This episode was slightly charming, to some degree thanks to the goofy story, but mostly because if that feeling they gave it, you know, that '90s peculiar ambiance. I liked that. I liked the familiar tone of storytelling, the retro opening, and the score that tracked in the background. This could easily have fit between those old monster-of-the-week episodes and remained comfortably hidden among them, as if it never were...
Plus One ran out of steam pretty quickly. Mulder and Scully quickly got wind of what's going on and who was responsible for that. The usual arguments were present here, theories exchanged, but it seemed as if none of them was too eager to take a stance. That passion and wonder in their eyes and voice is gone, replaced by apathy and let's-get-it-over-with attitude. Mulder's theory, of course, is the unconventional one. Scully, however is not surprised or even a bit curious about that. She still sticks firmly to her cut and dry scientific extrapolations, reciting the same ole stuff mechanically. They do question each other's opinions, though, but to such a degree as to pass time, not facilitate a resolution. I strongly believe that every episode of this season should work towards the much needed closure of the epic story, wrapping things up in a meaningful way, and bringing a dignified end to it. No such luck so far, though. The show's become a self parody, pointing out its incoherence and meaningless circular reasoning.
The lead actors didn't help much either. Their meek and tired expressions convey a sense of boredom and tediousness, underlying the burden of the show's ceaseless reinventions and ridiculous layers of plot piling on top of each other for decades.
Plus One ran out of steam pretty quickly. Mulder and Scully quickly got wind of what's going on and who was responsible for that. The usual arguments were present here, theories exchanged, but it seemed as if none of them was too eager to take a stance. That passion and wonder in their eyes and voice is gone, replaced by apathy and let's-get-it-over-with attitude. Mulder's theory, of course, is the unconventional one. Scully, however is not surprised or even a bit curious about that. She still sticks firmly to her cut and dry scientific extrapolations, reciting the same ole stuff mechanically. They do question each other's opinions, though, but to such a degree as to pass time, not facilitate a resolution. I strongly believe that every episode of this season should work towards the much needed closure of the epic story, wrapping things up in a meaningful way, and bringing a dignified end to it. No such luck so far, though. The show's become a self parody, pointing out its incoherence and meaningless circular reasoning.
The lead actors didn't help much either. Their meek and tired expressions convey a sense of boredom and tediousness, underlying the burden of the show's ceaseless reinventions and ridiculous layers of plot piling on top of each other for decades.