Scully acts like he believes things, concocts strange theories, just to bother her. Like his mind does go to the “simplest” explanation first, but he rejects it in favor of a crazy one, just to give her a hard time.Hmm. I think I disagree with this characterization; also, I am much more bothered by Mulder's comment here and don't really think they are on equal ground. Scully, in my view, isn't making it personal, although she is being pretty close-minded and ungenerous, which she tends to do. I think Scully isn't very invested in this conversation, or isn't invested in the same way Mulder is. Her objections are part of their straightforward, surface-level believer-skeptic "perfunctory dance," as Mulder explicitly recognizes. She's just putting in her typical vote for "empirical evidence and science and Occam's razor." Although, I think her being so lackluster about it speaks to herself kind of half-consciously acknowledging that this *is* their perfunctory dance. But I don't think she's actually feeling *put upon* by Mulder, or that
( ... )
I do see what you're saying, and I definitely think that they're not on the same page at all in terms of what kind of tiff they're having at the beginning. But (and believe me, I'm the first one to say Mulder acts like an asshole in season six) I still think that however bored or mild or rote it seems, Scully saying "why can't you go for the easy answer?" implies (to me, at least!) that Mulder is picking and choosing his theories not because he believes them to be true, but purely because they're fantastic. Like he would be able to just suggest the "logical" theory instead, but he chooses not to, for whatever reason.
This is also why, even though I love Mulder's dream-theme (heh!) of realizing he needs Scully's skepticism, it's Scully's dream-theme of questioning her contribution to the quest, her very worth as Mulder's partner and protector, that really moves me.I love both dream-lessons equally, because they fit together like a puzzle, but I do agree that Scully's has the edge as far as...seriousness goes, I guess, because her
( ... )
I'm afraid I watched FTF yesterday and as such am filled with RIDICULOUS SHIPPY GLEE which I am going to get all over your LJ. I'm afraid it doesn't come out.
Apart from that, the nature of the show demands that Mulder be “right.” Who would watch a show about the paranormal that ended each week with something like, “Well, you were right, Scully. It was totally a serial killer.” So I think it’s easy to say, well, Mulder’s right when he says this. But the trick of the show is that he would never actually get there-he wouldn’t be “right” 98.9% of the time-without what Scully brings to the table.
Yesyesyesyes. Their brains don't work separately! Their investigative skills are totally codependent! *squishes them together*
The guy who plays the coroner is terrific.
I think this guy is one of my favourite 'one-shot' characters, he's just awesome. Also the actor played one of the few characters on Supernatural that didn't end up pissing me off, which helps.
he looks incredibly similar to the famous Bigfoot photoI had never noticed that
( ... )
and as such am filled with RIDICULOUS SHIPPY GLEE which I am going to get all over your LJ. I'm afraid it doesn't come out. OH NO. Because, you know, I clearly like to keep things cool and scholarly here, without a hint of shippy glee anywhere.
I had never noticed that before but you're right. I'd never noticed it before, either! I'm guessing it's deliberate. Either that, or I'm just reaching. But Scully actually mentions Bigfoot in the office scene, and almost all of the dialogue in that scene comes back later.
I am accepting this as canon now, though in the part of my brain that can think about S8/9 because it is separated off from the rest of my brain and will not contaminate it with awfulness. Exactly. I can't explain it, but I'm able to think about the outcome of everything without losing my mind, but once I start thinking about the particulars of what actually happened, I get the rage, big time. But seriously, this theory is great! It would have fixed everything and let them disparage Mulder all they wanted in those two
( ... )
It's sort of a hidden gem, isn't it? It doesn't get a lot of attention, but it's fantastic. And it gets better and better with every watch. I get something new out of it every time. (I'd never noticed Wallace Schiff's Bigfoot walk until this watch!)
I have to admit I'm more inclined towards Mulder's comment in that scene than Scully's. Don't get me wrong, I know where she's coming from, but just as you said, the nature of the show demands that Mulder be “right.” It's him who's right about all the freaky stuff most of the time.It's kind of frustrating to me that the format demands that he be right, because that's rather unlikely. But then, I think the point of the episode is actually that he's NOT right all the time, at least not perfectly right. The answer to a case is always paranormal, but we never end up with the truth being EXACTLY what Mulder theorized at the beginning. They arrive at the actual answer because of Scully's contributions. If he were just doing it on his own, there's no way A. he'd still be alive; and B. he'd solve
( ... )
I utterly, utterly adore this episode. I don't have much to add to the wonderful discussion that has already been going on, but I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this ep is fantastic in its exploration of M&S and their relationship.
