"SR 819" Review
Rebecca Bateman, rebeccaxf@washington-dc.crosswinds.net
http://come.to/the.x-files


Woo-hoo!

That was fun!

And it's about damn time.

Man, oh, man, was "SR 819" good. Yes, Virginia, Rebecca does like a sixth
season episode. It had everything that's been missing since the Dreamlands:
suspense, intrigue, tension, continuity,  spot-on characterizations,
believable plot-twists, and most importantly: INTELLIGENCE. Shiban's
writing, believe it or not, was terrific. The story was original and
creative, and it managed to turn my expectations upside down and inside
out. It didn't play solely to our emotions but also relied on our brain
power and knowledge of the show thus far. For the first time in a long
while, I was not able to predict what was coming next. It surprised and
challenged me. The questions I've come away with after the episode are ones
to which I truly want answers. "SR 819" didn't even attempt to wrap things
up in a neat little happy, sappy package. It left me hanging and wanting
more. I walked away satisfied in one sense, yet mystified and intrigued in
another. 

*That*, my friends, is The X-Files.

Why did I love it so much? It returned us to the essence of The X-Files. The
plot was classic Files, and the result was phenomenal.

Skinner is in charge of the X-Files and one of the few people in the hierarchy 
of the Bureau who wants and might be able to reinstate Mulder and Scully. And 
the bad guys, who ever they may be, know that Spender and Fowley will never care 
about the Files as much as Mulder and Scully do. WeaselBoy and Di Fouley will 
never be as thorough or as much of a threat as M&S. And, if they were trying to
get at Our Heroes through Skinner, which I'm not entirely sure that they were, 
then putting Skinner out of commission is a very effective means of preventing M&S's
reassignment to the Files. 

And poor Skinner. He finally confesses that he wishes he could have been
more of an ally to Mulder and Scully, and here he is, his hands tied by the evil
RatBoy. I wonder about this, though. I would have thought Skinner would have 
risked helping M&S despite the danger to his own life. He's done it countless 
times in the past, why would he go weeny now? Maybe, though, he's just biding 
his time until he can figure out what Krycek wants and how to work around it. I
honestly don't believe he's going to go along with Krycek just like that.
He's got something planned.

But, yet, how does Skinner's ailment fit into the MythArc? I don't know yet. 
That's the point. I don't want to know everything. I like that it's open to 
interpretation and that no one's quite sure how it relates. I like being able 
to think about the plot rather than having it spoon-fed to me like a cheap sitcom.

However, if I had to speculate, I'd say it has something to do with
transport of the virus, or maybe the transport of the cure. Or maybe the
alien virus has some unforeseen side effect that can only be treated
through use of the nanotechnology. Or maybe it has some other hideously
covert, malicious government agenda that's yet to be revealed.

This brings up an interesting point. How and why exactly did Skinner contract 
the virus/disease/whatever? If he got it from Orgel, who obviously had it, when 
he stopped to ask the time, why did Orgel *want* to give it to him? He never did
get around to asking Skinner for anything and gave him the disease instead? Perhaps 
poor Orgel, like Senator Matheson, was more a victim rather than a player.

And speaking of the good senator, Matheson seems to inspire a rather passive 
attitude in Mulder. Mulder wasn't nearly as aggressive as he normally is when 
going to a source. With Deep Throat, X, and Marita, he usually went in with 
a very militant attitude and a set agenda and didn't leave until he got at least 
part of what he wanted. With Matheson, it was almost as if Mulder were a small boy 
going to his father for help. Matheson called him "Fox" and summarily dismissed him. I
suspect this has a lot to do with Mulder's association with Matheson in the
past. The senator helped Mulder when he was just getting started on The
X-Files, and I wonder if maybe Mulder feels Matheson to be sort of a father
figure.

Hopefully, this new development doesn't mean the Senator will be Mulder's new 
source? He wasn't much help.

I was also intrigued by the use of Mulder and Scully in this eppie. Our Heroes
utilized their expertise to solve Skinner's problem and peel back a few of the layers
surrounding its circumstances. No one else would have cared. Yet, their
role was much more minor than usual, I'll grant you. I didn't mind, though.
I point to what Kate of XFR said- This is *The X-Files*, not The Mulder and
Scully Files.

Yet, as active as they were in aiding Skinner, which, BTW, I loved - a happy balance
between M&S and their former boss without one overshadowing the other - Que wonderful! -
why didn't Mulder, who has spent countless hours punching his lights out,
recognize Krycek? Two thoughts: One - Maybe Mulder didn't recognize Krycek just 
because he didn't know to look for him. RatBoy hasn't been around in a while, 
and I must admit, if I hadn't heard his voice on the phone, I wouldn't have figured 
out it was him either. I knew, though, because this is The X-Files. If Mulder didn't
consider the possibility that it might be him, maybe the thought to look
for him in the photo just wouldn't have occured to him. Does this make any
sense? Two - Perhaps Mulder *did* recognize him, but was sort of
testing Skinner. Like maybe Scully told him all that Skinner said at his
deathbed and wanted to see if he would make good on his promise.

One possible qualm with the use of Mulder and Scully: lack of shippiness and 
interaction. Not a problem for me. I saw Our Heroes as working very well 
together and being very comfortable in their association. Besides, believe it 
or not, I was getting a little sick of the constant reminder of their feelings. 
Mulder and Scully don't wallow.

And they didn't Sunday night.

As you can see, when I really like and ep, I tend to overanalyze. I think of
questions and nits and sticking points and possible interrelations until I can't 
think anymore. So, we'll move on to the lighter side of things.

Mulder throwing pencils at the ceiling. Cute as can be. (See, I *can* take some 
cuteness) A nice nod to continuity. Another quirky MulderHabit. 

Loved the use of parking garages, busy hospitals, dark corners of building. So, 
it's been done before. Better that than sunny L.A. beaches. Now, all we need is 
constant rain and visible breath and it'll be like Vancouver all over again.

You know, I've never been much of a Mitch Pileggi fan, but I must admit,
Skinner on that couch, his white shirt rumpled and partly open, his face
twisted into a grimace, and his hips slowly shifting back and forth....
mmmmmm.... ;-)

Any thoughts as to what it was that Skinner said to the doctor that she let
him die right in front of him?

Anyone else think that Skinner's boxing coach was a tad reminiscent of
Burgess Meredith in "Rocky"? <g> There's a stereotype if I ever saw one. :-P

Mark Snow's FTF music was wonderful in this ep. It fit perfectly- a beautiful 
canvas on which to paint one of the best eps of this season. 'Course, I just 
*adore* his Movie score and any chance to hear it is a blessing for me. :)

Ok, now, people, be honest. Those of us who were unspoiled, when did you
first figure out it was Krycek? I knew when he was talking on the phone. I
sat up straight and started thinking, "That voice..... Oh my god!"

And, you know what else is funny, during the second commercial break, I
said to my fellow viewers, "You know, Krycek hasn't been in any episodes
this season."

I think I must be psychic or something.

BTW, whose side is Krycek on, anyway? <g>

Oh, and Alex, you only have one good arm, remember? As Rhoni said in #xf-r
Sunday night, the director should have reminded Mr. Lea, "Hey, Nick. Your
arm's a tree!"

Well, that's all I have to say for now. I *loved* SR 819. I'm glad I have all
this to discuss. What would The X-Files be without ambiguity, tension
and intelligence? Oh, wait. It would be the Dreamlands and Rain King. Never mind. :P

Oh, happy day. I can actually feel confident liking The X-Files this week.
:) Signing off with a smile.....