The Grand X-Periment 12

10/12/11

33) Zero Sum- Season 4, Episode 21- Now this was enjoyable. In this episode we follow the fallout from Skinner's Faustian deal with Cancer Man. When a postal worker is stung to death by the killer bees, Skinner is sent in to dispose of all the evidence. Mitch Peleggi has to carry the episode and he does a fine job. The first ten minutes after the cold open are sans dialogue. We just follow Skinner going about the task of hiding all evidence and even destroying a corpse. When he tries to back out of his deal, he gets framed for murder and Mulder figures out his duplicity.

Of all the states the mythos has touched, this is the first time South Carolina gets a shout out. The Conspirators decide to use the town of Payson, SC (huh?) to test out the bees ability to spread smallpox. And, of course, no one knows how to fight it because smallpox isn't supposed to exist. Between this and the plane crash in Tempus Fugit, a lot of innocent people have died in the name of the conspiracy this season.

Maria LastnameIcantspellous (Maria C. from now on) is shown to be in league with Cancer Man (which means X's last move was to be a chump). We get some more lip service to the idea that Mulder is supposed to have figured all the crap out that he does. It would explain why he is constantly one step ahead of various military recovery teams. He always gets the evidence or sees the alien body right before it gets whisked away. Almost as if Cancer Man wants him to stay on track, get bits of info but not enough to do damage.

As a note, I have been reading AV Club's reviews of these episodes after I write these mini-reviews. They write thousands of words for each episode and usually use the premise of the episode to write about some aspect of storytelling or their own beliefs about the government or even historical context for the episodes. So, if you want super insightful write ups, go there. I am just trying to keep an eye on the big picture and give my initial reactions to these shows I haven't seen in years (if at all).

34) Demons- Season 4, Episode 23- This is one of those episodes marked as "crucial but not mythology" on the wikipedia page for this series. That is how I chose some of the 22 additional episodes beyond the mytharc to watch. Really, I see why this one isn't essential, it just restates things we already had implied or outright stated previously.

For the second episode of the night we get another of the good guys framed for murder. This time, Mulder wakes up in a hotel room, covered in blood and missing 24 hours. Yes, it is The Hangover episode. Instead of zany hijinks with Tigers and Mike Tyson, Mulder was apparently involved in radical brain-altering regression therapy and murder/suicide pacts. The whole point of the episode is that Mulder finally figures out his mom was humping Cancer Man back in the day. Mulder outright asks who his father is. As usual, Mrs. Mulder is the least helpful character in the entire show. She could put together so much for her son but just refuses. Way to be helpful.

The show ends with Mulder pointing a gun at Scully and finally being talked down. Although I didn't really watch it, Season 3 featured the opposite scenario in its penultimate episode (Wetwired). So, if anyone wants ammo for the show just chasing its tail, this episode is a great example.

Tomorrow, I finish Season 4 and start Season 5!