REVIEW: Autumn's "Tempus Fugit" Review - SPOILERS
aut...@aol.com
"Tempus Fugit" Review
By Autumn Tysko
"Oh promise me this isn't leading to something really embarrassing."
OK, so I'm a little jaded. I've seen enough two part episodes where
one half so greatly overshadows the other that I'm a bit nervous. I
enjoyed this episode quite a bit, and I really hope that the follow
through is there next week to make it a rewarding journey. The
interesting thing is that this episode didn't really have the feel of
a mythology episode to it - sure it ended on the requisite "to be
continued" and had something to do with conspiracies and aliens,
but it really didn't seem to further the central storyline at all.
That's fine with me - I've always enjoyed the stand alone episodes
in this vein. I just found it surprising that the mysteries here didn't
really seem to have anything to do with the greater mysteries
that we are always having to puzzle over. Maybe that means part
two will tie things together nicely. Just kidding.
The mysteries here were very intriguing though - the return and
subsequent death of Max, the odd abduction of his sister, the
missing time and watches, and the deadly coverup - not to
mention Scuba!Mulder's alien adventure. The Max death took
me by surprise, and I am convinced it is him. The body Mulder
found had the same strange scars/welts on the cheek and neck
that we saw in the teaser sequence so I don't think they pulled
the old switcharoo with this one. I'm very eager to find out just
what is going on and how the dastardly deeds about to be done
on the plane tie into the whole UFO thing.
So, it's Sunday night on your birthday between 9 and 10 o'clock
- how do you spend it? Well, if you're FBI Special Agent Dana
Scully you've spent your weekend birthday dressed in a work
suit (probably because you worked all day - either that or it is
Scully's version of a birthday suit) and you're just catching
dinner and drinks with the person you're convinced has
forgotten the significance of the day. These kids don't have
any other friends do they? Well, at least it was nice to see
them taking some down time together and having a bit of fun.
Heck they were actually kind of enjoying themselves. Smiling
even. How odd.
I think what I liked the most about this episode was that it
*was* fun. The unfolding tale couldn't have been timed better
with the continued focus by the media on TWA 800, and
there was a playful familiarity to the Mulder/Scully interaction.
I think the birthday sequence was a true classic, with Scully
alternately mortified and delighted (so flustered by Mulder's
surprise that she actually tries to blow out a sparkler) and
Mulder downright giddy to give her the gift that obviously meant
a lot to him. The significance of the key chain to Mulder and
why it reminds him of Scully I'm sure we will learn later, but
Apollo 11 was one of the most important moments in space
exploration. Who can blame her for being afraid of the present
- after all this was the guy who gave her "Superstars of the
Superbowls". It's nice to know they can joke about alien
implant earrings after all they've been through. Still, one can't
help but wonder what sort of Christmas gifts she has had to
endure from him over the years to cause that look of panic
when he hands her a gift.
There were certainly other fun elements - I'm usually not
one for car chases, but that game of chicken with the jet
was something to behold as they are all terrified they aren't
going to make it. Then there is that vintage X-Files sequence
with Mulder spouting off alien abduction theories to a room
full of strangers while Dana "you sure know how to make a
girl feel special on her birthday" Scully ducks her head and
tries melt into the wall behind her. Only Mulder would say
"I'm hesitant to speculate" after all that. How funny. Scully
even gets the chance to suck the winds right out of Mulder's
sails when she tells him Max's body has been found. I also
enjoyed that great UFO sequence that behaved in such a
way to give one shades of "Deep Throat", and, of course,
Mulder finding the alien body in a craft that looked like it was
made from disco glitter ball material. I can't wait to hear
him tell Scully that story.
On a production note I can't go without mentioning the
amazing work that went into recreating that crash scene.
It was huge and for someone who travels a lot truly chilling.
This one cost a bit more to produce and it definitely shows
on the screen. The effects were very cool and the episode
just had a "big" feel to it. It makes me wonder what magic
they will be able to pull off in the feature film. That ought to
be something.
Until then, I have to say I'm really looking forward to next
week for hopefully more good old X-Files fun.
Random Musings
------------------------
-"Memento Mori" Cancerwatch Day 35. Who needs to
mention it? Cancer-shmancer I say. What's a little brain
tumor between friends? The audience isn't really paying
attention to these teeny little minor plot points anyway, right?
Certainly no reason to dwell on a lead character with a fatal
disease when you could have running or a car chase on
screen - just give the girl a lovely key chain parting gift and
no one will mind. Oh, that and keep her up for 36 hours - that's
always good for your health.
