Well, even with all the hype about this episode, I must say that 
it, put simply, sucked.  I don't care if Steven King wrote it, it still 
is one of the worst, possibly *the* worst of the season so far.
	The episode was well done technically, as always; there were some 
good shots and lighting.  I like the shadow and vision effects on the 
glass of the freezer at the supermarket and on the drying sheets. There 
were some interesting camera angles. It was also one of the more 
gruesome episodes, sort of like Home last year.  However, all this does 
and can not make up for a poor storyline.
	The plot centers mainly around who I've come to think as Dolly and 
Polly.  The rather normal-looking doll opens her eyes and says, "Let's 
have fun!" in that evil voice of hers.  Some Hokey-Pokey music plays 
near the victim, and the victim appears to commit suicide.  Then, later 
on, the rather normal-looking doll opens her eyes and says, "Let's have 
fun!" in that evil voice of hers.  Some Hokey-Pokey music plays near the 
next victim, and the next victim appears to commit suicide.  Next, the 
rather normal-looking doll opens her eyes and says, "Let's have fun!" in 
that evil voice of hers.  Some Hokey-Pokey music plays near the this 
victim, and the this victim appears to commit suicide.  Finally, the 
rather normal-looking doll opens her eyes and says, "Let's have fun!" in 
that evil voice of hers.  Some Hokey-Pokey music plays near the final 
victim, and the final victim appears to commit suicide.
	Yes, I did have fun with the copy and paste commands.  But, you 
must admit, a near perfect summary!  Chinga was boring, monotonous, and 
predictable.
	And, yes, even though this is the mysterious, never explained X-
Files, there is no explanation for the doll being possessed or whatever.  
Or for reappearing in the ocean again.  Usually there is some hint of 
reason, even if not entirely explainable.
	Now, all this could have been better, a bit more exciting if 
Mulder had been in more of the episode.  I see no real reason that 
Scully had to be on a vacation, and Mulder sitting at his desk watching 
porn- no, 'scuse me, World's Deadliest Swarms (another poke at FOX 
specials) and throwing pencils at the ceiling.  Nearly every episode 
that has very little Scully or Mulder isn't as good as it could have 
been, or as good as other episodes.  Although, we wouldn't have the 
classic goofy Mulder.  Notice how almost every episode with very little 
Mulder has him doing something stupid and humorous?  (Other examples 
include Never Again and Christmas Carol)  Is that all that the writers 
can do with Mulder when he has no real necessity to the story is to make 
him comedic relief.  Well, it's getting old.  While I must say that it 
was funny, it was almost too funny.  Somehow I just don't see the same 
Mulder throwing pencils and searching passionately for Samantha.  Maybe 
once, just to show he's not all serious and gloomy, but it's gone too 
far.  This episode seemed like such a joke.  I really can't explain it.


	-The little girl- is she so snobby because of the doll or 
something else?  And, is it just me, or did she bear a slight 
resemblance to the Eves?

	-Scully must enjoy relaxing to symphony-like music.  And, wow, 
casual clothing and sunglasses!

	-If I have to hear that Hokey-Pokey song one more time, I'm going 
to scream!

	-Continuity error- mascara smudges on Polly's mom are different 
from shot to shot in the ice-cream shop.

	-I think that Mulder threw a total of about 45 pencils minus the 
ones he was so carefully sharpening.  (Yes, I attempted to count.) This 
is where our tax dollars go?

	-Scully looks so sad when she realizes that, without her, Mulder 
has nothing to do, and is really nothing.

	-If you read my Christmas Carol/Emily review, then this will make 
more sense.  There is more evidence that writers read fanfic- Mulder's 
fridge is empty except for spoiled juice; similar situations can be read 
in fanfic.



Tigress35


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