The X Files - Tooms

 

I have user comments to include from January 27th, 2016, but I'll add that is was fun seeing Skinner for the first time, trying to "rein in" Scully on how they close their X-Files cases, even though she brings up that they are successful 75% of the time. Mulder, with Tooms framing him through a shoe print -- that Mulder easily takes apart through how the print was pressed on his face -- gets help from Scully (lying for him about the time frame for which Tooms claims Mulder beat him) and Skinner appeals to him to take a vacation. With Cancer Man behind him just smoking away, Skinner seems like his stooge, acting in his interests. I always like how Skinner closes the case on Eugene Tooms asking Cancer Man if he believed any of what was written in the report by Mulder and Scully, with Cigarette-Smoking Man responding quite matter-of-factly, "Of course I do." This followed with Mulder letting Scully know that a hunch of his believes their division of the FBI is in jeopardy and changes are coming soon. 3.5/5

Tooms, the skin-crawling, limb-stretching, yellow-eyed, liver-eating, centuries-old serial killer, played as if a snake in the grass ready to uncoil and strike at any moment by Doug Hutchison (this guy can play creeps and human rodents like a champ), is released from prison thanks to his psych-doc's recommendation (which he will eventually pay with his life for) and "good behavior" (one look at this guy and he cries aloud "Killer"). Mulder knows what he is capable of (and has done; although explaining it to the tribunal with the authority to release him is another matter, entirely), and follows him around, keeping tabs (a definite close eye; Scully interrupts a three-day-without-sleep watch to replace him!), hoping Tooms would make the wrong move that would implicate himself (Tooms eyes this husband in a blue shirt, and the obsessive lust is painted all over Hutchison's face; this actor is impressive in this part). Tooms tries a clever trick to attempt to get Mulder arrested by "squeezing" into his apartment, using a print from his shoe, and hurting himself intentionally (think back to Andy Robinson in "Dirty Harry"). When that doesn't quite work, Tooms will take advantage of his psychiatrist's visit to get a little lunch (Hutchison looks especially unsettling here, and the screams of his doc are quite disturbing), then prepare his newspaper-and-glue cocoon at his old hibernation station (which is now a shopping mall!). Before he goes into a long rest, Mulder and Scully will try to find him and keep him from hurting anyone else.

While Hutchison makes his time on screen count, I think most X-Files fans will come away from this primarily for the FBI office scenes where Skinner (Mitch Pileggi) is introduced and The Cigarette-Smoking-Man (William B Davis) speaks for the first time. Skinner is the boss placed in charge over Scully and Mulder (Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny), and his duty to protect them or corral them into complacency are always up for debate. His motivations are questionable because of his "alliance" (well, the first episode sets this up, but Skinner often faces off with him which creates a fascinating dynamic) with CSM. He tries to temper Mulder's rebellious nature with the X-Files, but it doesn't work, while CSM does believe what the agents reports to them is true. Scully's loyalty to Mulder and his line about true love if she brought him an iced tea (and her calling him "Fox") in the car while staking out Tooms make this episode real special...the liverwurst sandwich and the particular bite (and how it is tied to the bite mark on a found skeletal remains found buried in cement of an old factory) taken out of it also lend a great deal to the scene. Nice use of "The Fly" classic sci-fi film (a Fox film, of course) as a midnight movie that is on in Mulder's home when Tooms pays a visit. Skinner's basic interrogation of Scully at the beginning casts a hostile light at Skinner but he does prove down the road that he has her and Mulder's back.