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PLOT: Returning to the scene of their first investigation seven years ago in Oregon, Mulder and Scully encounter a UFO that appears to want Mulder.
After watching "Requiem," the only adjective that comes to mind is "AWESOME." This is the kind of episode that the series has been missing for most of Season 7. A dynamo of a story that not only brings back characters and plot elements from as far back as the pilot episode, but also showcases the special bond of our two heroes after seven long years. At first, I wasn't sure if I should even try to review "Requiem" before I truly absorbed the impact the last 15 minutes revealed. Yet, after thoroughly showing my enthusiasm for this episode to my friend over in the U.K. (poor lass will have to wait to see this one), I find that I should make sure to write down all my emotions and impressions while it is still very fresh in my mind.
With the reassurance that there will be another season along with the return of Carter and Duchovny, this season finale must have been the most anxiety ridden for many x-philes. After watching it, the implications that the plot suggests is mind boggling! This is by far the best season finale since Season 4's "Gethsemane." So many elements are involved that trying to concentrate on what exactly the story was telling was difficult at first, because of the cliffhangers that were shown. It also seems to close the door on the events within the past seven years while opening new ones. As Scully says, "...doors leading to other doors." Yet, "Requiem" also ties in to the events of what happened within "Biogenesis" and "Sixth Extinction." Mulder was affected by the ancient artifact, because he had the right kind of brain activity. Scully, herself, discovered text that indicated that many of today's modern religions was born from alien culture. All of this cleverly tied in to the collection of abductees from the very area in Oregon that paired Mulder and Scully together on their first case. This episode just drips with irony.
The rather tame opening for our heroes was very clever in not preparing us for the emotional roller coaster to follow as well as recapping the significant events over the past seven years. I found it rather amusing and odd that Mulder and Scully are finally being audited for their expenses. It's been seven years. How long would they be able to justify their expenses when they rarely have any closure to their cases? It's definitely tough to validate that to higher-ups as well as taxpayers. I thought it was interesting to see the contrast between Mulder's and Scully's meetings with the auditor. Mulder had the attitude of "so?" while Scully showed disdain that someone was telling her that their work was not "cost effective." If that wasn't enough, there were the clever recaps of their cases through the auditor's casual mention of Samantha being deceased as well as the end of the global conspiracy, and Scully's recounting of her abduction experience and what physical ailments that she was left with.
When Mulder and Scully pull into Bellefleur, Oregon, I was absolutely delighted that the original actors from the pilot were again shown in this one. It felt like seeing old friends as seven years has not taken away the haunted looks from Billy Miles or Theresa. I also smiled when the "X" that Mulder painted on the highway was still where he left it. Mulder did not seem the least bit surprised that the most recent paranormal incident happened in almost the exact same spot. Scully certainly was not arguing with him either. The look they gave each other was totally priceless.
I certainly can't go on without mentioning the evil factor in this episode: Smoking Man. It was shocking to view him as this invalid smoking cigarettes through a trachea. As many fans speculated, he obviously did not use the disk from "En Ami" to cure whatever ailed him. However, he certainly has not curbed his evil ways. Since he is dying, what exactly is the point in resurrecting the Project for alien/human hybrids? Somehow, he is willing to collaborate with Alex Krycek and Marita Covarrubias to ensure that the new Project is established. Yet, Alex and Marita, once lovers and now mortal enemies, are the anti-Mulder and Scully. Instead of teaming up through loyalty and devotion for one another like our heroes, they set aside their obvious hatred for each other and collaborate to eliminate Smoking Man. Their individual agendas are very sketchy, since they only vaguely cared about finding a UFO in the Oregon woodlands. What is motivating them? With Smoking Man (supposedly) dead, Alex and Marita are even more dangerous than ever with all the knowledge of the former Syndicate that is tucked away in their evil heads.
One thing that has always surprised me about Chris Carter is how he can easily stumble through stand-alone
episodes but has an excellent grasp when it comes to myth-arc episodes like this one. His characterizations are certainly much more richer, and he can make the main characters
emote so many deep feelings that are only rivalled by Vince Gilligan-scripted episodes. If you watch the pilot episode again, there was an undeniable chemistry between Mulder and Scully
that was clearly there but never truly defined. Seven years later, Carter does not hide that chemistry and shows how much the characters have grown. Unlike in the pilot episode,
Mulder is incredibly concerned for Scully's health and welfare. He realizes that abductees are being taken for some reason, and Scully is subsequently feeling ill throughout.
