Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Revisiting The X Files: S05 E02


S05E02: Redux II

Fox immediately blows his cover to visit Scully in hospital, which is really a rookie maneuver. After meeting with Blevins to determine why he has faked his death and implicated Scully as well, he and Skinner exchange information.

The play off between Mulder and The Smoking Man here is terrific, with each man's certainty of their own convictions tested. The information that could cure Scully's cancer, as well as the introduction of Samantha, or someone who is being played as Samantha, tips the scales in the direction of 'evil', but Mulder's determined refusal to join his side is still refreshing even given we all knew he would say no. The episode is also significant for Scully's return to her religious faith, and it cleverly makes it ambiguous as to whether it was faith, alien technology or plain science that enables her cancer to go into remission by the episode's end. 

The announcement of The Smoking Man's death does seem plainly ridiculous from Skinner, given no body is found, and only going on the amount of blood lost. Surely even he by now should know better than to pronounce someone dead without such evidence as a body. 4.5/5

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