(Season 2, Episodes 22-25)
Another season comes to an end, and with it comes a much more satisfying progression of The X-Files as a whole. I was getting bored at parts earlier in this season, but they ratcheted up both the quality of the stand-alone episodes, as well as the personal implications of Mulder’s work.
I still think the government would have just “disappeared” Mulder by now. Call Scully up and say, “Mulder quit. Yeah, he’s gone to the Bahamas … What? … No, I mean Iceland. No phones up there … He sends his regards.” Thank god that’s over.
(Original Air Date: April 28, 1995) Hey look, it’s a younger and thinner Dean Norris. And yet he’s portraying a government agent here as well, just like he does on Breaking Bad. It was fun seeing Mulder on a fairly standard manhunt — aside from the bursting pustules.
Speaking of which, didn’t we already do this, only with neck bursting spores rather than pustules? At least the danger is completely contained to the liquid that comes out of those disgusting blobs.
The bus sequence was nerve-racking, though. Watching that boil pulsing toward that kid’s face, I wasn’t sure if they were going to burst it or not. Okay, that’s a lie. It’s an American television show. Of course the kid was going to be okay. They wouldn’t put a death sentence on him for no reason.
2.23 – “Soft Light”
(Original Air Date: May 5, 1995) From one cable star to a much bigger one. Maybe this incident is why Mr. Monk is such a nutcase. If my shadow killed people, I’d be a little high strung as well. Tony Shalhoub was great here, as a scientist who’d accidentally harnessed dark matter into his own shadow.
It was nice to see the government paranoia element return so forcefully. Particularly in that Shalhoub’s Dr. Banton was certain of what his ultimate fate would be, and tragically prophetic about it’s coming to pass. And again, we got to see just how far the government will go in their cover-ups.
I wonder what the impact of The X-Files was on people believing in government conspiracies. The show not only bought into them, but made them the centerpiece of its whole mythology. I have to think people thought about it more during the years the show was a hit, and believed them.
Personally, I’m convinced that Tony Shalhoub’s shadow still kills. They have to film Monk in soft light, and once it’s done, he has to go back to that small chamber so he can scream for the government again and again.
2.24 – “Our Town”
(Original Air Date: May 12, 1995) Look here — local law enforcement that’s more than just a slightly ineffective interference to Scully and Mulder’s investigation. Of course, that’s not to say that Sheriff Tom Arens turned out to be a great ally. Quite the opposite.
I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of small communities in remote areas, with horrible secrets that tie them together; it’s certainly not a novel concept. Nevertheless, it is handled very well here. Particularly in that there was a real threat to the well-being of the agents.
You could feel the growing sense of fear within the community. They really just wanted Mulder and Scully to go away before they uncovered the town’s secrets, but suddenly they’re having a river dragged and wanting to find birth records. Clearly, the little secret was in danger of getting out.
And that lead to the desperation of trying to kill Scully. Everyone wants to live as long and healthy a life as possible, but who’s willing to eat human flesh to achieve those ends? Personally, there’s a neighbor kid that’s been annoying me for quite awhile, and I have been feeling more aches and pains lately from getting older….
2.25 – “Anasazi” [MythArc] – SEASON FINALE!
(Original Air Date: May 19, 1995) Krycek, you bastard! After weekly monster episodes for so long, this episode was almost overwhelming with its inundation of important story matter. Krycek came back in time to kill Mulder’s father, but not before we learned that Papa Mulder may have more involvement in those cover-ups than we first envisioned.
Cancer Man took on a much more active role in the events with this one, and it was cool to see. He’s a very interesting and intimidating character. Less clear is where Skinner really stands on the whole thing. Sometimes he seems to have Mulder’s back, and other times he’s against him. Or seems to be. I think Skinner is in a tough spot right in the middle.
Do you think Scully survived the bullet shot into Mulder’s window because she’s only about four feet tall? It did fly right over her head. But does this mean they’ve finally reached the point where they’re willing to go ahead and snuff Mulder for good?
Speaking of which — where the hell did he go at the end? Trapped in that boxcar under the desert when Cancer Man blew it up, it would seem he was gone. Except there was no sign of him when the agents went down to check. Did Penn & Teller guest star and I didn’t see him?
Maybe there was another rail-car attached, and he found his way into that. Or he buried himself under the pile of human, but not human, but really badly shaped Play-Doh remains and survives the blast. I’m thinking I’m pretty safe in thinking that Mulder survives that blast. Don’t you?
Clacked by Jason Hughes 
on Aug 13, 2009 @ 16:00 EST5EDT
