User Reviews

Bang in the middle of the second series, "Aubrey" is very easy to overlook. After the overt weirdness of "Blood" and the gross bodyhorror or "The Host" and "Firewalker", we have a story very much about characters. And it's pretty damn good.

It's a little unclear what's going on at times, but essentially: a female detective (called B.J. - I laughed, but then, I would've been about 13 at the time) discovers the body of the victim of a serial killer who - we later find out - is her grandfather, now well into his seventies and on a ventilator. Meanwhile, similar murders are being committed, and B.J. keeps finding bodies. It ends up as a story about genetic memory, or something, and in truth, I don't fully understand it even after watching it a few times. But to be honest, it doesn't matter much; the plot and direction are gripping, and the performances are fantastic, particularly Deborah Strang as B.J., who seems to literally become a different person when she "becomes" the serial killer.

In a way, the uncertainty makes this one. You feel that what's going on is powerful and elemental, hypernatural rather than supernatural, and it's far more frightening than a lot of the more flashy episodes that surround it.

Whoa!, chalk one up for Scully here. Not only did she sniff out the affair going on between the married police lieutenant Brian Tillman (Terry O'Quinn) and one of his inspectors, B.J. Morrow (Deborah Strang), but she also correctly concluded that the woman was pregnant! You might get the idea she was hanging around Mulder too long!

Well pay attention to this one, because you've got murders being committed by a woman who's channeling the evil intensity of her seventy seven year old grandfather who's still alive and virtually falling apart in a nursing home. Aside from the altogether mind blowing premise of the story, the creepiest thing about this episode is the physical appearance of that old geezer Cokely, he looked like death warmed over with a face virtually covered with abrasions and sores that would make a healthy person hurl. Great makeup job, but the character actor Morgan Woodward, who portrayed Cokely, had a rough, pock marked face to begin with, which made him a staple of TV and movie Westerns as a villain all throughout the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies.

Aside from the basic story, the thing I really couldn't wrap my head around was the idea of letters or words left behind on the breastbones of slasher victims that were somewhat legible after death. Really? Bad enough that Inspector Morrow wound up with a horrifically scarred upper chest spelling out the word 'SISTER', but to think they'd still be visible on her skeleton some day when she died led me to think, 'OH BROTHER'.

Not one of the best episodes of the second Season, but still intriguing enough to keep me interested.

I think that the genetic memory raises an interesting issue. and the plot twist of BJ turning out to be the grand daughter of the carver to be well done.

Another thing that is well done in this episode are the premonitions, or visions, or whatever they were. They looked cool.

but then there is the bad, for starters. it almost feels like this episode tries very hard to be something great. the guest cast, like Terry O'Quinn, isn't used to their full potential. and it's at times, a little confusing to say the least.

it's a good episode, but it's also one easy to forget. THREE stars.

"I've often felt that dreams are answers to questions we haven't yet figured out how to ask." - Fox Mulder.

Episode 12, 'Aubrey', original air date January 6th, 1995. Written by Sara B. Charno, directed by Rob Bowman. Monster of the week episode count, 24. At this point in the life of the series Charno is only the second female staff member with a writing credit to her name and she delivers a terrific installment that knocks the previous entry off it's pedestal and takes the lead for my favourite season 2 MOTW, so far. Bowman is back for his second turn in the director's chair this season and his contribution is an integral component that aids in the success of the show. It's hard to believe that this is only his third episode, as throughout the life of the series he will take the helm for some of my favourite and consistently highly rated episodes. Terry O'Quinn guest stars in his first X-Files appearance. He will later reappear as two separate characters, one in the 1995 X-Files movie and again in the final season. I always felt that O'Quinn had the perfect sensibility for this series and would have been a great choice for a recurring character. His performances are often subtle and endearing, though at the same time he exudes a sense of mystery. This persona is probably best characterised by his role as John Locke in the television series Lost, arguably one of the most popular characters on that particular series. It's clear that Carter shares this sentiment as O'Quinn was cast as a recurring character in the sister series to 'The X-Files', 'Millennium' and he also made an appearance in another Carter produced show, the short lived 'Harsh Realm'. It's just unfortunate that they couldn't find a regular role for him in this series.