-Retreads: Bearfield (the guy on the boat with Mulder) was a
chicken plant worker in "Our Town" and actress Chilton Crane
(Max's sister) made appearances in "Miracle Man" as
Margaret Hohman and "F. Emasculata".
-By virtue of the birthday reference we can time stamp this
episode as happening in the Feb 23 - 26 time frame.
-So, maybe sensitive Mulder is going to stick around for a
while - not only did he remember Scully's birthday for the
first time in four years, but he actually asks permission to
split up rather than just ditching her. Heck, he even waved
goodbye to her plane. The polite ditch. How un-Mulder.
-Poor Pendrell. He finally is loaded enough to work up his
nerve to make a move on the girl and he is literally shot
down. Did anyone else think that Scully should have at
least given Pendrell mouth to mouth so he could die happy?
-So, the "birthday girl" drink is a Coors Light? I would've
thought at least a margarita.
-Anyone care to enlighten us on the difference between
the red and yellow flags at the crash site?
-I want to fly X-Files Air! Not only does it have flights
to where you want to go when you want to go there (and
an amazing shuttle between DC and the Vineyard), but
it has the widest aisle I've ever seen and so much room
between rows - if only the planes didn't seem to always
have a murder on board or go down so often I'd have a
ton of X-Frequent Flyer miles.
-I'm really confused about the times here - time flies is
right - it was flying all over this episode. We are told first
that the plane loses radio contact at 1900 (7PM) - then
all the other references are about 7:52 to 8:01PM - and
then we hear from Frish that he saw the plane on radar at
1900, saw some problems at two minutes past and 10 minutes
after that an explosion (making it 7:12PM). Whatever.
-Where is it that Mulder and Scully are staying this time
that is so backwards that when he dials her number he
actually has to dial. Good luck trying to hook the trusty
laptops up to the phones there!
-New writer David Greenwalt certainly did get on the 1013
fast track. The first time we see him mentioned in the
credits and he has the title of Co-Executive Producer.
-You're a fashion conscious FBI team. It's 4:02AM. You
need to catch a charter flight and be at the scene of the
crash by 5:52AM. What do you do? Why change clothes of
course! Who wants to wear that old suit when you can put
on something fresh to tromp through mud and body parts.
You wouldn't be caught dead in those ugly yellow protective
suits either. Fashion first!
-Nice reference back to the pilot episode: "Do you remember
the last time you were missing nine minutes?" Clearly she
does.
-Larold Rebhun got his name from Mark Snow's music mixer.
Autumn
"Dog years... thank you."
Autumn Tysko
"Mulder, they're worms" / OBSSE
My episode reviews available at (or email me for mailing list information):
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/1411/main_rev.html
Shanna Swendson
In article <19970317193...@ladder01.news.aol.com>,
aut...@aol.com wrote:
> -"Memento Mori" Cancerwatch Day 35. Who needs to
> mention it? Cancer-shmancer I say. What's a little brain
> tumor between friends? The audience isn't really paying
> attention to these teeny little minor plot points anyway, right?
> Certainly no reason to dwell on a lead character with a fatal
> disease when you could have running or a car chase on
> screen - just give the girl a lovely key chain parting gift and
> no one will mind. Oh, that and keep her up for 36 hours - that's
> always good for your health.
I took the whole birthday scene as a cancer reference. Scully the stoic is
not one for sitting around talking about her cancer, and if Mulder tried,
she'd kick him in the ankle. But why else would he finally remember her
birthday and actually celebrate it after all these years? Could it be that
he's afraid it's the last birthday he'll have the chance to celebrate with
her. Plus there's the little alien implant inside joke between them.
For me, that was just enough to remind us faithful viewers that things
have changed somewhat between them (it took something pretty big to make
Mulder become almost sensitive). Yet it didn't introduce an extraneous
plot point that really has no bearing in the episode. Anything more would
have been heavy-handed. "Gee, Scully, you seem to be doing well,
considering the fact that you've got cancer."
Shanna
emissary (rich lingenfelter)
aut...@aol.com wrote:
> -By virtue of the birthday reference we can time stamp this
> episode as happening in the Feb 23 - 26 time frame.
And the full moon seen in the teaser backs up this time. My calendar
lists a full moon for the night of Feb. 24 or so.
emissary (rich lingenfelter)
In case you couldn't find it...
Jolo
Another great review...
> I think what I liked the most about this episode was that it
> *was* fun. The unfolding tale couldn't have been timed better
> with the continued focus by the media on TWA 800, and
Not to mention the recent close encounters of the air force kind over the
East Coast!
