I don't completely hate this episode, but that's probably because I don't hate season 8. It's not my favorite obviously, but I don't have the vicious contempt most seem to
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Overall, I kinda like this episode because Scully's pain is so tangible.
I agree. GA's performance is amazing. The angst doesn't make it fun to watch, though.
Also, it's really the first time we get to see Scully function apart from Mulder. Her story started when she met him and while there were people from her past that popped up a couple times, we never really saw her BEFORE Mulder like we saw him in episodes like 'Unusual Suspects'. It was like the first couple of seasons were completely Mulder's story, then it turned more into their story, and now it's shifted into being more of Scully's story. It's a new interesting dynamic to the show. But then, I am a big Scully fan so that may just be me.
Good point. Scully's the one who's taking the lead and continuing Mulder's quest. We've seen her like this before, when she's been rushing to save Mulder's life, but this is different. Scully's in charge, and it's interesting to see how everyone treats her differently as a result.
And yes, that was me defending Doggett. Yay, Doggett. Of course I love Mulder. But Doggett is his own character, I never saw him as a replacement for Mulder, and really got to like him a lot after a while. I'm so glad I'm not the only one.
I didn't particulary like him at the start, of course, but he's really grown on me through the last two seasons and the years since then. I think he and Scully are a lot alike with their unwavering integrity. And really, what's sexier than that? ;)
I've seen the majority of the eps in Seasons 8 & 9 only once or twice. I'm very glad I'm rewatching them with the support of this community because I find them very difficult to watch. The angst in "Within" is almost unbearable.
Other thoughts & observations: - The opening teaser with Scully's Theme is BEAUTIFUL. - Hello Dr. Richard Webber - um, I mean, Deputy Director Kersh! - Kersh's threat to call off the manhunt if anyone outside the FBI hears about aliens or abductions = stupid, uncalled-for, hostile, and unnecessary. - The scene with Skinner and TLG as they download UFO data off the satellite dish could quite possibly be the first scene with those four alone, and no M or S. - Scully touching Skinner's sleeve = adorable. - Scully's speech about Gibson Praise and how "they" are trying to cover up the evidence = awesome. - I know this has been mentioned before, but if Gibson isn't deaf, what is he doing at a special school for deaf kids?
Yeah ok, I really got the vibe that Mulder was dying and his health was declining in season
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I know this has been mentioned before, but if Gibson isn't deaf, what is he doing at a special school for deaf kids? Well, I figure he'd WANT to be there because in that case there are only the thoughts of kids who can't speak (as opposed to the thoughts of people who can speak, which Gibson seems to notice are rarely the same thing). HOW he got in is anyone's guess, though.
Out of curiosity, why do you like the idea of casting doubt on Mulder's character? There were so many better things that could have been done with this time, it just strikes me as a low blow in his absence. Maybe at a point much earlier in the show it would've worked, but after seven years... it just doesn't feel right anymore, at least not to me. I mean, we're supposed to buy the brain disease AND the IVF were all going on behind the scenes in S7? Neither one fits tonally, but I'll still take the latter over the former any day.
Out of curiosity, why do you like the idea of casting doubt on Mulder's character?Some of the best XF episodes revolved around questioning Mulder's or Scully's motives and putting their normally rock-solid relationship to the test (ie. Wetwired, Anasazi, En Ami, etc.). In this ep, Scully is SO sad, angry, and vulnerable, that Doggett's jibes about Mulder's character and background could arguably be viewed as throwing salt on Scully's wounds (dramatic overkill). I beg to differ. Trust (and truth) is the lifeblood of TXF: who can you trust, who CAN'T you trust, and where is the truth amongst all the lies are all questions the show addresses each season. The way in which Doggett's character is introduced to Scully and the audience throws all of that into turmoil. Instead of comfortable black and white, we now have confusing shades of grey
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I don't disagree with the drive behind this season, or Scully's character, but I do still disagree with the way it was handled. Your examples of "question of trust" episodes are great (except En Ami, which I've always thought was an incredibly lackluster episode that paints Scully as more than a bit of an idiot), but those first two come quite early. This is year eight, and I'd like to think that at this point, at least some things about either one of these characters are sacred, but apparently not. Mulder's intelligence, courage, honor, and... basically anything else positive about him, is raked through the mud this year, and as a fan, that's hard for me to watch, not to mention insulting. I'm also in the party that thinks the angst this season is a couple notches past great XF and too far into soap operatic territory, but to each their own
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I find this episode so heartbreaking :( Scully falling asleep in Mulder's bed with his shirt :( Awww.
I also don't like the first meeting with have with Doggett. He's such an ass to her, telling Scully that Mulder's been confiding in other women! WTF? She should have punched him in the face, forget throwing water at him :P
And this screencap really hit me this time. Just shows how close Scully and Skinner have become over the year and with losing Mulder. Awww.
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I agree. GA's performance is amazing. The angst doesn't make it fun to watch, though.
Also, it's really the first time we get to see Scully function apart from Mulder. Her story started when she met him and while there were people from her past that popped up a couple times, we never really saw her BEFORE Mulder like we saw him in episodes like 'Unusual Suspects'. It was like the first couple of seasons were completely Mulder's story, then it turned more into their story, and now it's shifted into being more of Scully's story. It's a new interesting dynamic to the show. But then, I am a big Scully fan so that may just be me.
Good point. Scully's the one who's taking the lead and continuing Mulder's quest. We've seen her like this before, when she's been rushing to save Mulder's life, but this is different. Scully's in charge, and it's interesting to see how everyone treats her differently as a result.
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Yay, Doggett. Of course I love Mulder. But Doggett is his own character, I never saw him as a replacement for Mulder, and really got to like him a lot after a while. I'm so glad I'm not the only one.
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But, Reyes on the other hand...:P
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Other thoughts & observations:
- The opening teaser with Scully's Theme is BEAUTIFUL.
- Hello Dr. Richard Webber - um, I mean, Deputy Director Kersh!
- Kersh's threat to call off the manhunt if anyone outside the FBI hears about aliens or abductions = stupid, uncalled-for, hostile, and unnecessary.
- The scene with Skinner and TLG as they download UFO data off the satellite dish could quite possibly be the first scene with those four alone, and no M or S.
- Scully touching Skinner's sleeve = adorable.
- Scully's speech about Gibson Praise and how "they" are trying to cover up the evidence = awesome.
- I know this has been mentioned before, but if Gibson isn't deaf, what is he doing at a special school for deaf kids?
Yeah ok, I really got the vibe that Mulder was dying and his health was declining in season ( ... )
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Well, I figure he'd WANT to be there because in that case there are only the thoughts of kids who can't speak (as opposed to the thoughts of people who can speak, which Gibson seems to notice are rarely the same thing). HOW he got in is anyone's guess, though.
Out of curiosity, why do you like the idea of casting doubt on Mulder's character? There were so many better things that could have been done with this time, it just strikes me as a low blow in his absence. Maybe at a point much earlier in the show it would've worked, but after seven years... it just doesn't feel right anymore, at least not to me. I mean, we're supposed to buy the brain disease AND the IVF were all going on behind the scenes in S7? Neither one fits tonally, but I'll still take the latter over the former any day.
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I also don't like the first meeting with have with Doggett. He's such an ass to her, telling Scully that Mulder's been confiding in other women! WTF? She should have punched him in the face, forget throwing water at him :P
And this screencap really hit me this time. Just shows how close Scully and Skinner have become over the year and with losing Mulder. Awww.
~Mango
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"Close" eh? I like that! :oP
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~Mango
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I think for the next installment of this comm we should watch Scully/Skinner eps :oP
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