The X Files - This

*** / ****
"Who needs Google when you've got Scully..."

This mentions Mulder when he and Scully lurk among the tombstones in Arlington, scanning the birth/death dates of The Lone Gunmen and Deep Throat (noting their ties to the death of Presidents), locating a computer chip, eventually led to Langley's lady love (she's mentioned in a folder located on a digital format of The X Files by Langley, when he realized they might wipe out anything pretaining to him, in turn "scrubbing" him out), a professor giving them information on how to relocate his digital presence on another phone. She herself is shot by an assassin working for Erica Price, but not before Mulder and Scully get enough from her, executing the bastard for interfering. Throughout This, Mulder and Scully are on the lam as Price sends Perlieu agents after them.

This is sort of a companion piece with what I wrote about the second episode the night it aired back in January. I have no need to exhaustively capitulate further exposition on the plot as that was taken care of primarily back during This previously. I liked how Dean Haglund was able to return, even if just briefly as a simulation speaking out to Mulder and Scully in the hopes they’ll shut down the client server “holding hostage” those Price and Mr. Y considered valuable (for their genius, in the server to exploit for their own gain) in the Titanpointe (this NSA building and its contents are erased from The X Files on the digital platform shown to Scully and Mulder by Skinner, reluctantly assisting them when they request his help) in Manhattan.

Price offers Mulder a chance to go to the server after death as well, attempting to entice him because she is impressed that of all the people Langley would reach out to when his consciousness becomes aware within the server what is *actually* going on, it would be him. Langley freaking out at the end about the “backup” would seem to indicate that what Scully shut down didn’t end the digital enslavement like she (and Mulder) hoped would be accomplished.

I am still very annoyed by the murky night scenes (even in Mulder’s home and in the Titanpointe) where Mulder and Scully are forced to engage in gunfights and combat. The fast-cut editing in the vein of Greengrass might not be so tiresome if it wasn’t for all of the action sequences featured in barely-visible, not-too-transparent dark. The Arlington gunfight is especially a chore because I want so badly to know what is going on. But what I do enjoy is the inclusion of much-desired humor. I like the little stops during the episode in the internet café (for coffee and muffins), bar (where Scully naps while Mulder works on the phone to converse with Langley) booth, Skinner’s home (quite immaculate compared to Mulder’s home which, as he admits, could use the IKEA treatment), and eventually the Titanpointe (where Sully remarks about how Mulder can handle himself well despite being handcuffed, with him retorting that she “would know”). Skinner, at this point, was telling Mulder and Scully to surrender in Mulder’s home when armed gunmen (led by the wiseass Andre Roshkov) arrive looking for the phone containing Langley’s digital signal communicating to them. He does meet up with them in the woods to offer a ride and cash, with them taking the green but still not trusting him enough to just go with him.

I just liked the idea that Scully was at Mulder’s house right next to him just chilling, both so tired they are dozing, as the rooms are cluttered and unkempt due to staying busy and tired due to their exhausting schedule and no shortage of danger often perpetrating them. But when a threat comes, these two go right into beast mode. Even if I can't see a damned thing, they are nevertheless a hoot to follow. If the show would just slow down and breathe on occasion.