You didn't need me to tag along?

Good evening, gang! Unfortunately, I won't be very insightful tonight, as I'm going to really have to speed through this one--and it pains me to do it, because this was another fantastic episode. I know you're tired of the same old excuse, but university is a bitch. I swear, if you guys knew what I have to try to finish in the next 10 days, you'd probably send me your condolences :-)

But enough about me. Let us turn our attentions once again to the continuing saga of Scully and John Boy.

I said it before, and I'll say it again. I am immensely impressed with season 8. I know the season is young yet, but the eps seem to be getting better and better as the weeks progress. That said, it comes as no surprise that Roadrunners keeps up with this trend. Indeed, this is a great episode, full of suspense, angst, and creepy goriness; all the basic ingredients for a classic X-File.

First and foremost, the "Doggy-ditchin." Desipte the amicable acceptance Scully afforded to Doggett in Patience, I think it's safe to assume that at this point, she hasn't quite gotten used to the idea of the two of them as a "team." Moreover (and understandably so) she has perhaps become so used to working with Mulder, that the idea of working with anyone else is alien to her (... yes. Bad, bad pun. Sorry *G*). Of course, it takes a personal detour for Scully to recognize the importance of teamwork, as we too soon discover. But more on this a little later *G*

Ooo! One cool thing, before I continue, though. Doggett calls Danny! He's now officially integrated into the Files environment *G*

Now, about the plot. I found the story in Roadrunners to be quite intriguing, mainly for the way it was constructed. Sure, you can extract the basic parasite-host storyline from any one of a number of Star Trek episodes, but throw a cult and a small town in there and all of a sudden you have the perfect criteria for an X-File. Basically, what I like about this plot is that it is a new twist on a old idea. As mentioned, the parasite-host storyline has been exhausted in other sci-fi series, and of course has already appeared in X-Files in such episodes as Ice. But the idea of a cult worshipping the parasite as a god is definitely a fascinating concept. When I figured out that this was the cult's motive, the first words out of my mouth were, "oh, cool!"

One thing that did bother me, though--and this boarders on a bit of a complaint--is the way Scully dealt with the parasite while it was hosted in the hitchhiker. If you're versed in past episodes, you'll be quick to note the resemblance of this creature to the one that appeared in Ice. In Ice, however, extracting the creature caused the death of the host. Scully knows this too well. When faced with the same scenario, why she would attempt the same action is questionable. It just seemed a negligent move on her part--but again, I consider this to be a writing flaw, and not necessarily a flaw in Scully's character.

Back to the creature (and I'm speeding along now *G*). I'm not going to say too much here, but damn, this is proabably the creepiest, gorriest, nastiest thing we have seen on the Files in quite a while. It really made me cringe. But of course, I loved it. The gross-out factor is definitely a major ingredient in making this such a fantastic show.

Another thing I have to point out is the sheer angst of watching Scully struggle in a futile attempt to hold off the parasite. *shudder* if this was not a moment of terror, I don't know what one is :-)

Skipping ahead some more (sorry again for being speedy). I have to admit I was cheering by the time Mr. Doggett showed up. I'd say more if I had time to spare, but the gist of it is, Scully is one lucky gal, having two incredibly hot guys at her disposal *giggle* Would that I could have been in Scully's place tonight (minus the parasite and hole in the back and all that jazz, of course). Ah yes. John Boy can carry me around any time...

Ah-hem. Sorry. Did I not say something before about remaining objective? *G* Anyway...

Moving ahead again. In terms of Scully discovering the importance of teamwork, I know some people are upset by the fact that Dogget blatantly points out Scully's fault in heading off on her own. Some have argued that he oversteps his authority by almost "forcing" her to apologize for not bringing him along in the first place. I'm not going to deny that this exchange was perhaps a little blunt, but from what we know about Doggett so far, this is simply in keeping with his character. Doggett is a no-nonsense type of guy. He simply tells things as they are; he tells the truth. In this case, he reminds Scully that the essential purpose of being in a partnership is to have the other person around to watch your back. Simple as that. That said, if we can look beyond the characters for a moment, I think what is meant to be conveyed in this scene is not so much the personal sentiments of the two agents, but rather the reinforcement of the importance of partnership. We are simply being reminded--as Doggett and Scully are being reminded--that they are partners; a team. Partners are supposed to look out for each other. They certainly can't do this if one is left back at the office :-)

One final thing before I close off though, and this more amounts to my one general complaint about this season. Ok. How many more times is this poor pregnant woman going to be abused? It's bad enough that she walks miles in heels through blistering deserts, but she gets thrown into walls, impregnated with yet another being, and sliced and diced. Sheesh. Poor girl! *G*

Anyway, sorry if that was a little sketchy, gang. If I have time, I'll try to flesh it out a bit over the course of the week. All in all, though, this was a great episode. It might be early to pick favourites, but Roadrunners has already made itself strong candidate for one of the best eps of the season, at least in my books.