In Aubrey, Missouri, inspector B.J. Morrow (Deborah Strang) experiences a vision of murder and is compelled to dig in a field at night where she unearths the 50 year old body of an F.B.I. agent. The bones of the victim reveal the cause of death to be the modus operandi of a serial killer who was active in the 1940's. Soon after this discovery female victims start turning up with identical wound patterns and the belief is that the killer is still active. Mulder and Scully hit a roadblock however when they discover that the man, Harry Cokely (Morgan Woodward) convicted of an attack in the 40's and likely to be the perpetrator of a series of similar murders is confined to his home with an oxygen tank and in a frail state of health. Morrow is attacked one night by a man she describes as Harry Cokely, only a much younger version of himself that she recognised from his 1940's mugshot. Mulder starts to theorise that the evil in Cokely has been passed on through generations, biologically. Morrow is having visions, nightmares, which contain images she has never witnessed in real life. Though as the episode progresses we learn that Morrow is actually the granddaughter of Cokely, her father being a child of rape from one of Cokely's surviving victims. The evil that exists within Cokely is inhabiting his granddaughter and she is in a sense becoming him both in action and physical appearance. She begins to transform in to the personification of evil and is driven to commit these heinous acts of violence by something almost ethereal.

The episode explores some interesting themes. The core idea here is the argument that perhaps evil and violent tendencies are not a product of environment but something that can be passed on through genetic material from generation to generation. It's suggested that Cokely didn't turn evil but was born that way and thus his violent tendencies are being passed on to his granddaughter. As Mulder explains in the episode, many cases have been documented where twin siblings were separated from birth and yet shared many identical traits and behaviours regardless of the differences in their upbringing. This certainly suggests that personality traits could very well be passed on biologically in the same way that physical characteristics are passed down such as tall parents having tall children. It's an intriguing premise which due to its connection with real world science is actually quite frightening. The writer takes it a step further here of course with Morrow taking on the physical appearance of Cokely with his red skin splotches on his face and hands and her voice gradually becoming deeper. This is a nice touch and pushes the idea just a bit further in to the realms of science fiction. The make-up work on Cokely and Morrow is well done and really adds to the menacing quality of Cokely's character.

This was the second last acting performance for Morgan Woodward, his last being with Carter again on 'Millennium', and he's characterisation is a notable feature of the episode. All the guest appearances in this episode in fact are enjoyable, realistic performances that work well to sell the story and heighten the drama. Deborah Strang's transformation is convincing and although Terry O'Quinn isn't given a great deal to do he still delivers a satisfying performance. I have a particular fondness to stories involving serial killers and past lives so it's not surprising that I found this episode to be highly entertaining. Serial killers motive's and behaviour's are fascinating to consider, it's a highly debatable topic, that which drives someone to commit horrendous acts of repeated violence. Where does this behaviour stem from? Can it be tracked to a single event or traumatic incident in their lives, is it the product of violent media or, as Charno suggests, is it something innate, a deeper biological condition that is seeded from birth. Either way it's certainly interesting to speculate and explore this concept and The X-Files is the perfect format in which to do so.

Aubrey is about a local police detective finding the body of a long dead FBI agent, without being able to explain as to how she came about the discovery.

The concept's almost genius. B.J. being this way because she's pregnant and her being the daughter of the son of Cokely's rape victim, Thibedeaux. That the child's born evil, carried down through generations. However negatively, someone acting without cause is empty viewing. The characterization's solid and the performances and dialogue good though.

Mulder: Yes, and also, I've always been intrigued by women named B.J.

Aubrey is a well-paced and very dramatic episode. It's one of my favorites from season two. Terry O'Quinn makes his first appearance on the x-files and he does a great job as Lieutenant Brian Tillman. Aubrey is a murder mystery that keeps you wondering who the real murderer is. You also don't know how BJ is connected to Cokely, the serial killer. This episode is superbly directed by Rob Bowman, an x-files regular. Even with the darkness of the episode, there are some lighter moments that help make this episode well-paced. One of those moments is the scene with Mulder and the pile of the sunflower seeds and him discussing about how he may be genetically disposed to liking sunflower seeds. I also like towards the end when Mulder appears as Chaney, the dead FBI agent. Excellent directing. I highly recommend Aubrey for viewing that keeps the suspense and drama at it's highest.

