The X Files / Shadows / Notesx

 Although "Shadows" is one of my least favorite episodes from the first season, I don't think it is necessarily a bad one. It has paranormal activity where a businessman was slashed in a tub, set up to look like a suicide thanks to his partner's betrayal due to their defense company's illegal sale of parts to an Iranian terrorist group called Isfahan. I think Lisa Waltz is very good as the victim, Howard Graves' secretary, Lauren Kyte. This is more or less a special effects showcase where electromagnetic charge is left behind whenever the presence of Graves either kills people associated with his former partner, to protect Lauren (who knew about the illegal sale of parts), or by lighting up the front lights of Mulder's rented car whenever he tried to cause him to wreck. Scully makes it seem as if she believes the spirit of Howard is protecting Lauren in order to convince her to help them find information that will take down Dorlund (Barry Primus), responsible for selling the parts to Isfahan and issuing the contract hits on Howard and attempted hits on Lauren. The "ghost photography" I certainly dig, such as this blur on the ATM camera when members of Isfahan grab Lauren from behind when she is withdrawing money and the image enhanced of Howard behind Lauren when a picture is taken of her in the bedroom of her home. The larynx crush of the female assassin and the levitated male assassin whose neck is crushed when Mulder walks in Lauren's house are some strong special effects as well. Of course, Scully didn't get into the house when Mulder was there to see it. And the image of Howard in the picture wasn't enough. Neither the tissue of Howard's proving he's dead. She refuses to believe psychotelekinesis or Howard's supernatural presence is real. So despite what Mulder has seen with his own eyes, Scully's skepticism remains intact. At least Howard lets Mulder and Lauren find the information needed to take down Dorlund...yet again, Scully is outside the office and fails to see the paranormal activity at work.