> Mulder finding the alien body in a craft that looked like it was
> made from disco glitter ball material. I can't wait to hear
> him tell Scully that story.
Why were the aliens/gov't not all over the crashed UFO? If Mulder can
figure ou where it came down in a matter of minutes, surely they can too.
The aliens surely must have other search technology than the Big Light
("Hey - why do you think this spot in the lake keeps bubbling?" "Uh, beats
me, lets hover around here for a day or so until we attract the attention
of that dufus earthling living over there."). The gov't had all sorts of
info I'm sure from the intercepting fighter pilot who witnessed it all.
Where did that guy go anyway?
> On a production note I can't go without mentioning the
> amazing work that went into recreating that crash scene.
> It was huge and for someone who travels a lot truly chilling.
> This one cost a bit more to produce and it definitely shows
> on the screen. The effects were very cool and the episode
> just had a "big" feel to it. It makes me wonder what magic
> they will be able to pull off in the feature film. That ought to
> be something.
I noticed this too - they seemed to go out of their way to make a big,
juicy, even more cinematic than usual episode. The crash scene might have
taken advantage of an existing small fire scene, or else they *really* had
fun. :) The airport car chase scenes definitely gave the stunt drivers a
good workout. Is it me or do bad guys always drive in convoys of 3?
> -"Memento Mori" Cancerwatch Day 35.
> -By virtue of the birthday reference we can time stamp this
> episode as happening in the Feb 23 - 26 time frame.
So that makes this the first post-cancer episode according to their own
timelines? It does seem curious that no particular mention was made, not
even in passing.
> -So, maybe sensitive Mulder is going to stick around for a
> while - not only did he remember Scully's birthday for the
> first time in four years, but he actually asks permission to
> split up rather than just ditching her. Heck, he even waved
> goodbye to her plane. The polite ditch. How un-Mulder.
Then again... maybe these two things are tacit acknowledgments of Scully's
illness. There is otherwise no reason for Mulder to suddenly start showing
concern for her, notwithstanding Never Again.
> -Poor Pendrell. He finally is loaded enough to work up his
> nerve to make a move on the girl and he is literally shot
> down. Did anyone else think that Scully should have at
> least given Pendrell mouth to mouth so he could die happy?
If ya can't get the girl, the next best thing is to take a bullet that was
meant for her. Is there anything better for this deluded romantic?
> -Anyone care to enlighten us on the difference between
> the red and yellow flags at the crash site?
Red to mark a body part (since a decomposing body is a bio hazard), yellow
for evidence? Makes sense to me that way.
Jolo
aut...@aol.com
jo...@deckard.mc.duke.edu (Jolo) writes:
>Why were the aliens/gov't not all over the crashed UFO? If Mulder can
>figure ou where it came down in a matter of minutes, surely they can too.
I had the exact same question. They should have been crawling all over
that site as it was heavily implied that they knew about that crash too.
Methinks the bright light we see at the end of TF is the bad guy
brigade instead of an alien illumination.
>So that makes this the first post-cancer episode according to their own
>timelines? It does seem curious that no particular mention was made, not
>even in passing.
I keep hearing we are going to get something in "Max". I'm not
holding my breath. If we get that and the fabled key chain story I
just might faint with shock.
>Then again... maybe these two things are tacit acknowledgments of Scully's
>illness. There is otherwise no reason for Mulder to suddenly start showing
>concern for her, notwithstanding Never Again.
Could be. I do think Mulder has perhaps realized that he can't take her
for granted anymore. She may not be around to run his little errands
much longer.
Alan Hurshman
aut...@aol.com wrote in article
<19970317193...@ladder01.news.aol.com>...
>
>
> -"Memento Mori" Cancerwatch Day 35. Who needs to
> mention it? Cancer-shmancer I say. What's a little brain
> tumor between friends? The audience isn't really paying
> attention to these teeny little minor plot points anyway, right?
> Certainly no reason to dwell on a lead character with a fatal
> disease when you could have running or a car chase on
> screen - just give the girl a lovely key chain parting gift and
> no one will mind. Oh, that and keep her up for 36 hours - that's
> always good for your health.
I've seen this commented on before and I'm
not sure what you or others expect the writers
to do with this. Should they deal with a danger
to a lead character, who we all know is not going
to die, in the traditional TV drama style - solve
the problem and cure the victem all in one hour?
Or do you leave the problem in the background and
come up with a solution at a later date?