Squall's Rating: 8

I'm not here to be a curiosity. I'm here to work.

Well gang, the first MOTW of this young season is a very solid episode. Again, I have to say that I'm rather impressed with the way things are shaping up. The transition to the "Mulderless" ep has proven to be neat and tidy, and not at all awkward, as many of us feared. As Patience clearly demonstrates, with just the right amount of Mulder content (meaning reference to, mention of, allusion to, etc), the MOTW is a viable ep genre for this season. That said, Patience is without a doubt an enjoyable episode, a classic-style plot with careful emphasis on characterization and purpose

I'm just a little sleepy tonight, so I'm not going to focus too intently on the actual plot of this one. Besides, I have a ton to say about characterization *G* So my quick-take on the plot? In terms of style, this ep felt more like an early X-File, a classic-type story that could fit easily into season 2, 3 or 4 without appearing out of place. The story itself isn't too complex--da da da da da da da da da batman! pretty much sums it up--but this is because the story is not, in fact, intended to be the focus of this episode. Not to sound tongue-in-cheek, but the plot in this ep is actually more of a plot device. Indeed, what we're mostly meant to focus on here is Scully and Doggett; the fact that these two agents are, for the first time, thrust into the field together and forced to deal with one another directly. The batman story sets the tone and adds flair here and there, but for all intents and purposes, the story simply gives the agents an excuse to interact.

And interact they do. Patience is full of interesting Scully and Doggett material, right from the opening sequences, where Doggett and his FBI pals trickle down into the basement. Immediately, Scully fixes Doggett with a stern stare, effectively conveying to him that she means business, that she takes her work seriously and that she will not stand for ridicule. Doggett doesn't challenge her, but simply retorts that he also takes his work seriously. He continues to allow Scully to take the lead--just thought I'd emphasize this point for those of you who are still clinging (whatever for) to the idea that Doggett has some twisted ulterior motives where the X-Files are concerned. Indeed, he is not trying to take over the X-Files, as some many people feared he might. On the contrary, Doggett is still somewhat indifferent in terms of his thoughts on paranormal phenomenon. Yes, he has seen things, and yes he has busied himself in Mulder's cabinet over the weekend, but at this point in the season he can neither be called a believer nor a skeptic. In other words, for those of you who believe that he is trying to bring the place down from the inside, he has no strong opinion of the matter either way, so he doesn't exactly have a driving motive to want to do it. As Doggett himself affirms to Scully, he's only here to work. Doggett is a guy who just wants to do his job.

But off that tangent now, and back to the opening scenes with Doggett and Scully. I have to say that I enjoyed the parallels to the Pilot here. Now it is Scully flashing the slides, assulting newcomer Doggett with a barrage of unexplained images. Of course, Scully isn't trying to pysche Doggett out as Mulder was--arguably--trying to do to Scully in the Pilot. Scully is only trying to introduce Doggett to the case, and perhaps gage his reaction. However, the Pilot parallel is still very relevant. Just as Mulder was showing Scully a bit of his world, so Scully is showing Doggett a bit of her own. It cannot be argued that Scully has essentially adopted a bit of Mulder's role now. Having her echo Mulder's actions reinforces this fact.

Another interesting point that emerges in this episode is the understandable tension (mostly the result of unfamiliarity) between Doggett and Scully on the field. Obviously, Mulder and Scully had reached the point where they could play off the tiniest hint from the other, follow each other's leads, practically read each other's thoughts, etc, etc. Scully and Doggett, however, are essentially strangers. Scully is understandably wary, then, when Doggett takes Detective Abbott aside. She's not sure if he's trying to overstep her authority, if he's second-guessing her, or if he's discrediting her. Doggett, in turn, simply thinks he's trying to follow Scully's lead. Unfortunately, he misunderstands her actual motives; a definite case of miscommunication between the two agents. The minor explosion that results between them, then, is understandable, and almost expected. It probably won't be the first one between these two :-)

