Somewhere between the direction by the wonderful Kim Manners, the script by Howard Gordon (whose X-Files work I am often mixed on) and the guest performances of now stars Giovanni Ribisi and Jack Black, I absolutely adore "D.P.O". It is also one of the most different episodes of the show up to this point and bears the almost unfortunate task of measuring up to the trilogy of episodes - "Anasazi", "The Blessing Way" and "Paper Clip" - that completely defined the show's mythology and redefined its potential. It was such an epic scope for the show and "D.P.O" is about Giovanni Ribisi controlling lightning.
That alone should be reason enough to watch this little episode and the entertainment that it offers, I cannot undersell. Both Ribisi and Jack Black are absolutely delightful, hilarious and youthful on screen and their chemistry is fantastic. Ribisi in particular nails the titular character of Darin Peter Oswald with his almost characteristic mannerisms that can be seen on "Friends" and "Lost in Translation" (really my only other exposure to the man's work).
The script is excellent and the gradual tonal shift from a fun, goofy comedy to something slightly more grave and creepy works perfectly with the episode's message of power and its absolute corruption. Darin is gradually corrupted by his own power and what starts off to him as a seemingly fun game (despite it killing and harming many others around him) becomes more grave when he kills his friend. It also is a story of an insecure man lusting after an older woman to gratify urges he may have and it comes together to tell a fairly conventional message.
Kim Manners and his direction has to be lauded. This is only his third directed episode for the show after the superb episodes "Die Hand Die Verletzt" and "Humbug" and he is equally up to task here. In this episode, he uses plenty of wide angle lenses that capture a sense of claustrophobia and generate a distinct atmosphere that immediately reminded me of the experience I had watching the show's first season. Look no further than the one exchange between Darin and his mother, who is seated on a couch and the use of the wide angle lens really adds an identity to this episode.
"D.P.O" is a great and fun little episode that I just absolutely adore. It is placed at the strangest of places within the third season, immediately after the epic "Paper Clip" which concluded the show's first trilogy of mythology episodes and immediately before the exuberant genius of "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose", one of the greatest solo achievements in television. "D.P.O" is perfectly entertaining however, if viewed with a fair mind.
That alone should be reason enough to watch this little episode and the entertainment that it offers, I cannot undersell. Both Ribisi and Jack Black are absolutely delightful, hilarious and youthful on screen and their chemistry is fantastic. Ribisi in particular nails the titular character of Darin Peter Oswald with his almost characteristic mannerisms that can be seen on "Friends" and "Lost in Translation" (really my only other exposure to the man's work).
The script is excellent and the gradual tonal shift from a fun, goofy comedy to something slightly more grave and creepy works perfectly with the episode's message of power and its absolute corruption. Darin is gradually corrupted by his own power and what starts off to him as a seemingly fun game (despite it killing and harming many others around him) becomes more grave when he kills his friend. It also is a story of an insecure man lusting after an older woman to gratify urges he may have and it comes together to tell a fairly conventional message.
Kim Manners and his direction has to be lauded. This is only his third directed episode for the show after the superb episodes "Die Hand Die Verletzt" and "Humbug" and he is equally up to task here. In this episode, he uses plenty of wide angle lenses that capture a sense of claustrophobia and generate a distinct atmosphere that immediately reminded me of the experience I had watching the show's first season. Look no further than the one exchange between Darin and his mother, who is seated on a couch and the use of the wide angle lens really adds an identity to this episode.
"D.P.O" is a great and fun little episode that I just absolutely adore. It is placed at the strangest of places within the third season, immediately after the epic "Paper Clip" which concluded the show's first trilogy of mythology episodes and immediately before the exuberant genius of "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose", one of the greatest solo achievements in television. "D.P.O" is perfectly entertaining however, if viewed with a fair mind.