"Well if I have to devise a strategy around that story then
there is no strategy."

You can say that again, and there isn't much of a story either. 
This week on the X-Files, Howard Gordon and Chris Carter with 
the able help of director Michael "I'll make this shot as long
as possible - heck, throw in another flag" Lange and editor Jim 
"Maybe they'll still be tense if we rerun the entire teaser at
the  end of the episode - do we have anymore shots we can use of 
that marching band?" Gross managed to pad out a 30 minute story
to last almost as long as a regular episode of the X-Files. 
It just seemed criminal to me, knowing how much of "Memento Mori"
had to be left on the cutting room floor, as I saw the desperate
measures to make up time here. I haven't been this bored by an
episode in a long time. I've certainly thought there were worse,
but they didn't make me nearly as sleepy - at least "El Mundo
Gira" made me laugh it was so silly. 

Why the FBI is suddenly playing secret service in this one was
pretty amusing to me as well. Even Mulder questions Skinner's
involvement. Hey, maybe he volunteered for the job - he certainly
seemed to enjoy the gusto of tossing himself in front of generals
to protect them. Skinner even gets winged by a shot in the end and
Mulder is kind enough to poke him there immediately after until he 
winces. That was thoughtful of Spooky.

Sometimes I really wonder where they are going long term with
Skinner. While over the years the writers have allowed Duchovny
and Anderson to give their characters more emotions rather than
remaining their stoic crime fighting selves all the time, they
really still seem to be in a rut as far as Pileggi's character
is concerned. Even when featured prominently, Skinner is almost
always stern, gruff, slightly less gruff (for those moments when 
he is showing that he respects Mulder and Scully), or chewing
someone out. Someone please let Skinner unclench his jaw at some
point - I'm worried his face might freeze that way. (I have the
same worry about Scully when her eyebrow is up, but that is a
different story). Well, I guess I should be thankful that they
gave Skinner that contemplative/slightly less gruff moment at the
end and leave it at that.

I am also once again discouraged by Gordon's use of the UniBlonder
with gift information. It seems most obvious that the informants
are being used only as a plot device when they occur with absolutely
no reason and seem to know things that they shouldn't really be 
concerning themselves with - as in "Teliko" and X's gratuitous
appearance in "Fresh Bones". They appear. They speak. They leave.
Suddenly Mulder has a lead without working for it. I can't figure
out what purpose she served here - after all they had plenty of time
to allow Mulder and Scully to investigate on their own that they
squandered on other things. Plus, doesn't this gal seem way too much
in the know for an Assistant to the SRSG?

I suppose they think they let themselves off the cancer hook with
this one by setting it back in November - before the Scully-arc and
even "Paper Hearts", but it is only the ardent fans who would catch
such a reference and place the episode at a different time. The rest
of America is thinking that the cancer ball has been dropped (I know
this as I am constantly asked about it), and my ability to cut them
some slack is growing weaker in this department.

I have to say that an episode is very disappointing when the most
interesting thing I found in it was watching Mulder and Scully be
chased by dogs. I think Skinner best summed up what I felt the writers
of this one must have been thinking: "right now I'm flying by the seat
of my pants".

Random Musings
------------------------
-So, either the traveling Vietnam wall is in Vancouver these
days or they are desperate to get their money's worth out of the
recreation (much like  "Dod Kalm" springing from the desire to
reuse the "EndGame" boat).

-Retreads, get your retreads here: Teager was in "Ascension" as
the Krycek pummeled tram guy and the trucker from E.B.E, Markam
we've seen in "Die Hand" and as the bleeping detective in "Jose
Chung", and Mrs. Davenport we saw in "Revelations" and "GenderBender".

-Anyone else get a good chuckle over that whole "don't take your
eyes off him Scully" bit? Of course the poor girl's like a foot
shorter than most of the crowd on a good heel day. Plus, why was
she suddenly alone in that little clearing with the crowd parting
like the red sea? Just for the crane shot?

-Personally, I think that the scene after the credits when the
first general was shot was supposed to be the original teaser
until their first cut came in 5 minutes under and they started
into a padding frenzy.

-I did enjoy the little chuckle Mulder got when Scully was 
refuting his theory by suggesting an "elaborately 
orchestrated conspiracy". Who says the girl doesn't have a bit
of the old paranoia in her these days? Heck, she even asked a
Dr. something that made him laugh at her. She's come a long way.

-On the fashion front, I think that we can clearly label this 
the season of the Scully boots - I think she wears those darn
things more than the heels anymore.

-So, why are the FBI metal detectors so finely tuned that 
a little old neck chip sends them bonkers and yet a someone 
sporting half his weight in metal on his uniform can waltz 
through at the Pentagon? Certainly all those pins, buttons, 
and medals had more metal than Mulder's keys ...

-Only Scully would call a sub-conjunctival hemorrhage "simple".

Autumn
"I think I've heard enough"