SLEEPLESS Episode 4 Season 2 of The X-Files

They cut out a piece of my brain…

Synopsis: Mulder teams up with Krycek to investigate a mysterious death and the pair uncovers a top secret military experiment and a man who has not slept for 24 years.

Sleepless represents the first Howard Gordon script without co-writer Alex Gansa and the finale instalment of season 2‘s early three strong grouping of MoW episodes. Just as we saw in the previous episode Blood, the science bit could only be viewed as incredible however it makes for a fun 45 minute paranormal outing, which includes the U.S government’s penchant for human testing and general disregard for life and a menacing and unpredictable killer as well as a premiere performance from the reconnoitring untrustworthy Alex Krycek and the mysterious Mr X.

First that science bit. It is all obviously tongue in cheek, to sit here and pick holes in it would be no different than being that person, who whilst watching a magicians card trick states ‘that’s not magic’ neither an endearing quality nor a beneficial one. The only thing you should do is sit back and enjoy the show ladies and gentlemen. The idea that the government was experimenting on its own troops in Vietnam to create a super soldier is actually a quite credible one and a continuation of the themes found in Deep Throat, Eve, Young at Heart, Erlenmeyer Flask and Blood and represents a just cause for Mulder to fight for.

The X-Files episodes which centred on government testing of their own troops and civilians almost always allowed for the antagonist of the story a chance of redemption as an indication to their own victimisation. Corporal Augustus ‘Preacher’ Cole is no different in fact all he wants to do is go to sleep but not without taking down his old murdering squad colleagues before he does. I feel uneasy that Mulder is so quick to sympathise with a man capable of murdering defenceless men, women and children and who also instigated two cops to shoot one and other leaving one in a coma and the other presumably dead. Mulder’s sympathy may possibly be a shroud to cover his true selfish intentions of wanting to take his man alive as hard evidence, proof to the fact that the U.S government are as underhand and callous as he says they are and thus gives more reason to the re-opening of The X-Files. Be that as it may Cole’s actions are still inexcusable and Mulders ability to simply brush over these facts irks me a little.

You will recognise war vet Cole although some may not know from where, he is played by veteran actor Tony Todd whose distinct deep reverberating voice and threatening appearance has made him somewhat of a genre favourite amongst scare fans and one of his earliest screen outings was the haunting Vietnam masterpiece Platoon, a combination of the two guises works ever so well here. Todd dose brilliantly with what screen time he is permitted. His scene in the Brooklyn apartment in which he has the Vietnam victims made up of women and children shoot dead his ex-marine comrade is chillingly conspicuous.

Sleepless sees Mr X unveil himself to Mulder for the first time. The new informant hands over a report to Mulder to help with the case. Mr X’s motivations will always remain clouded. Deep Throats intentions were seen a pure and selfless and a way of atonement for past misgivings whilst the intentions of Mr X will never be so black and white, his affirmation of the fact that he will never sacrifice his life for the information he has, dispels the idea of a crusader for truth and portrays a more narcissistic character (although in hindsight we do know differently). Mr X’s admission of having known Deep Throat personally and of his duty to Mulder and The X-Files may go some way to explaining his new position of informant, that’s just one we‘re allowed to work out for ourselves.

There is another arguably even more important character introduction in this episode. Special FBI agent and rat for the syndicate Alex Krycek makes his first appearance on The X-Files. After a rough start his all too eager to please attitude eventual begins to break down Mulder’s proverbial wall constructed of ‘trust no one’ mortar and come on admit it he fooled you as well. Krycek gave The X-Files so many twist and turns and the inception of this character was pure brilliance as was the casting of Nicholas Lea who was not only suited to the role but also gave nothing less than 100%.

Although Kryceks introduction holds high significance you may notice my establishment of the character has purposely been down played as I don’t think what the Krycek character represents to the franchise as a whole should take away from Tony Todd whose performance elevates this episode from a basic standalone MoW to a much greater one.

Musings:

• I clocked Scully’s screen time at around the 2 minute mark all of which was spent devoted to Mulder, no real point to this musings except that I hadn’t mentioned her name at all during the review.
• The parallels between Blood and Sleepless are so glaring that it seems weird that they would be played back to back. Perhaps to reiterate the point of Mulders contempt for a government that runs tests on its own people without their consent or well-being in mind. The suicide by cop ending which sees Mulder trying to salvage the situation also mimics blood and maybe a good precursor to his negotiation skills in the build-up to the following episode Duane Barry.
• See what happens when you remove Gansa from the equation. Sci-Fi and the paranormal just arn't his strong points.

Watch Sleepless Instantly!

BLOOD Episode 3 Season 2

‘I played right field’

Synopsis: An experimental pesticide has an adverse effect on its town when the inhabitants begin to embark on killing sprees culminating in suicide by cop.

It is impossible to think that this unforgettable episode will ever cease to become anything less than enjoyable and being a true favourite of mine I cannot wait to surmise the bountiful reasons as to why!

KILL, KILL’ EM, KILL’EM ALL Each violent instruction introduced by a high noted and sharp bang on the piano keys followed by a thumping heart beat drum rhythm. Straight after our opening teaser with the once mild mannered now disgruntled postal worker Edward, we discover that these cases of digital orders prompting there victim to act on murderous impulses are not isolated incidents but more of an epidemic in the usually peaceful town of Franklyn Pennsylvania. The premise of which is wholly exciting, dangerous and mysterious.

The spree of superficial random acts of violence is quickly continued with vigour by the vigorous porn/television actress Ashlyn Gere giving this episode an even finer cutting edge, her character’s virginitiphobia has to be an insider nod to her customary profession as does her attack on self-confessed sex addict David Duchovney (I kid obviously, David wasn’t diagnosed with sex addiction back in 1994 he was however diagnosed with young free and single-ism at the time).

