[The X-Files] What's Better Than Contortionists? Slimy Ones, That's What!
Well, I appear to be darting far, far ahead, so I better get these summaries/discussions done before I find myself firmly entrenched in Season 3, and still without a write-up for "Squeeze."
Squeeze (1.3; 1X02)
Summary from TV.com:
One of Scully's friends from the FBI academy, now working in the Violent Crimes Unit, asks her to assist him on a homicide investigation involving no clear point of entry. Mulder realizes that this is similar to a series of X-Files case that have occurred every thirty years, and joins in the investigation to stop the latest cycle.
Ah, "Squeeze." Another one of a handful of first-season episodes that it's probably good I saw later on. Far too disgusting as an entry point into the series. I do, however, like how this (and other first season episodes) reflects Scully's life outside of the X-Files, in that she has (old school) friends in other units, and is reasonably respected by them. I like the fact that Colton honestly doesn't understand why Scully wouldn't want to get out of her current assignment, and his dogged insistence that the two of them are going to climb the ladder of success.
I'm also very fond of how this episode takes the time to clearly delineate how crazy people think Mulder is. Colton obviously stands in for the larger FBI community, and I think it's fascinating that along with his derision comes a real sense of what an asshole he is, which works very nicely to align the viewer with Spooky Mulder and Mrs. Spooky rather than what our more rational thoughts tell us about the world. It's a sneaky and well-executed move by Carter and co., as it's only the third episode, and already they're manipulating us to not only suspend our disbelief, but also feel protective of our crazy basement-dwelling heroes.
Mulder's wit ramps up again in this episode, but with a twist. While he uses humour really aggressively when dealing with Colton, we finally get a sense of gentle self-mocking used in his more private (bile-covered) moments with Scully. There are a variety of lines that leave me giggling, from the deficiency of liver and onions on Reticula to Mulder's betrayal of his "cool exterior." Of course, Scully is aware of his aggressiveness with Colton, and points out that he's being rather territorial, and in Mulder's answer I think we see the first seeds of the UST that will drive a lot of the interactions between Scully and Mulder. It's interesting to note that Colton displays territorialness over Scully too, to the point where you have two men engaged in a traditional tug-of-war over a woman (perhaps as a friend, a colleague and/or something more), yet unlike most narratives where the woman waits around to be told whose prize she is, Scully has already made her choice, displaying far more agency than Colton (and to a certain extent Mulder) gives her credit for, and simultaneously making the struggle between the two men rather pointless.
As to the mystery itself, it's certainly interesting, if almost secondary to Colton and Mulder clashing. The contortionist they hired is sufficiently creepy, the bile and nest incredibly gross, and the stretched fingerprints really, really cool. I must say, however, that this is the second bathtub scene in three episodes, which leads me to think that Scully has some sort of OCD, or at this early stage Carter and co. just really like the idea of getting her half-naked and vulnerable. (Not that she disrobes in this one, to be fair.) Of course, Tooms' attack on Scully mirrors the struggle between Mulder and Colton; here is another man attempting to claim Scully, assuming she is unable to look after herself, and yet she makes an impressive showing fending him off. That Mulder is the one who helps her do that simply cements their alignment and loyalties within the series for me.
...Er, so, three episode discussions down, and only -- *counts* -- twenty-two left until I'm caught up. *facepalm* D'oh.
Squeeze (1.3; 1X02)
Summary from TV.com:
One of Scully's friends from the FBI academy, now working in the Violent Crimes Unit, asks her to assist him on a homicide investigation involving no clear point of entry. Mulder realizes that this is similar to a series of X-Files case that have occurred every thirty years, and joins in the investigation to stop the latest cycle.
Ah, "Squeeze." Another one of a handful of first-season episodes that it's probably good I saw later on. Far too disgusting as an entry point into the series. I do, however, like how this (and other first season episodes) reflects Scully's life outside of the X-Files, in that she has (old school) friends in other units, and is reasonably respected by them. I like the fact that Colton honestly doesn't understand why Scully wouldn't want to get out of her current assignment, and his dogged insistence that the two of them are going to climb the ladder of success.
I'm also very fond of how this episode takes the time to clearly delineate how crazy people think Mulder is. Colton obviously stands in for the larger FBI community, and I think it's fascinating that along with his derision comes a real sense of what an asshole he is, which works very nicely to align the viewer with Spooky Mulder and Mrs. Spooky rather than what our more rational thoughts tell us about the world. It's a sneaky and well-executed move by Carter and co., as it's only the third episode, and already they're manipulating us to not only suspend our disbelief, but also feel protective of our crazy basement-dwelling heroes.
Mulder's wit ramps up again in this episode, but with a twist. While he uses humour really aggressively when dealing with Colton, we finally get a sense of gentle self-mocking used in his more private (bile-covered) moments with Scully. There are a variety of lines that leave me giggling, from the deficiency of liver and onions on Reticula to Mulder's betrayal of his "cool exterior." Of course, Scully is aware of his aggressiveness with Colton, and points out that he's being rather territorial, and in Mulder's answer I think we see the first seeds of the UST that will drive a lot of the interactions between Scully and Mulder. It's interesting to note that Colton displays territorialness over Scully too, to the point where you have two men engaged in a traditional tug-of-war over a woman (perhaps as a friend, a colleague and/or something more), yet unlike most narratives where the woman waits around to be told whose prize she is, Scully has already made her choice, displaying far more agency than Colton (and to a certain extent Mulder) gives her credit for, and simultaneously making the struggle between the two men rather pointless.
As to the mystery itself, it's certainly interesting, if almost secondary to Colton and Mulder clashing. The contortionist they hired is sufficiently creepy, the bile and nest incredibly gross, and the stretched fingerprints really, really cool. I must say, however, that this is the second bathtub scene in three episodes, which leads me to think that Scully has some sort of OCD, or at this early stage Carter and co. just really like the idea of getting her half-naked and vulnerable. (Not that she disrobes in this one, to be fair.) Of course, Tooms' attack on Scully mirrors the struggle between Mulder and Colton; here is another man attempting to claim Scully, assuming she is unable to look after herself, and yet she makes an impressive showing fending him off. That Mulder is the one who helps her do that simply cements their alignment and loyalties within the series for me.
...Er, so, three episode discussions down, and only -- *counts* -- twenty-two left until I'm caught up. *facepalm* D'oh.