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PLOT: Scully has a date with the devil as she makes a tough choice between betraying Mulder's trust and finding a "miracle cure" for all human disease.
Wow. That was my first thought after watching this episode. William B. Davis can write? I had to admit that I was a bit skeptical when I heard that this episode was in the works. But he certainly surprised me with such a polished story, and the incredible emotions that were invoked by all the characters, particularly Scully. I'm also pleasantly surprised that Mr. Davis is a romantic at heart!
This episode had very little Mulder/Scully interaction, but that didn't deter from both the effectiveness of the plot or the enjoyment of "En Ami." I must admit that the teaser was actually the worst part of the episode. It was as interesting as all of "First Person Shooter", which means, of course, that it wasn't. However, the disappointment of that weak opening is soon forgotten as Davis weaves a very plausible and engaging plot.
I was not really sure what to expect when Cigarette Smoking Man (CSM) offered Scully something that seemed a bit outlandish: a cure for cancer. Since Scully knows that the young boy was cured with the same chip that is also embedded in her own neck, she realizes that CSM's offer should not be taken lightly. But how can she possibly trust Mulder's and her mortal enemy? If that wasn't enough to ponder, Scully can't even talk about it to anyone, particularly Mulder. Why she chose to go along with CSM is highly debateable. It's obvious that her curiosity as a medical doctor was piqued as well as her own need to help those suffering a similar affliction that she experienced. It's an offer that she literally cannot refuse.
The most clever thing about this episode is that Davis keeps us guessing on CSM's true intentions. Just like Scully, we all know that CSM must have another agenda. With all the crimes he has committed over the years, it just doesn't seem feasible that he would have a change of heart, because he is dying, which we are still uncertain if that is truly the case. After all, he has come back from death before. However, I found his sincerity very charming, and he certainly convinced me of the "affection" he has for Scully throughout the episode.
Undoubtedly, the most surprising aspect of CSM is how he knows Scully very well. She must have felt as though a certain writer (hint: "Milagro") was dissecting her insides all over again. But one thing that Scully doesn't know is that CSM is a writer himself. We writers easily spew out pop psychology at a moment's whim. :) And just like Phillip Padgett, CSM can read Scully very well. Her eyes "fidgets," and she tightly purses her lips when she is uncomfortable. Scully did plenty of that as she heard herself being analyzed. CSM hit her emotional bullseyes with laser-like accuracy. Just watch her facial reaction when CSM states, "You'd die for Mulder, but you won't allow yourself to love him." Everything CSM tells her before that statement has her pondering, but when she hears that someone notices her own inner struggles regarding her very strong but conflicted feelings for her partner, she can barely keep from blushing and weakly retorts back.
As for CSM, he is emotionally conflicted as well. We don't know until near the end of the episode that his true motive is to kill Cobra, a scientist who has found a cure for *all* human disease. Mulder's bullheaded insistence that Scully is in trouble reveals the underlying conspiracy that CSM has been weaving before Scully went with him. She was being used as bait to lure Cobra out in the open. Now that is the CSM we all know and love. Yet, he does a double take on us as he prevents the assassin from harming Scully, and he does not keep the CD that would have most likely saved his life. This certainly makes me wonder if he truly is Mulder's father, and if he destroyed the CD from remorse or simply to keep it from the rest of the world.
It was obvious that by the time Scully went to dinner
with CSM, her defensive walls were down a bit. He had shown nothing but kindness during her whole time with him, and he was
offering something to her that meant more to humanity than anything she had ever done in her life. I found it amusing that
CSM picked out a dress for Scully (black!!!). It was a far cry from the dress she wore in Season 1's "Jersey Devil." This
one was elegant yet simple and fully revealed the smoldering beauty of Dana Scully. (swoon!) If Mulder had seen her, he
might have thought of reenacting the Hallway Scene.
Yet, Scully's confusion was still very evident. She was not sure how much of CSM's story to believe much less his sincerity. Then, there must have been some concern whether Mulder was tearing his hair out over her whereabouts. Though no dialogue was passed during this whole time, Scully's face conveyed so many emotions regarding her situation. She was definitely unsure if she was doing the right thing or placing herself in further danger with each passing minute.
The final scenes with Mulder were excellent. The hurt that both of them felt was so evident. Scully was practically keeping her fingers crossed that the CD she brought to him did contain the needed information to justify the risk she took with CSM. While Mulder was visibly upset that Scully did not confide in him. That scene may have lasted 20 seconds but the emotions displayed by the duo was very powerful. Even The Lone Gunmen showed an obvious uncomfortability with the tension in the room. When nothing came up, noone was more disappointed than Mulder. His instincts knew that CSM was never to be trusted. Yet, the one person he considered his "one in five billion" risks her life and his trust over nothing as far as he was concerned. It certainly was no coincidence how callous he acted when Scully was trying to show him CSM's office, which was now vacant. I found his "I'm surprised you're not dead," to be his way of getting back at her for going with CSM. It was both very poignant and sad.
Overall, I found "En Ami" to be highly effective in conveying the emotional insecurities between Mulder and Scully, and the multi-complex nature of CSM. Neither of these issues were resolved, of course. The plot of using Scully as bait to lure someone out in the open was never truly that important to the story. Yet, it helped in making the framework of the emotional conflicts within the main characters that much more interesting. Scully agreed to go with CSM for purely scientific and humane reasons. Yet, she found herself questioning her feelings for Mulder and her trust in CSM. Ironically, she ends up straining her relationship with Mulder and gaining admiration from CSM.
I wonder if Chris Carter or any of the producers knew how well Davis can write. I consider this episode to be one of the rare jewels of this season, and the most character-revealing thus far. Davis wrote his character with just enough vulnerability to lure us into believing that his motives were truly sincere when there was always an underlying deceit that played out very well. His admiration for Gillian was very visible in the way he wrote such a Scully-centric episode where she hasn't conveyed this much emotion since the beginning of the season. While David had a limited role in the episode, it was still very central to the story and made for a powerfully emotional ending. This was an absolutely great episode. I applaud the producers giving Davis a chance to show off his writing talents. Too bad it took seven years to happen!
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