Scarlett Letters

My rewatch of The X Files continues.

Episode 4: "The Jersey Devil": So, if you know your cryptids, you know that the Jersey Devil is a denizen of the New Jersey Pine Barrens and looks something like a cross between a bat, a gryphon and a goat. This episode took up that legend. I remember, when I first watched it, that I felt like I had been cheated, because of what the Jersey Devil in the episode turned out to be. On rewatch, I still don't think it's a particularly strong episode, though I've always been intrigued by the idea of the wild child, grown up outside of civilization, raised by wolves (or bears or whichever animal legend suggests might take in a foundling). Ultimately, though, the episode is about chasing down a killer, though a not particularly sophisticated one. While it doesn't leave much unanswered, there's a reveal at the end that, while not unexpected, is a nice grace note. I still don't buy the "humans killing and sucking on other humans' blood" bit, but there you go. They tried to sell this idea as human throwbacks living in the wilderness. Meh. There's also a subplot that tries to examine Scully's life outside the job. It almost feels like something Carter felt he had to do, as if it weren't already clear four episodes in that Scully loves her job and would be satisfied with a life of investigative work and adventure rather than dating and domesticity. It felt awkward and tacked-on to me. I was struck by how much Scully was tricked up like a bride on her date, wearing a white lace top and a sophisticated up do. Every TV show that features a tough-minded woman always makes a point to have an episode in which we get to see her be beautiful and feminine in spectacular ways, as if to assure that audience that yes, really, she's female and straight and gorgeous. Heteronormative. I always find these moments a little obvious. No less so here.

I actually skipped rewatching "Shadows" and "Ghost in the Machine". I remember finding them both dissatisfying and predictable on original viewing and in reruns. The former involves Scully and Mulder investigating ghostly activity around a secretary whose boss has been murdered. The restless spirit has returned to protect her and to ensure that his killer is caught. ::yawn::
The latter episode involves a corporate operating system becoming sentient and killing those who try to deactivate it. While "Ghost" gives us another glimpse of Deep Throat, it does nothing to forward the Mythology. Yeah, it's a Monster of the Week episode but it's dull. There's no There there. Scully and Mulder solve a crime, the end. Again ::yawn::.

The eighth episode, "Ice", gets things kicking again. It's The X Files' take on "The Thing": an alien bug discovered beneath the arctic ice creates paranoia and foments violence and murder in a claustrophobic episode that still creeped the hell out of me. The guest actors included Felicity Huffman, which was a surprise; she's very good indeed, as one of the infected scientists. Rewatching the ep, I found myself impressed by the amount of violence between the characters, by how jarring it was to see Mulder and Scully so untrustful of each other that they'd turn their guns on each other. At the same time, there's an intimacy to the scenes in which they examine each other for signs of alien infection that pinged all my slash buttons because of how relieved they are to realize that neither of them are infected. It's also a contrast to the rest of the episode--seeing bare human skin in an environment where everyone is covered up for warmth. Also, seeing bare human intimacy in a situation in which everyone is hiding, covering up, acting in self defense. The episode also does a fine job, at the end, of putting the viewer in Scully's shoes. When Mulder learns that the site, now evacuated, has been firebombed for protection, he freaks out and wants to go back to get the alien bugs for further scientific study. Everything in me was repelled by the idea and wanted to ask him what the hell he's thinking, given everything that's just happened. He listens when Scully just tells him to leave it there. Yeah. Right on, Scully.

Earlier this evening, dianora2, that queen of pop culture, posted the news that the X Files movie is going forward after all. She said, and I quote: "Oh, please don't let this suck."

Word.

Context: I saw the first X Files episode by accident when it first aired, realized someone had made a TV show just for me, and was a true believer from that moment on. I stuck it out until the very bitter end. The truth is still out there. I want to believe.

In the midst of my digging out the house for the room switcheroo, I discovered my copy of the X Files Rolling Stone issue, with Gillian and David on the cover, and the two of them in bed with Chris Carter inside. Jesus. Still the hottest issue of the decade. I'd switch teams for that woman. And then, you know, come back for the other two. :-)