The latter of these two options is closer to what
happens in 'reality'. People with incurable diseases
who are still asymptomatic and relatively sane do not
spend all their time obsessing about their health or
talking about death. When I have visited dying relatives
in hospital they do not want to focus on death but
on the great times they had in life. Also, from what
I've read about people with AIDS, and from personal
contact with one victem, they seem to try to lead their
lives as they did normally until they become too ill
to do so. How is Scully any different from this? She
has a disease that she knows of no cure for. What
should Scully do? Break down and hide in a corner
or continue with her preferred life style and
hope to come across a cure? Given her past behaviour
I know what I would expect her to do.
> -Anyone care to enlighten us on the difference between
> the red and yellow flags at the crash site?
Body part vs plane part, I bet.
--
Alan Hurshman,
The Spa, X-Ville.
(Halifax, Nova Scotia)
aut...@aol.com
Alan Hurshman" <alan...@demosys.gcomm.com> writes:
>I've seen this commented on before and I'm
>not sure what you or others expect the writers
>to do with this. Should they deal with a danger
>to a lead character, who we all know is not going
>to die, in the traditional TV drama style - solve
>the problem and cure the victem all in one hour?
>Or do you leave the problem in the background and
>come up with a solution at a later date?
>
Alan, the problem I have is that they made *such* a
big deal out of this. Scully was having nose bleeds left
and right, everyone was trying to find a cure, Skinner
was cutting deals with the devil - it was a desperate
situation and then NADA. Is she pursuing any other
treatment? Are they following up on leads? What
deal did Skinner cut? Are there any other physical
ramifications? Has Mulder told her about the ova?
I was glad they left things hanging. I didn't want a
gift wrapped solution - but I was hoping this would mean
the story would continue - at this point it hasn't. That
is the problem.
>The latter of these two options is closer to what
>happens in 'reality'. People with incurable diseases
>who are still asymptomatic and relatively sane do not
>spend all their time obsessing about their health or
>talking about death. When I have visited dying relatives
>in hospital they do not want to focus on death but
>on the great times they had in life. Also, from what
>I've read about people with AIDS, and from personal
>contact with one victem, they seem to try to lead their
>lives as they did normally until they become too ill
>to do so. How is Scully any different from this? She
>has a disease that she knows of no cure for. What
>should Scully do? Break down and hide in a corner
>or continue with her preferred life style and
>hope to come across a cure? Given her past behaviour
>I know what I would expect her to do.
I think you misunderstand our concern. I'm not asking
for her to break down. I'm asking for information. I'm not
asking for obsessing (or is that OBSSEing?). I'm asking
for a gently nod.
That's pretty long, but that's the story.
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
Lisa Van Every--abjecAı¨İ
"How did you get into the Church? Was it 'collect 12 crisp packs and
become a priest'?" --"Father Ted"
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From: "Curious" <HopeR...@worldnet.att.net>
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I don't have a solution to your problem except that I advise you to
contact your ISP which seems to be mail.tds.net from the looks of
your header, but I would like to know why you
Autumn Tysko
"Mulder, they're worms" / OBSSE
My episode reviews available at (email me for mailing list info):
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/1411/main_rev.html
aut...@aol.com
Wow. My other reply had some really scary stuff appended on it. God
knows what AOL gremlin dregged that up. Let's try again...
Alan Hurshman" <alan...@demosys.gcomm.com> writes:
aufKommunistInnen, die dort u.a. auch als SED-Funktionäre Verantwortung
getragenhaben. Vier von ihnen sitzen in Moabit in Knast. Wir fordern ihre
Freilassung,unabhängig von der Beurteilung ihrer politischen Haltung in
der DDR. Schlußmit der Siegerjustiz!
Auf Grund von Stasi-Akten wurden in den letzten Jahren GenossInnen wegen
ihrerpolitischer Arbeit in den 70er Jahren vor Gericht gezerrt. Zu ihnen
gehörtneben Monika Haas und Christel Fröhlich u.a. auch Johannes Weinrich,
der seitmehreren Monaten in Moabit sitzt.
Die Ausländerpolizei, Staatsschutz, Internierung von Flüchtlingen,
rassistischeAusgrenzung, Ausbau neuer Abschiebeknäste sowie die
paramilitärische Sicherungder Ostgrenze bilden ein komplexes Räderwerk,
womit alle MigrantInnen inDeutschland bedroht und drangsaliert werden.
In Berlin-Grünau wurde 1995 ein eigener Abschiebeknast eingerichtet.
Wirfordern die Schließung aller Abschiebeknäste und grüßen die
untergetauchtenGenossInnen vom K.O.M.I.T.E.E., welche durch explosive
Umbaumaßnahmen dafürsorgen wollten, daß der Knast gar nicht erst seiner
Funktion übergeben wird.Laßt euch nicht erwischen!!
