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X-Files Turns 20: “The Jersey Devil”

By on December 27, 2013 in X-Files

The Jersey Devil

Season 1, Episode 1×04

Written By: Chris Carter | Directed By: Joe Napolitano

Original Air Date: 10/08/1993 | Re-Watch Review Date: 12/26/2013

PersephoneKs ReWatch Grade: B- to B

JerseyDevil_MandSI’ve been off my game, but have a goal to get back on track with Project Watch X-Files Episodes in Sequence. Last night I watched season one’s “Jersey Devil.” Here are my general, unrefined thoughts:

This episode had previously been one of my favorites from season one. Upon re-watch last night… I’m sad to report its lost its luster a bit. It doesn’t hold up well after 20 years. It feels a little cheesy, despite wanting to be scary. And the Jersey Devil itself doesn’t live up to the hype the episode sets the audience up for. In short, the payoff is underwhelming. But there were some great character and Scully/Mulder relationship building moments despite the overall plot’s weakness. This is a rare episode where we get a glimpse of Scully in her non-working hours. In a sad way, it foretells of the way her life will be from that point forward. We learn she’s great with kids, but she’s caught between wanting a normal life with a good guy, and the career she’s building with Mulder (who’s not a jerk, just obsessed with his work). She tries to convince Mulder to relax, but it’s somewhat half-hearted. By the end, after her date with the dull Scott’s dad, Scully is following Mulder out to chase who knows what again. This will be the pattern for the rest of the show. Neither of them will get, nor do they really want, a simple life, despite occasionally thinking they do.

Not Scary.

Scary!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Odds and Ends:

  • Scully actually tells Mulder about this case.
  • Whenever I see the scene with Mulder asking to “requisition a car”, I get nostalgic for my time at HQ.
  • Ah… the classic FBI vs local cops theme!
  • CHArc:
    • Losers: Scully’s brown vest.
    • Winners: Scully looks pretty on her date, despite the top being dated. It’s nice to see her glamming it up a bit. But I’m glad her style improves in future seasons. Ai yai yai!
  • Favorite Quotes:
    • Scully to Mulder after bailing him out of the drunk tank: “Am I buying (breakfast) or did you manage to panhandle some change?”
    • At the end, Mulder asks Scully if she has interest in Scott’s Dad after he called her at work to ask her out. Scully responds “Not at this time” as she follows him on the next X-Files goose chase. It’s a cute interchange.
    • Scully calls Mulder back, he answers “Scully” and she answers “Mulder.” It’s funny.
  • Mulder uses a pay phone! Pre-cell phone season!
  • The scene where they chase the “devil” through the warehouses… way too long.
  • Dr. Scully!
  • I like the way the scene with Mulder in the ambulance comes together. It has an E.R. or West Wing style use of steadycam and overlapping dialogue before those were shows.
  • Why would Mulder rec a car to drive to the Smithsonian across the Mall from the Hoover building?
  • Overall, solid B- to B (and only such a good grade because you can’t blame them for the technology they had at the time).

Cheers,

PersephoneK

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What is this post about anyway? XFTurns20: Project Watch Episodes in Sequence

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X-Files Turns 20: “Conduit”

By on October 30, 2013 in X-Files

Conduit

i-want-to-believeSeason 1, Episode 1X03

Written By: Alex Gansa & Howard Gordon | Directed By: Daniel Sackheim

Original Air Date: 10/1/1993 | Re-Watch Review Date: 10/30/2013

PersephoneKs ReWatch Grade: B- to B

I couldn’t remember a thing about this episode before I hit play. Although the direction the show eventually went in made this episode somewhat disjointed, there were actually a lot of lovely things in this one. This episode allows Scully to really understand how Samantha’s abduction impacted Mulder. And its where we learn one of the true meanings for the shows motto, “”I WANT TO BELIEVE””. That stuff was well done.
Random Notes:
-Lake Okobogee (Iowa) has mountains! And aliens! And lots of loons!
-Mulder is assigned to FBIHQ, and reports to an ASAC and a Section Chief.
-NSA breaks into an FBI agents room while they’re there like it aint no thang, lol.
-Danny!
– CHArc Watch 1993: Scully wears white tights and carries a purse.
-Some really nice work in some scenes by David and Gillian.
-Rewatch Grade: B- to B.”

Cheers,

PersephoneK

What is this post about anyway? XFTurns20: Project Watch Episodes in Sequence

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X-Files Turns 20: “Squeeze”

By on September 12, 2013 in X-Files

Squeeze

Season 1, Episode 1×02

Written By: Glen Morgan & James Wong | Directed By: Harry Longstreet

Original Air Date: 9/24/1993 | Re-Watch Review Date: 09/12/2013

PersephoneKs ReWatch Grade: A

The very first Monster of the Week (MotW) still holds up as one of the best. Eugene Victor Tooms = creeptastic! This case also cements Scully as firmly on Mulders side of the Spooky camp. Mr. and Mrs. Spooky against the Bu mainstream is a fun ride and would become the norm.

Cheers,

PersephoneK

What is this post about anyway? XFTurns20: Project Watch Episodes in Sequence

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X-Files Turns 20: “Deep Throat”

By on September 10, 2013 in X-Files

Deep Throat

Season 1, Episode 1×01

Written By: Chris Carter | Directed By: Daniel Sackheim

Original Air Date: 09/17/1993 | Re-Watch Review Date: 09/10/2013

#1) We have our first informant! Yay! #2) Hope they get cell phones soon! 3) CHArc: Scully needs to ditch the purse. 4) Scully throwing down the cagey fake reporter! Good times! 5) Music slightly better. 6) M&S banter continues to evolve. 7) there were actually some interesting themes about government secrecy and exploration of whether or not M&S are really the bad guys. I didn’t catch that in my earlier viewings. Final Rating: A decent but still slightly dull overall ep. Good conspiracy vibes though.

Cheers,

PersephoneK

What is this post about anyway? XFTurns20: Project Watch Episodes in Sequence

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X-Files Turns 20: “Pilot”

By on September 10, 2013 in X-Files

 

Pilot

Season 1, Episode 1×79

Written By: Chris Carter | Directed By: Robert Mandel

Original Air Date: 09/10/1993 | Re-Watch Review Date: 09/10/2013

I haven’t watched Pilot in more than 10 years, so expected to find a lot of things to annoy me. I was pleasantly surprised! #1) The plot is “meh”, especially in light of the mytharc to come. #2) it’s all about the chemistry between Mulder & Scully. It’s always been about the chemistry. Without both David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson in these roles, we would not remember this show because Pilot would have been the end. #3) Very well shot. Even today it has a fantastic cinematic feel, especially by 1993 tv standards. #4) Not Mark Snow’s finest score. #5) Enter the CHArc…I liked Scully’s hair in Pilot compared to the rest of season 1. And I didn’t mind either of their wardrobes (again by 1993 standards). Scully could have used prettier underwear though, LOL. #6) I love when Mulder tells Scully about his sisters abduction. Duchovny makes the craziest stuff believable and he doesn’t get enough credit for making sense of Chris Carter’s words. #7) Section Chief Blevins always makes me nostalgic for the real Bu. Weird, eh?  Did I mention chemistry? On to 1×02! #XFilesTurns20

Cheers,

PersephoneK

What is this post about anyway? XFTurns20: Project Watch Episodes in Sequence

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