Usually, the 2-parters are some of the best episodes of the
season. These are no exception. Although somewhat predictable, there
are surprises as well. These episodes also managed to tie in nicely
with other mythology, without introducing too many new ideas or plot
lines.
Christmas Carol:
First, I just have to get this out of my head before I forget. Is
it just me, or is the XF staff reading fanfic? Some connections, either
stolen from fanfic, or there are some great predicting authors out
there:
-Scully being barren.
-Melissa having a child.
-Scully having a child.
Okay, now on to the real review.
What's with Melissa calling on the phone? No, I know she's dead,
but it was inconsistent with the rest of the story. I guess the story
needed somewhere to start. It was clever and mysterious, but besides
the first part of the first part of the 2-parter, it was never addressed
again. Another thing left hanging and forgotten. You think Scully'd be
more curious. My theory? Somehow, somewhere Missy was letting her
sister know about Emily. The phone would have never rung if Scully
wasn't in the room at the time.
I'm still pondering on the reason Scully decided to hang up the
phone without talking to Mulder. Maybe she was going to ask him for
help, but decided it was her journey? Like Mulder has done, except she
wasn't technically ditching him. Love the hat. Ever notice that brief
Mulder cameos always have him doing something odd, weird, and unusual?
So, Scully knows she can't have kids. Did Mulder tell her?
Unlikely.
Now on to......
Emily:
The opening: X-tremely well done. Beautiful, but yet another
Scully Silioquey to add to the list. While some may consider these
monologues poetic and meaningful, I believe they are fill in junk, and
I'd rather have more story than "I was dreaming, and I'm contemplating
my life.". Just because it's the first few minutes doesn't mean that
nobody wants to see anything useful to the story. Maybe if it was a
movie, it would be a great effect, but on a 45 minute TV show, there
isn't room for fluff. Leave that out and don't rush the end. Yes, this
teaser may add to characterization, but there are better ways to do it.
Have Scully say it to someone, like Mulder. Too personal? Maybe. But
perhaps Scully's words may have been more meaningful if the visual
effects weren't so outstanding. I found that I was concentrating on
watching Scully's dress and the background rather than listening
attentively to what she was saying. Just because it's the first few
minutes doesn't mean that nobody wants to see anything useful to the
story. Maybe if it was a movie, it would be a great effect, but on a 45
minute TV, there isn't room for fluff.
Mulder: Mulder's gone into super-over-protective-to-the-point-of-
violence-mode. Again. Just shows how much he really cares about
Scully. The near refusal to testify. The secrets. So, he never told
Scully about the ova he found in Memento Mori. And then what he found
in the nursing home later. Maybe they shouldn't have missed that
communication seminar after all. But, oh, Mulder's, "How're you feeling
now?" My answer: "Just fine, those little baby slaps you gave me
wouldn't hurt a hamster." But Mulder saved himself by throwing Calderon
against the wall. Now, I'm not condoning throwing people against walls,
I'm just saying that if Mulder wants to be violent, do it right. Punch
him or something. But, then again, we've seen enough of those, too.
The court hearing: Clearly there is still plenty of tension
between Bill Scully and Mulder. Bill just glaring at Mulder. Yikes, if
looks could kill. GA was wonderful in this scene. There isn't any
other actress who can do subtle, yet communicative facial expressions so
well. The look of utter shock, confusion, surprise, and maybe a hint of
annoyance or anger.
Emily: I just knew that she'd be some sort of alien/human hybrid.
What else? A HUMAN father? Boring. Leave it to X-Files. Plus, all
the other mythology led up to the answer, too many scenes and episodes
for me to list here or remember them all of the top of my head. A good
tie-in to Colony/End Game. Something like, "How you treated me in the
arctic." Yes! Again nice little quote to let the viewers know that
it's the same thing, and that past storylines haven't been forgotten.
But new thing: Vine-like stuff growing through her body. Interesting.
And, of course, more super morphing guys.
The ending: The funeral. I find a connection between Scully
eroding in the teaser and to the ashes of Emily. Did Scully feel that
the death of her daughter blew away part of her soul? That she will end
up like her? I feel a deep English paper analysis coming on...
**********Miscellaneous stuff:******
-Noticeable contrast between the dark, melancholy gate and entryway of
the nursing home and the yellow, bright house.
("Looks like the Millenium house." \\Insert Millenium house funny face
here______// "Doesn't it?" )
-Congratulations to Mulder for finally taking, or at least attempting to
take, evidence! Know why you never have any tangible proof, Mulder?
'Cause you don't take anything with you. He looks, but rarely takes
souvenirs. Round of applause.
-Notice that Scully's detective friend let's us know what time or day it
is. "Happy New Year." "Merry Christmas."
-Sweet, unoriginal Mulder always brings flowers to any sad occasion.
Wonder if he stole those of someone else's grave?
***********I want to know!**********
-Why did Mulder question Anna's "beauty sleep?" No offense intended,
but that's hardly a phrase to question coming from a grandmother.
-Is that a big baby or what? Newborn? Hardly. My theory. Baby was
born, and Emily died several months later. Or is it just the "let's
pretend it's a newborn?"
-Why didn't Mulder and Scully question why she never saw Mulder
following Calderon when he tells her he has, or she tells him she saw
Calderon? On the phone conversation, she's like, "What? I just saw
him." But they never look into it. Good investigative skills.
-Why do they always say, "I'm okay." "I just wanted to let you know
that I'm fine." Communication, reassurance. Usually someone asks you
how're you doing first, but I don't want to contradict my communication
seminar thought in previous paragraphs, so I'll stop here.
-Why didn't they bring Emily to be treated by Calderon, then, if he
wouldn't transfer medical records. I could be wrong, I don't know all
the technical stuff, but it might have been a clever solution.
-Didn't Mrs. Scully give Dana her cross necklace for her birthday
and not Christmas?
-What compelled a little girl to draw a potato??? I think that someone
on the XF staff must have a certain favorite vegetable, hmmm? Just
curious.
******Classic 'isms.*******
- Frohike "might have a chance" with the ladies in the nursing home.
- Mulder's Mr. Potato Head impersonation. Quick, someone get a screen
capture of that!
- "Do you think that F.B.I. stand for Federal Bureau of Imagination?"
===============
Okay, okay, I'm done! No, don't throw that potato! It wasn't that
long! I now return you to your regularly scheduled 'Net surfin'.