The X Files / DPO / Notes

 I actually don't think I've watched this episode since it first aired in 1995. Check that: I believe I watched it on rerun in 1997. It was on a Sunday night while hanging out with my future wife (then girlfriend). Obviously, "D.P.O." (Darin Peter Oswald, the name of the character played by Ribisi) will pop viewers for the two actors who pop up when they were so young: Giovanni Ribisi and Jack Black, both pals who are fixtures at the local arcade in Oklahoma. Ribisi suffered a lightning strike, and through surviving "becomes" lightning (Mulder saying he is lightning to Scully did amuse me; she actually doesn't roll her eyes or scoff at him). Ribisi can make the traffic light change to whatever color he wants, causing near wrecks and serious crashes Ribisi can literally cause a coronary and then lay hands on a chest and bring the person back from near death. He can cause a car to start up by pointing his hand at the vehicle. He can cause a phone to burn in the coat pocket of Mulder. He can send a bolt right into someone he feels betrayed him (but tragically never did) or also fry cattle grazing in a nearby field. He can cause a bully to suffer electrocution in his car after Ribisi reduces the vehicle to explosive sparks. And Ribisi covets the wife (his former teacher) of his auto mechanic garage employer. This is one of those episodes where Mulder and Scully are more like agents trying to determine whether or not Ribisi is behind lightning violence. The sheriff (Ernie Lively) sure doesn't want Mulder and Scully in his jurisdiction. He dismisses everything as lightning related. The sheriff even mentions their local observatory to Mulder and Scully. He just wants them gone, period. Mulder is convinced that Oswald is responsible for the deaths all related to lightning and Scully doesn't necessarily argue against this theory but not seeing the kid in person using that to hurt or kill refrains her from fully embracing it. It isn't until the sheriff gets a bolt of his own and sees Oswald super-charged. Seeing lightning literally from the sky as Oswald calls to it for another jolt is quite an incredible image. Those special effects and Ribisi's dead eyes, the way he seems almost in a daze, with this cold stare and how he conducts mischief, the callous disregard for what his violence does really leaves an impression...even though Mulder and Scully really factor very little into the episode besides remaining dedicated to keeping Sharon Kiveat (Karen Witter) safe. Sharon, the object of Oswald's affection, is practically a servant to her own fear, realizing he is a threat. Black's arcade employee, and Oswald's closest friend (and remains loyal to him despite his unfortunate demise), is basically almost as culpable as Oswald because he knows who is responsible for the deaths but won't tell the police the truth.