Despite the tension however, there are some moments of crystal clarity between our new duo in this ep. By his own admission, perhaps Doggett doesn't possess Mulder's razor-sharp insight, but he has established himself as a very observant figure. After all, it is Doggett who points out that Scully is perhaps trying too hard to be Mulder, in the sense that she is making broad leaps and formulating somewhat grandiose theories. By pointing this fact out to her, he proves that he is capable of reading her accurately.
Interestingly, though, with this scene we also see a little more of Doggett on the personal side. He is frank in pointing out the fact that Scully may be trying too hard to mimic Mulder, but he also demonstrates an appreciation of her loss. He approaches the matter carefully and reassuringly, and almost in a manner that suggests he is trying to open up the doors of communication with her. Translation: Doggett is a kind and decent guy, a potentially perfect ally. He'll provide an opinion when he feels it's necessary, but he's also there to offer friendly support. As I mentioned before, I really like the approach Doggett has taken in attempting to befriend Scully. He's not cold with her. He's not indifferent. He's not begging for her trust. He's not trying to prove anything. He's simply allowing her to decide for herself. And I think she has :-)

By the end of Patience, Scully has essentially accepted Doggett as an ally, as Doggett has accepted Scully, in turn. Of course, it's too early to say that the two of them are "friends," but maybe they have accepted one another as partners. Indeed, each came to the aid of the other, and consequently, much of the wariness and uncertainty between them has dissolved. In addition, Scully even makes a definite move to make Doggett feel included: she offers him a desk; the desk she never had. A subtle way for Scully to show us that she accepts Doggett. There are still issues here, of course--mainly, where does Doggett stand on the belief scale, exactly how much does Scully believe, how much is she willing to trust him, etc, but this will likely be resolved over time. Ah, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship (DISCLAIMER! In no way am I professing to be a Doggett/Scully shipper. In fact, I don't even see the potential for romance between the two of them. Come on, guys. You know me too well *giggle* Unfounded and unfathomable. And, from a more technical stance, definitely against the interests of the writers, who are relying on the missing Mulder thread as a major means to fuel this season along. Taint the "Scully misses Mulder" factor, and you get a huge conflict of interest... after all, what need is there for a season 8 if Scully no longer needs to find Mulder? No Mulder=no X-Files=no matter. Think about it *LOL*).

Now, of course, the little tidbit that eveyone must be biting their nails over: Mulder's nameplate. No, Scully is not giving up on Mulder. No, this is not, "so long, pard, nice knowing ya." On the contrary, this is Scully's way of being true to Mulder... now I know what you're saying. Squall! Explain! *LOL* OK. There's actually a very good explanation in the ep, and it comes in the form of Scully's conversation with Myron Stefaniuk (the bat guy *LOL*). Here, the man relays to her the consequences of living a life tainted by obsession, having hopes and dreams and friends and family lost and obscured by what he calls the monster. Indeed, this is encounter is an eye-opener for Scully. Not to imply that Mulder is a monster; in actuality, obsession is the monster--and in Scully's case the obsession is Mulder. Already, we've seen Scully falter by trying to become Mulder, by losing some of her own direction by trying to follow his. Thus Scully understands that in order to maintain her objectivity, she must move away from Mulder. It may sound paradoxical, but by internalizing him, by becoming him, she's letting him slip further away. In order to remain true to Mulder, Scully must remain true to herself. And she can only do this by letting a little bit of him go.

Ack... considering I'm tired, I wrote an epic. Sorry to bore you with words, gang. I didn't intend for it to be this long! Anyway, Patience is an impressive ep, full of meaning. Great to see! I'm just wondering... should we assume that by now, Doggett has forgiven Scully for the water in the face, or is he plotting to get her back somehow? hmmm... *LOL*

Squall's Rating: 6

In case something tries to rip your throat out, I got ya covered.

Well let me just say this. Damn. Generally, I'm already very impressed with season 8. Without is a fantastic, suspense-filled, angst-ridden ep, and if it's any indication of what's to come for the year, we're definitely in for a treat.

Before I begin, however, let me just affirm that Robert Patrick is one fine lookin' man... there's just something about those eyes. Don't get me wrong, gang. I shall miss Mulder terribly, but I think that Mr. Doggett will soften the blow, and serve as sufficient distraction in the meantime. (but not to worry. Eye candy seldom makes me lose my objectivity... er.. *LOL*).

But anyway, down to business. Yes, I've already raved about Doggett, but let me continue to comment on how impressed I am with this character. Doggett is a refreshing change for the series. It's nice to see a character emerge on TXF who *doesn't* have a dark ulterior motive. I like the fact that his position is, for the most part, neutral. He doesn't work for anyone, so he's not out to pull a Krycek--been there, done that. Indeed, Doggett is not out to deliberately destroy Mulder. He's not out to destroy the X-Files. As Skinner so insightfully comments, poor Doggett may simply be a pawn in Kersh's game. I'm speculating a bit here, but I think it's safe to assume that Kersh may be out to destroy Doggett along with everybody else (so for all of you who aren't convinced about the this fine agent yet, there you go, some sympathy for the guy *G*). At any rate, Doggett is not a meddling character. I think he's much like Scully was in the beginning. He's neutral, and a bit of an outsider. He's on the case now, he's seen some wacky stuff, and he will devote himself to figuring out what it is. He's not there to bring anyone down.