Die Repression in Form von Verfahren, Isolationsfolter, Killfahndung,
Beugehaft, Abschwörungsregelung, polizeiliche Aufrüstung,
rassistische Sondergesetze, Verbote, Durchsuchungen, Verhaftungen, usw.
dienen dem Ausbau der Großmachtsinteressen der BRD!
Deutschland gehört neben der USA zu den Staaten, die den
Vernichtungsfeldzugder Türkei gegen das kurdische Volk am meisten
unterstützen. Die politische,wirtschaftliche und militärische
Unterstützung der Türkei ist gegen denkurdischen Befreiungskampf
gerichtet, denn diese schadet dem imperialistischenInteresse dieser
Länder.
Der deutsche Staat hat mit eigenständigen Vorgehen mittels Verbot und
Verfolgungder PKK und 35 Vereinen im November'93 ein Mittel geschaffen um
weiterepolitische Betätigung und Organisierung von KurdInnen sowie von
sichSolidarisierenden zu kriminalisieren. Das hiermit geschaffene Mittel
desBRD-Staates dient auch dazu, um überhaupt Widerstand und politische
Org
Alan Hurshman
aut...@aol.com wrote in article
<19970319195...@ladder01.news.aol.com>...
>
> Alan, the problem I have is that they made *such* a
> big deal out of this. Scully was having nose bleeds left
> and right, everyone was trying to find a cure, Skinner
> was cutting deals with the devil - it was a desperate
> situation and then NADA. Is she pursuing any other
> treatment? Are they following up on leads? What
> deal did Skinner cut?
Yes, they made a big deal and then they hit a brick
wall. DS doesn't have a solution, or even the start of one,
and because she thinks the cause is terrestrial she isn't
about to start tracking down aliens to try and find out
what they did to her. Mulder can see only one source,
(or solution) - CSM, but decided not to make that deal
with the devil. Skinner may have already made the deal
with CSM so there may be nothing left for him to do. So,
short of Scully joing a cancer research institute and
Mulder taking off after a group he has never before been
able to track down, there is really nothing left for them
to do. If this was real life, they would now be at the point
in the Scully case where all they can do is wait, keep their
eyes and ears open, and hope some new information turns up.
Not an unusual circumstance in a police case.
> Are there any other physical
> ramifications? Has Mulder told her about the ova?
> I was glad they left things hanging. I didn't want a
> gift wrapped solution - but I was hoping this would mean
> the story would continue - at this point it hasn't. That
> is the problem.
But the story is continuing the way it _might_ in real
life. Mulder says nothing about the ova. Maybe he cannot
face telling her she is probably sterile. Did Skinner
make a deal? Time will tell. Is Dana having other symptoms?
Nope. At least not on screen.
I think what you want here is for the X-Files to do
the 'slice of life' thing. For me that would make it
a bit too much of a soap. Pop over to Melrose Place
and you will see what I mean. Next week Kimbo dies.
But she has been dying for weeks and viewers have been
allowed to see every detail. All that is lacking is
the violin playing in the background, but that will
probably show up next week.
aut...@aol.com
> Anything more would
>have been heavy-handed. "Gee, Scully, you seem to be doing well,
>considering the fact that you've got cancer."
I don't recall asking for this sort of dialogue. You're right what you
use as an exagerrated example is heavy handed.
Autumn Tysko
"Mulder, they're worms" / Sister of OBSSE
aut...@aol.com
"Alan Hurshman" <alan...@demosys.gcomm.com> writes:
>I think what you want here is for the X-Files to do
>the 'slice of life' thing. For me that would make it
>a bit too much of a soap. Pop over to Melrose Place
>and you will see what I mean. Next week Kimbo dies.
>But she has been dying for weeks and viewers have been
>allowed to see every detail. All that is lacking is
>the violin playing in the background, but that will
>probably show up next week.
No, that's not what I want. I don't watch Melrose Place
or any other daytime or nightime soaps. They do not
appeal to me. I don't want Scully and violin music.
What I believe is that the writers are talented enough
(well some of them) to progress this storyline in a
realistic manner without going to that sort of well
rather than dropping it entirely.
nickx15
aut...@aol.com wrote:
>
>
> What I believe is that the writers are talented enough
> (well some of them) to progress this storyline in a
> realistic manner without going to that sort of well
> rather than dropping it entirely.
