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Season Five Reviews
"resistance is possible"
5X02Redux I
SummaryThis was good, but a bit "hit and miss" overall. Of course, no one really spent the summer wondering if Mulder was dead, so the cliff-hanging device was really a non-issue. (By the way, I wasn't part of the on-line community when this originally aired so I knew nothing about the hissy-fit that people threw over CC changing his premise over whether Scully knew that Mulder was alive or not. All so confusing anyway...) While I found the episode nicely paced and gripping, there were also a lot of moments in which I seriously yearned for things to be a little less cryptic. Show me some facts, not layers of obfuscation. But then this was a classic CC mytharc and even back then, I should have known better than to expect anything different. Best or Worst MomentSo what does Mulder want most? "The cure for Scully's cancer?" Nothing so terribly dramatic about this scene between Mulder and Kritschgau but that statement coming from Mulder is quite telling. Balance it with his declaration from the Pilot episode that "nothing else matters" and you have undeniable character growth. Redux II
SummaryPowerful close to a somewhat confusing cliff-hanging mytharc. Great performances all around, with a tight script that moved along intensely and effectively. What I remember most about first watching this episode was that total "blow me away" feeling that I got from seeing all that "touchy-feely" stuff, though. (Whoa — CC actually allowed all that to get expressed??) Overall, this was a wonderful story about love and sacrifice and the price that we'll pay to get what we want. Nothing exactly X-File-ish in that sense, but a long overdue look at how far Mulder and Scully have travelled and their unwavering commitment to each other. CC and the boys should be required to take a closer look at this ep every time they spout that "plot-driven not character-driven" refrain. We got both here. Best or Worst MomentYou can't go wrong in choosing any of the M&S moments in this total showcase of great M&S moments. But my personal favourite is the final few seconds of the show when Mulder is considering the photo of himself and his sister, splattered with what would appear to be CSM's blood. It hurts even to imagine the pain of what he might be feeling, having just met the "sister" who wants nothing to do with him. Unusual Suspects
SummaryAlthough I'm never a fan of the Mulder-lite eps, this one actually managed to achieve what a lot of episodes fail to deliver on... repeat viewing value. I actually like this one more the more I watch it and I think that's a solid reflection on how Vince Gilligan put together this script. His characterization of Susanne Modeski is wonderfully well-rounded and realistic. Signy Coleman does a great job of portraying her with the just the right mix of vulnerability and gut-wrenching strength. And while I've never watched Homicide, I thought that what Richard Belzer did with his role was quite entertaining and effective also. Overall, I can't say that I had ever wondered too much about how the Lone Gunmen came to be, but it was interesting to see some background and note their not-too-particularly-friendly beginnings, which to me were totally expected given their obvious differences. Best or Worst MomentThat whole warehouse scene was riveting. Loved the appearance of X, the "jabbering" version of Mulder ripping off his clothes, the heart-stopping fright shown by the boys, and the guts displayed by Modeski. Detour
SummaryAs so many people have already opined, the MOTW elements of this episode were not the best. But you know what? I never sat back and complained about them like I may have with several other episodes, because there were so many other things to enjoy about this one. This was a Mulder/Scully story all in all; some lovely series-defining moments here. (If I hadn't been of the opinion that there was something between the two of them all the way through to the end of the fourth season, four episodes into season five would have changed my mind.) On the other hand, the juxtapositioning of the two sets of agents — while of course providing comic relief — revealed a lot about why we care about Mulder and Scully and what makes them successful in their partnership. Some things are just there... and can't be learned at any conference costing any amount of money. Best or Worst MomentAn obvious choice, I know, but I watch this episode repeatedly for this scene, so I gotta go with the night sequence in the woods as my best moment. There are so many layered interpretations of what was actually said during that exchange, that lo and behold, it was one of the significant focal points of my first TXF fanfic, Crossing Lines. Post Modern Prometheus
