* Warning - Possible spoilers *
This is, in my opinion, Season 1's best episode of the cult show.
The norm of the FBI's paranormal investigating duo is flipped on its head here whereby Mulder is a non believer of an incarcerated murderer on death row who claims to be psychic and Dana Scully, the skeptic of the duo, has her logical and scientific mindset pushed to the point of its limits when she sees her recently deceased father channeled via Lucas Boggs (the psychic prisoner). Mulder requests proof of the abilities of Boggs and accuses him of being a charlatan when his test isn't passed and he reveals that he set up the test. Scully however is suddenly shocked to hear something immediately after the interview and test which shocks her to her core and later in the episode she decides to act on the information which Mulder ruled out as being unreliable when she sees things foretold by Boggs' precognition.
The incarcerated serial murderer is played with supreme expertise by Brad Dourif and brings the shows best moments. Despite the role being confined within three walls and and bars, Brad somehow elevates the performance into something amazing and outshines even the shows stars with his portrayal of Lucas Boggs' emotion of others persons being channeled by the character, his fear of his outcome and the knowledge of what others are thinking.
Despite it being 23 years old, this episode has stood the test of time and will, most likely, still shine in another 20+ years.
This is, in my opinion, Season 1's best episode of the cult show.
The norm of the FBI's paranormal investigating duo is flipped on its head here whereby Mulder is a non believer of an incarcerated murderer on death row who claims to be psychic and Dana Scully, the skeptic of the duo, has her logical and scientific mindset pushed to the point of its limits when she sees her recently deceased father channeled via Lucas Boggs (the psychic prisoner). Mulder requests proof of the abilities of Boggs and accuses him of being a charlatan when his test isn't passed and he reveals that he set up the test. Scully however is suddenly shocked to hear something immediately after the interview and test which shocks her to her core and later in the episode she decides to act on the information which Mulder ruled out as being unreliable when she sees things foretold by Boggs' precognition.
The incarcerated serial murderer is played with supreme expertise by Brad Dourif and brings the shows best moments. Despite the role being confined within three walls and and bars, Brad somehow elevates the performance into something amazing and outshines even the shows stars with his portrayal of Lucas Boggs' emotion of others persons being channeled by the character, his fear of his outcome and the knowledge of what others are thinking.
Despite it being 23 years old, this episode has stood the test of time and will, most likely, still shine in another 20+ years.