>
>
Have some patience! May sweeps are coming; another two-parter
cliffhanger is sure to be aired; they will address it. Why
all the angst? In real-life-time, other cases come up and
the agents handle them. We don't need to see Mulder moping/bucking
up/bucking up Scully/Scully moping (no wait -- she always
does that; we wouldn't notice).
The thing is...it will be handled! They have to parcel out the
big-themed stuff. I just hope Scully finally admits aliens
exist. She's a blockhead sometimes.
Alan Hurshman
Merna/Michael Anderson <my...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in article
<5gs4vs$e...@sjx-ixn2.ix.netcom.com>...
>
>
> P.S. If your beloved co-worker was suffering from terminal cancer I
> think it would be realistic to expect to to make a reference to it now
> and then. Sort of as a way of ACKNOWLEDGING that she's still with you
> and showing a bit of CONCERN.
Have you ever visited with or been close to someone
dying of cancer? You do NOT bring up the C word
unless they want to talk about it. You show concern for
the person by being with the person, listening to
them and talking about what they want to talk about.
The most dreadfully annoying people in a sick room
are those who continually want to talk about the
disease and, even worse, want to pretend there is
still a chance for a cure when the victem knows the
end is near.
Merna/Michael Anderson
In <19970320170...@ladder01.news.aol.com> aut...@aol.com
writes:
>"Alan Hurshman" <alan...@demosys.gcomm.com> writes:
>
>>I think what you want here is for the X-Files to do
>>the 'slice of life' thing. For me that would make it
>>a bit too much of a soap. Pop over to Melrose Place
>>and you will see what I mean. Next week Kimbo dies.
>>But she has been dying for weeks and viewers have been
>>allowed to see every detail. All that is lacking is
>>the violin playing in the background, but that will
>>probably show up next week.
>
>No, that's not what I want. I don't watch Melrose Place
>or any other daytime or nightime soaps. They do not
>appeal to me. I don't want Scully and violin music.
>(well some of them) to progress this storyline in a
>realistic manner without going to that sort of well
>rather than dropping it entirely.
>
>
>
>"Mulder, they're worms" / Sister of OBSSE
>My episode reviews available at (email me for mailing list info):
>http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/1411/main_rev.html
Merna/Michael Anderson
In <01bc358a$17760220$461e...@devel1.Psychology.Dal.Ca> "Alan
Hurshman" <alan...@demosys.gcomm.com> writes:
>
>Merna/Michael Anderson <my...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in article
><5gs4vs$e...@sjx-ixn2.ix.netcom.com>...
>>
>>
>> think it would be realistic to expect to to make a reference to it
now
>> and then. Sort of as a way of ACKNOWLEDGING that she's still with
you
>> and showing a bit of CONCERN.
>
>
>dying of cancer? You do NOT bring up the C word
>unless they want to talk about it. You show concern for
>the person by being with the person, listening to
>them and talking about what they want to talk about.
>The most dreadfully annoying people in a sick room
>are those who continually want to talk about the
>disease and, even worse, want to pretend there is
>still a chance for a cure when the victem knows the
>end is near.
>
>--
>Alan Hurshman,
>The Spa, X-Ville.
>
>(Halifax, Nova Scotia)
>
I didn't say anything about bringing up the "C" word. I said "make
reference to it, as in saying something like, "You okay?" if it's been
a late night or they've been chasing a suspect or something. And, no,
I don't think he should be fussing and clucking at her every two
seconds, not even more than once or twice. But you know what? I take
that back! It would be in character for Mulder (who freaks out when
doesn't answer her phone) to be a protective and solicitous of Scully
in this situation. It would give her an opportuniy to get annoyed with
him and tell him not to worry so much. WHOOPS! That would be too much
like character development! Anyway, I think they have some better
options than just ignoring this disease until she flatlines at the end
of the season as a cliffhanger. (No inside info-just a guess.)
Deidre
In article <01bc358a$17760220$461e...@devel1.Psychology.Dal.Ca>, "Alan
Hurshman" <alan...@demosys.gcomm.com> wrote:
> Merna/Michael Anderson <my...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in article
> <5gs4vs$e...@sjx-ixn2.ix.netcom.com>...
> >
> >
> > P.S. If your beloved co-worker was suffering from terminal cancer I
> > think it would be realistic to expect to to make a reference to it now
> > and then. Sort of as a way of ACKNOWLEDGING that she's still with you
> > and showing a bit of CONCERN.
>
> Have you ever visited with or been close to someone
> dying of cancer? You do NOT bring up the C word
> unless they want to talk about it. You show concern for
> the person by being with the person, listening to
> them and talking about what they want to talk about.
