Well, everybody's breath was held in anticipation of the first post-kiss ep, and, to the concern of many, it was also written by Dave Amman, who is infamous for bringing us such eps as "Agua Mala" where characterization was completely screwed. However, everyone, including myself, was pleasantly surprised at Rush because not only was the characterization wonderful and accurate, but there is a definite and deep change in the 'ship.
One of the first scenes of our heroes has Scully taking Mulder's arm, if only briefly, but *not* because there is anything bad or catastrophic occuring, but because he's there. My first thought when Chastity brushed past them at the jail was "Oh, Mulder's not going to look because he has eyes only for Scully", but then he *did* look. However, it seemed to me only a forced action, as if he were saying "oops, I missed that, and now I have to look because I always look". If that was confusing to you, please forgive as I'm tired...finals are a week away, and I have several papers due this week!! Anyways, back to the ep. However, when Scully usually is very non-responsive about Mulder's flirtatious ways toward other women, this time she good-naturedly led him away, but with a definite possessivness about her. Then, when she asked Mulder to consider Tony's friends "for her", I totally thought that that was the clincher. As someone on the alt.files.analysis group, "They are SO doing it behind our backs..." LOL...I wouldn't go that far, but there has been a distinct change in our heroes and how they act towards each other.
Well, seeing as how this IS supposed to be my review of the show, not the 'ship, I figure that I should add some stuff...great demonic-teen ep!! High school was believable, and the characters were all pretty good. And now, this is also the first ep where we see that Mulder is acknowledging his approaching middle age, although I don't think that 40-something is really middle aged...yay!! We get to see Mid-Life Crisis!Mulder...I think I like it. Perhaps he's really considering settling down with a certain red-headed partner of his...ah, well, we 'shippers can all dream, can't we?
So, okay...Maybe Dave Amman is past the rookie-thing...maybe he can stay on the XF payroll after all...
Signing off!