Unlike the previous episodes of the season like "blood" and "firewalker" the X-files finally go back to the more mental and psychotic story arcs. this is truly terrifying episode and I love it.

Basically it's about a woman who discovers the burial places from murders that was committed in the 1940's. Now the question is how does she know this, when these murders where never discovered, and only the now 77 years old murder could know. Also many identical murders are happening and the woman seen to know about them before they actually happen. (SPOILER) Mulder's final conclusion is that she is in fact the daughter of the murderer, and is reliving and re staging his murders because of genetic memory.

Now many people has a hard time understanding this episode because of the genetic memory thing, which I think is strange because this is the X-Files and it is a lot more plausible than most of the weird things that have appeared in this TV series. I think it was a clever and very original idea, and a damn scary idea too.

For it's original story and scary atmosphere, not to mention good acting, I give this episode a 10/10.

Aubrey the Limerick:

Aubrey is a woman whose father

In earlier days was a bother

To many little sisters

But now that old mister

Will be taught a lesson by his daughter.

This episode doesn't really ever stand out to me as an X-Files episode. The only thing I ever remember about it is Terry O'Quinn, Sister, and that lady finding a body out in the field. I have to be honest, I think there is a lot more that could have been done with the episode that is kind of missing. I don't really know what, I can't put my finger on it. I like the story of the FBI agent and the serial killer and that whole deal. I thought Mulder's BJ joke was a little too obscure for those who don't have quite as dirty of a mind as him. I even had to think about it for a second. And I don't understand why the episode is called Aubrey. I don't know what else to say. I don't hate the episode, its just not really a favorite and doesn't really stand out to me. 7 out of 10.

And it ain't gonna be me!

Good filler episode with some dark themes. I've never heard of a serial killer passing down his traits to his offspring. So not sure how plausible this episode is.

At first I thought the pc woman was just having visions then it turns out they were memories her grandads demon spirit lives on. This episode was gripping for this reason.

I wish they explained how the pregnancy was linked to the killings as it would be interesting to find out the unborn child was the spawn of the evil genetic spree. That could explain why the police woman may have wanted to abort the child.

This made me upset. He could die so easily.

After a woman gets pregnant, her mutated genes are activated and somehow, his grandfather's soul (or genes) takes control of her.

It was really interesting so such a story. I could not guess she could be her daughter. That is why i like episode.

I only did not like brian. BJ said "brian would kill me if i told pregnancy". So that is why .

This episode about a serial killer is a real low for the second season. Let's just start with the most basic stuff: it's boring, the story is scattershot, it's visually ugly, the whole episode is washed out and often filmed in too much shadow. It's unenjoyable to watch. But that's not the worst part. I just feel like, if you're a writer building a fantasy world like The X-Files is this really what you want it filled with? You want a world where serial killer's children or grand-children go crazy for paranormal reasons and murder people while in a trance of psychosis? Is that really all that awesome? In a world of cool alien conspiracies, and weird vampires, and cryptozoological horrors, you want to throw in there that serial killer's innocent children and grand-children have some ancestral memory of slashing people up with a razor they can't escape? Some Walt Disney gene that makes them stop being who they are and start committing weird murders? Really? This is really just a play off of the old anti-miscegenation horror of the late 19th and early 20th century, where some character with a secret mixed race ancestry recalls their savage roots through some genetic memory and acts out as their dark lineage instructs. I guess I'll give Chris Carter some points for not making the killer the grand-daughter of a great ape, but it's still just a weirdly distasteful storyline.

I really don't like stories like this because of how just pointlessly mean they are. There's no fable, there's no moral, there's no real theme, lots of horror stories are mean and cruel, but there's that spark of a point. Some small look at human foibles, the human condition, questions of morality. None of that here. Serial killers are actually just all victims, they're not even evil, that old woman is quite mistaken, they're literally just having psychotic, supernatural episodes where they attack people and have no control over it. They're as guilty for their actions as a schizophrenic in a mental institution is for swinging a chair at orderlies because they think they're surrounded by demons and stuck in an MK Ultra experiment. There's just something about it that's gross.