the Host

If you take nothing else away from this episode (and that would be a shame because it's a really good, iconic episode), it's that M & S miss each other. In fact, I could probably just throw a bunch of screencaps down and let their body language tell the whole story.

Tempting.



Mulder is pulled from the same garbage surveillance assignment as the last episode (still having lots of fun there, I see), in order to investigate an even more fun case: a dead body in a sewer. God bless Skinner, he has a sense of humour.



Mulder has a problem with this particular form of punishment, and storms into Skinner's office to confront him about it. He begins his rant, but cuts himself off when he realizes he's interrupted a board meeting. This scene cracks me up so much I had to mention it.

Skinner: Agent Mulder, would you please inform the room as to why you regard your homicide case in New Jersey as meaningless?



Snap. Mulder leaves Skinner's office humiliated.

Mulder meets with Scully that night. I don't think I need to hide the fact that I kind of enjoy M & S always meeting after dark.



S: Is this seat taken?
M: No. But I should warn you, I'm experiencing violent impulses.
S: Well, I'm armed, so I'll take my chances. I hear you really endeared yourself to Assistant Director Skinner today.
M: You know, sometimes, it just gets really hard to smile through it when they ask you to bend down and grab your ankles. You know?
S: It's not exactly as if you've ever tried to fit into the program.

He goes on to tell Scully that he's considering leaving the FBI altogether. I don't use the word 'flabbergasted' very often, but here it seems like an appropriate way to describe Scully's reaction. She's upset to say the least, but she also can't believe he'd just quit.

S: You could request a transfer to Quantico. Come back to the Behavioral Science Unit.
M: They don't want us working together, Scully, and right now, that's the only reason I can think of to stay.



... :)


Scully suggests she perform the autopsy, not just looking for any chance to work together, but I think also to keep Mulder interested in the case. Maybe he'll change his mind about leaving.

M: It's an exercise. Skinner is just rubbing my nose in this one. There's nothing to it.
S: There's a dead body, isn't there?

What an optimist. She really is doing her best.



I love the autopsy scene. I love how casually Scully records the procedure. Her deadpan "removing the rib cage," like it's no biggie. Of course, finding the fluke worm was a shock, or maybe a nice break from a routine autopsy.

Meanwhile, a (cylon) (Matthew Bennett plays Aaron Doral in BSG- good catch Maclean) is attacked by the Flukeman, who leaves a massive bite mark on his back. The bite just happens to look like a giant scolax... hmm. At just this moment, Mulder's interrupted by a phone call from a mysterious 'friend at the FBI'.



The scene where Scully discusses her findings with Mulder is adorable. They are light-hearted and joking with each other, even a little flirtatious, but also nostalgic.



M: This isn't where you tell me some terrible story about sushi, is it?
S: Well, maybe you'd rather hear what you can catch from a nice, rare steak.
M: So, what, the murder weapon was a top sirloin?

Even better is:

S: Mulder, the scolex is a tiny little organ. This is a huge bite mark.
M: How big can these things get?
S: (laughing at him) Mulder, I... (pause, staring at each other)I'm sorry. It felt like old times there for a second.



Then they have a moment. A totally legit 'yeah, old times... miss those old times' moment. Fantastic.



My favourite thing about these early X-Files are the moment where Scully doesn't get to disagree, or argue, but just sees what's going on and is totally in awe. Like when they have captured the Flukeman, and Scully is brought in to see it.



S: Mulder, this is amazing. It's vestigial features appear to be parasitic, but it has primate physiology.



Then Scully admits that she would miss Mulder, and is personally upset by his consideration of leaving.


S: Mulder... when you see Skinner to hand in your field report, I know that it's your decision, but I hope that you know that I'd consider it more than a professional loss if you decided to leave.



Oh, a confession!

But Mulder doesn't quit after all. He just stands up for himself and Scully.

M: You know, you had a pair of agents that could have handled a case like this. Agent Scully and I might have been able to save that man's life, but you shut us down.
Skinner: I know. This should have been an X-File. We all take our orders from someone, Agent Mulder. That'll be all.



What's great about this scene, is Skinner outs himself as actually being on Mulder's side. It's just that his position has been compromised.

The next great scene, and I do really love this scene, is Flukeman escaping from the ambulance, killing the driver. Then the camera pans up to a neon sign that reads "live bait". Genius.



Skip to the end... after all this is over, one more after-dark meeting between our two agents.



S: Is this seat taken?
M: No. But I should warn you, I may reek a bit out of the sewer.
S: I'll take my chances.



S: You talked to Skinner yesterday.
M: Success in our work is imperative, Scully. Reinstatement of the X-Files must be undeniable.
S: That came from Skinner?
M: No. We have a friend in the F.B.I.



And one more pic, because sometimes screen grabs just work out: