S10.E03: Mulder And Scully Meet The Were-Monster

[Taryn74]

Well I guess this is going to be another Jose Chung's or WotC for me..........most 'Philes loved it, I did not.

 

I did enjoy all the shoutouts to previous eps and cases.  And I enjoyed the basic idea that the "monster" really was a monster, he just happened to be a nice one who was always in the wrong place at the wrong time.  And him desiring to get a job and hate it had me LOL.

 

But I just can't get into the eps where Mulder and especially Scully are so out-of-character.  I don't mind silly eps, just don't make it so obvious that you're aware of the audience the entire time.  That's exactly what makes old eps of Moonlighting unwatchable for me now.  :/

[Prevailing Wind]

The portapotty had to be a callback to Morgan's time as the Flukeman lol. I just LOVED THIS.

My thoughts exactly. Whenever I see one of those trucks that empty them, I think of Flukeman getting sucked up into the tank of the truck.  And laugh like a loon.

[turnitwayup]

Random subject change:  Piper drew the sketch of the three-eyed version of Guy, right?

 

Yep according to Gillian.

[Taryn74]

Forgot to mention one moment that really had me cracking up - when M/S are in their office and Mulder is ranting about being a middle-aged man, and he says "No, no, I am" like he's having to drown out her protests while Scully just sat there and didn't say a word.  Ha!  I think that's going to rank right up there with "I'm fine!" *beat* "What?" from Small Potatoes.

[Bastet]

I don't mind silly eps, just don't make it so obvious that you're aware of the audience the entire time.  That's exactly what makes old eps of Moonlighting unwatchable for me now.  :/

 

Heh; I could watch the first two seasons of Moonlighting on a continuous loop and expire before I ever got sick of them, and one of the 1,872 things I love about this episode is how Mulder and Scully's role reversal scene early on reminds me of Maddie and David's "You're doing me" role reversal from Yours, Very Deadly.

[dr pepper]

Did no one else notice the attire of the guest star, right down to the hat: Kolchak, The Night Stalker. The actor even looked like Darrin McGavin (who guest starred on the X Files).

 

I noticed that too. I thought it would have been cool if Muldar had taken the hat.

 

And to those who were reminded of Jose Chung, yeah that too. But. I was reminded more of the meta episodes of Supernatural.

[Snookums]

To echo Scully, THAT'S my X Files. Bat crap crazy but it all hangs together if you pay enough attention.

 

I loved this one. Unabashedly, teen-dreamily, fangirl-squealingly, throw my motel room key on the stage loved it. All the shout outs, Easter eggs, successfully inverted tropes from everything from the show's past to the Simpsons Halloween episode openers to the old werewolf movie transformation by cut away--it was all fabulous.

 

They clearly were having a wonderful time, and the underlying theme--finding meaning in life, your life, your wonderful, dreadful, finite, unknowable life--was so well done. How Mulder's funk had infected him to the point that he wasn't sure that anything was real; how truly foolish and ridiculous he must have looked back in the day, but at least then he had his "delusions" to sustain him and now he doesn't even have that. And the last bit, where it's proved to him beyond his personal doubt (no pictures, no witnesses) that this whacked out world is indeed as bizarre, inexplicable, terrifying and fantastic as he thought when he was young? It was...well, dammit, it was healing. 

 

 

I loved when the animal control guy tried to tell his story and he got shut down,

 

 

"But I had a whole speech prepared!" That was the best. And how I didn't get it at the time--it seemed like a throwaway joke--but he was clearly the shrink's Monday patient, the one who thought he was a werewolf! Yes, yes. 

 

That and Mulder's "DAGGOO?!"

 

 

Duchovny's read of that line and Guy Mann's "Ya READY????" as he smashed the bottle to go after Mulder had me on the floor.

[Snookums]

Maybe a stupid question, given the fact that the writers admitted that the story had no logic, but if the animal control guy was strangling his victims, what was with all the torn out throats? Was he biting them too?

 

 

Yes. He was the shrink's Monday patient, who thought he was a werewolf.

 

I thought Mulder was being very enlightened about transgendered people and explaining it to someone who didn't really understand the concept(that someone being new to the whole human thing)

 

 

I thought he did a good job as well. He struggles to find the right phrasing--"She used to be..." well, no, because she was never a male, just in a male body. He stumbles around a bit and finally settles on the plain truth; "She's transgendered." Because that's what she is. They made a point of using the correct pronoun, which is a very good thing. When the were-man lizard protests, Fox rightly points out that it's a common surgical procedure but not for Guy because Guy's problem isn't his genital construction, it's his essence being changed. 

 

And the actor herself had a great time with the role--making a small bit funny and memorable. No problems with who she is.

[Snookums]

Writing has gotten gutsier that's for sure. Loud sex noises and Scully in a leopard bra! Sounds like someone perused fan fiction for that one.

 

 

I loved that bit not only because it was hilarious and clearly ripped from the pages of a thousand fanfics, but because the weremanlizard's compulsion to lie about his sex life was totally influenced by porn watching. A great comment on how people think their sex lives (even if they've never had a human sex life!) are "supposed" to be, and how they think they automatically have to make up a story to impress somebody.

 

 

I don't remember anywhere in his story that he talks about another one of him so how does he come to be?

 

 

 

 

Well, tell that to his gored-to-death-by-jackalope friend George!

Edited February 3, 2016 by Snookums

[millennium]

What a piece of shit.   From the one-joke, man-bites-dog premise to the phoned-in performances, to treating the audience like we're a bunch of assholes who'll love any garbage they serve up just because we're so grateful the show is back again.

 

If this is how it's going to be, screw it.   I'd rather never see another new episode of X-Files again than to have more crap like this added to the canon.  

Edited February 3, 2016 by millennium

[millennium]

This episode just struck me as being very silly. Not funny. Not clever. Not insightful. Just silly. 

 

The pacing and reactions seemed slow. David Duchovny appeared to be sleepwalking through every scene. 

I guess I am just not a fan of fan service...

 I wasn't familiar with the phrase "fan service" until your post, but you're right on the money.    I wish I could unsee the entire episode.

[AntiBeeSpray]

What a piece of shit.   From the one-joke, man-bites-dog premise to the phoned-in performances, to treating the audience like we're a bunch of assholes who'll love any garbage they serve up just because we're so grateful the show is back again.

 

If this is how it's going to be, screw it.   I'd rather never see another new episode of X-Files again than to have more crap like this added to the canon.  

 

I didn't think the performances were phoned-in. I thought it was like that in 'Founder's Mutation'.

 

But I do agree with you about the audience thing, they've pretty much treated shippers with condescension this round and it makes me tired too. Like we're unable to think or make decisions for ourselves. That bugs me more than this ep did.

[baileythedog]

What a piece of shit.   From the one-joke, man-bites-dog premise to the phoned-in performances, to treating the audience like we're a bunch of assholes who'll love any garbage they serve up just because we're so grateful the show is back again.

 

If this is how it's going to be, screw it.   I'd rather never see another new episode of X-Files again than to have more crap like this added to the canon.  

Yikes. That's kind of like thinking Kafka's "The Metamorphosis" is just a one-joke premise. 

 

I'll consider myself lucky not to be viewing the series through these eyes. 

 

 

But I do agree with you about the audience thing, they've pretty much treated shippers with condescension this round and it makes me tired too. Like we're unable to think or make decisions for ourselves. That bugs me more than this ep did.

 

I wouldn't consider myself a "shipper" even though I agree that it totally made sense that they'd get together at some point. However, it also makes even more sense that they wouldn't last as a romantic couple, particularly without hitting some major major roadblocks.

 

But if I were a shipper, and my primary interest was in the characters as a couple, I would be loving this season for that very reason.  I can't think of any stretch of previous episodes that put Mulder and Scully's relationship so much on the front burner and attempted to dissect it from all angles. In my opinion, the stories this season are very much taking a back seat to who/what Mulder and Scully are to each other and I find it fascinating.  They aren't playing house and maybe that upsets people but I think they both suck at  playing house anyway. 

[AntiBeeSpray]

Yikes. That's kind of like thinking Kafka's "The Metamorphosis" is just a one-joke premise. 

 

I'll consider myself lucky not to be viewing the series through these eyes. 

 

 

I wouldn't consider myself a "shipper" even though I agree that it totally made sense that they'd get together at some point. However, it also makes even more sense that they wouldn't last as a romantic couple, particularly without hitting some major major roadblocks.

 

But if I were a shipper, and my primary interest was in the characters as a couple, I would be loving this season for that very reason.  I can't think of any stretch of previous episodes that put Mulder and Scully's relationship so much on the front burner and attempted to dissect it from all angles. In my opinion, the stories this season are very much taking a back seat to who/what Mulder and Scully are to each other and I find it fascinating.  They aren't playing house and maybe that upsets people but I think they both suck at  playing house anyway. 

 

Actually that's not the case for me. Playing house? Really? I never wanted to really see that. I just want them to be together. Period. No more games. The way it's been gone around this season still feels like cheap drama. Nothing more. 

 

How do you feel that it makes sense? They've always been at odds one way or another up to a certain point. And Chris's excuse of saying that their views are too different for them to be together is just a cop out in my opinion. Same with the 'they can't be working at separate jobs and be together'  one <-- para-phrased from what CC said.

[millennium]

This episode felt like a spoof or joke reel made to be shown at Comic Con or maybe on "Funny or Die."   It didn't seem like a serious effort.   The plot was lame  the acting rang disingenuous -- Scully seemed more like Gillian Anderson than Scully --  and even though it was a fantasy storyline it played too fast and loose with physical realities.   For example, the Lizard Man steals clothing from a man whose had his throat ripped out, but lo and behold, not a drop of blood on the the shirt, not even around the collar.  The Lizard Man ducks into the Porta Potty in lizard form, wearing only his underwear, but magically he is nearly fully clothed when Mulder pulls the door open a moment later, despite the Lizard Man later describing how he tore off his clothes in the woods just before that transpired.   Not that it matters, because the whole thing was a complete botch, IMHO.

 

There have been humorous, tongue-in-cheek episodes before, but there was an effort in those episodes to keep at least one foot in reality.   That's what made those episodes funny -- the give and take between serious and comic.  Skinner should have been in this episode to hand Mulder and Scully their assignment, to ground it in reality, if only nominally.   Instead it was joke-time from start to finish.  A huge disappointment. 

Yikes. That's kind of like thinking Kafka's "The Metamorphosis" is just a one-joke premise. 

 

I'll consider myself lucky not to be viewing the series through these eyes. 

 

 

My eyes are just fine.   They watched this show for nine seasons and in endless repeats ever since.

 

I think I'm sufficiently qualified to opine that this episode sucked -- and to add that Darin Morgan is no Kafka.

[threebluestars]

I also love that underneath the humour, there is a underlying current of attachment to these other episodes. We've seen Mulder is kind of ... out of sorts ... about everything not being an alien conspiracy, but just a regular old man conspiracy, and I like that this episode, like so many other of the quirky ones, served to get Mulder back in a position of wanting to believe and having that spark reignited a bit. It's like a kid losing their excitement over Santa and Christmas, and then as an adult being able to capture it again.

 

I also like that Scully is wanting Mulder to be that. She knows it's better for him to have that hope of belief than nothing at all, even if that hope is a little bit weird.

[AntiBeeSpray]

This episode felt like a spoof or joke reel made to be shown at Comic Con or maybe on "Funny or Die."   It didn't seem like a serious effort.   The plot was lame  the acting rang disingenuous -- Scully seemed more like Gillian Anderson than Scully --  and even though it was a fantasy storyline it played too fast and loose with physical realities.   For example, the Lizard Man steals clothing from a man whose had his throat ripped out, but lo and behold, not a drop of blood on the the shirt, not even around the collar.  The Lizard Man ducks into the Porta Potty in lizard form, wearing only his underwear, but magically he is nearly fully clothed when Mulder pulls the door open a moment later, despite the Lizard Man later describing how he tore off his clothes in the woods just before that transpired.   Not that it matters, because the whole thing was a complete botch, IMHO.

 

There have been humorous, tongue-in-cheek episodes before, but there was an effort in those episodes to keep at least one foot in reality.   That's what made those episodes funny -- the give and take between serious and comic.  Skinner should have been in this episode to hand Mulder and Scully their assignment, to ground it in reality, if only nominally.   Instead it was joke-time from start to finish.  A huge disappointment. 

 

My eyes are just fine.   They watched this show for nine seasons and in endless repeats ever since.

 

I think I'm sufficiently qualified to opine that this episode sucked -- and to add that Darin Morgan is no Kafka.

 

The only bit that it seemed that way was during that lizard man sex scene to me. Other than that, she seemed like Scully to me.

[shimarella]

This episode was everything. All the in-jokes and call-backs for those of us who know them, and still a really really funny and poignant look at the human condition through flipping the script on were-specieism. All the guests were spot-on. I love that this encounter, as absurd as it was, was Mulder's return to belief. 

I think this one will be worth several re-watches to appreciate all the easter eggs that were placed in there ( yes an fan service) to move the story along, and for a classic "ridiculous X-Files" episode I also thought it was just a really strong example of how to take the mickey out of a style that every serial ends up using, while still telling a really great story. 

 

I'm also relieved that Dagoo wasn't eaten by anything/anyone...I was really concerned that Guy was going to find its body during the flashback where he got attacked by the hooker ( and yes, as a fellow queer-identified woman, I thought the comedic tone of Mulder and Guy trying to talk about her  was deliciously awkward and spot-on). I don't expect Dagoo to become a future plot point but hopefully Scully DOES get to keep him! 

[baileythedog]

Actually that's not the case for me. Playing house? Really? I never wanted to really see that. I just want them to be together. Period. No more games. The way it's been gone around this season still feels like cheap drama. Nothing more. 

 

How do you feel that it makes sense? They've always been at odds one way or another up to a certain point. And Chris's excuse of saying that their views are too different for them to be together is just a cop out in my opinion. Same with the 'they can't be working at separate jobs and be together'  one <-- para-phrased from what CC said.

 

I don't think for a moment that their incompatibility as a couple has much to do with the fact that one's a skeptic and one's a believer.  That is far too pat and ignores    the fact that Mulder and Scully have demonstrated that they can either meet in the middle or agree to disagree. However it is the actual events and dynamics that are undercurrents to their relationship which would and could realistically drive them apart. 

 

As a side note, I don't read Chris Carter interviews as a general rule, so don't take much of what he says into consideration, I just go by the text that I see on screen.

 

But from that I can deduce a few things: Scully, although she acknowledges the existence of a conspiracy, either government or alien in base, has consistently chosen not to have her life defined by it, even though she herself was abducted. This became particularly true during her pregnancy and her complete dismay at being shuffled around and forced to react to external, poorly defined threats. It is not a leap of imagination to think that Scully will actively look for a way out of living that kind of life. It is, in fact, consistent with her other thoughts over the years---that she just wants to get out of the damned car, that she's lost track of her own life having been subsumed by Mulder's quest. 

 

Mulder, by contrast, has made virtually no sacrifices for Scully's well-being in forming a permanent relationship. Even when he was put on trial in "The Truth" he refused to even consider cutting a deal for a lesser charge that would spare his life and allow he and Scully to be together---a state she has made abundantly clear that is the only thing she's interested in, having literally given up everything else for him. (He even refuses to get a more capable defense attorney.)  Instead, their "togetherness" requires a jail break and living on the run / under cover / under their potential for a number of years. To overlook what a complete strain this would be on any relationship would be to be blind. 

 

And what we know of this time since they went on the run is that Mulder completely lets himself go. His obsession channeled to internet searching and paper clipping, but almost none to personal grooming. He's probably always been a depressed person given what we know of his lifestyle during the run of the show, but without the structure of work it appears that depression increases, enhanced by isolation. 

 

Most importantly, under all of this is the fact that Scully gave up their kid for adoption. Gave him up in such a bizarre moment of weakness that Monica Reyes ended up being the voice of reason. Gave him up without even trying to contact Mulder, which by now, we know she could do.   Scully could say she doesn't resent Mulder for not being there, but eventually that internal lie would resurface. Mulder could say he doesn't resent Scully for doing that, but eventually that internal lie would resurface.  Add to the fact that some of the reasoning that went into adopting him out was belief in an impending alien colonization that never began in 2012???  

 

Given all this, the absolute most unreasonable scenario would be Mulder and Scully still living together as though nothing at all had happened.  That would be incredibly dishonest. 

[Taryn74]

Gave him up without even trying to contact Mulder, which by now, we know she could do.

 

Not to quibble a small point, but.....we do?  I don't remember getting the impression at all that Scully was able to contact Mulder or even get some kind of message to him at the time she gave William up.

 

But otherwise, I pretty much agree with you, which is why (even though I'm a die hard M/S 'shipper) I'm really okay with them being 'not together' right now, in whatever form that takes.  I'm interested to know exactly what happened between IWTB and now that finally separated them, but I can definitely see why something happened.

[baileythedog]

Not to quibble a small point, but.....we do?  I don't remember getting the impression at all that Scully was able to contact Mulder or even get some kind of message to him at the time she gave William up.

 

 

We know that Scully could email Mulder and had exchanges with him in the past. We also know that the person most likely to be tracking that email had gone flying into the rocks in the Quarry so presumably that was one threat down, even if others were out there. We also know that before Mulder left, he and Scully had worked out some other alternative method of communication for emergencies which was how he was going to arrive by train in TrustNo1. 

 

The question is, did Scully consider putting William up for adoption to be as much as an emergency as other email / contact situations were? It appears she did not since she made no effort to reach Mulder.  Mulder, on the other hand, might consider such a radical decision to absolutely be an emergency but he ultimately had no say in the matter. 

 

In that respect, although it is sad, it isn't terribly surprising to me that the dreams/nightmares both Mulder and Scully had in "Founder's Mutation" about raising William did not include the other in them. 

Edited February 3, 2016 by baileythedog

[Snow8585]

The port a potty reminded me of Flukey too. My home is being renovated and the workers have a port a potty in my back yard and I will not go near that thing.

[baileythedog]

This episode felt like a spoof or joke reel made to be shown at Comic Con or maybe on "Funny or Die."   It didn't seem like a serious effort.   The plot was lame  the acting rang disingenuous -- Scully seemed more like Gillian Anderson than Scully --  and even though it was a fantasy storyline it played too fast and loose with physical realities.   For example, the Lizard Man steals clothing from a man whose had his throat ripped out, but lo and behold, not a drop of blood on the the shirt, not even around the collar.  The Lizard Man ducks into the Porta Potty in lizard form, wearing only his underwear, but magically he is nearly fully clothed when Mulder pulls the door open a moment later, despite the Lizard Man later describing how he tore off his clothes in the woods just before that transpired.   Not that it matters, because the whole thing was a complete botch, IMHO.

 

There have been humorous, tongue-in-cheek episodes before, but there was an effort in those episodes to keep at least one foot in reality.   That's what made those episodes funny -- the give and take between serious and comic.  Skinner should have been in this episode to hand Mulder and Scully their assignment, to ground it in reality, if only nominally.   Instead it was joke-time from start to finish.  A huge disappointment. 

 

My eyes are just fine.   They watched this show for nine seasons and in endless repeats ever since.

 

I think I'm sufficiently qualified to opine that this episode sucked -- and to add that Darin Morgan is no Kafka.

 

 

Sure, but the episode was meant to play fast and loose with physical realities. It was yet another underlying punchline -- the fact that there couldn't be much expectation for internal logic because the external logic was so difficult to grasp. As a story about a man biting a lizard and turning him into a man it was, obviously, a fantastic tale. Everything that Mulder's devoted himself to are fantastic tales and this story, in particular, is meant to highlight either the folly or the reward for having dedicated his career as such.  The same logic is in play once we realize that the animal control officer should theoretically have blood on his mouth having just attacked several people, but in this episode Mulder is almost deliberately looking past what obvious physical evidence would be.  It's why Scully is always calling after him "I got the lab reports...." but Mulder is either out the door or hanging up the phone.  It's why Scully solves the serial killer portion of the crime using some very basic investigative work while Mulder misses all this, ruminating on whether he's crazy or whether he's misplaced his entire life.   Had Mulder not been in a complete funk, he would have been calling out some inconsistencies. 

 

With respect to grounding the episode in realism---it's enough that queen of skeptics Scully has the case to begin with. I don't know why we'd need to see Skinner. He's in less than half of the episodes during the original run anyway and if I'm not mistaken he doesn't appear in any previous Darin Morgan episodes. In this instance, frankly it's Scully's handing off the case that is more pertinent anyway. She's the one with the personal interest of getting Mulder more engaged with life and dissuading him of his current opinion that he's been a fool and a fraud his entire career. She absolutely lights up when she sees that some of the old Mulder has returned and is throwing out fantastical theories left and right because for as crazy as she knows he can be, he's a better person for his brand of "belief" whether or not she agrees with him. The final shot at the end when Mulder says "likewise" is easily his most redemptive moment as a character in the entire run of the show. His smile and relief is a wonderful thing to see. 

Edited February 3, 2016 by baileythedog

[festivus]

Word to your whole post about Mulder and Scully's relationship, baileythedog. I'm a big shipper but I understand why they're not together and it doesn't bother me that they are not. It makes sense. As long as I still see the love and friendship then I am good.

[AntiBeeSpray]

I don't think for a moment that their incompatibility as a couple has much to do with the fact that one's a skeptic and one's a believer.  That is far too pat and ignores    the fact that Mulder and Scully have demonstrated that they can either meet in the middle or agree to disagree. However it is the actual events and dynamics that are undercurrents to their relationship which would and could realistically drive them apart. 

 

As a side note, I don't read Chris Carter interviews as a general rule, so don't take much of what he says into consideration, I just go by the text that I see on screen.

 

But from that I can deduce a few things: Scully, although she acknowledges the existence of a conspiracy, either government or alien in base, has consistently chosen not to have her life defined by it, even though she herself was abducted. This became particularly true during her pregnancy and her complete dismay at being shuffled around and forced to react to external, poorly defined threats. It is not a leap of imagination to think that Scully will actively look for a way out of living that kind of life. It is, in fact, consistent with her other thoughts over the years---that she just wants to get out of the damned car, that she's lost track of her own life having been subsumed by Mulder's quest. 

 

Mulder, by contrast, has made virtually no sacrifices for Scully's well-being in forming a permanent relationship. Even when he was put on trial in "The Truth" he refused to even consider cutting a deal for a lesser charge that would spare his life and allow he and Scully to be together---a state she has made abundantly clear that is the only thing she's interested in, having literally given up everything else for him. (He even refuses to get a more capable defense attorney.)  Instead, their "togetherness" requires a jail break and living on the run / under cover / under their potential for a number of years. To overlook what a complete strain this would be on any relationship would be to be blind. 

