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PLOT: Doggett and Reyes investigate a murder/suicide that may be linked to demons.
If there had to be an episode with a new duo that followed the tradition and scope of what "classic" X-Files showcased, "Daemonicus" is the closest thus far. It helps that the episode was written and directed by Frank Spotnitz, who is the "Rick Berman" of Ten Thirteen. He is one of the few people that can actually carry out those "interesting stories" that Chris Carter has been bragging about lately to any media outlet that will listen to him.
Much more tighter in plot and drama then the season premiere episodes, "Daemonicus" proves to a certain degree that the X-Files formula can work outside the familiar framework of Mulder and Scully. Though many fans may groan that Scully wasn't really shown that much in the episode, I believe that should be the case to further signify the direction the series is taking towards that "next generation" of the X-Files. It is difficult to comprehend how many people who watched Season 8 believed that there was some kind of working "chemistry" between Scully and Doggett during all the "Mulder-less" episodes. Yet, it was glaringly obvious when Mulder did return that Scully never truly felt that comfortable with Doggett. She never acted as though she can truly be herself around him, and some of that showed in "Daemonicus."
Getting besides the whole relationship between Scully, Doggett and Reyes, the main reasons that this particular stand-alone episode works so well was that there was truly something frightening and fascinating to watch. Many stand-alone episodes during Season 8 felt very forced and erratic as if to try to fill out the 48 minutes or so of a standard episode. "Daemonicus" never felt forced or erratic. The story elements shown had all the makings of many of the classic stand-alones of X-Files' seasons past. There was the dark, sensational teaser, a troubling yet clever villain, dead bodies that not only showcase a crime but evil at work, interesting moral and emotional dilemmas among the main characters and disturbingly effective frightening images. All those characteristics easily describe excellent episodes such as "Beyond the Sea," "Squeeze" and "Tooms," "Irresistable" and "Orison," "Pusher," "Paper Hearts," "Milagro" and "Millenium," just to name a few.
Of course, "Daemonicus" has a lot to live up to, but one clever story twist is the focus of the evil. At first, it appeared in the beginning that the episode was concentrating on Reyes. She felt the evil at the crime scene. The varying camera angles as she noticed the overhead fan was suddenly still was highly effective in conveying both Reyes' own fear and the uncertainty of her actions. Later, when we realize that Professor Kobold may be the one behind all the satanic murders, it is Doggett that evil focuses on.
The ironic thing is that Kobold figures out Doggett fairly well, whether he did find much of the info on the internet or not. Obviously, someone on the Ten-Thirteen staff must be paying attention to internet fan sites and bulletin boards. While Doggett accuses Kobold of planning the murders, Kobold in turn keeps Doggett off balance by playing with his inner-most insecurities. Though we may never truly know if Kobold's assertions that Doggett has very strong feelings for Scully and is afraid that he doesn't live up to Mulder is true, his reaction makes one wonder if Kobold just found his kryptonite.
Yet, Kobold does bring up some valid points that many fans have wondered as well about Doggett's intentions within the X-Files. As strong a character as he is, Doggett makes himself look more foolish every time he instantly dismisses a paranormal explanation. Since his own experiences dictate that he should keep a much more open mind (as Scully begrudgingly did during her tenure), why does he not fathom something evil at work as Monica tells him? If he is staying with the X-Files because of Scully, then he is in it for all the wrong reasons. If he is doing it to convince others that he can handle the cases as well as Mulder, then he is fooling himself into something unattainable. And if Doggett believes that he can put "handcuffs on demons" (my personal favorite quote), then he is risking his life as well as Monica's.
Though it was fascinating to see the mind games between Kobold and Doggett, I felt that the plot cut away from Reyes' own saga within the story as she was instantly made secondary as soon as Kobold was introduced. As I had mentioned before, there is *definitely* a chemistry that is so natural between Doggett and Reyes. They may agree to disagree with each other's views, but there is never that spite or uneasiness that Mulder and Scully sometimes showed during their hey day (Watch episodes like "All Souls" or "Syzygy.") They have no problem calling each other "John" and "Monica" even in front of Scully. That is a sign of trust if ever there was one. Also, it is poor use of Monica to have her feel evil than make her validate Kobold's actions as one of demonic or satanic possession. She is the expert in the field, but in the end, it makes her feelings cloud her judgement and validates Doggett's assertion of Kobold's true intentions.
Spotnitz obviously has a flair for directing as the episode flowed nicely. I loved the imaginative transitions he used such as the tile floor and the moving clouds. The checkerboard floor helped allude to "a game afoot" as in master manipulation. While the ominous moving clouds indicated further evil. Spotnitz also used a liberal amount of gore. That vomiting scene is something that will never be forgotten the rest of this season! There is also an intimacy with the characters as he used almost extreme close-ups for many of the scenes with Scully, Doggett and Reyes.
Overall, the episode was much more enjoyable than the initial teasers may have shown. The balance in the characterizations of the main characters was a strong part of the episode. Yet, for all the evil lurking around in this episode, Scully summed it up when she initially addressed her class: "..evil comes not from monsters but from men." Doggett and Reyes should heed those words wisely as Scully has a bit more experience in that department.
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