Young At Heart

Oh! This is a surprisingly good episode! I always forget how great the villain is in this one; really intense and very creepy, especially in the scenes when he's talking to Mulder on the phone. That doesn't seem to stop me from procrastinating in writing my entry though...

In the first season we really do see a lot of people from M & S's pasts, in this case an old partner of Mulder's. Also, a criminal that Mulder has already put in jail, and has supposedly died.



What actually happened was this John Barnett character has been experimented on, and is actually getting younger. He never gets a chance to go all Benjamin Button on us though because Mulder sets a trap in the end, using Scully as bait. Barnett is shot in a scenario similar to the one before his original capture.

A hostage who is Scully's friend is being used as a human shield. In the original case, the hostage and an agent are both killed and Mulder- having had a clear shot, but one that would endanger the hostage- must live with the fact that he could have, but didn't, save their lives.



To make this episode even more interesting, the doctor who experimented on Barnett comes to visit the agents, and explains the science behind the whole thing. He is trying to find a cure for progeria; or at least using as an excuse (or "a wonderful opportunity") to reverse aging. Barnett is the only survivor of the experiments, and the doctor has had success in regenerating limbs after using salamander cells.

Of course, that leaves Barnett with a salamander hand.

This whole thing has Scully entranced, which is SO much more interesting than her shooting down theories and disbelieving everything that is actually going on in every episode. She is fascinated by the science behind the strange events that are happening, and she wants to learn more. I love that.



See, look's she's taking notes for crying out loud! I just love it!

To add a dimension, the villain is being wooed by the government. Obviously this is the kind of scientific advancement they would love to get a hold of, and they are trying to get a deal. Here you have your excuse for having Deep Throat show up, but more than that, it seems... realistic, in the X-files universe.



Mulder is so disgusted with the conversation, he leaves Deep Throat to pick up the tab. At least Deep Throat can finish Mulder's beer...

Do you see what just happened? I was so interested in the X-file itself, I haven't event talked about any UST or anything! That's how good it is!

Not that this episode is full of great UST or anything, although Scully shows a lot of compassion for Mulder when Reggie Purdue recounts the whole stand-off/shoot-out thing, and has a chance to express that later, to Mulder's slight embarrassment.

Can I just quickly say that... Agent Henderson, while physically very unattractive.. they way she purrs when she describes the cursive writing for her analysis... even I think she's kind of hot. So if there is some UST there between her and Mulder, it's totally forgiven.




H: "Well, this fellow... and I'm assuming from the cursive figures here that it is a male suspect... he has a fairly nice, fluid style. Judging from the pressure variations in the connectors, this person would need good finger dexterity. You're not going to get that with a prosthesis. "

Now let's see...




Barnett threatens to kill all of Mulder's friends; he's already killed Purdue, and now is stalking Scully at her friend's concert. He tapped into her answering machine- I love this:

M: "What does Barnett know about your phone messages?"
S: "Uh, that my mother called for no reason and I'm meeting a friend before her cello recital."

I dunno, I just think Scully's Mom is cute, that's all. I think she reminds me of my Mom in some way.

And actually, Mulder winking at Scully when she is acting as bait for Barnett is kind of cute.



Scully responds with this:



I guess now is just not the time. I don't think Scully likes being bait.

I think when Scully finally is shot, Mulder could have done better than kind of running near her, instructing someone else to check her, then running off to catch Barnett. Yeah, he knows she's wearing a bullet proof vest, and this perp is kind of a big deal, I get it. Doesn't stop it from being a bit disappointing.

That's OK, this look at the end makes it better.



It says "it's OK, I still care. I knew you would be OK. I know you are a totally capable woman, and more than that, you are a fucking kick-ass superhuman being."

.....No it doesn't. OK, it was me saying those last things...

Whatever.