SummaryI don't know — this one was quite off-putting to me when I first saw it and it surprised me later to find out that others have it in their top ten list! I don't begrudge CC's experimentation, but there was really nothing about this story that made me think, oh, that was great. I suppose the theme was admirable in a way (and of course, I have heard a certain segment of fandom complain about the cavalier treatment of what is, in fact, rape), although it was hardly original. But then, of course, you're saying, it was his homage to "whatever". Anyway. Didn't do it for me and I've since rewatched it a few times to see if my opinion's changed. Nope. Best or Worst MomentThe best moment was the obvious one that wasn't even a real moment, technically speaking (as it was just a Mulder fantasy).The ending scene of Mulder and Scully dancing to Cher's "Walking in Memphis" is a TV image for the ages — too bad they didn't include as much footage as they actually shot. DD recently picked that scene as being his defining TXF moment, a potential image to mark the series' end. If only I could believe that CC will eventually do something similar... Christmas Carol
SummaryThere's a certain part of me that wants to rate this one "poor" for the fact that I object to this whole storyline, but I guess I shouldn't be so judgmental. If CC and Co. wants to invoke ScullyAngst over her inability to have a kid, so be it. Quite frankly, to paraphrase Mulder from Home, I still don't see Scully as a mother. Moreover, when I first saw this one, I spent the whole time waiting for Mulder to make an appearance beyond the "Hello? Hello?" scene, which means that I basically got more and more annoyed as the hour wore on. I did like the return of Melissa in flashback, however, although I groaned at the continuity error regarding the necklace. All in all, this one ranks up there as one of those TXF eps that I'd just as soon pretend never happened. Best or Worst MomentI feel so indifferent towards this ep that I almost thought that I had nothing to offer for best or worst, but on second and third thought, I'll pick the conversation with Melissa. Most notably the part where she tells Scully that she doesn't know who she might eventually meet at the FBI who could end up changing her life, so to speak. Nice touch to an otherwise blah ep. Emily
SummaryAt least we got Mulder back for this one, along with some action outside of calls from beyond the grave. There were some dramatic moments in this one that highlight very personal aspects of the relationship between Mulder and Scully, primarily their need to shelter the other from unnecessary pain. We learn that Mulder has withheld the infertility evidence from Scully all this time (speaking of, what did he do with that sample from Memento Mori??) to protect her from a reality that he didn't feel she needed to know, while Scully really didn't want to involve Mulder on the case ("Why didn't you call me sooner?") at all. Best or Worst MomentI liked the interaction between M&S in the chapel after Emily's service. It was touching how Mulder came in after the fact to drop off the flowers and pay his own respects, allowing the family their privacy. And I liked how Scully chose to return with him, despite how she might still feel the need to pull away from him during such times. Kitsunegari
SummaryI couldn't give this one a higher rating than its predecessor, so there's the logic behind it. To me, it didn't have the same impact as Pusher and I thought the plot suffered from having to be a sequel to it, making it sort of contrived. I found myself wishing that they'd found some other way to connect the two stories rather than to use the not-entirely-convincing "long-lost twin" angle. Linda Bowman just seemed too vengeful given the fact that this brother had been a stranger all her life, not to mention the fact that he really was a baddie and deserved to be put away after all the havoc that he'd wreaked. Overall, while Pusher kept us guessing all the way through, this one seemed lacking in true mystery. One mystery, however, had to do with how Mulder figured it out so quickly (because he's Mulder?). I loved the dynamics that arose among him, Scully and Skinner because of his suspicions, but I couldn't figure how he came to be so sure about Linda right from the start. Best or Worst MomentGoing with the obvious here, even though we saw this one coming from a mile away. The scene with Mulder in the warehouse confronting Linda was very well done, with the possible exception of Diana Scarwid's delivery. She wasn't quite convincing as Scully because she wasn't able to capture GA's style or inflections. But DD was remarkable in displaying his barely contained grief and subsequent anger. I think I liked it especially for the fact that it wasn't overdone. Schizogeny
