"Mulder, what are these people dying for? Is it for the truth 
or for the lies?"

"It's got to be for the truth. If we owe them anything it's to 
make sure of that."

Sometimes, like Scully, I wonder what these people are dying for,
and frankly, I'm not as convinced as Mulder that it is for the 
truth. The X-Files' death toll rises again in its most gratuitous 
example yet, and I've yet to figure out a reason. Pendrell knew 
too much? Yeah right. We don't have enough Scullyangst with dead
family members and terminal brain cancer? Sure. Fine. 
Whatever. My bet is either the writing staff is just plain sadistic 
(after all even pets aren't safe), or they created a character that 
they just didn't know what to do with and fell back on the old 
"death to up the stakes" ploy they've only used - what? - five times
now? Find a new trick guys because an otherwise good episode was
marred by this. For the record, I'm not some huge Pendrell fan who
will be weeping over his passing (though I always thought Brendan
Beiser did a delightful job making the Scully-smitten Pendrell into
a memorable character with relatively little screen time). What I am
is a fan of innovation and clever writing - something I usually find
on this show.

Now, despite starting off this review with a rather lengthy 
complaint, I want to reiterate that I did like this episode -
it was a solid conclusion to an interesting two parter that for
once didn't feel compelled to wrap itself in the confusing mytharc 
episode shroud of cigarettes, oiliens, and one-armed bandits. 
Though sometimes after I watch episodes like these the biggest 
question I have is why Mulder and Scully don't get brain damage 
from beating their heads against the wall repeatedly. I was struck 
by Max's video and how it, in a way, seemed to express so much of
the struggle we have seen on the show from a different perspective.
He speaks of finding proof for the skeptics and describes the
conspiracy of government, aliens, FBI, and military we have come
to know even tieing in the use of alien technology by the military.
It's a credit to Scott Bellis that as we watch this goofy recitation
that the truth sinks in. Mulder is lucky that when he says things
like this it doesn't sound half as crazy or Scully really would have
to worry about him being committed. 

Another great episode for Gillian Anderson, the master of subtle 
emotion. The mixture of guilt and sadness she shows at the death 
of the colleague they took for granted is nicely portrayed. Also,
I won't have to continue my CancerWatch countdown as we are finally 
given a sign (and learn that Scully now always carries a tissue in 
her pocket). I liked the way in which this was done. Scully sternly 
ordering the paramedics that Pendrell is "not going to die" as the 
signs of her own mortality show. That little moment Anderson gives 
us as she sees the blood and the thoughts flicker across her face 
was brilliant. The ensuing scene with Skinner was also nicely 
executed. I've always enjoyed the mileage that Pileggi and Anderson 
get out of their moments together - they are layered with a subtext 
of affection, respect, defiance and authority. There is almost a 
parent/child feel to this one as Scully is "caught" having a nosebleed 
with Skinner hinting about pulling her out of the field as her eyes
get just ever so slightly teary and she tells him (and us) in typical
Scully fashion that she is fine.

We do get some interesting insights into the ever complex relationship
between Mulder and Scully this episode as well. It isn't often that
Scully shares her thoughts on Mulder or their partnership and she does
it freely this episode. It seems that cancer has made Scully more
philosophical as she has tended to wax poetic of late. She tells us
she sees Mulder and Max as similar: "Men with spartan lives simple in
their creature comforts if only to allow for the complexity of their
passions".  Despite walking behind Mulder and Millar with a less than
amused look on her face while Mulder tells his "whopper" she admits
that it is a good story. Then, of course, we get the riddle of the key
chain. Mulder and Scully staring into the night sky in their "play
clothes" while Scully, in my estimation, does a pretty good job of
nailing why Mulder gave her that gift - I think his typical Mulder 
deflective response to when she gets too close emotionally reinforces
that she is right. It isn't just a "pretty cool key chain".

I neglected in last week's review to mention Mark Snow's superb 
score for this two parter, so let me do it now - that wonderful 
tinkling theme was perfect. I also have to once again praise the
special effects for this outing - those abduction scenes with the
floating in the light were eerie, and, to tell the truth, as a
frequent traveler the people being sucked out of the plane were
some of the most frightening things I've ever seen on this show.
Kudos for great execution in these sequences to all involved.

