scully has 
a new fashion plan code named "Detective Decolletage". Not that 
there's anything wrong with that.

-I keep hoping they will back off a little, but they never do. 
Apparently the writers at 1013 just think Mulder's porn habit 
is so damn appealing that they need to share it with us as 
often as possible. So, now we know Mulder's bedroom was filled 
with boxes containing back issues of "PlayPen" amongst other 
things. What was that scary fuzzy dice collection?

-I couldn't help but wonder how much this "Little A'Le'inn" 
establishment resembles the original in Nevada.

-Enough with the self-referential John Gillnitz jokes guys. 
We get it already.

-Breakfast with the boys was fun, and I have to admit "back 
off Sneezy" was one of my favorite lines this episode.

-So just who is picking up the tab for these little unnoticed 
"field trips" now that the FBI is onto their expense reports? 
Seems ghostbusting has gotten a little more expensive for Our 
Heroes - plus Mulder has all that new furniture to pay off now.

-While I mentioned earlier the chemistry problems inherent in 
this body switch I will say that Dunn and McKean did a very 
nice job of showing us that they did connect on some level. 
Both the scene where he sees his upset wife at the bar and 
Morris convincing her at the end what happened were nicely 
done by the actors despite the cliche of the script.

-Some fun details from "The Lone Gunman: The Newsletter For 
Those Who Want to Stay Informed and Alive". The Saddam issue 
was Vol. X No. 11, November 1998 (the closest thing we get to 
a date this episode). It's also published monthly at a buck 
an issue, ten bucks a year or the bargain rate of twenty five 
bucks for three years. Pretty cheap way to find out if Monica 
is a mandroid or not.

-Speaking of, I do wish both Lone Gunman covers we saw had not 
featured the mandroid. Surely those boys write about other things.

-Our Little Sailor: "The son of a bitch confesses to Kersh 
even more than I do to my priest."

-Our Little 'Planet of the Apes' Sailor: "I'd kiss you if you 
weren't so damned ugly."

-Kudos to Julia Vera AKA "Grandma TopGun" for doing such a 
number with that role. Her spread-leg macho Maverick bravado 
was great fun. I laughed out loud at "You're my bitch now 
pencil neck."

-When we got to the "dude" kids I have to admit I missed our 
favorite stoners. I wish that the duo had decided take a turn 
through Nevada after their time in "Quagmire" and "War of the 
Coprophages".

-If Mulder thinks his "new" apartment is frightening (and I 
loved that look at the door number at the end) just wait until 
he gets to the office and finds that scary car model on his 
desk and Tiger Woods on his PC.

-I will admit there certainly is some humor to be found in the 
whole idea of "Special Tramp Dana Scully". That and Scully being 
called a "home wrecker" is pretty damn funny.

Autumn
"Baby me and you'll be peeing through a catheter."