Ice

One of the most classic episodes, well loved by all! If I had to pick a favourite... I can't. But his would be right up there. Maybe my favourite of the season, how about that?

This week, Mulder wants to take Scully to Alaska.


M: "Bring your mittens".

One of the real strengths of this episode (other than the first off-the-charts UST since the Pilot) is there was no 'informant' explaining the answers to them, and Mulder never 'read about it in an X-File'. The case is solved by observation, chance discoveries, and bouncing ideas off a room full of people. It made this episode so much more interesting and enjoyable to watch.

They have to learn on their own that the previous team killed each other as a result of a parasitic and territorial space-worm that causes violent behaviour in the host.



Also interesting is the pairing of M & S with a team that included another duo that also has a history of working well together. What you end up with is two duos that will stick by each other, even when it stops making sense to do so.

Like when they catch Mulder like this with a dead guy:



Now, we know he's innocent, but he sure as shit looks guilty when they walk in on him! Prior to that, they seem to suspect Scully might be infected with the worm. Scully defends him later "if he is infected, it's not his fault".

All kinds of tensions in this episode are just out of control; nobody trusts anybody else; dude is paranoid about working with federal agents, who he believes already know everything about this case before even coming up to Alaska.

Then this happens:





Woo! *wipes brow* Yep, this episode gets your heart pounding. Never mind this scene:







I think even more so than Scully ripping his shirt down when he presents his back to her, the thing that makes this the hottest scene in season one is the sound it makes when she does it!

Also cute: Scully going out of her way to say good night to Mulder (pretty sure we haven't seen this before). Not so cute: Mulder using that as an opportunity to reminds her that any one of them could still probably be infected, and they'd have no idea.



Way to give Scully nightmares, Mulder. She pulls a desk in front of her door for protection, and then probably goes without any sleep, which I guess for Scully, is normal.