 

And what we know of this time since they went on the run is that Mulder completely lets himself go. His obsession channeled to internet searching and paper clipping, but almost none to personal grooming. He's probably always been a depressed person given what we know of his lifestyle during the run of the show, but without the structure of work it appears that depression increases, enhanced by isolation. 

 

Most importantly, under all of this is the fact that Scully gave up their kid for adoption. Gave him up in such a bizarre moment of weakness that Monica Reyes ended up being the voice of reason. Gave him up without even trying to contact Mulder, which by now, we know she could do.   Scully could say she doesn't resent Mulder for not being there, but eventually that internal lie would resurface. Mulder could say he doesn't resent Scully for doing that, but eventually that internal lie would resurface.  Add to the fact that some of the reasoning that went into adopting him out was belief in an impending alien colonization that never began in 2012???  

 

Given all this, the absolute most unreasonable scenario would be Mulder and Scully still living together as though nothing at all had happened.  That would be incredibly dishonest. 

 

Fair enough points. But we have to basically go by something like that... since CC and co are pretty much coming up with the usual glazing over it. And that bugs me a bit. I'm tired of having to come up with excuses for his writing (or in part 1013's).

Word to your whole post about Mulder and Scully's relationship, baileythedog. I'm a big shipper but I understand why they're not together and it doesn't bother me that they are not. It makes sense. As long as I still see the love and friendship then I am good.

 

Not good enough for me anymore. It's nice that they love and care for each other... but to not see more to the reason as to why they split, it just makes the thing seem like a cheap joke.

[baileythedog]

Fair enough points. But we have to basically go by something like that... since CC and co are pretty much coming up with the usual glazing over it. And that bugs me a bit. I'm tired of having to come up with excuses for his writing (or in part 1013's).

 

Not good enough for me anymore. It's nice that they love and care for each other... but to not see more to the reason as to why they split, it just makes the thing seem like a cheap joke.

 

 

Not to belabor the point but....in these three episodes thus far (and presumably the remaining episodes)....we are seeing, piece by piece, the reasons why they are no longer together.  They are also planting seeds as to how they might come together again.  If not in these episodes, when would we learn this? 

 

Obviously, I can't force anyone to watch or enjoy a show nor do I have any interest in doing so, but I think most would get more out of it by watching the performances, both text and subtext, and rely a little less on the marketing which will naturally be vague on the subject. 

[AntiBeeSpray]

Not to belabor the point but....in these three episodes thus far (and presumably the remaining episodes)....we are seeing, piece by piece, the reasons why they are no longer together.  They are also planting seeds as to how they might come together again.  If not in these episodes, when would we learn this? 

 

Obviously, I can't force anyone to watch or enjoy a show nor do I have any interest in doing so, but I think most would get more out of it by watching the performances, both text and subtext, and rely a little less on the marketing which will naturally be vague on the subject. 

 

Fair point, but I think Darin's done the best job at it. James tried. But I'm still tired of it.

 

I know. Just haven't seen much outside of Mulder's 'depression' that caused it. And that's not quite enough of a reason.

[Tardislass]

Not to belabor the point but....in these three episodes thus far (and presumably the remaining episodes)....we are seeing, piece by piece, the reasons why they are no longer together.  They are also planting seeds as to how they might come together again.  If not in these episodes, when would we learn this? 

 

Obviously, I can't force anyone to watch or enjoy a show nor do I have any interest in doing so, but I think most would get more out of it by watching the performances, both text and subtext, and rely a little less on the marketing which will naturally be vague on the subject. 

I don't know if anyone here watches Doctor Who but to me CC seems a lot like Steven Moffat in that he has liked to stir up the fan base(at least in the past), i.e.. with his derision of shippers and just tweaking their noses. I love DW and this show but the actors and crew are paid to give interviews to create buzz both good and bad. Some things they say may be true but others are meant to get people to tune in. So I try not to put to much value in any interviews I read, especially as in the past, all 3 of them(CC,GA,DD) have forgotten about William and other details of the show.

 

And I agree we've seen some of what drew them apart. Mulder has been and is still a bit depressed about his work, add to that his unemployment and the whole conversation on the porch and he seems like a hard person to live with. Scully also has her demons and clearly has massive guilt in giving up their son, something it seems is a still a very sore topic for the two of them. Quite frankly they're both a bit of a mess.

Of course, it's not stated outright what was the final straw, but in the 10 year history of the X-Files nothing has ever been clearly explained. That is part of the show. 

Edited February 3, 2016 by Tardislass

[Snow8585]

It was fun to watch Mulder running with the phone camera flashing and I just about died when he showed Scully the video of himself screaming because he had the camera aimed the wrong way. I think another poster liked that too.

Edited February 3, 2016 by Snow8585

[baileythedog]

I don't know if anyone here watches Doctor Who but to me CC seems a lot like Steven Moffat in that he has liked to stir up the fan base(at least in the past), i.e.. with his derision of shippers and just tweaking their noses. I love DW and this show but the actors and crew are paid to give interviews to create buzz both good and bad. Some things they say may be true but others are meant to get people to tune in. So I try not to put to much value in any interviews I read, especially as in the past, all 3 of them(CC,GA,DD) have forgotten about William and other details of the show.

 

And I agree we've seen some of what drew them apart. Mulder has been and is still a bit depressed about his work, add to that his unemployment and the whole conversation on the porch and he seems like a hard person to live with. Scully also has her demons and clearly has massive guilt in giving up their son, something it seems is a still a very sore topic for the two of them. Quite frankly they're both a bit of a mess.

Of course, it's not stated outright what was the final straw, but in the 10 year history of the X-Files nothing has ever been clearly explained. That is part of the show. 