> The most dreadfully annoying people in a sick room
> are those who continually want to talk about the
> disease and, even worse, want to pretend there is
> still a chance for a cure when the victem knows the
> end is near.
And I think that's exactly what people have been asking for from Mulder. I
don't think anyone wants to hear him say, "Gee, Scully, you really look
like hell today. What's the matter? That cancer thing gettin' to ya?" Or
"Gosh, Scully, I'm really upset that you have cancer and your prognosis is
so damn bad. Can we please just sit down and discuss it for a bit?" Just a
little show of concern. Some sign that he does realize what's happening to
her. That he does care. That's all we want. And I think that's what a lot
of people (myself included) saw in the b'day scene. Between him actually
remembering AND giving her a gift (whether you think it was a cheesy gift
or not, it was still a gift), lots o' watchers took that as Mulder caring
and being concerned.
--deidre
Merna/Michael Anderson
In <5gt48o$j...@dfw-ixnews4.ix.netcom.com> my...@ix.netcom.com
(Merna/Michael Anderson) writes:
>
>In <01bc358a$17760220$461e...@devel1.Psychology.Dal.Ca> "Alan
>Hurshman" <alan...@demosys.gcomm.com> writes:
>>
>><5gs4vs$e...@sjx-ixn2.ix.netcom.com>...
>>>
>>>
>>> P.S. If your beloved co-worker was suffering from terminal cancer
I
>>> think it would be realistic to expect to to make a reference to it
>now
>>> and then. Sort of as a way of ACKNOWLEDGING that she's still with
>you
>>> and showing a bit of CONCERN.
>>
>>
>>Have you ever visited with or been close to someone
>>dying of cancer? You do NOT bring up the C word
>>unless they want to talk about it. You show concern for
>>the person by being with the person, listening to
>>them and talking about what they want to talk about.
>>The most dreadfully annoying people in a sick room
>>are those who continually want to talk about the
>>disease and, even worse, want to pretend there is
>>still a chance for a cure when the victem knows the
>>end is near.
>>
>>Alan Hurshman,
>>The Spa, X-Ville.
>>
>>(Halifax, Nova Scotia)
>>
>
>
>I didn't say anything about bringing up the "C" word. I said "make
>reference to it, as in saying something like, "You okay?" if it's been
>a late night or they've been chasing a suspect or something. And, no,
>I don't think he should be fussing and clucking at her every two
>seconds, not even more than once or twice. But you know what? I take
>that back! It would be in character for Mulder (who freaks out when
>doesn't answer her phone) to be a protective and solicitous of Scully
>in this situation. It would give her an opportuniy to get annoyed
with
>him and tell him not to worry so much. WHOOPS! That would be too
much
>like character development! Anyway, I think they have some better
>options than just ignoring this disease until she flatlines at the end
>of the season as a cliffhanger. (No inside info-just a guess.)
>
Upon re-reading my answer to Alan, I realized it was kind of obnoxious.
I'm sorry, Alan. I came home from rehearsal tonight with a WHOPPING
headache (from the smoke machines, I think.) I also realized I hadn't
exactly answered your question. I have known people with cancer, and I
agree that you shouldn't talk about the "C" word. I also agree that it
would be hard to write for this situation.
What I've observed about the writers is that they have no problem
dropping BIG revelations like this into the series and then not
developing them until BANG! It's time to deal with Scully's
abduction........two years later. See?
That's what I mean. I'm sort of a fan of continuity. Plus, I think it
would add a richness to the characterization of both Mulder and Scully
to show them dealing with this gradually over a period of time. Both
actors have expressed a preference for episodes that allow them to dig
deeper into their characters, and this seems like a golden opportunity.
It doesn't seem like this is the direction the writers are going to go.
Oh well.
Did that come off as less obnoxious?
MYRKE
Dulcie Gannett
emissary (rich lingenfelter) (rkls...@pitt.edu) wrote:
: aut...@aol.com wrote:
: > -By virtue of the birthday reference we can time stamp this
: > episode as happening in the Feb 23 - 26 time frame.
....Which makes the NTSB guy's reference to Eastern DAYLIGHT Time a little
suspect.
Like Hamlet says, the time is out of joint....
--
==========================================================================
Dulcie Gannett :
u15...@uicvm.uic.edu : All reality is iconoclastic.
dgan...@tigger.uic.edu : --C. S. Lewis
dul...@mail.idt.net :
Cyberspace neophyte :
Jolo
In article <5gtb52$p...@sjx-ixn8.ix.netcom.com>, my...@ix.netcom.com
(Merna/Michael Anderson) wrote:
> Upon re-reading my answer to Alan, I realized it was kind of obnoxious.