He fears that she may be taken again and refuses to let it happen. In essence, Mulder will literally sacrifice himself in Scully's place. For her part, Scully again goes to Mulder's
hotel room in Oregon and admits to her recent unexplainable dizziness and chills. For once, Scully is not suffering from the "I'm fine" affliction. She is fully admitting to Mulder
that she is feeling vulnerable and is asking for his help. Of course Mulder comforts Scully and also admits to her that he is now realizing the personal sacrifices that Scully has
endured while being partnered with him all these years. His main point was that Scully does not have a stable family life and can never have children but obviously yearns for them
as he witnessed her playing with Theresa's baby earlier that day. Her life needs to move on. As Mulder states, "it has to end sometime." From this small scene, Carter displays the characters'
emotional growth and their deep devotion to each other without ever compromising the overall plot.
I must admit that I found it bizarre that Alex and Marita would team up with Mulder and Scully to locate the downed UFO. There is obviously no love lost between Mulder and Krycek, but Skinner, who could have easily killed Krycek himself, believes that their help will finally provide the kind of concrete proof that Mulder has been searching for over seven years. Carter shows that Skinner has grown as well in seven years. He is no longer concerned with Mulder following any Bureau policy. Skinner truly believes in Mulder. So much so that Skinner believes Alex and Marita can help Mulder find the proof of extraterrestrial existence that Mulder has been searching for most of his adult life. The little scene in Skinner's office reminds me of some kind of "war room" as they planned out their strategy with The Lone Gunmen's help. Their return was unfortunately short-lived but very much welcome after the disastrous "First Person Shooter." I DON'T even want to go there!
As for Mulder's abduction, there seemed to be a correlation between the peaceful nature of all his fellow abductees in the bright light as akin to people who have had near-death experiences. They always describe a bright light and a very calm, peaceful feeling. Does this hint towards the theory that aliens are really God as Smoking Man stated? That thought certainly is disturbing if not highly controversial. Of course, the alien/religious angle was very much a reference from "Sixth Extinction." At least this religious reference is not as blatant as some of the episodes from Season 7. At this point, Mulder does not realize that the aliens actually want him and not Scully. Had he known that, would he still have gone?
Of course, the main talk of the summer hiatus was the last two minutes of the episode. Scully is pregnant. There were hints in earlier spoilers but many people have stated that was some fan-fiction plot. Why does it exclusively have to be a fan-fiction plot? Think about it, this plotline along with Mulder's abduction has given the series something that has been seriously missing in the past two seasons: focus. With the annihilation of the Project and the Syndicate as well as the resolution of Samantha's abduction, the series appeared to be reverting back to the non-continuity of the first season with no true direction. Some episodes would be decent while others were pure trash ("Fight Club" anyone?). I have never wanted to watch the series more since Scully's abduction or almost all of Season 4. The situation is compelling, because it affects the characters deeper than any other experience they've had in the past seven years. It also surprised me! Heck, Skinner was crying! He was responsible for Mulder, since Scully was not able to go, and in Skinner's mind, he failed both of them. If anyone knows how much Mulder and Scully mean to each other, it's Skinner. The shame he felt while trying to tell Scully was the most emotional I think he has ever openly displayed. Add Scully's pregnancy to the factor, and the Assistant Director will have a lot mulling around in that bald head of his.
Now, I've already received a few emails from people asking about Scully's "situation." What do I think? Unless aliens somehow abducted her again without her knowledge, your guess is as good as mine. Who is the father? I honestly don't know. Yet, the romantic in me thinks it's Mulder's. Obviously, there was a hint of some indiscretion between Mulder and Scully in "all things," but that doesn't explain how Scully could be impregnated when it was supposedly impossible. A possible reason would be that she was always fertile. We are not privy to know if Scully still gets a monthly cycle, so that is purely speculative. The only "feasible" explanation that comes to mind is that Smoking Man had something done to her during "En Ami." She was drugged, and what doctor would not know that? If Scully's sterility was somehow reversed, then a tryst between Mulder and Scully in "all things" would certainly be within that right time frame for her pregnancy. Another thing to take note is that when Scully entered that energy field, she was violently shaken up (a cool effect!). It is possible that since time seems to be "suspended" within the vicinity of a UFO, that could have been the moment that Scully was impregnated. Alien baby? Now, that scenario is not the most appealing, but we'll have several months to ponder the questions and possibilities. Darn! Season 8 never looked so good!!!
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