Still on the Doggett subject, I also like the position he has taken in relation to Scully. I truly believe that he feels sorry for her. Indeed, he has already been allowed a glimpse of the loss she is feeling. After all, he did find her in Mulder's bed. That said, however, Doggett also knows to keep his distance. He's her partner now, but he's smart enough to realize that with all she's been through, she may not be immediately accepting of him. I like the fact that he hasn't tried to be overly-friendly with her. By coming to her aid, he's presented himself as an ally. However, he realizes that he's on her turf now, and he's content to let her make the next move.
BTW, nice to have Scully in charge for a change :-)

As for Scully's reaction to Doggett as her new partner? The look of shock she displays upon hearing the news can be interpreted several ways. First, of course, she may see him as Mulder's replacement. Remember, chronologically speaking, Mulder has only been gone for a few days. She's barely had time to react to his loss, and suddenly she's been assigned a new partner. Second, I get the impression that Scully still isn't quite sure what to think of Doggett. At this point, his motives aren't clear to her, and she is understandably a little wary of him. Finally--please allow me to a little room here! *G*--I honestly think it's possible that Scully may feel concern for Doggett. Indeed, she knows of the dangers associated with the X-Files. Doggett, presumably, does not. The man may be rushing blindly into the X-Files; he doesn't know what he's getting in to. By joining the X-Files, Doggett may also have sealed his own fate. Scully understands this, for she has experienced it herself. To be sure, she knows the implications this could carry for him. Does she feel his loss?

Shifting gears a little, I have to say, again, that I'm thrilled with Skinner's more active role. He's right in the thick of things. He knows Scully's secret. In addition, aside from the little glimpse that Doggett was allowed, Skinner is the only person who truly understands the magnitude of Scully's loss. He feels it himself, too. Right now, at least in Scully's eyes, he's her strongest ally. Like I said before, I'm happy to have Skinner back. We just didn't see enough of the man last year.

Now. Mulder. His cries for Scully really tugged at my heartstrings :-( So close, and yet so far. If this is any indication, the build-up to their reunion later in the year will intense, to say the least. Poor Mulder!! :-(

Oh, and ABH... I was thrilled that it was Scully who finally did the guy in, only to realize that there are dozens more where he came from. Dammit all! *LOL*

Now a little bit of a complaint. Though this was definitely a great ep, there were a few small things that I found just slightly annoying. Firstly, it was very "unScullylike" (pardon the little catch phrase. It was pub night yesterday, and I think the beer has temporarily compromised my vocabulary *LOL*) for Scully to simply leave Gibson alone in the desert for so long. Granted, she had her hands full back at the school, but she didn't seem overly concerned about reaching the wounded boy in the interim.
Secondly, why Scully did not issue a quarantine for all those in the school room is beyond me. She knew one of the people there had to be ABH; no one had sufficient opportunity to escape. In a sense, by not insisting that everyone remain, Scully actually *let* ABH get away, thereby indirectly fostering his attempted abduction of Gibson Praise. I don't interpret this as a flaw in her character, however. If anything, it is a definite oversight on the part of the writers. In my opinion, they should know better than to allow Scully such a naive move.
Finally, I fear the FBI has once again allowed Gibson Praise to fall through their slippery fingers. For all intents and purposes, Gibson is a material witness. Making him a ward of the state and sending him off to foster care is not a good way to secure his safety, or the evidence he represents, especially after the FBI went such "great lengths" to find him. In addition, the boy may be Scully's only link to Mulder at this point. She needs to keep him close by, if only for that reason. Basically, Gibson is simply too important to toss to the sidelines. Granted, Kersh may have facilitated Gibson's removal. Indeed, he's basically out to trash the X-Files. In removing Gibson from the scene, then, Kersh is also severing the link to any corroborating evidence the boy might provide, therefore ensuring that his attempt to debunk the X-Files will remain unthwarted.

That aside, however, Without is a great ep. There is still much to be revealed, but I think it's a wonderful start. It'll be great to see Scully in charge and in command this season. And I'm sorry, but I love Doggett. Hate me if you want. I still miss Mulder, but Doggett is a cool dude *LOL*

Anyway, I think there was a midterm I was supposed to be studying for... damn.

