X Files - Scully's Birthday

The fourth season episode, Tempest Fugit

 

Despite being a lot going on in the two-part Max Fenig-centric episodes, "Tempest Fugit" and "Max", it has to be acknowledged that Scully couldn't even enjoy her birthday without some X File interference. This was smack dab in the middle of the fourth season, and when "Tempest Fugit" kicks off, Mulder and Scully are in a bar together, and some of the guys in there provide her a little cupcake with a smarkler on top. Mulder had one of those little straws in his mouth, a big smile, and Scully looked obviously embarrassed and taken aback, but in a good way. Because I think she was enjoying it with someone she really cares about. 

This episode was recently brought up on the X Files subReddit board for discussion because the topic presenter was a bit bummed about Max's departure. The person felt Max was a character so easily discarded, unceremoniously so. A few others chimed in that they felt he served his purpose. He was a storyline conduit for Mulder to find a spaceship with an alien at the bottom of Great Sacandanga Lake. Of course, the military, seemingly at the behest of Cancer Man (I got tired of calling Cigarette-Smoking Man), are involved, as are his hired assassins, this time led by a mustachioed Greg Michaels, sent to join Mike Millar (Joe Spano) under the guise of a member of an investigative team assigned to uncover what caused an airplane flight to crash, killing everyone onboard. That includes Max Fenig, who Mulder feels might have been abducted from the plane by aliens. 

The opening of "Tempest Fugit" would make you believe that was the case with the bright light beaming through the windows into the passengers, including Max, who has curious lesions on his face. It would seem Cancer Man sent one of his assassins onboard the plane, carrying one of those makeshift guns you can piece together from different parts in an assembly which helps to hide the weapon from confiscation. Watching X-Files is a timepiece if just because of how flying has changed prior to 9/11.

Mulder has a scene where he brings up to Millar and all in attendance during their initial meeting about the investigation a possibility on how the crash occurred, once again leaving Scully wanting to be anywhere but right besides him as laughing eyes pointedly ridicule her partner for such an outrageous claim. That Max is an abductee Mulder believes was the purpose of the crash leaves Millar to openly dispute him, as everyone in attendance (besides Michaels, and his help, both there to acid the assassin found later in half a piece (partial remains) under some rubble, removing any identification) clearly find aliens as the cause ridiculous. On Scully's birthday, she is inside a building with fellow investigators as her partner mentions outloud the idea of an alien spacecraft being responsible for an airplane crash. Millar even considers that an insult to the very real situation of bodies filling up a lot of yellow body bags.

Mulder, even if always following his passion, is still a FBI agent and investigator. He'll go where the evidence presents itself even if it might not be the results he hopes for. Scully, on her birthday, helps in the investigation. Burns on another passenger not far from Fenig brings radiation into conversation.