Steady television actor William Sanderson’s portrayal of a sweaty nervous disgruntled postal worker on the edge of break down is superb. We eagerly anticipate his inevitable killing spree, with each passing opportunity more tension builds and culminates in an expertly derived unhinged shooting from top a clock tower and Mulder and Scully’s race to prevent it.

Mulders exposure to the experimental pesticides used on Franklyn’s crops is a wonderfully clever and subtle addition to the story line, the LSDM only effect on him is the message he received on his mobile phone ‘ALL DONE…BYE BYE’ the message could have only been sent by the government syndicate in charge of the spraying and this type of shadowy unknown government group going as far as to conduct inhumane experiments on its own citizens is what Mulder fears most.

This episode acts as a great exhibition of Mulder’s humour and reverence to his wit. One liner abounds and always gives reason to a re-watch. I particularly like his defence of playing right field in baseball and also noticed his immature ‘rubber’ joke that must be yet another homage to Ashlyn Gere’s profession.

With Mulder and Scully still on temporary hiatus the cameo by The Lone Gunman seems ideal. This is nothing more than a gentle re- introduction and they only conspire on Mulders own thoughts by adding in a brief history lesson on Government conspiracy with experimental pesticides. It is great to welcome them back and this time in shadier surroundings to their E.B.E premiere.

There is obviously one massive and confusing plot hole in Blood; the murderous instructions being able to be displayed on any electronic screen or display seen by any of the hundreds of people exposed to the LSDM. You may say perhaps due to the LSD contained within the LSDM that the victim’s fears prompted a visual hallucination on these devices which doesn’t go as far as to explain how each visualisation of the phrase 'kill them' are distinctly abbreviated in the fashion ‘KILL’EM’ as you would expect each individuals spelling to differ.

This level of technology and surveying is completely impossible so on the first few watches I hoped I had missed something but believe me it is what it is and in truth that is completely forgivable because this thrilling effort from Glen Morgan and James Wong makes up for its lack of plausibility with pure minute to minute humour, tension and well erm….. thrills!

Musings:

Just one, Scully’s sly introduction into this episode didn’t go unnoticed, I’m watching you. 

Watch Blood Instantly with Amazon

THE HOST Episode 2 Season 2

I wouldn’t like to meet the Russian that had to pass this tapeworm!

Synopsis: After being given a disgusting assignment, Mulder begins to believe that his position at the Bureau is becoming untenable yet there is a lot more to the case than first meets the eye.

Time to turn the repulse-meter to maximum and I mean maximum. This mutated tape worm is without doubt the most disgusting creature ever conceived by Chris Carter and The X-Files team and this memorable creature holds a special place in many X-Philes hearts, she has even been affectionately named Flukey among The X-Philes faithful. It has been said that Gillian Anderson herself named The Host as the most disgusting X-Files episode she ever had the privilege to work on.

Flukey, happy to lie in wait in human excrement, has a face only a mother could love which is most probably why she is the proud owner of an asexual reproductive system and her method of incubating her parasitic offspring is tantamount to rape. I label Flukey as being feminine and reframe from using the name flukeman because she has to be one or the other and she reminds me of my mother-in-law. I will never forget the first sight of Flukey trapped in the transparent pipe at the sewage plant; excuse me if you think I am being too sympathetic here but she looked scared and confused as if she was trying to figure out who these people were and who she was.  We can assume that as a genetic mutation by radiation that Flukey is the only one of her kind and that her own existence is just as baffling to her as it is to anyone else, just like my mother-in-law.

This episode could have easily relied upon Flukey to make it a big hit and that would have been fine by me yet Chris Carter’s spices things up with some added ingredients. Mulder is back from his close encounter, back to his surveillance detail and thus back to his morbid disposition, threatening to leave The F.B.I in hope that he can pursue his investigations into the paranormal along a different path. He draws this conclusion after being what he considers to be ‘jerked around’ by Skinner and the F.B.I by his sewage based assignment. So it is funny that it is this assignment that gives Mulder hope of a continuation of The X-Files or at least investigating the paranormal, a notion vindicated both by Skinners admittance that The X-Files was shut down somewhat prematurely and also by the emergence of a mysterious ‘friend’ at the F.B.I. The ‘friend’ we later find out to be informant Mr X or simply just X. I can only draw the conclusion that Mr X had a hand in Skinner presenting Mulder with the case in an effort to re-establish the importance of The X-Files.

What gives this episode its piece of individuality is that Flukey is caught very early on, not only that, she represents hard evidence of the paranormal and proves Mulders doubters that he isn’t away with the fairies, in-fact this giant mutated Fluke worm is worthy of a Noble prize! So it seems strange that the reaction it receives seem so downplayed and I can’t help but smile at the idea that Flukey is to be treated at a psychiatric hospital, no wonder she looks so confused.

This popular MoW is utterly disgusting and brilliant in equal measures and made famous by the evasive Fluke worm.

Musings:

• Mulder and Scully appear more relaxed with one another after their exploits in Little Green Men, as if the relationship is settling from the adjustments of being partners to being friends.
• The heavy Fluke suite took so long to put on and remove that future X-Files writer Darin Morgan apparently wore it for 20hrs straight. Chris Carter joked that the wearing of the suite should be a rite of passage for any budding X-Files writer.
• Flukey got cut in half and she survived, sure she is a worm after all but don’t forget about its offspring from the sewage worker that escaped down the shower waste. New Jersey certainly did have a problem on its hands. I wonder if the sewage workers felt comfortable with re-entering the sewers.
• Who would I least like to find coming out my toilet, Tooms or Flukey? Errr……Flukey! 

Watch The Host Instantly with Amazon