REVIEW: Autumn's Apocrypha Review - SPOILERS
Autumn T
by Autumn Tysko
"I think the dead are speaking to us Mulder, demanding justice.
Maybe that man was right, maybe we bury the dead alive."
I commented in my "Piper Maru" review that I thought that episode
was missing something - that it didn't have the drive or intensity that
I had come to expect from the mythology episodes. I think of it now
as a lengthy preamble to this show - necessary exposition that allows
"Apocrypha" to move at a harrowing breakneck pace. Anytime I actually
need to get up and pace during the commercial breaks I know the
show is succeeding on all levels. This episode gave us a lot, and in a
somewhat uncharacteristic fashion, gave the audience bits of resolution
on some nagging issues. Of course, there is much more that we need
to know, but I was quite satisfied with where things stood at the close of
this chapter.
The theme of this two-parter seems to be the effect of the dead on our
lives, and it echoes throughout both "Piper Maru" and "Apocrypha". Of
lesser import this time around is the whole quest for Samantha. These
shows are about justice or revenge for the dead. The two-parter starts
with Scully frustrated by the complete lack of investigation into her
sister's death and ends with her mourning her in the cemetery. The
shows are full of references to the dead being our conscience, speaking
to us, and seeking closure that can't be found.
The teaser gives us our first secret, as we see a young Bill Mulder
and (this was scary) a young and even attractive CancerMan (which
just goes to show you what 40 years of smoking will do to a guy's
looks). It seems that it is Mulder's legacy to atone for the sins of the
father who wasn't willing or able to "make sure the truth gets out" as
the sailor requested. Nice touch to loop William B. Davis' voice in as
the young CancerMan with the eerie "you can trust all of us."
I have often wondered if it is maybe just the hospital setting that puts
Scully into her major bossy overdrive mode. I love it when she orders
other agents around. Actually, I'm surprised that she even lets other
doctors look at her friends. One senses that she's got what it takes
to make a heck of an A. D. herself one day. Her whole interplay with
the other agents was quite interesting. She took the investigation and
ran with it uncovering all of, if not most of the major clues while the
others consistently offered excuses "we've pretty much exhausted
our avenues". What an interesting parallel to her comments about
Mulder from "Piper Maru" dealing with his relentlessness - I'm sure
the willingness of others to give up so easily gives her a further
appreciation for Mulder's tenacity.
Another X-Files staple: it's an old familiar scene and they know it, as
Mulder awakes in a hospital to find Scully patiently waiting at his
bedside. Their slight smiles betray the all too familiar aspect of this
scene as Mulder mentions "I guess I'm not dead" and Scully gives him
her "not this time" look. I could feel those of us concerned with the
interplay between Mulder and Scully draw a sigh of relief during
"Apocrypha" as it appears the cold front has apparently moved on for a
while. I especially liked the scene where Mulder explains his theory of
the oil based medium to her and Scully struggles to maintain a straight
face and ask pertinent questions until they both just have to laugh over
it.
That said, I still believe the best character interplay we are seeing
these
days is between Scully and Skinner - not Scully and Mulder. From her
hand holding concern at the hospital to their scene in his hospital room,
Anderson and Pileggi are getting the most out of these moments. Scully
may not believe in aliens, but she has come to recognize a large scale
conspiracy through her experience. The slow burn she does, as
Skinner warns her "anger is not a luxury that you can afford right now"
plays great. For a second I found it interesting to see Skinner lecturing
Scully about keeping her head and warning her about making mistakes,
but then I remembered that he has seen her lose it big time - and
making the mistake of distraction that allowed him to pull his gun on her
back in "Blessing Way".
Skinner may say he is "not advancing any conspiracy", but his actions
speak highly of his character and both Mulder and Scully realize it this
time around. It’s quite a switch to see Mulder with a new found respect
for Skinner - shaking his hand, helping him, and even thanking him.
Even though Skinner claims he just did his job and that it isn’t "his
crusade" he did, as Mulder points out, put his job and life on the line
for Scully. I never thought I’d say this, being a bit of a Mulder/Scully
purist, but I’m actually looking forward to the upcoming Skinner
episode now.
The consortium also had a few interesting twists for us. It was nice
to see John Neville back, and even nicer to see that they seem to be
getting real impatient with CancerMan’s shoot ‘em now - get answers
later style. What a sad life old CM lives - every time we see him at home
he's drinking, smoking, and watching old WWII movies in black and
white while someone breaks into his house. I think that he's got a bit to
worry about now that Well Manicured Man has found out via Mulder that
not only is Krycek alive, but the tape is still out there.
What a pleasant surprise to get a visit from Action Scully - we really
don't
see her enough. Kicking doors open gun drawn and giving chase
through the streets - all leading to one of those amazing moments when
that always present Scully snap factor kicks in big time. That scene with
her screaming "You shot my sister!" while the fugitive begged for his life
gave me goosebumps. You could see such a wonderful war of emotions
in her eyes culminating with the fact that she really really wanted to
shoot him.
The last act was fast paced and fun as we move to North Dakota
and our poor unlucky heroes are caught by the cavalry a mere few feet
from the UFO behind door 1013 - you just have to laugh sometimes.
The cemetery scene was well-played with a quiet introspective nature -
it was nice to know that Mulder was able to find her - and he
brought flowers. Though anyone who actually thinks that Krycek was
buried alive - think again.
Random Musings
------------------------
-The alien evacuation scenes were wonderful - the ooze "bleeding"
out of the felled captain, and even better Krycek expelling the alien
back into the ship. (Remind me never to have whatever he was drinking).
-What Mulder really said to Scully on the phone: "Meet me at the
airport for a trip to North Dakota - and - uh - pack the good
flashlights."
