"My advice to you Scully - let Mulder do what he has to do. Don't
get in his way. Don't try to hold him back - because you won't be 
able to."

Well, comedy hour at the X-Files is definitely over. This week 
we were given an episode that was dark and scary - one of Howard 
Gordon's bettermonster of the week efforts. This was an episode 
where the supporting players were the haunting music of Mark Snow 
and John Bartley's amazing cinematography. The mood was palpable. 
From the teaser we had a realsense of uneasiness and the introduction 
of a visual theme that carries through the show in the mixing of 
blood and charcoal on the white background. We see this imagery 
again and again - the slide show illuminated blood on Scully's 
pale face, the red flashing light of a police car shining on the 
partners, the stark way the blood stands outin the darkness of 
the studio, the red hot flame of the glassblower -the red herring. 
How many of you thought they saw some significance when Mostow 
(intensely played by Levani Outchaneichvili - *what* a name no 
wonder they only used the first name in the credits) bit Agent 
Nemhauser? But, lucky for us, this isn't "Murder She Wrote".

This episode was frightening in its exploration of the evil in 
the human mind. Like "Irresistible" it could be classified as 
technically not an X-File as the monster is madness and not a 
paranormal occurrence. Quite frankly, I find these types scripts 
more frightening than the mutants because they are more real. 
However, again like "Irresistible", whenthe evil is committed 
we see not the man but the monster - the gargoyle in the mind. 

I found this to be one of the better acting showcases of the 
season - allaround nice performances from the supporting players 
(Levani, Kurtwood, Smith, and Mitch Pileggi), and some really 
great work by Duchovny and Anderson. I thought Duchovny's work 
was his best this season - a real moody eye opening look into 
how Mulder got the nickname "Spooky". One wonders if Mulder had 
stayed in the BSU if he might have tempted the same fate as Agent Patterson. 

The initial meeting between the partners and Agent Patterson was 
something to watch with Scully caught up in her "It's an honor 
sir" FBI mode while an uncomfortable confrontation starts and, 
like it or not, she becomes "Mrs. Spooky" - in effect by the 
"strange company" she keeps. Though one has to believe that 
Patterson isn't the only agent in the FBI who - late at night - 
with a few beers in him starts telling "Mulder stories". 

This was definitely a Mulder story, but it did have some 
interesting things to say about the state of the Mulder/Scully 
partnership. The rift continues, but they haven't lost everything 
yet. There is a sense of unease in their scenes together. When 
they first go to the crime scene there is a very telling moment 
where Mulder enters the darkness of the studio alone - only a very 
small flashlight to guide him - while Scully waits at the door 
asking him what he sees. She doesn't see what he sees, and what 
she does see frightens her - because she sees a person she doesn't 
know. Her visit to Mulder's apartment is a well done moment of 
discovery and fear as she sees Mulder beginning to try to catch 
the monster by becoming it. 

Still, they are partners, and Scully remains loyal despite her 
fears. She is frustrated and afraid. "You weren't at home - in 
your office. I was scared Mulder, I didn't know where you were" 
(God knows this scares her more than anything). Mulder continues 
to distance himself from her- cocooning himself in the case - she 
tries to get answers to her doubts, but he has none. S: "Mulder, 
maybe you're just seeing what you want to see." M: "What makes 
you think I would want to see that?" There is an air of resignation 
as she asks almost to herself "Where are you going?" as Mulder 
leaves her again. Needing to blame someone, Agent Patterson gets 
that well deserved wrath-of-Scully look (man, does that woman have 
a *mean* look or what - don't hack her off).

So, the plot thickens - we find out that there are Mulder's 
prints on the murder weapon (yikes!) - the knife is gone out of 
the evidence room (double yikes!) - Scully's really getting scared 
for her partner now. Still, she slips on that mask of hers when 
she goes to talk to Skinner, but it is beginning to crack. Things 
may not be the greatest between our heroes, but when push comes to 
shove Scully still lies to Skinner to protect Mulder -- even if her 
face betrays her. She still offers "to work this thing out together". 
Though Scully clearly doesnot understand this side of Mulder she 
still tries to help. Maybe there is hope for these two to patch 
things up after all. 

The end of this episode I found very good. The creepy revelation of 
Nemhauser's body and the eerie confrontation of Mulder and 
Patterson's demons. Plus, as a bonus, Mulder got to not only drop 
his gun, but also get it back in time to protect himself.

NetPicks
--------
-Now, as much as I admire the capabilities of Agent Scully, she 
was superhuman in this episode. We all know from "731" and 
"Syzygy" that the gal can drive fast, but *wow*. She arrives at 
the studio in two minutes flat after hanging up the phone in her 
apartment *and* she had time to put on that fashionable coat so 
she looked good when she got there. What an amazing woman.

Random Musings
--------------
-Yes, I am irritated at the lack of continuity with "Syzygy", 
but I put that aside in order to judge this episode on its own 
merits.

-Scully Psychic Moment: She finds the exacto knife while 
distracted and driving away.

-Scully fashion: I love that red suit. They need to put her in 
it more often. Not just when it matches the color theme for an 
episode.

-Hmmm. Another gruesome pet licking up blood. Wonder if Scully's 
going to adopt that one too.

-Nice moment with the victim reacting to Agent Patterson's 
presence in the room. It was a clue that passed me by on the 
initial viewing.

-You know, it's a wonder Scully hasn't walked in on Mulder 
sooner she's always so free and easy with her pass key. One 
wonders if he gets the same privileges at her house.

-Funny how those guys *always* get each other on the cell phone - 
no matter whose phone they are using - no matter who they are 
calling. It really shouldn't surprise them anymore.... and why 
doesn't Mulder just tell her where he is whenever he answers - 
we all know she's gonna ask.

-Did we really hear *Scully* say "I thought it was one of those 
pictures coming to life". Boy she has been hanging out with Mulder 
too long.

-How 'bout them cool "Redwop" shades - I thought they were 
definitely happenin'.

Autumn
"Off the record ... so am I"