 

I don't watch Doctor Who, but am and was a massive fan of "Mad Men." (Talk about an amazing 8 year ride!)  But as articulate and intelligent as he was, I absolutely had to tune out any and all interviews with show creator Matthew Weiner. He obviously adored his show and his characters but often he would have some spin or interpretation of things that absolutely did not jive with what I saw on the screen.  My enjoyment and massive love for the show was far better blocking the backstage chatter.  

 

Likewise, I try to keep interviews with 1013 people at bay. That wasn't always the case---back in the day I definitely kept up.  But now it seems pointless.  I love the joint interviews that DD and GA have given as they are mostly fun but what they reveal most to me is that DD has an incredible memory of details and plotlines of the show while GA hardly remembers that she was on a show called "The X-Files."  I adore her but wouldn't necessarily look to anything she said as being accurate about the aims of the show.  Fortunately we have her wonderful performances to look at while she has trashed all of that from her long term memory bank.  ;-) 

Edited February 3, 2016 by baileythedog

[festivus]

I just wanted to say that I'm looking at things through Dana's eyes which I will admit are really my own. I think it would be exhausting for her to live day to day with Mulder and even though she loves him she just can't do it anymore. Also yes there is her guilt about William so I'm just saying for me that I get it and I can see how it happened and I do think they are telling that story on the show. Now I do understand why shippers are pissed and I myself don't read anything that Carter has to say. I remember how pissed I used to get back in the day when they were dancing around William's paternity. So, I feel y'all that are just sick of the relationship stuff.

[AntiBeeSpray]

Maybe. I'm mainly just tired of them dancing around. Even if the reason makes sense.

[HalcyonDays]

I love the joint interviews that DD and GA have given as they are mostly fun but what they reveal most to me is that DD has an incredible memory of details and plotlines of the show while GA hardly remembers that she was on a show called "The X-Files."

 

Oh now, that's a cool factoid. I didn't know that! I believe it though, that he has an excellent memory, because how else could be memorize and recite in one take, half of Mulder's long-winded dialogue that is written for him.

 

I think it would be exhausting for her to live day to day with Mulder and even though she loves him she just can't do it anymore.

 

I'm in the same boat too. I don't think Mulder would be easy to live with, and sometimes the demons are too strong. Also, sometimes couples do better living separately than together. Scully has her own issues too, and throughout the X-Files seasons, was always trying at a "normal' life, but the X-Files, and Mulder disrupted those plans.

 

What I find interesting, is that she finally got a chance to pursue that "normal" life, and it turns out, she's bored silly by it. But as the episodes are going on, you can see the sparks of life coming back into M&S, which bodes well I think for their future. They just need to finally accept/conquer/work together to resolve their demons, to finally be able to move on (and maybe get back together).

[sharinlilbit]

Now I do understand why shippers are pissed and I myself don't read anything that Carter has to say. I remember how pissed I used to get back in the day when they were dancing around William's paternity. So, I feel y'all that are just sick of the relationship stuff.

 

I don't really think shippers ARE pissed.  I think a small subset of fans are, and a larger group WERE before the revival had ever aired, when all they were going by were rumors and possible spoilers and CC's diarrhea of the mouth in the media.  But now that we have actually SEEN half the episodes, most people have climbed down out of their trees... at least in the various circles I travel.  ;)  Any reservations I had about the 'ship before the show aired have been erased.  I was pretty sure they would be, because no matter what CC says or what the writers do, David and Gillian are the ones really in charge of there characters, and they've made it pretty clear how they see Mulder and Scully and the journey they're on.  At the end of the day, I trust them, and they've come through so far.  

Edited February 4, 2016 by sharinlilbit

[Tardislass]

A bit OT but does anyone have any inside knowledge or speculation on when we can expect an announcement regarding another series? 

[Tardislass]

 

 

What I find interesting, is that she finally got a chance to pursue that "normal" life, and it turns out, she's bored silly by it. But as the episodes are going on, you can see the sparks of life coming back into M&S, which bodes well I think for their future. They just need to finally accept/conquer/work together to resolve their demons, to finally be able to move on (and maybe get back together).

This is why I never believe Scully really wanting a "normal" life. Even in series 1&2 where CC actually allowed her to date(gasp), she's shown to be bored with the mundane small talk that normal people have-she looked bored in her date with the divorced friend of a friend and ditched him for Mulder, and when offered the chance to possibly join a different and exciting division in the FBI for promotion, rejected it to stay with Mulder. This is not someone looking for a 9 to 5 life. As Season 10 has shown, they both show a spark when together and as you state above have to resolve their demons together. Crazy kids.

[ksb]

To me, what they have at this point and what I can see on screen has already transcended the romantic love stage. 

The deep connection they have oozes out of every meaningful scene they share and, fortunately, I can't detect any hint of a tease or will they/won't they in their interactions. It's settled, they love each other.

 

Conversations between them why they didn't make it as a (romantic) couple and/or if they should get back together again feel completely out of place for these two people. So I hope, they will stick to looks and gestures for the rest of the episodes since any verbal declarations of love might come off totally cheesy, cringeworthy and generally inappropriate.

I most certainly don't want to sit through another "Dearest Dana" and "Forever yours" incident ever again.

[festivus]

I probably should have said that I get why some shippers are pissed and feel jerked around. I'm not feeling it with this show but I have other shows where I feel that way so I get it. 

 

I haven't read or listened to any interviews about the revival but if I had maybe I'd be more pissed I don't know. I tend to usually just watch a show and make up my own mind about what I think is going on and then come here to see what everybody else says. 

 

Oh now, that's a cool factoid. I didn't know that! I believe it though, that he has an excellent memory, because how else could be memorize and recite in one take, half of Mulder's long-winded dialogue that is written for him.