-The Lone Gunmen Icecapades scene was fun, but a throw away. Only
Byers would skate in that silly suit - and they were just too pleased with
themselves on their "G-men" activities. Too bad they didn't know about
the old pencil trick.
-Retread alert - Agent Fuller from "Squeeze".
-M "It looked great on me in the store".
-Why in the world does Mr. Italian Consortium guy pronounce UFO as
you-fo?
-I've decided I really like Agent Pendrell - the poor guy is just pining
away,
doing his best to do all that he can to help and impress Scully just so
she'll stop long enough to notice and perhaps touch his arm again.
-Great moment: CancerMan lighting up right after the line "massive
and malignant cancers".
-Scully psychic moment: Isn't it amazing that she just *happened* to
be wearing slacks and ... low heeled shoes ... on the night she had
to chase Hispanic Man through the streets. Coincidence? I think not.
-Scully's comment of "1 down, 199 silos to go" could lead to a new
X-Files rendition of "100 bottles of beer on the wall" - Hmm, maybe
*that* was Krycek's problem.
-Do you ever think they start a new X-Files script with one line:
"Mulder, it's me. Where are you?" and just work from there?
-I never knew one could get such a nice luxury rent car in Black
Crow, North Dakota.
Autumn
"I’ve seen stranger things - believe me"
David Ford
"Better Dead than Red." Forgive me if I am showing extreme ignorance, but isn't
this a reference to communism? If so, what does the Pacific theater in WWII
have to do with communism? I thought we were fighting the Japanese, and that
the Russian communists were allies in the European theater. Can anyone
enlighten me? Please post or e-mail: df...@sun78.ny.wgl.com
Thanks.
David Ford
"Better Dead than Red." Forgive me if I am showing extreme ignorance, but isn't
this a reference to communism? If so, what does the Pacific theater in WWII
Russian communists were allies in the European theater. Can anyone enlighten
Vic Ellisor
>On the side of the fighter plane at the bottom of the ocean, the side said
>"Better Dead than Red." Forgive me if I am showing extreme ignorance, but isn't
>this a reference to communism? If so, what does the Pacific theater in WWII
>the Russian communists were allies in the European theater. Can anyone
swimsuit. From what I can see this has nothing to do with communists.
Vic Ellisor
Vic Ellisor
Vic Ellisor
JN Cotton
>
>On the side of the fighter plane at the bottom of the ocean, the side
said
>"Better Dead than Red." Forgive me if I am showing extreme ignorance,
but isn't
>this a reference to communism? If so, what does the Pacific theater in
WWII
>have to do with communism? I thought we were fighting the Japanese,
and that
>the Russian communists were allies in the European theater. Can anyone
>enlighten me? Please post or e-mail: df...@sun78.ny.wgl.com
>
>Thanks.
>
of the plane. I'd have to go back and look. I heard that the "Drop Dead
Red" note was a CC nod to GA.
Nancy (no clever sig)
Mike Pottorff
The submarine mission took place in 1953 -- they thought they were
looking for the downed plane carrying the 3rd A-bomb for Japan. The
alliance with the Soviet Union was DEFINITELY over by then.
Steve Settle
>On the side of the fighter plane at the bottom of the ocean, the side said
>"Better Dead than Red." Forgive me if I am showing extreme ignorance, but isn't
>this a reference to communism? If so, what does the Pacific theater in WWII
>have to do with communism? I thought we were fighting the Japanese, and that
>the Russian communists were allies in the European theater. Can anyone
>enlighten me? Please post or e-mail: df...@sun78.ny.wgl.com
>Thanks.
I think it said "Drop Dead Red" and probably had a picture of a woman
on it. That was done, I understand, during WW2.
Dianne
Cheryl Deluca
D >On the side of the fighter plane at the bottom of the ocean, the side s
D >"Better Dead than Red." Forgive me if I am showing extreme ignorance, b
D >isn't
D >this a reference to communism? If so, what does the Pacific theater in
D >have to do with communism? I thought we were fighting the Japanese, and
D >the Russian communists were allies in the European theater. Can anyone
D >enlighten me? Please post or e-mail: df...@sun78.ny.wgl.com
D >Thanks.
Okay I'm off the cold medicine.. And I think I can handle this.. Drop dead
red is what it said..
Cheryl.Deluca @canrem.com
God grant me the courage to change the things I can change
the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, and
the wisdom to hide the bodies of those I had to kill because they pissed me off!
---
* WR [NR] * UNREGISTERED EVALUATION COPY
Leslie Bohlen
says...
>
>-=DFORDwrote to ALLon 02-20-96 20:26=-
>
>
>D >On the side of the fighter plane at the bottom of the ocean, the side s
>D >"Better Dead than Red." Forgive me if I am showing extreme ignorance, b
>D >isn't
>D >this a reference to communism? If so, what does the Pacific theater in
>D >have to do with communism? I thought we were fighting the Japanese, and
>D >the Russian communists were allies in the European theater. Can anyone
>D >enlighten me? Please post or e-mail: df...@sun78.ny.wgl.com
>
>D >Thanks.
>
>Okay I'm off the cold medicine.. And I think I can handle this.. Drop dead
>red is what it said..
>
>Cheryl.Deluca @canrem.com
And it probably had a picture of a killer redhead painted somewhere on it too!
Leslie
John Madigan
This is sort of out of left field, but can anyone with knowledge of WWII
arcana clear a couple of things up for me?
1) I didn't think Pacific theatre aircraft had "nose art" such as Drop
Dead Red.
2) I didn't think there were any P-51's in the Pacific either.
real_name
It said "Drop Dead Red", and if you go to thje Fox official site, CC says they
named it in honor of Gillian Anderson who is often called "Drop Dead Gorgeous"
on many internet sites...