SummarySeems almost harsh, but this one did nothing for me. Can't identify with the teen angst, when, as Mulder put it, "He's a hard kid to love." I read somewhere where someone said that the X-Files hasn't been very good at portraying teenagers; I'd have to agree with that. The whole "father as tree" thing was x-file-ish, I suppose, but it didn't intrigue me in the midst of all these people that I really didn't care about. In the end, it's always going to be the characters that hold you to any type of show, be it TV or film. This is proven by our fascination with Mulder and Scully. If I don't like the characters, I lose interest in what happens to them. It's like the fact that I should have felt sympathy for Karin because she was a "victim", but I didn't. I suppose I don't necessarily subscribe to the theory that victims should be excused for everything that they do based on the fact that they are victims. It does a great disservice to those who overcome and survive. Best or Worst MomentFor an ep that I didn't find very much redeeming matter in, there was a significant and poignant quote/moment that I caught on a subsequent viewing recently. Mulder says of Bobby's psych diagnosis, "That could be me." It's one of the rare times that the show has had Mulder make a concrete comment about what sort of childhood he may have had. (However, just as in the case with Bobby, I don't happen to believe that Mulder was physically abused by his father. It would have been an undeniably difficult period of growing up with Bill Mulder's apparent propensity to drink himself out of his problems, but I don't belong to that "Mulder was abused by his dad" camp.) Chinga
SummaryI almost wanted to give this one a higher rating but I think it "feels" best at this one. The lack of originality probably does it in, and I found the M&S characterizations to be slightly off, despite some memorable moments. I like Stephen King, but this one was very cliched, seemingly lumping in everything that's hackneyed about his genre. The whole doll thing (and I recall saying "Chucky" at exactly the same moment as Mulder) wasn't the most imaginative idea to come down the pike. (By the way, did anyone else want to slap that little girl and break her record player, regardless of the consequences from her dolly??) I liked the idea that Scully would take time off for herself, though, as well as her wish that she could actually do so, as evidenced by the look on her face when she peers outside her window that morning and sees the good sheriff waiting for her. (Like why is that? Is he not capable of running his own investigation? Was he smitten??) Best or Worst MomentBest moment for me was the Mulder phone sequence at his apartment. The orange juice moment — while a bit much in making him out to be a total incompetent at taking care of basic life necessities — was priceless to watch. Kill Switch
SummaryBeen there and done that too many times. As a Star Trek fan, I've been to the end of the universe and back on AI-as-God themes, so this one just didn't do it for me. Plus, at first glimpse of those buxom nurses, I knew we were inside Mulder's weird fantasy so there were no surprises there either. I enjoy speculation about how true, independent "intelligence" might be created and how it could affect our day to day lives, but this type of science fiction where everything that happens has to go bad — and I'm talking really bad — is really not interesting to me. Maybe it goes back to that suspension of disbelief thing. Sometimes you try and it just doesn't work and therefore what should have been edge-of-the-seat excitement becomes ho-hum. Great effects work with the double-amputated Mulder, though, and I did like the well-rounded character of Esther, in spite of her attitude. Best or Worst MomentAlthough I knew all along that it was a "holodeck" experience, it was interesting to watch the Mulder dream sequence play out, especially where the geriatric doctor is about to perform heinous deeds on him and he's begging them to call for "Dr. Scully". Also liked the subsequent visit by "Scully" that Mulder is instantly "on to" as being fake. Bad Blood
SummaryI knew that this one would wind up in my top three TXF eps of all time when I first saw it. Something about the teaser alone told me that this one would rock and it did in more ways than one! What an enjoyable hour. I'm sure that this is the case with many fans, but when I re-watch an ep on tape, there are invariably parts that I fast forward through just to get to the next good part. Not the case here. The excellent bit of casting and characterization involving Luke Wilson kept me invested and interested throughout. Tremendous job by both DD and GA in giving us alternating versions of Mulder and Scully that we all know and recognize, albeit in less cartoonish fashion. Great dialogue and choice of situational comedy. (Okay, so Vince Gilligan basically rules! By the way, I highly recommend his Home Fries movie as a quirky and humorous way to spend ninety minutes or so.) Best or Worst MomentAll right, the best moment out of many great ones in this episode — for me — is the look on Mulder's face when the Sheriff first enters the room (in his version of the story) and utters his first words, "Y'all must be the gov'mint people." I don't think I've ever laughed so hard during an X-Files episode. Patient X