 

 

I'm rereading one of my X-Files books that cover the first two seasons and in it they talk about David's near photographic memory. I'm much more like poor Gillian, I have a really terrible memory which is one reason I'm mostly a lurker on this site. I'm trying to come out of my shell a bit more though because I was seriously obsessed with this show back in the day.

[Eolivet]

I wasn't a fan of this one, as an OG X-Phile from the days of alt.tv.xfiles (waves to Usenet folks)

 

I never think overly self-aware is a good look on TV shows -- it comes across as smug, to me, and this seemed to be that way. I always enjoyed the weird, comical episodes of this show that were just weird and comical for the sake of it, with glancing references to the show's canon. But this episode was so full of overly exaggerated winks to the audience, I found myself rolling my eyes. A boatload of nostalgia is going to make me think the plot needs padding, and this plot didn't really. I just found it unnecessary.

 

But that didn't even bother me as much as the fact that there was no "alternative" explanation offered for the lizard being there. I always enjoyed the ambiguity of old X-Files -- that it could be a psychotic killer with seemingly superhuman abilities, or the psychotic killer could in fact be an alien. From what I recall, each episode offered at least a nod to both the skeptic and the believer's point of view. By showing the guy transforming back into a lizard, the show just flat out confirmed the "lizard people" story. I was hoping that maybe Mulder would look away or have his view blocked or something to make it slightly ambiguous, but no -- just a man transforming into a lizard before his very eyes.

 

And by definition, that shouldn't have restored Mulder's faith, if faith is "the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen." There's nothing "not seen" about a man transforming into a lizard before one's very eyes. This isn't Doctor Who -- this show is supposed to be somewhat sorta kinda grounded in reality. So, the ending really bothered me. I could've taken all the fanservice anvils if there was even the slightest hint of an alternative explanation other than "Yup, that man really was a lizard."

[Jac]

I had a big stupid grin on my face the whole episode. Even if the rest of the episodes are terrible, terrible things, the revival will have been worth it for this one.

 

 

Yep.  I have the feeling I'm going to need to remind myself of this after episode six, but I feel the same way -- whatever happens, I'll consider it better than going through life without the pure delight that is this episode.

Agreed completely with both these posts.

This episode filled me with such joy and while I was always going to be all in on this reboot, this episode confirmed that it was so worth doing.

I am not spoiled for the myth arc other than what has been broadly mentioned in the press but based on episode 1, I have a distinct feeling I will not be happy with where it goes.

I am so glad we got a Darin Morgan episode in this run.

On a completely unrelated note, I am completely fine with the idea that there are people watching the revival who didn't watch the original series. First of all, I was 11 when this show started and I watched it and loved it from the start but I suspect that it true of very few people my age or younger and I'm 34 this year. It is easy to forget sometimes that close to a whole generation of people have been born since The X-Files premiered. Second, people's tastes change over time, people who may have not been interested in the show at the time might be interested now and I'm sure that at least some people who watch the original series that are not watching the reboot because their tastes have changed since the original show aired. Third, 202 episodes, 2 movies and a complex and evolving mythology is daunting, six episodes is a lot easier to get on board with, hopefully some of these people will then go back and watch the original but even if they don't, I'm not judging them for it.

[baileythedog]

This is why I never believe Scully really wanting a "normal" life. Even in series 1&2 where CC actually allowed her to date(gasp), she's shown to be bored with the mundane small talk that normal people have-she looked bored in her date with the divorced friend of a friend and ditched him for Mulder, and when offered the chance to possibly join a different and exciting division in the FBI for promotion, rejected it to stay with Mulder. This is not someone looking for a 9 to 5 life. As Season 10 has shown, they both show a spark when together and as you state above have to resolve their demons together. Crazy kids.

 

I've always thought that was Scully's internal contradiction -- she does "want to get out of the damn car" but she also wants Mulder to get out as well. It's not like she's dying to hook up with an investment banker instead.  She probably could have stayed a doctor forever (like in IWTB) if Mulder weren't so miserable with nothing to do.  It's likely one of the reasons that she considers her relationship with Mulder "the most impossible" in her life.  

She's back at the FBI because of the personal interest her alien DNA represents, but it will be interesting to see how long she stays there. 

[Tardislass]

I am not spoiled for the myth arc other than what has been broadly mentioned in the press but based on episode 1, I have a distinct feeling I will not be happy with where it goes.

 

Same here as I'm not really looking forward to episode 6 based on summaries and the fact that CC has said he intends the show to go on..aka, not going to give people answers yet. Add to that Tad O'Malley and the awful oil company-climate change-fast food-9/11-Bush conspiracy theory and it seems Batcrap Crazy Mulder will be returning.

 

I've decided to employ my drinking game that night consisting of taking a drink every time someone mentions that X is the key to everything. I think I'll be drunk within 20min.

Edited February 4, 2016 by Tardislass

[AntiBeeSpray]

To me, what they have at this point and what I can see on screen has already transcended the romantic love stage. 

The deep connection they have oozes out of every meaningful scene they share and, fortunately, I can't detect any hint of a tease or will they/won't they in their interactions. It's settled, they love each other.

 

Conversations between them why they didn't make it as a (romantic) couple and/or if they should get back together again feel completely out of place for these two people. So I hope, they will stick to looks and gestures for the rest of the episodes since any verbal declarations of love might come off totally cheesy, cringeworthy and generally inappropriate.

I most certainly don't want to sit through another "Dearest Dana" and "Forever yours" incident ever again.

 

And another reason why I think a break up wasn't really necessary. Maybe they should have listed it as a break. Because it felt like that. 

 

I don't mind them being romantically involved, just no dearest Dana. That stuff made me want to hurl.