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

-I know I shouldn't have been laughing at the dramatic shootout 
at the Headless Woman Pub, but seeing Scully shove Army-Boy to the
ground and then tell Pendrell with the sucking chest wound "I'll 
be right back" caught me as funny. I'm sure Pendrell was thinking 
"It's OK Dana, whenever you can get around to me will be fine".
After all, part of his fantasy did come true - Scully did take off
his shirt and tie while telling him she wanted to celebrate her
birthday with him. Too bad she was splattered by his blood at the
time.

-While all that green water effect was cool, it was pretty hard
to tell what the heck was going on in the Scuba!Mulder section.
I was just amazed that a guy with no Scuba experience managed to 
get off his tank and weight belt in a hurry and then pop to the 
surface in total disregard to safety precautions.

-Pretty boy Mulder does have all the luck though - not only does 
he not get that lovely scuba mask face welt, but despite the fact 
that everyone else exposed to the radiation gets the ugliest boils
on their faces this side of "F. Emasculata" Mulder gets a few dainty
bumps easily covered by his Season 4 bangs.

-Mulder, it seems, has no qualms about getting undressed in front
of Scully. However, the ever modest St. Scully turns discreetly
away even though she's seen him in his underwear (though not those
scary military issue pale lime green things)before - no doubt so
as not to give the guard the wrong impression. I wonder if they did
that strip just to make all that obligatory Scully exposition more
interesting.

-One thing I've always enjoyed about the two-parters is when they
have to repeat a bit of time they tend to use different camera angles
thus giving us a fresh look at the events.

-That said, in another X-Fileish occurrence, Agent Scully fires one
shot in "Tempus Fugit", but in the re-edited version this week fires
two - hitting the wall and the shooter's leg. I'm not going to
comment on her aim as I know she is a good shot. She was just a bit
off because Pendrell was busy dying in her way.

-So, the ever-bright FBI Agent Scully, who is trained to be observant
didn't even know Pendrell's first name? I don't think so. Somehow I
believe in all the time she'd spent with him and at his lab she'd be
able to read a nameplate or his badge. I think it's the writers who
didn't know his name. Is the same thing going to happen to Mrs. Mulder
eventually when they return to the tired kill-a-character well again?
Mulder: "Gee, I don't know, I just always called her Mom."

-I don't know why Mulder was all concerned about the missing few
minutes on his watch. He should have been more surprised at the way
he and Scully were able to suddenly leap into the future as the date
on his watch read March 8 and when the episode started it was the
early AM of February 26th.

-I thought the use of Soul Coughing's "Unmarked Helicopters" in this
episode was great - I've always thought the song epitomized the
struggle of Mulder & Scully (she even cracks a slight smile when she
hears it). Plus, it's my favorite on "Songs in the Key of X" along
with the Sheryl Crow tune (which always reminds me of a song Scully
might play if she was ever sitting around alone in her apartment
having a beer and throwing herself a pity party).

-Mulder's work phone number: 202-555-2350.

-Amongst the hilarious photos and clippings adorning Chateau Max
I caught the following headline (complete with photo): "Giants
from outer space take robot for walkies in Russian park".

-Another note on Air-X: since when does a flight attendant take 
your coat to hang up in coach. I must be flying the unfriendly 
skies myself...

-I don't even want to see Mulder's GTE SkyPhone bill after he 
leaves the phone off the hook. Have fun trying to expense that 
one pal.

-In a true testament to her vast skill as an actress, Gillian 
Anderson actually manages to give a completely new reading 
to "Mulder, it's me. Where are you?" despite having said this 
line in various ways approximately a kabillion times over four 
years. Where is Mulder? Why in front of the Lariat rent car 
counter of course!

-I bet Grumman's isn't too thrilled by the like-sounding 
"Cummin's" as the evil aerospace company.

-Watching that other female agent run down the jet way in pumps
certainly has give me an appreciation at how effortless Gillian
makes it look.

Autumn
"He needs to be intubated immediately"