PLOT: Agents Mulder and Doggett find themselves stranded on an oil rig while investigating an unusual death.

They're coming.

Those words bring nothing but chills to any science fiction fan. "They" being the operative word for aliens. In "Vienen," it seems that the alien oil that we have come to know and love has their own little agenda in mind. As usual, Mulder figures it out but not in time to really do anything.

This episode had to come about if the series is truly going in the direction of "The Next Generation" scenario. Last week's "Empedocles" gave us a glimpse of how Doggett and Reyes work together. This episode lets Mulder see what kind of agent Doggett really is. Was it enough to finally bury the hatchet between the two? That's debateable, but in this episode, Mulder sees a bit of the integrity that Scully has told him about.

I admit that I was somewhat confused at the scene with Doggett finding Mulder in the basement office. Kersh obviously did not assign Mulder back to the X-Files. Yet, we aren't given any clue as to where Mulder is currently assigned. Doggett obviously did not appreciate Mulder being in the office, but not enough to kick him out. Also, does Doggett have a photographic memory? He recited the "Piper Maru" case to a tee that Mulder was visibly impressed. There is definitely more to Agent Doggett than meets the eye.

The whole "feel" of the episode harked back to the paranoid-laden eps of Seasons 2 and 3. The oil rig atmosphere is not very far from the submarine scenario in "Piper Maru," the first episode where we encountered the alien oil. The claustrophobic fear in knowing that everyone around you is infected and out to get you was very evident and well done. Mulder and Doggett definitely conveyed that as well.

What did the two men learn about each other? I believe Doggett is finally seeing a basis of Mulder's paranoia. The stories and rumors that has been circulating around the Bureau in regards to Mulder do have some basis of fact. They just took a life of their own. Yet, Doggett stills sees an agent that knows what he's doing. Also, he witnesses *another* paranormal event.

As for Mulder, I think he is slightly jealous that Doggett was Scully's partner all these months. He sees that she respects Doggett, and it's obvious that Doggett defers to Scully. But Mulder's jealousy is normal. Remember "Tithonus"? Yet, he sees that Doggett has good instincts about people and wants to find the truth as much as he does. But he also understands after his experience with Scully that Doggett has to want to believe in the paranormal. Doggett's experience on the oil rig was a step in the right direction.

Mulder's dismissal was no surprise. It seemed from the very beginning, he could care less about rules and regulations now that Kersh was in charge. When Mulder and Scully were temporarily assigned to Kersh back in early Season 6, Mulder did everything he could to avoid work in general and explored X-Files' cases by himself. With Kersh in charge of all of them, including Skinner, Mulder knew it was just a matter of time before he would be kicked out for one of his indiscretions.

So where does this leave Mulder for the remaining episodes? That's something that we will find out starting with the next episode. It seems that he might be investigating X-Files by himself now, but as to how he makes a living without the resources of the Bureau is going to be rather enlightening. I heard that Mulder will possibly make a cameo experience in a future Lone Gunmen episode. That should be interesting!

Scully didn't do much in this episode but after carrying off the majority of episodes while David was gone, it's only fair that Gillian gets some time off. Besides, she will be a key focus in the final two episodes of the season. Will they be the last of the series? Just like last May, we have to wait and see. I do know that Carter has stated in a recent news article that we will finally find out who fathered Scully's baby. On the other hand, I read an article where Gillian was interviewed last fall, and she claimed that we would know who the father was before the end of last year. Hmmmm....trust no one.


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