X Files - A Christmas Eve with Ghosts and Whatnot

 

You know, "How the Ghosts Stole Christmas" was just so much more rewarding this year. I think I was distracted last year even as I watched it because of the Pandemic ruining my joy. My stepfather was dying of Covid and my mother was very sick because of Covid. My stepfather had hip surgery in the hospital, and that is how both of my parents caught Covid. My mother barely made it while my stepfather died in January of 2021. So December 2020 as a whole was really depressing and soul-sucking. It was an emotional wallop that drained from me so much. While I'm pretty much done with anything Christmas-related in terms of content -- I started with "Scrooged" on November 2nd, and my Letterboxd is inundated with Christmas film reviews and comments, done so more as a diary catalogue and historical document for future use -- I thought I would treat myself to one more holiday related reward and that is "How the Ghosts Stole Christmas". Ed Asner and Lily Thompson as the titular ghosts playfully attempt to get into the heads of Mulder and Scully as they investigate their haunted mansion, left abandoned and practically forgotten, except for the occasional ghost hunters and paranormal investigators interested in pursuing "leads". Mulder thought Scully might be curious and want to check out the mansion, even though she really wanted to get home with her gifts since at 6:00 the next morning her family had Christmas Day activities planned. Mulder, unfortunately, as we see later once at home, is alone, so Scully being with him on Christmas Eve gave him some much-needed company. I personally believe Mulder just wanted to come up with something for him and Scully to do, even though she had her own plans. 

A haunted mansion on Christmas Eve ghost-hunting in an X-Files episode just feels right, I think. Over the month there has been talk about "How the Ghosts Stole Christmas" on the X Files subReddit. I guess I wouldn't have given the episode much thought, if any, hadn't it been brought up on that sub since I love to frequent there with my fellow passionate fans of the show. I think a lot of that has to do with the delightful ending when Scully arrives unexpected at Mulder's apartment, both quite sleepy and having endured mental mind-fucks thanks to the ghosts getting them all confused about shooting each other, complete with finding their own petrified skeletal remains, in the same wardrobe (mind you), under floorboards in the mansion's main study (a fantastic set complete with old portraits, a library of books, and a fireplace).

I personally wished I had given this episode a prime spot in my December lineup. I always consider the Twilight Zone episodes, and, perhaps, I should have included this episode as a third part of that lineup. Now that I think of it, the two Twilight Zone episodes along with "How the Ghosts Stole Christmas" feels like marshmallows with hot cocoa. 

Mulder looks so forlorn and depressed on his couch while watching Sim's Scrooge giggling with happiness in his apartment, seemingly brought out of his stupor by Scully's knock at the door. When the two acknowledge they like to spend time together, it was like a red ribbon on the present for X Files fans. Mulder giving Scully a wrapped gift and their smiles as they sit together...come on, how could I not just love that, right?!