> I'm sorry, Alan. I came home from rehearsal tonight with a WHOPPING
> headache (from the smoke machines, I think.) I also realized I hadn't
> exactly answered your question. I have known people with cancer, and I
> agree that you shouldn't talk about the "C" word. I also agree that it
> would be hard to write for this situation.
Folks, really, settle down already. We've *all* had loved ones die of
cancer, some of us are cancer survivors ourselves. It can be a sensitive
issue, but this is the XF we're talking about, ok? Nobody wants the show
to turn into a soap, nobody wants Scully to be lying in bed for weeks (at
least not again), all we want is a little more continuity between the
regular and mytharc episodes.
> What I've observed about the writers is that they have no problem
> dropping BIG revelations like this into the series and then not
> developing them until BANG! It's time to deal with Scully's
> abduction........two years later. See?
> That's what I mean. I'm sort of a fan of continuity. Plus, I think it
> would add a richness to the characterization of both Mulder and Scully
> to show them dealing with this gradually over a period of time. Both
> actors have expressed a preference for episodes that allow them to dig
> deeper into their characters, and this seems like a golden opportunity.
> It doesn't seem like this is the direction the writers are going to go.
Amen! The fundamental problem with XF writing is that they reserve their
biggest budgets and kewlest ideas to the mytharc episodes, leaving the
regular MOTW episodes to run in a parallel universe. If Scully was
coughing up blood left and right and looking pale and gaunt, she wouldn't
suddenly be chasing bad guys the very next week. There would be more
symptoms. They wouldn't need to dwell on it, maybe just a quick scene of
Scully bracing herself in the morning for another day of work, overcoming
those symptoms. They could have written the disease as something
asymptomatic such as early HIV, but they didn't. Now they expect us to
suspend disbelief to an extraordinary degree - *that* is what we are gently
suggesting they address. As myrke pointed out, such changes can be made in
such a way as to enrich the show without turning it into Melrose Files.
> MYRKE
aut...@aol.com
Thank you MYRKE and Jolo for adding this. You both obviously understand
the point I have been blundering at getting across and expressed it well.
---------- <- evil added text barrier
aut...@aol.com
>Have some patience! May sweeps are coming; another two-parter
>cliffhanger is sure to be aired; they will address it. Why
>all the angst? In real-life-time, other cases come up and
>the agents handle them. We don't need to see Mulder moping/bucking
>up/bucking up Scully/Scully moping (no wait -- she always
>does that; we wouldn't notice).
>
You see, I'm of the camp that a person doesn't get brain cancer nosebleeds
only during TV sweeps periods - lack of continuity may not bother you, but
it does me.
>The thing is...it will be handled! They have to parcel out the
>big-themed stuff. I just hope Scully finally admits aliens
>exist. She's a blockhead sometimes.
Um, were you not watching her acknowledgement in "Terma"? I sense
some Scullyist-baiting here...
THE WOLF
>
> I think what you want here is for the X-Files to do
> the 'slice of life' thing. For me that would make it
> a bit too much of a soap. Pop over to Melrose Place
> and you will see what I mean. Next week Kimbo dies.
> But she has been dying for weeks and viewers have been
> allowed to see every detail. All that is lacking is
> the violin playing in the background, but that will
> probably show up next week.
>
> --
> Alan Hurshman,
> The Spa, X-Ville.
>
> (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
>I think we have to treat this cancer arc the same way as the mythology
arc in the first couple of seasons. They would do there mythology two
parters in the middle and end of each season then the next week they would
do a stand alone as if the mythology ep. had never happened. For the most
part there was no added reaction in the stand alone about what they had
just been through in the past myth arc ep they just when on with business
as usual. You might think their would be realistically, but if they did
add reactions and tid bits and questtions like "are you okay Scully?" The
stand alones wouldn't be truely stand alones any more. I think we have to
threat this relitively new scully has cancer arc the same way as the myth
arc. Yes it happened, but for now we'll deal with other stuff and then
come back to it as a continuing story just like the myth arc/ alien
conspearacy ep's. I think Alan has a point here that people have to move
on and not dwell on the doom and gloom they've now been delt. At the end
of Momento she said she was going to continue on with her work and not let
this thing beat her. We'll she can't very well beat it if she's
continuing to dwell on it can she. They'll come back to it just as they
do with the myth arc with a little bit new info then leave us hanging
again. Moving on to next weeks stand alone as if nothing really happened.
Kind of a fusterating thing sure, but that's good suspenful drama as far
as I concerned.
The wolf