Season 10, Episode 5: “Babylon”
“The X-Files” took inspiration from a variety of sources this week in a slow-starting episode that ended up being quite enjoyable and ultimately a little heartbreaking. We saw Mulder dancing shirtless and communicating with the near dead and Scully mentoring a younger agent who bore more than a passing resemblance to Mulder.
And, for you romantics, there was even a lovely Valentine at the end.
Here are the highlights:
“Homeland” Meets “The Twilight Zone”
A suicide bombing in Texas brings two young agents knocking on Mulder and Scully’s office door. (“Anybody down here?” one asks. “Nobody but the F.B.I.’s most unwanted,” Scully says, mimicking what Mulder said to her in the series pilot.) Agent Einstein (“I claim a distant relation”) is a redhead, a doctor and a natural skeptic; her partner, Agent Miller, is a chiseled believer in otherworldly methods. I feel like we’ve seen these two before.
The X-Files
Recaps of the revived paranormal drama on Fox.
‘The X-Files’ Season 10, Episode 4: Back in the Day
‘The X-Files’ Season 10, Episode 3: Mulder Rediscovers His Monster Mojo
‘The X-Files’ Season 10, Episode 2: That’s More Like It
‘The X-Files’ Season 10 Premiere: A Crazier Mulder Than Usual
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Unfortunately, Agent Einstein (Lauren Ambrose of “Six Feet Under”) is rude, impatient, disrespectful, and not worthy of a younger Scully. As Agent Miller, Robbie Amell (cousin of Stephen, who plays Arrow on the CW show) just didn’t read as old enough to be playing in the big leagues. The two don’t inspire much confidence in the government, but then again, that’s not the point of “The X-Files.”
But Scully sees something in Miller and travels to Texas to help him communicate with his comatose suspect. Her motivation is personal, informed by her mother’s recent death. Scully seems to appreciate Miller’s empathy for the young bomber. She’s as patient with him as she is with Mulder, and other than being obviously reminiscent of her partner, he also reminds her of the son she misses.
“Honky Tonk Badonkadonk”
I knew Mulder’s subconscious was a scary place, but man, it was more frightening than I could ever have imagined.
It’s not filled with extraterrestrials, though. It’s filled with extra neon. The saucy dream sequence that Mulder has in Texas when he thinks he’s on “magic mushrooms” moves from the groovy line-dancing of Billy Ray Cyrus’s “Achy Breaky Heart” to a re-enactment of Trace Adkins’s video for “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.” Mulder’s crew is less redneck and more geek squad, with Skinner in a cowboy hat and a bolo tie and the Lone Gunmen in their finest Western attire. As the music fades, we find Mulder on a boat, crossing the River Styx and being whipped by the Smoking Man.
There was much speculation as to how the Gunmen, Langly, Frohike and Byers, would make an appearance since they sacrificed themselves in “Jump the Shark” in Season 9 of the show. Still, the entire spectacle was so outrageous that I couldn’t look away and, in fact, watched it over and over. Pride prevents me from thinking this was just because David Duchovny is a decent dancer and had his shirt off.
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DSTJ
4 hours ago
Bring back the Lone Gunmen!I know they supposedly died, but we're talking about the X-Files for crying out loud. Maybe they really escaped...
Natty Bumpo
4 hours ago
Character and chemistry make this show better than most in this genre. So nice to see how the characters and actors have grown up. In this...
Baby Mark
4 hours ago
The series has been superb at every twist and turn. I love how the characters have aged and how they poke fun at themselves. Here's to...
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But this fantasy was more than just a peek into Mulder’s mind and his apparent love of country music. It gave Mulder the key to unlock the mystery behind a terrorist cell. Once again, his empathy shined through and led him to the answers everyone was seeking.
Something that I have come to like about these episodes is how loose Mulder (and by extension, Duchovny) is. One of the great things about growing older is that you can become absolutely comfortable in your skin. I am reminded of the Eminem/Rihanna song “The Monster” — “I’m friends with the monster that’s under my bed/Get along with the voices inside of my head.” Mulder has gotten there, maybe because Mr. Duchovny has gotten there, too.
What the P.D.A.?
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Mulder has heard the herald of the end times and so have we. It’s been a very quick five weeks, and Mulder and Scully have done a lot together, but they haven’t had a chance to be just lovebirds.
As this episode comes to a close, we find them walking hand in hand and looking lovingly into each other’s eyes, talking about the things you’d imagine them talking about, suicide bombers, “mother love.” There was no kiss, but my he