The X Files - Ascension

****/****

There is this moment when Mulder sits in Krycek’s car alone. The weight of Scully’s loss so evident and his inability to find her (or rescue her despite efforts perilous to him thanks to Krycek’s interference) an obvious anvil; Mulder felt all these forces converging against him. The Cig Man and his agent of violence in Krycek killing for him, they represent a mission Mulder seems unable to stop. Scully in that trunk, gagged and held captive for a certain location atop Skyland Mountain, as Duane Barry drives with great intensity, her fate in the possession of [implied] alien abductors is an incredible development that left viewers considering what lies ahead. Anderson’s pregnancy certainly shifted gears somewhat in the storytelling process of The X Files but what was produced out of it (besides a child in Gillian’s life) proved to be quite successful. Her absence and Mulder’s nightmarish journey during it built these characters impressively. Mulder had faced quite his share of ordeals even by this point, but losing the X Files and Scully, undermined by the villainy of the Cig Man and Krycek, this character would undergo seemingly insurmountable odds. Krycek kills the Skyland tram operator through the direct blow to the head with his gun handle without pause and pondered disposing of Mulder in such a way, but the Cig Man shut that down…making Mulder a martyr would not be wise if they wish for his cause to be silenced properly. With Scully “sent away”, Mulder has another cause that is important to him…finding her.

That great scene where Mulder and Scully’s mother, Margaret (Sheila Larken), sit together on a bench outside FBI headquarters, mulling over their loss is really an acting powerhouse. It is such shared subtle ache. Both trying to shoo away the notion that Scully is dead, the use of a cross necklace takes on great significance. The cause to prove extraterrestrial life, which is a driving force for Mulder, seems secondary to finding Scully now. That really rings true when we see Mulder so tortured and seemingly helpless.

Skinner (Mitch Pileggi) had, at this point, still remained a question mark. Whose side was he on? The Cig Man is shown early in the episode sitting off by himself, observing a meeting of agents with Skinner as Mulder endures skepticism regarding Barry’s “condition” and “alien voices heard in his head”. Mulder counters with…explain to me how Barry knew where to find Scully? With this and Krycek’s behavior with the Skylift later when trying to cause harm to Mulder (needing to get to the top of the mountain faster than Barry) and slowing him down just enough for Barry to get Scully to the top to meet the aliens, the Cig Man’s orchestrated plans seem to be going according to his specifications. But Skinner answering the disappearance of Krycek later, Krycek’s possible crimes that Mulder proposes, and reopening the X files due to the loss of Scully included; these actions do appear to recognize that the Assistant Director could be an ally of Mulder’s. When the second DeepThroat (Stephen Williams) just doesn’t offer Mulder anything except reasons to give up and quit, it all appears to be compiling towards defeat. Mulder, though, isn’t someone who gives up easily…regardless of what X (Williams) might lead us (and him) to believe.

Railsback was quite the supporting guest star. He’s always questionable, a loose cannon seeing one goal in mind and that is to do whatever it takes to no longer be bothered by aliens. Sacrificing another (in the case of Ascension, Scully) so he can be left alone makes sense considering Barry’s rationale was askew. Driven solely by giving the aliens someone else, nothing is to stop Barry from completing this objective. That only a few hours later he’s suffocating to death (clearly by “ingesting” poison) not long after Mulder leaves the interrogation room before losing too much cool (he chokes him for a few seconds and comes to his senses) just seems so ironic…finally relieved of this decade of burden, Barry is killed before enjoying any real “freedom”. The sinister home invasion with the bright light and paralyzing beam that attacks Barry in Duane Barry to his shooting a highway patrol officer in Ascension, finally collapsing to the floor of a room on a mountain resort as life slips away; the two-part arc involving Railsback left quite a few memorable moments.

This is an important story arc to me as an X-Files fan. It was evolution in the friendship of Mulder and Scully, and through their separation do they realize how important they are to each other. Mulder's frustrations and obstacles and Scully's abuse after being taken against her will (a tube inserted into her stomach, intimating possible impregnation) introduce great emphasis on the struggles they encounter when up against forces that want them quieted. "Deny everything" is certainly a jagged edge into Mulder's crusade, a thorn so irritating many not as passionate as him would just adapt to and move on. Mulder just can't do that. Despite resistance, Mulder takes his licks, lumps, bruises, and wounds...and doesn't give up. He'd have every reason to. Scully even has to encourage him later to not give up despite reasonable and understanding frustrations. This show introduced those fabulous characteristics to me as a young man and I found these two admirable.

*The tram sequence gets me every time. It is just expertly executed and milks every drop, wringing every bit of tension out of the perilous situation facing Mulder. And Krycek just itching to plunge the knife in and twist...Mulder has a great deal up against him!