Also, hee! to the Ambulance of Secret Love. (It seems like I can't go more than about a month between times of going to those particular screenshots you chose there... because I love that moment so very much!)
Oh, this episode is amazing. I feel like it doesn't get enough love. It's not that people think it's bad, I just rarely see it show up when people are talking "top 5 episodes" lists, you know? And it's thoroughly wonderful on pretty much every level. It's a terrific episode in its own right, and then there's this whole meta level about the characters and about how the show itself works.
The Ambulance of Secret Loooove! Oh, who are we kidding, they turned anywhere they were into "The ______ of Secret Love."
Comments 23
Scully acts like he believes things, concocts strange theories, just to bother her. Like his mind does go to the “simplest” explanation first, but he rejects it in favor of a crazy one, just to give her a hard time.Hmm. I think I disagree with this characterization; also, I am much more bothered by Mulder's comment here and don't really think they are on equal ground. Scully, in my view, isn't making it personal, although she is being pretty close-minded and ungenerous, which she tends to do. I think Scully isn't very invested in this conversation, or isn't invested in the same way Mulder is. Her objections are part of their straightforward, surface-level believer-skeptic "perfunctory dance," as Mulder explicitly recognizes. She's just putting in her typical vote for "empirical evidence and science and Occam's razor." Although, I think her being so lackluster about it speaks to herself kind of half-consciously acknowledging that this *is* their perfunctory dance. But I don't think she's actually feeling *put upon* by Mulder, or that ( ... )
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This is also why, even though I love Mulder's dream-theme (heh!) of realizing he needs Scully's skepticism, it's Scully's dream-theme of questioning her contribution to the quest, her very worth as Mulder's partner and protector, that really moves me.I love both dream-lessons equally, because they fit together like a puzzle, but I do agree that Scully's has the edge as far as...seriousness goes, I guess, because her ( ... )
Reply
Apart from that, the nature of the show demands that Mulder be “right.” Who would watch a show about the paranormal that ended each week with something like, “Well, you were right, Scully. It was totally a serial killer.” So I think it’s easy to say, well, Mulder’s right when he says this. But the trick of the show is that he would never actually get there-he wouldn’t be “right” 98.9% of the time-without what Scully brings to the table.
Yesyesyesyes. Their brains don't work separately! Their investigative skills are totally codependent! *squishes them together*
The guy who plays the coroner is terrific.
I think this guy is one of my favourite 'one-shot' characters, he's just awesome. Also the actor played one of the few characters on Supernatural that didn't end up pissing me off, which helps.
he looks incredibly similar to the famous Bigfoot photoI had never noticed that ( ... )
Reply
OH NO. Because, you know, I clearly like to keep things cool and scholarly here, without a hint of shippy glee anywhere.
I had never noticed that before but you're right.
I'd never noticed it before, either! I'm guessing it's deliberate. Either that, or I'm just reaching. But Scully actually mentions Bigfoot in the office scene, and almost all of the dialogue in that scene comes back later.
I am accepting this as canon now, though in the part of my brain that can think about S8/9 because it is separated off from the rest of my brain and will not contaminate it with awfulness.
Exactly. I can't explain it, but I'm able to think about the outcome of everything without losing my mind, but once I start thinking about the particulars of what actually happened, I get the rage, big time. But seriously, this theory is great! It would have fixed everything and let them disparage Mulder all they wanted in those two ( ... )
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
I have to admit I'm more inclined towards Mulder's comment in that scene than Scully's. Don't get me wrong, I know where she's coming from, but just as you said, the nature of the show demands that Mulder be “right.” It's him who's right about all the freaky stuff most of the time.It's kind of frustrating to me that the format demands that he be right, because that's rather unlikely. But then, I think the point of the episode is actually that he's NOT right all the time, at least not perfectly right. The answer to a case is always paranormal, but we never end up with the truth being EXACTLY what Mulder theorized at the beginning. They arrive at the actual answer because of Scully's contributions. If he were just doing it on his own, there's no way A. he'd still be alive; and B. he'd solve ( ... )
Reply
Also, hee! to the Ambulance of Secret Love. (It seems like I can't go more than about a month between times of going to those particular screenshots you chose there... because I love that moment so very much!)
Reply
The Ambulance of Secret Loooove! Oh, who are we kidding, they turned anywhere they were into "The ______ of Secret Love."
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