SummaryI found this mythology two-parter confusing and irksome and compelling all at once, but what I do like about it is the personal journey that Mulder begins from this point forth. "Am I a believer or aren't I? Has my life been a sham or hasn't it?" While some of us in fandom saw something in the latter part of season five that caused a bit of a rift between M&S, some of us didn't. I interpreted it as a personal crisis from Mulder's side that resulted in him being less "in tune" with Scully and her needs, to the point of causing her considerable pain at times. For the fact that TXF does so poorly at keeping continuity, I always pinpoint this two-parter as the catalyst for Mulder's introspection into his life and what it's become. Best or Worst MomentI disliked the Jeffrey Spender character from the beginning, and here is the beginning. I never saw him as integral to the plot of this or any other episode that he ever appeared in; I only saw him as an attempt by CC to create potential secondary characters to carry the show post-DD. For as badly as Spender turned out, is there any hope for Mr. John Doggett in Season Eight?? The Red and the Black
SummaryStill left me kinda puzzled at the end, but this one had enough emotion to carry me through the confusing moments. I commented to a fellow fan during this past year (season seven) that the show has lost those panoramic, "feature film" style episodes with great locations and thrilling effects that we used to see once or twice a year, particularly in the guise of these mytharc two-parters. While this one was not quite as ambitious as Mulder hopping onto a moving train, I still think it's a good throwback to that genre. The opening credits sequence where Mulder is walking among the bodies looking for Scully was chilling. His subsequent conversation with her in the hospital was almost painful to watch as the two of them struggle against one another's changing yet still opposing belief systems. Best or Worst MomentNot so much a specific moment as a pervasive "feeling" throughout the episode that even though our heroes are each suffering his or her own pain — and feeling justifiably perturbed by the other's refusal to see things in the same way — they don't "lose" one another. I liked that. The little touches that they shared in this one were comforting. Travelers
SummaryThe stinker of the fifth season...not a whole lot more to say on that one. If you ever want to know that TXF can succeed without M&S, don't watch this episode. By the way, at the time, I really thought that DD's antics with his wedding ring made it even worse. (At this stage of the game as we await an abbreviated Season Eight — abbreviated for DD, anyway — does anyone think that the significance of the wedding ring and smoking thing will ever be addressed?) For the second time this season, I waited through an episode wondering if Mulder was going to show up for more than ten minutes. While he appeared in this one more than in Christmas Carol, it didn't make for a much more satisfying experience for this viewer. Not a whole lot to say about this one, all told. Best or Worst MomentYou know what? I DON'T KNOW. Maybe the teaser sequence? Was that where there was some hint of a big spider or whatnot? Hell, what was this show about anyway? Communism or something? Have I ever watched it again in its entirety? No. Mind's Eye
SummaryDespite the almost prickly and definitely lukewarm interaction between our heroes in this one — brought on by Mulder's very characteristic interest in the underdog female (who really isn't in this case) — I find this one interesting and a good one to watch every now and again. Lily Taylor did a great job with her part, totally convincing me that Marty could exist with such hard and soft edges all at once. She's perfectly realistic that way. This one was very reminiscent of Oubliette, with the same steadfast belief coming from Mulder that "she's innocent" and the same lack of interest from Scully. Interestingly enough, there was also that same idea of an unwanted connection between the hard luck female characters and the ultimate "bad guys". Despite the similarities, from an x-file standpoint, I liked it. Best or Worst MomentFace it, we like her spunkiness, but sometimes all those hard edges are sharp and cutting. So therefore, the end scene where Mulder comes to visit Marty in her cell is my choice for best moment, simply because she is a lot more pleasant here. I like that I'm able to understand what she feels — that the simple pleasures in life (such as seeing the ocean) do a lot to make up for the bad stuff. All Souls
