The X Files - Provenance

* *½ / * * * *

I had read from other critiques on “Provenance” out of curiosity as to what they felt about this return to the alien conspiracy/mysterious government intrigue that has been a long-standing series arc for The X-Files. Mulder’s absence has indeed been quite a gaping void that is undeniable in the ninth season as I have moved through it slowly but surely. Much like me (who doesn’t enjoy not liking what I have watched), critics were unkind to the ninth season. But I didn’t mind this episode too much. Yes, Dana Scully “cries a lot”. Her little boy is threatened (nearly suffocated by the suspicious FBI undercover agent who joined a cult in North Dakota-into-Canada, returning to America, nearly dead after motorbiking off a cliff into the ground while cops gave chase, resulting in explosion) by a pillow, a gun moving about thanks to a struggle between Agent Comer (Neil McDonough) and Scully in the attempt to stop him from hurting William (who was lying in his crib), and an alien ship artifact that has a “connection” with William (held in Comer’s hand, actually healing him from severe burns!). So, yeah, Scully has reasons to tear it up occasionally. And she is trying to raise this little boy, with only help from her mother, while worrying about Mulder’s safety, still missing and seemingly on the run. I can forgive this. And she is brought in by her FBI superiors (including Director Kersh, Assistant Director Follmer, and Skinner) with questions about rubbings from a peculiar source with writings odd to them. They favor those words familiar to Scully back in the late sixth/early seventh seasons of The X-Files, she considers particularly important perhaps for all mankind, maybe a challenge to all we have ever believed. It is quite a proclamation Scully shares with Agent Reyes. Meanwhile Doggett wants to know why he and Reyes were kept out of the loop in regards to Comer and the rubbings, as Follmer disregards him and Skinner remains elusive due to hoping to keep him out of danger. Doggett is dogged (yep, had to pull out that one) in learning the truth, though, even as he’s hit by a car, driven by a curious woman who was connected to the “UFO alien cult” in Calgary. A second spaceship has been found and she’s participating with another curious archeologist working with a team of diggers, gradually unearthing it from under the earth. But why would Comer, this woman, or the cult as a whole wish to harm William? What is William’s connection to the cult or the craft? I actually dig these mysteries and at least the serious tone and introduction to a new mystery government character (Alan Dale’s uniquely nicknamed “Toothpick Man”) tried to return us to some fresh intrigue that doesn’t deal with supersoldiers.

Without Mulder, Carter and company were a bit handcuffed. How do they continue to keep their overarching series arc pertinent and interesting without him? Scully still around, especially with a special child with certain qualities quite unique to him that an alien cult wants to extinguish, sort of keeps the arc from completely losing its importance but as the viewership died (as I have said in the past, I admit to have joined the loss, just no longer able to spirit up the interest, feeling the “thrill was gone”) nothing Carter and his creative braintrust seemed to try worked any longer. Doggett and Reyes trying to learn the truth as Scully (and her mother) hope to keep William safe and gain insight into how her son ties to this entire thing. The Lone Gunmen was Scully’s chance to get William (supposedly) someplace safe while off to investigate the second ship with Reyes and (unknowing to her, injured) Doggett. The woman who runs through Doggett and shoots out the van tires driven by The Lone Gunmen, holding a gun to Byers’ head, as William cries for mommy is quite a conclusion to the episode, moving to the second part of this inner ninth season arc, “Providence”.

I adore Anderson and always will. I love Scully and seeing her often wasted during the season has been difficult. So I take what I can get, and at least she’s given much more to do in “Provenance”. Skinner worked hard to protect her from knowledge that threats made by the cult towards Mulder while Kersh and Follmer remain mum until the truth couldn’t help but reveal itself. Still the cult is out there and the artifact’s movement towards and above William offer another layer to the story that the agents seek to understand. Skinner becoming a part of the series again, as the arrogant dick Follmer talks down to (and threatens even) Doggett, while Kersh remains intimidating even when he’s not as much intended to be; it’s like the old X-Files Carter maybe wanted to dust off and remove the mothballs, a gasp as the season approaches its end (until the tenth and eleventh seasons returned in grand fashion, as well as the 2008 film.)