[Taryn74]

Honestly, I think one of the reasons I'm not really concerned with whether M/S are "together" or not, is because when I look at them I don't think the real depth of their relationship has changed at all.  It's like the REAL relationship is there all the time, no matter what.  Sometimes they're living in the same house, sometimes they're having sex, sometimes they're not.....it doesn't really matter because it never changes who they are to each other.  *shrugs*

[Bastet]

I know Sveta said they used to be a couple (implying they aren't one now), but we established that her mind-reading skills aren't all that finely honed.  To me, they feel like a couple, one that just doesn't happen to be living together right now.  And since I can't imagine living with Mulder day in and day out for decades under the best of circumstances, I don't have to tax my brain too much imagining isolated, depressed Mulder being too much for anyone to bear on a daily basis.  I was worried that the characters wouldn't feel right, but they do -- circumstances have evolved, as they do, but fundamentally these feel like the people I spent so many years watching.  So I'm perfectly content on the relationship front.

[AntiBeeSpray]

Honestly, I think one of the reasons I'm not really concerned with whether M/S are "together" or not, is because when I look at them I don't think the real depth of their relationship has changed at all.  It's like the REAL relationship is there all the time, no matter what.  Sometimes they're living in the same house, sometimes they're having sex, sometimes they're not.....it doesn't really matter because it never changes who they are to each other.  *shrugs*

 

Ah. Well now it doesn't mean all that much to me anymore. *shrugs* Regardless of who they are to one another. 

I know Sveta said they used to be a couple (implying they aren't one now), but we established that her mind-reading skills aren't all that finely honed.  To me, they feel like a couple, one that just doesn't happen to be living together right now.  And since I can't imagine living with Mulder day in and day out for decades under the best of circumstances, I don't have to tax my brain too much imagining isolated, depressed Mulder being too much for anyone to bear on a daily basis.  I was worried that the characters wouldn't feel right, but they do -- circumstances have evolved, as they do, but fundamentally these feel like the people I spent so many years watching.  So I'm perfectly content on the relationship front.

 

Maybe.

 

I'm not so much. But meh... hopefully things will move forward from where they are in s11. Whenever that happens.

[HalcyonDays]

I'm rereading one of my X-Files books that cover the first two seasons and in it they talk about David's near photographic memory. I'm much more like poor Gillian, I have a really terrible memory which is one reason I'm mostly a lurker on this site. I'm trying to come out of my shell a bit more though because I was seriously obsessed with this show back in the day.

 

festivus!! Don't lurk - come join the insanity! Never mind your memory. Mine is absolutely terrible, to the point that yesterday is a relative blur to me. I remember I went to work, but don't ask me what I did in any sort of semi-detail. Last, week, I can't remember what I did Wed, compared to Thursday, it's that bad. However, I do remember completely useless facts, go figure.

 

Here's a hint. If you are not sure about sometime you want to write - google it. That's what I do. Sometimes I'm not 100% about something I remember from the show, or mix it up with something else, so I just double-check on the Internet! Come, join us Memory-less Members! *grin*

 

Same here as I'm not really looking forward to episode 6 based on summaries and the fact that CC has said he intends the show to go on..aka, not going to give people answers yet. Add to that Tad O'Malley and the awful oil company-climate change-fast food-9/11-Bush conspiracy theory and it seems Batcrap Crazy Mulder will be returning.

 

I've decided to employ my drinking game that night consisting of taking a drink every time someone mentions that X is the key to everything. I think I'll be drunk within 20min.

 

Drinking game, hell yeah!! We'll be wasted in no time. Here's an oldie published way back during the original series run. X-Files Drinking Game

 

So basically, in this episode we would be very very hammered:

 

• Mulder utters a wry witticism or "Mulderism" (two sips if Scully actually smiles as a result). (one sip)
• Scully misses the proof of a paranormal event (one sip)
• Any character, including Mulder or Scully, shows their badge (one sip)
• Mulder or Scully call each other on cell phone and say, "It's me" or "Where are you?" (one sip)
• Scully does an autopsy. (one sip)
• Scully happens to know/notice some obscure fact which later helps solve the case.(two sips)
• They drive a car other than a Ford Taurus. (two sips)
• Mulder is seen in his underwear or a Speedo swimsuit. - ding ding ding! (two sips)

 

She's back at the FBI because of the personal interest her alien DNA represents, but it will be interesting to see how long she stays there. 

 

I would think she would be like a lot of us - you get sick and tired of a job, and leave. But if you end up thinking you missed it, go back to said job, then quickly realize why you hated it in the first place.

[DaynaPhile]

Does anyone else think they are hinting at a drinking problem for Mulder? With the refusal of the alcohol in the limo in ep 1, and then the fall off the wagon comment in this one...

That plus the comment about being off his meds points to him really being screwed up for a bit. I mean, more than normal.

[TomServo]

Interesting to note that now DD seems to be on board for another series but GA sounds a bit hesitant.

 

Not surprising.  GA has said in interviews that when she took the X-Files job, she never expected it to get picked up, much less turn into a 9-year job.  She also said that the work she's been doing since the series ended is more what she intended for her career path to be like.  DD, on the other hand, would like to be a typical American movie/t.v. star.

 

I love the joint interviews that DD and GA have given as they are mostly fun but what they reveal most to me is that DD has an incredible memory of details and plotlines of the show while GA hardly remembers that she was on a show called "The X-Files." 

 

DD's IQ is in the 140's, graduated as valedictorian from an elite boy's school, and he has a Master's Degree in English Lit. from Yale.  Again, it's not surprising that the details and the analysis of it all would be a more interesting hobby to him than most.

[azshadowwalker]

An episode that wanted to be Chung, and failed horribly at it. Like the rest of the episodes, it seemed forced and overacted.

I will say that I couldn't care less why Scully and Mulder aren't together. I am just goddamned glad that they aren't. The worst thing that ever happened to the series was turning a cool sci-fi mystery into another excuse for soap opera and angsty love stories. I would love it if they pretended none of that ever happened. Even if I had to watch overworked episodes like this one.