SummaryTime for religious ScullyAngst again, which means that — in some people's eyes at least — it marks the return of insensitive Mulder. I thought I might find this one interesting from the teaser, but no, it didn't succeed at selling me a believable story. And it ended very abruptly, never mind quite unsatisfyingly. Somehow the concept of the "fight for all souls", the "Emily" thing, and the "four girls as fallen angels" just didn't mesh together very well. Despite the fact that Gillian did a wonderful job conjuring up all that angst, it didn't stir anything in me. If anything, it made me wonder once again how Scully can be so close-minded to the real paranormal things that she's seen in her job when she automatically buys into everything that smacks of religion. I mean, didn't even Father McCue imply that what she said she saw was a figment of her imagination from childhood memories? (Yes, I admit to being biased here by stuff that I've seen in later seasons, particularly in all things.) Best or Worst MomentI'm going with the M&S moment at the police station when Scully finally confesses to Mulder that she saw Emily and therefore might be too close to the situation. Not often that she'll do that, and in this part of the fifth season (where I was one of the ones who felt that something was amiss between the two of them), it's all the more telling that she chooses to disclose this to him, particularly in light of how he's basically brushed off all her concerns throughout this episode. The Pine Bluff Variant
SummaryI would have rated this one excellent if only the plot had been a little less obscure. But for the fact that the viewer knows that the tension is being manipulated, Mr. Shiban did a bang-up job on this script. It resulted in a great dramatic opportunity for DD, who was exceedingly effective at playing off a whole new set of actors. And speaking of the other actors, weren't they something else? "The Gimp"... how appropriate. Loved how Mulder recoiled when he saw him in the hotel room after he had done the finger-breaking thing. It wasn't until I rewatched this one again recently that I noticed how little screen time Mulder and Scully actually shared. Mulder's interactions with all of the secondary characters in this one were so interesting that I never had a chance to pine for more M&S scenes. DD did a commendable job, making me feel every emotion that he was feeling, right down to the quiet acceptance and fear at the thought of impending death. Best or Worst MomentHard to watch, but DD was wonderful in the finger-breaking scene. He played Mulder smart-alecky, frightened, hurt, and strong at all the right times during that sequence. Needless to say, every time I watch this, I just cringe at the thought of the pain! Favourite line? "Touch me again and you better kill me!" Folie a Deux
SummaryI found this one to be an effective MOTW episode, with a lot of powerful moments. The two partners are still sort of snarky with one another, still being driven apart by something not quite identifiable (although I took my own guess in my fanfic, of course). This is one of those monster eps where you think, well that's highly unlikely, but at the same time, it doesn't take a whole lot of convincing to decide to go with the flow and be frightened. I mean, how many of us weren't terrified by that scene in the hospital after that treacherous nurse opened up the window?? (By the same token, I was highly petrified by the mere thought of a telemarketing career.) That scrabbling insect-like thing — while never clearly visible — was definitely something that I wouldn't want to encounter. Above all, this episode offered a well-paced story with interesting secondary characters. Lambert and Pincus were sympathetic and fascinating in their own ways. Oh, and even though this was another of those eps where M&S were more apart than together, tension-ridden scenes like that of the hostage taking were very effective at making us overlook their separation. Best or Worst MomentI try to avoid the obvious moment, but I can't stop myself with this one. The moment that stands out for me is Mulder's bedside proclamation of "You're my one in five billion". It's something significant regardless of how he means it. When Mulder has his moments, he has them in a big way. (And he seems to have them while lying in bed!) The End
