For me, the measure of a good X-Files episode is how I feel upon 
a second viewing. I usually watch the show through the first time 
for entertainment and then watch it a second time, taking notes 
for my usual review. Second time through I was bored. Folks, this 
is *not* a common thing for me - in fact last time I remember it 
happening was "Fearful Symmetry" (Not that this episode was nearly 
that bad). 

Maybe I was disappointed because the high hopes I had 
for a Chris Carter written/directed show after "Duane Barry". 
I dunno. It just didn't do much for me. It was an average episode 
in what has proven, for me at least, to be a spectacular season 
thus far. It made D.P.O. look much better. I found the plot and
characters rather stereotypical. Gee a bad warden? Imagine that! 
Evil prison guards? NO! Inmates harassing a female visitor? Say 
it ain't so! Was I surprised by the warden's death? I was waiting 
for it. 

Then there was the old gross out factor. Just how many maggots did 
they need for this episode? High gross out factor for no real reason. 
Bring back the sploogy boils.

OK, enough of my whining. What did I like?

-Well, I like that this season they are letting Scully smile a
lot more. Gillian Anderson has a beautiful smile.

-I loved the Mulder/Scully interplay on the "I only get five?"/
"I remembered your birthday this year didn't I Scully?" exchange.

-I liked the emotion we saw from Scully as she was clearly freaked
by her first experiences at the prison.

-And, of course <G>, I liked the way Scully *once again* 
shows us her psychic abilities in her odd curiosity in what could 
be found in the prison showers (where we learn later a lot of bad 
things go on).

Let's hope next time CC directs I can say "Third time's a charm".
This time I only thought "sophomore slump".

Autumn