Without

Free Web Site - Free Web Space and Site Hosting - Web Hosting - Internet Store and Ecommerce Solution Provider - High Speed Internet

PLOT: Scully, Skinner and Doggett continue to search for Mulder. Meanwhile, an old nemesis makes his presence known.

Trust No One. Three words that the series made famous becomes a rule to live by in the latest episode, "Without." At every turn, someone that should be trusted becomes the enemy when you least expect it. Paranoia was the general feeling among many of the characters and until the fatal kill shot at the end, there was always the slightest doubt in the back of their minds on who to trust.

Only two episodes into Season 8 and the suspense, intrigue and action already shown has been outstanding thus far. It seems that the addition of Robert Patrick into the aging series has reinvigorated both the cast and crew to make the show go back to its most paranoid-laden classic feeling of seasons past. Gillian shows us why she is arguably one of the best dramatic actresses on series television today. She has already shown some of the best emotional Scully scenes since early Season 5 and in most cases, with no dialogue! While Mitch gets to show off his prowess at action scenes, Robert has not backed down from the challenge of the outsider trying to fit in. More on Agent Doggett later...

As most people guessed from the season premiere, that was not Mulder running around causing havoc. However, until he walked away from falling off a 100-foot cliff, there was the *slightest* notion that our favorite F.B.I. agent may have finally showed up. Of course, that would be too easy and would make the rest of the episode kind of a moot point. Instead, we get to see Doggett witness his first paranormal experience as even he is puzzled to find a body missing from the bottom of the cliff with footsteps running away from the scene. It was interesting to notice how he *appeared* unflappable when Scully was explaining to him of this "man who can become another man," and that he was alien collecting a bounty on Gibson Praise. Rather than dismissing Scully's explanation, Doggett just comments that she is starting to sound like Mulder. To Scully, that was probably the best compliment he could give her at that point.

The big difference between the two episodes was the feeling of teamwork. The three main leads, Scully, Skinner and Doggett all had shining moments within the episode and only made each successive scene work that much better overall. Scully was able to find out where Gibson went, and why the Alien Bounty Hunter (ABH) wanted him so badly. Skinner knew that the manhunt for Mulder was a way for newly appointed Deputy Director Kersh to finally debunk the X-Files once and for all and take up-and-coming Agent Doggett, who is more determined than ever to find Mulder, with it.

Continuing from "Within," Scully is still coping with her sudden loss of Mulder. Her defensive armor is up as always but both Skinner and Doggett can see her evident pain. The search for Mulder and Gibson Praise helps distract her from having a total emotional breakdown. She admits to Skinner that her determination is based on the fear that she can't take the chance that she might never see Mulder again. This is coming from a woman who is only becoming aware of how much of herself has been lost with Mulder's absence. Scully feels incomplete and lost without Mulder's strength and passion. Her own feeling of self has been deeply compromised. Only at the end of the episode when she ensures Gibson's safety does she openly break down in front of Doggett. Even Scully can take only so much pain. Yet, in the end, she has to handle Mulder's loss alone.

Besides his brief scenes being impersonated by ABH, David didn't have much to do in this episode. Unlike "Within," Mulder's presence wasn't as prominent. With the focus on finding Gibson and knowing that there was an enemy among the task force, Mulder's scenes were few and far between. Yet, Scully knew the importance of Gibson in helping her find Mulder. Apparently, his powers are still present, but they don't seem as overwhelmingly impressive as in episodes past. Before, you can go into a room with Gibson, and he would know what you had for breakfast that morning or which lovely lady made your heart beat faster. Now, puberty must have changed his body beyond just deepening his voice. He only senses Mulder through a dream even though he was apparently close. Gibson can't even narrow down an area for Scully to search. He just says that "she's so close." On that vague tip, she decides to walk around a very dark, lonely desert in search of her partner.

Only two episodes under his belt, and Robert Patrick shows a depth that was never truly showcased in any of his earlier works. Doggett is a man who accepts what he sees without question. In that respect, he is already different from Scully's nagging skepticism where every occurrence no matter how unusual *has* to have some logical, scientific explanation. If there isn't one, then she can say her science is lacking. Doggett has no such scientific background, but prior military and police training has shown him to be a keen observer. He knows what should be the focus for the investigation and goes with it. It's highly unlikely that he will ever come up with a feasible explanation for every paranormal event he witnesses. Even though Scully challenged his resolve as when they both witnessed her doppelganger, he decides to avoid the issue altogether, because he knows it's beyond his own experiences. Good call.

Though the episode was compelling overall, as with the supposed "Full Disclosure" episodes of Season 6, "Without" did not resolve a thing. Scully is no closer to finding Mulder than she did in "Within." Gibson is a ward of the state. Is that truly wise? Considering that we witnessed more ABHs hovering around Mulder, it doesn't take a scientific background in paranormal psychology to realize that they will still go after Gibson. Also, besides not knowing the whereabouts of Mulder, what is the reason the aliens are so interested in him now? His "medical condition" from "Sixth Extinction" might have something to do with it. Yet, why would the aliens want to abduct such a high profile human with all his colleagues searching for him? I doubt craving attention would have anything to do with it. Another avoided plot point from "Within," no confirmation or denial of Mulder's true health status.

Thus, as excellent in drama, pace and dialogue as the two episodes were, they still left me craving for more explanations. Obviously, Chris Carter is setting up the next 8-10 episodes without Mulder being a primary focus. For those of us that can actually stand such a scenario, it will be interesting just how much Scully will be able to confide in Doggett. The look she gave him when he informed her that he was now officially assigned to the X-Files was both a puzzled and shocked one. Mulder and Skinner are the only people she really trusts, yet sometime in the next four months, her pregnant condition is going to be obvious to everyone. It will be very interesting how Doggett and even Kersh react to this. Speaking of our new Deputy Director, Kersh is one tight-assed bureaucrat. It's amazing that Doggett got away with some of his comments in front of him without being demoted to the mail room rather than the X-Files. Another thing to look forward to in future episodes will be seeing how much of a believer Scully has become now that she has no Mulder to fuel her skeptic fire. Will she just takes leaps of logic for no other apparent reason than to get under Doggett's skin? And if nothing else this season other than the reunion of Mulder and Scully, there is that ever important "talk" Scully still has with her mom. *That* will be something to look forward to in a (hopefully soon) future episode.

Finally, if there are many of you out there that still don't like Doggett because of the symbolism involved of him "replacing" Mulder within the X-Files and Scully's life, Carter was clever enough to make him say the final line of the episode: "Whatever you and I may differ on, I'll find him, Agent Scully." For those of you with short-term memory, Scully said pretty much the same thing at the end of "Requiem."

Please use the "Back" button on your browser.