1993: space oddity 4/10
Synopsis: The elaborate murder of a
C.E.O to a large technology company gets pinned on the company founder, but
Mulder believes it not to be as straight forward as this.
The creative vision in this episode
makes 2001: a space odyssey seem like it was written by an oracle, which trust
me is not a compliment by any stretch. At least HAL 9000 seemed plausible or
for one of a better word convincing. Considering it was shot 25 years later
there are no excuses here for C.O.S. to feel so dated, clunky so unfashionable.
Maybe I am missing the point, maybe
it is less of a second rate rip off from the Stanley Kubrick classic and more a
tribute to 70’s Sci-Fi adventure series Space 1999. A show that’s colt following has more to do
with it being so much farther from the mark than on it. You may argue that 23rd
century man will laugh at the exploits of James T. Kirk but that point is moot.
Why? The fact remains that the producers should of know better than to of half
arsed it, being that in reality technology was not too far from something similar
and that they could have drawn inspiration from this technology.
So rant over really and I have
decided to focus my energies on the relationship between Fox Mulder and the ham-fisted
Jerry Lamana.
Jerry calls over to Mulder and instigates
a hug. Mulders first reaction is to shoot Scully an apprehensive glance. He
sends another glance equal to the first in her direction when Jerry claims they
were more than old work mates but partners in the violent crime division. The
unease Fox feels around Jerry is quickly established by these looks and his
less than confident demeanour.
In the next scene Jerry reveals his
reason for his meeting Mulder; he needs help on a case. Mulder initially tries
to side step the request by saying he is assigned to the X-Files but Jerry desperately
pleads with him for assistance. Jerry needs this case to impress the attorney
generals and help get his career back on track. A career that as it turns out ‘ran
into a little bad luck’ when he misplaced evidence, resulting in a near fatal attack
on a federal judge. It now seems evident why Fox felt dubious of Jerry’s
presence. Jerry seems like the type of colleague who would have a detrimental
effect on Mulders work at the FBI.
This proves the case as Jerry walks
into the X-Files office steals the profile Mulder had been working on for the progress
report and passes it off as his own work without shame. When confronted by
Mulder he simply states that he asked for Mulders help and got it. To me Jerry
seems to carry himself like a cornered animal swinging out, a broken man with a
bruised ego who will do anything to rebuild his battered reputation no matter
how ill advised that may be. I think Mulder recognises this and has genuine
sympathy for the man.
Mulder forgives him and allows Jerry
to bring in Mark Zuckerberg excuse me I mean Wilczek alone, on evidence Scully
found that put Wilczek in the frame for murder. Unfortunately for Jerry this latest
attempt at a short cut in restoring his status at the bureau back fired and proved
to be his last. Being killed by probably the worse MOW ever was the cherry on
top of a disastrous career for Special FBI Agent Jerry Lamana, R.I.P.
Deep Throat makes his second appearance
in The X-File on Mulders terms. Mulder needs to know why Level 5 clearance
needs to me granted to gain access to Wilczek’s property. It transpires that
the DoD are after Wilczek software programing abilities.
The climax of the episode has agents
Mulder and Scully trying to reach C.O.S in order to shut it down. Playing out
like an episode of Krypton Factor Scully battles the physical challenges whilst
Mulder the mental challenges. Claude Peterson, the buildings system engineer
turns out to be an agent from a branch in the government (probably DoD) who for
two years has tried to infiltrate the C.O.S. Paterson holds Mulder at gun point
in preparation to seize the technology only to be thwarted by Scully who
appears to have been dragged through a bush backwards.
Mulder and Deep Throat meet up for a
second time with a somewhat more poignant discussion. It transpires that the government
have taken Wilczek to force him to program software for them. Mulder states that they can’t take a man like
Wilczek without explanation to which Deep Throat replies ‘They can do anything
they want.’ This proves the case over the course of the next eight seasons.
I have no problem with the story
really. Looking past the horrible dated Sci-Fi style A.I. the episode give us two
extra dimensions; the Jerry angle on which we learn more of Mulders backstory
and of his compassion and the Deep Throat angle where we learn about the length
secret government agencies are willing to go to. These two things save this
episode form being erased from my files completely and I give it lowly 4/10
Catch my next blog coming soon, ICE
one of my favourites.
Thanks for reading.
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