"I'm sorry, but you've got something I need."

I imagine that this episode was written backwards with this 
point in mind. The trio of Gilligan, Spotnitz, and Shiban knew 
where they wanted to go with this one - the terrifying and 
stunning revelation that Dana Scully's worst fears have been 
realized: she has that undiagnosed cancer ailment that we
learned about in "Nisei" as a result of her abduction. Luckily, 
in constructing a monster-of-the-week episode around this crucial 
revelation they created an entertaining Frankenstein monster with 
bits of horror, humor, and humanity stitched together in an 
intriguing fashion. 

This episode was a gruesome one effects wise, but for some 
reason this trip to Pennsylvania didn't bother me as much as 
the trip "Home" earlier this year. I found myself creeped out 
in the teaser (which actually rarely happens to me), but the 
old thumping with the headless guy in a morgue accompanied to 
scary music trick did get to me this time. The supporting 
performances were definitely of the caliber we so often enjoy 
on this show with Paul McCrane (Leonard Betts) doing especially 
good work as an interesting cross between a healer and a killer 
and Jennifer Clement, as his doomed partner, making the most out 
of her part. There were some nice shots in this one by director 
Kim Manners. I really liked the headless reflection in the teaser 
and the reflected shot in the "mother's duty to provide" scene. 
What didn't work for me were the cheesy special effects as the 
naked sweating Leonard sheds his old body or the excessively 
huge explosion as apparently Scully hits the tank instead of the 
tires on the fleeing car - seems to me that it wouldn't be "by 
the book" to blow up your suspect and we know she's a good shot.

I especially enjoyed the head autopsy scene where Scully freaks 
out enough to drop her scalpel and then immediately launches into 
her scientific defense mechanism as she, still obviously spooked, 
stutters her explanation to Mulder as "I experienced an unusual 
degree of post mortem galvanic response". Duchovny's playful 
teasing with the winking comment and "Scully, you're not saying 
it's alive are you?" were perfectly executed. The one liners were 
fast and furious throughout and Mulder even *almost* got Scully 
to crack a smile with the paperweight joke and was very pleased 
with himself for it.

In fact, this episode really stood out for its downright amusing 
interaction between our favorite FBI agents. The playful banter 
between the two of them as the outlandish theories ("It's weird, 
huh?") and rational explanations ("Mulder, they're worms") 
whizzed back and forth was delightful. Only Duchovny and Anderson 
could diffuse the content of that squishy and squeamish medical 
waste scene so successfully by having so much fun with it. From 
Mulder's face-making at the whole prospect to Scully's asking 
for assistance because his "arms are longer" (which I couldn't 
help but wonder if it was a sly payback for that "little feet" 
comment he hit her with last year) I was giggling throughout. 
However, Scully still does have that edge after being told to 
examine the head when she asks "While you do what?" - which is 
becoming almost as pervasive a Scullyism as "Mulder, it's me" 
it seems.

While "Leonard Betts" was a prime example throughout of Gillian 
Anderson's consistently amazing ability to make the absolute 
most out of the nuances of her character, the ending was even 
more exciting as things are off and running with the much 
anticipated "Scully arc". From her quiet order to Mulder to 
"get over here right now" we are in for a ride to the  end. The 
stricken look she gets to Betts' insinuation about her health 
segues directly into the strongest Action! Scully sequence we've 
ever had. Finally Scully wins a fight on her own with some pretty 
convincing kicks, punches and quick thinking - a defib to the 
brain - what a way to go!

The best of Anderson's performance is yet to come though as 
we move to that truly heartbreaking scene in the car where 
the weight of her realization has crushed and dulled Scully's 
spirit. When she whispers "Cancer?" to Mulder we see the sad 
defeat. You know, Mulder is so smart, but sometimes when it 
comes to simple math - like putting two and two together he 
just fails miserably - it may be long term exposure to FAX 
machines. He can figure out almost anything on this case except 
why Scully is so upset after her fight with Betts (despite the 
fact it is he who figures out the cancer connection). At least 
he knows something is wrong when he misreads her reaction for 
regret at killing Betts and gives her the "You did a good job 
Scully" speech. The last image in this show is a vivid one - 
spelling out with a precision that even folks with denial that 
runs as deep as Dana's cannot ignore - there is something 
seriously wrong with our dear Dr. Scully.

Random Musings
-------------------------

-Let's start with the retreads. The first a character repeat 
from an actor we've seen on the show a number of times, but 
here Bill Dow reprises "The Calusari" alternative photo scientist. 
You might also recognize the pathologist working with them 
from "Roland".

-Alright. After Mr. Gilligan so impressed me with his ability 
to remember past episodes in his earlier efforts I felt the 
continuity police fell asleep at the wheel here - especially 
after I thought they were leading up to a tie in to season one
episode. I was annoyed at having to hear Scully say "Salamanders 
are one thing, but no mammal possesses that type of regenerative 
power" when I can clearly remember her being so intrigued at 
this same possibility (even involving salamanders) in "Young 
at Heart".

-There was a new Director of Photography listed in the 
credits: Joel Ransom. They certainly are going through them 
these days. Even more curious is that the esteemed John Bartley 
was also in the credits for 2nd unit work.

-I guess if actor Paul McClane (Leonard Betts) ever needs to 
send someone head shots for his next job he will have plenty, 
eh?

-Gee, is it obvious that we are in sweeps now or what? Cancer, 
car crashes, explosions, and a preview that plays up Scully 
and sex.

-For those of you who are sure to freak out over tonight's 
little revelations - remember this is good drama, Scully will 
not die (but we will be blessed with tons of angst), and Gillian 
is *not* leaving the show. So take some deep breaths, calm down 
and enjoy the ride.

-So, great car crash in the teaser, but really - not only do 
we have a poor ambulance driver, but don't those folks in PA 
know how to yield to emergency vehicles?

-Anyone else nervous when Mulder was in that bathroom? You know 
how evil bathrooms are on this show - I guess he's just lucky he 
didn't stick more than his fingers in the tub as tubs are always 
especially gruesome.

-Guess that little snow blizzard cleared up on the way over 
to Mrs. Tanner's house where the son always shines.

-Scully has a bit of a geography problem with her statement that 
the mother was "here in Pittsburgh" while they were at Burk's 
Maryland lab.

-So, medical waste it ground up and zapped until it is "sterile 
soot" and then used as road fill? Thank you for that special 
explanation Ms. Scully.

-I travel *a lot* for a living, but I've yet to be able to rent 
one of those "Lariat" rent cars seen so often and so prominently 
on the show - maybe they're for fibbees only.

Autumn
"I want to go home"