SummaryAs seems usual, these season finales are always sort of hit and miss. Burn down the office? Sure, why not. Like CSM couldn't have done something more imaginative than that. Otherwise, I loved Gibson; tried not to hate Diana. (Didn't much succeed.) Spender is irritating. Scully is hurting and Mulder is basically clueless. I watched this recently and paid particular attention to the part where Diana first speaks up and reveals herself to Mulder. That and the scene where they exchange looks in the rear-view mirror of the car. Knowing her eventual end, I like to think that Diana didn't come back for the expressed purpose of causing Mulder more mayhem. I want to believe that both Mulder and CC had good reasons to have higher hopes for her. It's just that when you obstinately keep two characters apart — yet relish the idea of inserting rivals between them — you're going to incur the wrath of the fans. And fan reaction definitely led to Diana Fowley's downfall, no doubt about it. Sadly enough, she could have been so much more, but only if Mulder and Scully had been allowed to have "had" more in the first place. Best or Worst MomentIs this a best or a worst moment? I can't tell. However you categorize it though, it's definitely the moment of Scully sitting in her car after seeing Diana with Mulder. If I never knew it before, that moment told me in no uncertain terms that Scully had it bad for him. It made me hurt for her, as that was definitely a feeling that most females can identify with at one time or another. (That said, I would never be as peevish as she is sometimes to the man she loves as much as she shows here.) ... back to top
Overall Rating: 2.65 out of 4Season five was accused of being weak due to the fact that the creators and actors had been working through the previous summer on the long-anticipated (?) X-Files movie. It nevertheless opened strongly, I thought, with the Redux two-parter and the surprisingly tightly-woven tale of Susanne Modeski. (Upon recently re-watching Three of a Kind from season six, I've wondered if they can't convince Signy Coleman to join the cast somehow. She'd make a wonderful new Scully.... Hell, they talk about new Mulders so why not new Scullys??) Overall, while one of the worst episodes of all time made the cut in season five, we were also treated to one of the best episodes of all time, not to mention the very effective mythology arc of Mulder's disintegrating belief system. For a shortened production schedule, there were more winners than losers here. Worst / BestNo question about it, it had to be Travelers. While not as appalling as season seven's Fight Club (which had the advantage of Mulder & Scully's involvement), it's an example of a conspiracy-heavy story without the chemistry of the characters that viewers have come to love. In other words, no matter what the creators may think, this isn't why we watch The X-Files. Nothing else this season even comes close to how I feel about this episode. Those that have "so-so" repeat viewing potential for me include Christmas Carol and Schizogeny. I must admit that even though I don't especially care for Chinga and Kill Switch, I don't necessarily avoid them when they come around in repeats. (Maybe I'm still looking for that lost potential...) Just like the worst was a no-brainer, I think the best is also a no-brainer: Bad Blood for me, definitely. And I think I've spoken enough about it all over the place here to need no further justification for picking it. The really amazing thing is, even though sometimes the great episodes are not that great for repeat viewing, I can sit and watch this one over and over again. Most Disappointing / Most SurprisingKitsunegari comes to mind for most disappointing, because despite the great next-to-final scene, it really didn't deliver the goods based on its predecessor. I must say however, that it was unfortunately overhyped in the on-line community, leading us to expect more than even a good sequel would have been able to provide. Runners-up for this honour must also include the scripts from Stephen King and William Gibson, as well as the one that I just don't get, Post Modern Prometheus (hey, I'll keep trying...). Most surprising is an easy one — Pine Bluff Variant. I'm tagging it with this honour because of the person who wrote it. With apologies to Mr. Shiban, he just hasn't been exceptionally strong in the past to come up with a story on his own that didn't make you cringe for all the wrong reasons. This one, despite the fact that it could only have ended one way (i.e., with Mulder alive), was an interesting journey into a new place. As I said in my review above, had it been just a bit less foggy in terms of what was really happening behind the scenes, I would have given it an "excellent" rating. Nothing deep about the ep otherwise, just a wonderful showcase for DD's dramatic talents. ... back to top |
Redux I
Other Reviews: Season 1
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