Squall's rating: 8

But we still haven't found what we're looking for...

Before I say anything, I'd like to welcome you all back from the off-season! Hope you all had a great 6 months! Anyway, gang, I'm a little rusty, so please forgive me for my lack of insight :-)

Now down to business :-) Well, without any speculating, without any real expectations, without reading spoilers, without managing to get wrapped up in too much of the pre-season hype, I have to say that I am rather impressed with this season opener. I think it came upon us quietly, but now that is has hit, it has hit with a bang. The element of mystery and suspense was just fantastic. I like the idea that season may unfold as a huge mystery scenario, with twists and turns and clues at every corner.

Firstly, Scully's introduction to John Doggett was simply a great scene. The man was so obviously trying to throw her off, but she never once fell into his trap, and proved she is already one step ahead of his game. Oh, and of course, the water-in-the-face bit was enough to get a standing ovation from me :-)... not because Doggett was at the receiving end mind you, but just because it was such a cool Scully moment.

I already like the interesting chemistry that is building between Scully and Doggett (before you flame me, I'm not talking about "shipper" chemistry *giggle*). There is definite rivalry here, but on another level, they both know they are trying to find the same thing; they are reluctantly drawn to one another. They may be seeking Mulder for different reasons, but I get the sense that the shared interest will likely result in some shaky teamwork between the two of them in the future. The trust factor will probably never exist, but that will only result in some rather interesting pairings between them over the course of the season. It will be cool to see how that develops throughout the year.

As for Doggett himself (and again I'm ducking flames *giggle*) I'm going to go out on a limb and say I like the guy. Of course he'll never be Mulder; Doggett is manipulative and somewhat pompous, but there's something immediately likeable about him all the same... he's interesting. Also, I don't get the impression that he has been tainted by the shadow government. His motives are his own--and this fact in itself raises some intriguing points. Indeed, Doggett himself is a bit of a mystery that needs unravelling. He's defintely somewhat of an enigma, and that is enough to capture my attention, to say the least.

Another thing that I'm rather pleased about is the return of Kersh... yes I'm serious. The man may have something shoved backwards up his ass, but I always liked the rivalry he had with Scully. Kersh always seemed to finger Scully as the trouble-maker. I always felt he had much less tolerance for her actions than he did for Mulder's (in case some of you need a memory jog in the area of Scully/Kersh interaction, consider Drive and Dreamland). Kersh's presence is enough to add a very interesting dynamic to Scully's character. I admit I missed that added flair after Kersh's departure in season 6. It's great to have that back.

Ooo... and while we're on that Scully note... Scully actually talking about aliens as if they were plausible? Indeed, she threw that Mulderesque theory at Skinner and the LGM without even flinching. Definitely an interesting turn of events for her character. Tiz rather cool :-)

Now. I know you all want me to comment on Mulder :-) As I usually do with two-part eps, I try not to engage in too much speculation until I've seen the second half. Besides, all I really have at the moment are questions myself *giggle* So... is there a Mulder clone running around, doing all the dirty work? (I'm inclined at this point to say that it is ABH, aka "The Pilot", but I won't pursue it any further than that *G*). Is Mulder truly dying? How much of the information that Doggett is presenting merely fabrication--either Doggett's own deliberate misinformation, which I think is unlikely, or a fabrication of evidence a la the alien hypothesis Scully offered to Skinner? Thinking about the tombstone, could it be possible that the aliens planted that evidence there to make everyone think that Mulder was dead or dying, and that they also created false medical records to substantiate Mulder's "death" and throw everyone off so they would abandon the search? Hmmm... so many questions :-)

Still on the topic of Mulder, though, I really like the psychic connection that has already been implied between him and Scully. Does it have something to do with Scully's pregnancy? There is actually some evidence in para-psychology that some pregnant women develop psychic abilities. And then you have to wonder... is Mulder reaching out to her? Remember, he once possessed telepathic abilities. Is it possible that he retained some of that power?

Anyway, gang, sorry to end this here, but I'd rather wait until I see next week's ep so I can get a better picture of what's going on. Told ya I was a little rusty... but still, though I realize I may be a little premature when I state this, I believe that this season has the potential for greatness... and I'm relieved! *LOL*

Squall's Rating: 7+

For more episode reviews, see the following archives Season 8 Field Reports (directory)
Season 7 Field Reports (directory)
Season 6 Field Reports (directory)
Season 5 Field Reports (directory)

*Note: I'm working to fill in the remaining gaps for Season 5, and as promised, I also intend to review episodes from seasons 1-4, whenever I have the time!