FALLEN ANGEL Episode 10 Season 1 of The X-Files

Max Power 8/10

Synopsis: Mulders attempt to infiltrate a U.F.O crash landing cover up is thwarted by the military leading to a chance meeting with an eccentric UFO fanatic with a history of past abductions.

Townsend, Wisconsin. A spaceship crashed in the woods, or as UFO reclamations expert Colonel Calvin Henderson puts it ‘confirmed Fallen Angel in sector 87’. Operation Falcon is put into action. An operation not only intent in the salvage and cover-up of the downed spacecraft, but also in the extermination of any and all extra-terrestrial life found at the wreckage site.

Mulder is loosely informed by Deep Throat that the quarantined area of a reported train crash in Townsend, Wisconsin was in fact a UFO crash site and that he had only 24hrnbefore all evidence was removed. That is all the information Mulder needs. Begin the defiant agents’ one man quest to uncover the truth. I love episodes where our two heroes go behind enemy lines as they normally always uncover something and this episode is no different. Mulder’s endeavour pays of and he is confronted by one hell of a spaceship and for the first time he remembers to bring a camera to collect photographic evidence. This preparation proves futile as he is soon caught by military personnel and dispossessed of is camera. He is brought in front of Colonel Henderson where his work on the X-Files is severely threatened, more on that later.

After the encounter with the Colonel, Mulder is placed in a holding cell which leads to his meeting with fellow detainee Max Fenig played by unknown Scott Bellis. I think this guy played the role superbly and I am not surprised he was given the opportunity to redeem his role in future episodes. He nailed the traits that one may expect of an obsessive loner. He had the equipment and knowledge to track U.F.O phenomena and mainly acted alone having little face to face contact with others and none with persons from outside the U.F.O fanatic circle. I could imagine that the investigative group he claims to be a part of N.I.C.A.P. consist of only a handful of awkward individuals. I think it is safe to say we have Scott Bellis to thank for the concept of the Lone Gunman. He demonstrated to the writers that informants to Mulder didn’t have to be shady two faced G-Men but could also be allies fighting for the same side. Mulder himself realises this. When he asks Max ‘What makes you so sure there is something out there’ Max replies ‘the same thing that makes you so sure’ Indicating that they both have encountered U.F.O phenomena and thus both want to get to the truth.

Scully’s comes to release Mulder from the holding pen not knowing the reasons for his actions. She rejects Mulder idea of a crashed U.F.O in belief of a highly classified story of a downed Libyan Fighter Jet carrying a nuclear pay load. A story Mulder dismisses as ‘a highly classified lie’. Scully has the attitude of a mother telling off her son, this may be due to the impending closure of the X-File brought about by Mulder’s exploits. Is she growing attached to department she works in or the partner she works with?

Scully regularly denounces Mulders theories throughout the episode I think in attempt by the writers to revert her back to her original purpose in the show. After all she may have been too willing to entertain Mulders wild notions of the paranormal in recent episodes and there is a need to re-establish her strong independent stance.

Meanwhile it is not enough that Colonel Henderson has to deal with an insubordinate FBI agent, he also has to track down and kill an extra-terrestrial capable of cloaking itself to its surroundings and destroying its adversaries using potent amounts of radiation. A task that it is fair to say he has no grasp on.

This alien creature is only interested in one thing, finding Max Fenig. It was recurring abductee Max that drew the craft to Townsend. He wasn’t aware of this or his previous abductions, He was only aware of blacking out and reawaking in strange places. It was Mulder noticing a scar behind Fenig’s ear that lead him to the conclusion that Fenig was an abductee, as that same scar came up in X-Files cases involving other abductees.  Another spaceship came down to Townsend to retrieve their fellow alien and Max Fenig disappears with them, for now.

Later back at FBI headquarters, agent Scully’s attempts to support Mulders actions appear to be in vein. The Office of Professional Responsibility Hearing run by Section Chief McGrath is not going well. Mulders turn defends his actions, but his evidence and field report are suppressed by conflicting reports from Colonel Henderson to which Mulder proclaims ‘How can I disprove lies that are stamped with an official
seal?.... You can deny all the things I've seen. All the things I've discovered, but not for much longer. Because too many others know what's happening out there. And no one, no government agency has jurisdiction over the truth.’

Although Mcgrath has Mulder banged to rights and makes the decision to disband the X-Files and probably remove Mulder from the bureau. The decision is overturned by Deep Throat. In a secret meeting between the two men Deep Throat explains his actions as keeping his friend close and enemies’ closer. This is the first time we see Deep Throat’s involvement away from Fox Mulder and he comes across as sinister and scheming and maybe more powerful then we previously thought.

Before I wrap this post up I just want to add a couple of my favourite bits from the episode.

·        Mulders reconnaissance mission, hanging on to the bottom of that truck.

·        The downed UFO and the fact that Mulder brought a camera.

·        That intrepid soul in search of a closer encounter that is Max Fenig

·        Scully: ‘we have a plane to catch in under an hour’ (It takes longer than an hour to get through security nowadays)

·        This little back and forth at the US Space Surveillance Centre;

CAPTAIN KORETZ: Sir I have flash traffic at 24-18. Repeated calls for ID go unanswered. And it’s not in the orbital or suborbital inventory.

MILITARY OFFICER: 24-18. Isn't that where...

CAPTAIN KORETZ: Same exact spot sir. Although I am reading a much larger craft his time.

MILITARY OFFICER: Meteor, Ms. Koretz.

CAPTAIN KORETZ: A much larger Meteor, sir. Hold on a second.(Putting hand to earpeice) We have a confirm. Whitmarsh Air Force Base is tracking...

MILITARY OFFICER: Where is it?

CAPTAIN KORETZ: Well, sir. The meteor, seems to be hovering over a small town in Eastern Wisconsin.

·        Various Mulder quotes; ‘a highly classifies lie.’ ‘Enigmatic Dr Scully.’ ‘You don’t seem to understand Scully, Max doesn’t believe he was abducted by aliens I believe he was.’  ‘no government agency has jurisdiction over the truth.’

I like this episode and could go on but maybe you can fill in the gaps or add your take, feel free to use the comment box below. For now I will leave you with my score 8/10

Thanks for reading.