Bizarrely enough, I've already seen season six, but none of the rest. However, I'm well and truly spoiled as to the plot developments already, so please feel free to say whatever you want about it.
Mainly I was just going to say that I think that the disconnect between Scully and Mulder in season four is part of what strengthens their relationship down the line. I'm far from a shipper, but I think that element you point out is an important part of the development of their relationship. (Revise: I had almost no problem with Scully's and Mulder's becoming an item. It seemed like a natural evolution to me. What I had a problem with was that it became too much of a focus on the show.) To have come to this point where Scully basically tells him to "fuck off" in "Never Again" really speaks to the level of their feelings. They might be buried at that point, but it's far from indifference. Down the line it's sharing and overcoming that sort of past adversity that will make a couple feel more confident about their relationship
( ... )
Sorry to have taken so long to get to your comment. I had a tutorial to prepare for today, so have been a little behind on my LJ replies. Anyway...
Having pondered a little more, I think you're absolutely right about the long term effects of season four on Mulder and Scully's partnership. No relationship, whether between friends or romantic partners, goes without bumps and misunderstandings, and they certainly had a lot to weather over the course of one season. "Memento Mori" is a lovely episode, and I think I'm going to have to watch it again in order to get the full effect. It was almost difficult to take in all at once, for all the time I'd spent in anticipating it.
Wow, that was a wonderful analysis. Probably the most accurate one I've read up to this point. Mind if I share this with some of my fellow X-Philers? I promise to mention with full credit to you. Thanks for sharing that =)
Thank you! I was typing away at 1am, so I'm glad that it actually made some sense to someone other than me. You are more than welcome to share the ideas, or to link back here.
Quite simply, Scully has gotten so good at burying and repressing her emotions that the writers can only bring them to the surface by breaking her down completely. It makes for wonderful drama, but in character terms it can only be destructiveIt IS destructive, but I feel like we see the same cycle with Mulder, too, and in the end, that...lack of emotion (? Not correct, but you know what I mean) is what brings them together, because they share that closed-off persona. There are some beautiful scenes (which you'll see as you move throught the series; enjoy! I'm jealous. I wish I could see it again for the first time) of them breaking down in the presence of the other. I think in the end, that's their connection, that they have to hold it together, but they learn to trust the other even at their most vulnerable. The season 7 finale, Requiem, comes to mind. Despite the cases, and the investigations, and the consipiracies, and the humor....I think in the end, the draw of the show is
( ... )
It's very paradoxical to say that two people's lack of access to their own emotions can be the force that brings the two of them together, but I see exactly what you mean. Both of them are essentially incomplete people, as Mulder recognises in the movie: "You've kept me honest ... you've made me a whole person." This isn't a healthy basis for a relationship, but it's a very compelling one, especially given the isolation of the two protagonists from the rest of the world, and from anyone else who might be able to understand them.
It is definitely the strength of Mulder and Scully as characters that makes the series so compelling... I agree with you entirely. There are a lot of things about the X-Files that I *don't* like, but it's the power of the characterisation that finally drew me in.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. It's really great to get other points of view on my analysis as I'm still new to the fandom and haven't yet had a chance to discuss it with many people. Please do keep commenting!
Hhhmmmm.... Very deep. Interesting analysis. I think because of the way I originally saw them I can't get feelings about series. Its all too fragmented for me so I've probably lost any insight into the character arcs that are there. I really like your analysis of Skully! Have you now seen all Series 4?
I just jumped over here from your more recent post on Booker, and wanted to say that this is a great post too. The arc of the first five seasons really worked -- the problem in the end was that they just didn't seem to know how to put the right ending on that arc, and and instead threw on four seasons that didn't really go with what they'd started.
But season four... I think the disconnect is one of my favorite things about it, actually. (Er, see icon.) I like that the first two seasons are about trust, and the third is about them being a real team, strong and functional, and the fourth is about stretching the limits of their parternship and finding that they can't quite bridge the gap yet. It's a great story to tell slowly, and it never stops frustrating me that they didn't finish it right, for whatever reason.
That is a great icon. It is really one of the most stark, touching, unusual scenes in the series, and such a fantastic, unsettling way to end an episode. I always wonder what it was that Mulder was about to say when he cut himself off. It seems like it would be very illuminating; I'd love to read a really good fanfic about it.
You're right to say that the disconnect is what makes season four so strong. I don't object to it in story arc terms, just that it was a shock coming upon it after I'd been enjoying all the happy tongue-in-cheek episodes of season three. (Can you tell that I'm a Darin Morgan fan?)
A random note here... I just worked out that you're the one who wrote "Closure"! That's a great story, especially the paragraph that's quoted in the summary. I'm so behind on sending feedback to people whose stories I've enjoyed, but better late than never.... So thanks, it's excellent.
Comments 14
I really value the darkness of season four - specifically Scully and her cancer arc. There's no doubt she earned that Emmy.
So I take you haven't yet watched any of season five and later? I won't say anymore if you haven't, but I have much to say if you have.
Reply
Bizarrely enough, I've already seen season six, but none of the rest. However, I'm well and truly spoiled as to the plot developments already, so please feel free to say whatever you want about it.
Reply
Reply
Having pondered a little more, I think you're absolutely right about the long term effects of season four on Mulder and Scully's partnership. No relationship, whether between friends or romantic partners, goes without bumps and misunderstandings, and they certainly had a lot to weather over the course of one season. "Memento Mori" is a lovely episode, and I think I'm going to have to watch it again in order to get the full effect. It was almost difficult to take in all at once, for all the time I'd spent in anticipating it.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Quite simply, Scully has gotten so good at burying and repressing her emotions that the writers can only bring them to the surface by breaking her down completely. It makes for wonderful drama, but in character terms it can only be destructiveIt IS destructive, but I feel like we see the same cycle with Mulder, too, and in the end, that...lack of emotion (? Not correct, but you know what I mean) is what brings them together, because they share that closed-off persona. There are some beautiful scenes (which you'll see as you move throught the series; enjoy! I'm jealous. I wish I could see it again for the first time) of them breaking down in the presence of the other. I think in the end, that's their connection, that they have to hold it together, but they learn to trust the other even at their most vulnerable. The season 7 finale, Requiem, comes to mind. Despite the cases, and the investigations, and the consipiracies, and the humor....I think in the end, the draw of the show is ( ... )
Reply
It is definitely the strength of Mulder and Scully as characters that makes the series so compelling... I agree with you entirely. There are a lot of things about the X-Files that I *don't* like, but it's the power of the characterisation that finally drew me in.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. It's really great to get other points of view on my analysis as I'm still new to the fandom and haven't yet had a chance to discuss it with many people. Please do keep commenting!
Reply
Have you now seen all Series 4?
Reply
Reply
But season four... I think the disconnect is one of my favorite things about it, actually. (Er, see icon.) I like that the first two seasons are about trust, and the third is about them being a real team, strong and functional, and the fourth is about stretching the limits of their parternship and finding that they can't quite bridge the gap yet. It's a great story to tell slowly, and it never stops frustrating me that they didn't finish it right, for whatever reason.
Reply
You're right to say that the disconnect is what makes season four so strong. I don't object to it in story arc terms, just that it was a shock coming upon it after I'd been enjoying all the happy tongue-in-cheek episodes of season three. (Can you tell that I'm a Darin Morgan fan?)
A random note here... I just worked out that you're the one who wrote "Closure"! That's a great story, especially the paragraph that's quoted in the summary. I'm so behind on sending feedback to people whose stories I've enjoyed, but better late than never.... So thanks, it's excellent.
Reply
Leave a comment