Colony

This episode seems to exist solely to set up the next one, so in that way, it's not nearly as much fun to watch as End Game. This might be part of the reason why I have a hard time separating the two in my head. It may also have to do with the flashback format of the episode, or simply the fact that I have never watched one without the other. For this reason, I actually delayed my watching End Game for about a week so I can mull this one over!

We actually learn a lot of interesting things. Like I said, maybe not as entertaining as the next, but certainly more informative.

We learn that Mulder's parents are divorced; something not even hinted at prior to this ep. We actually get to meet both of them for the first time.

We learn that the government's cloning experiments that have been alluded to a few times in the past have born fruit as it were; not only the Samantha clone but her 'parents'.

A grown Samantha becomes involved with the Mulder family because she believes they (her brother in particular) can save her from:



Alien Bounty Hunter! Kick ass! I love ABH. He's going around the country killing off the Doctor and Samantha clones that have built a loose colony in several states. Oh, PS, he can shape shift and look like whoever he wants.


Colony opens with a frightened, frantic, but determined Scully bursting into a hospital where a scary looking Mulder is just flatlining. We have no idea what Mulder has just been through, but his voice over alludes to it.




M: What happened to me out on the ice has justified every belief. If I should die now, it would be with the certainty that my faith has been righteous... that there is intelligent life in the universe other than our own. That they are here among us. And that they have begun to colonize.



Oooh great opener! Didn't that grab your attention?

The rest of the episode begins two weeks earlier. Mulder's been tipped off (presumably by a Samantha?) about related deaths of three identical abortion doctors. Seems like the work of pro-lifers, but if so, why would someone think Mulder cares?

ABH has placed a 'have you seen this man?' ad in several newspapers, following these tips in order to systematically take out the clones. His northerly pattern leads Mulder to believe he could predict this still-unknown killer's movement, though Scully is less sure of this whole thing.

S: Well, nothing about it makes sense. We've got three deaths of identical victims, no bodies, a virtual non-suspect...
M: Sounds just like an X-File.




They access the ad's answered messages and find a Dr in Syracuse they believe they have to protect. A local agent goes to investigate, but he's too late; he witnesses ABH killing the Dr. ABH takes on the agent's appearance as the Dr dissolves into a pile of green alien goo. The real agent has been stuffed into ABH's trunk.

Mulder is understandably surprised when he is reamed out by Skinner for causing this agent's death. To the best of his knowledge, this agent was fine!

Skinner: Did anyone authorize this investigation, Agent Mulder?
M: No, sir.
Skinner: Do you have paperwork on this case?
M: No, sir. I'd assumed we had an understanding with respect to the X-Files.
Skinner: I'm sure it doesn't surprise you, Agent Mulder, that the people I have to answer to aren't quite so understanding. Particularly when one of their field agents is found dead.
M: What?



I find Skinner's relationship to the X-Files to be just as interesting (for me) as the complicated relationship between M & S. On the one hand, Skinner has aligned himself with his agents, even giving them special privileges due to the 'special' nature of their cases. But at the same time, not only has he been compromised by CSM and his associates, but there is still the real-life matter of him not having control over the agents under him. Because of this, even Skinner is in some serious trouble from his superiors.

So he kind of.. explodes. Meanwhile, Scully is still at home checking her e-mail. She hasn't made it into work yet, but knew that Mulder was there. She calls him to say she received an e-mail about another clone, this one in Washington.

A supposed CIA agent intercepts them at Scully's place. He tells them a half truth about the clones, but claims they are part of a Russian cloning project, and their placement in abortion clinics is so they can strike in the event of a war, contaminating blood supplies, sabotaging pharmaceutical factories... essentially destroy the country's immune system. Compelling story. He also believes he knows where the Washington clone lives, and decides to take them there.



I am not entirely clear on why ABH is bringing M & S along. Perhaps he believed he was caught? He clearly didn't need their help or anything.

Anyway, they find the doctor, but their pursuit ends in a chase. The chase ends with Mulder being hit by a car! Jesus! Scully checks on Mulder, who insists she go on, but she's already fallen behind ABH, who has found the perfect opportunity to kill the clone. He melts... and Scully steps in him. Don't know why, but I find that particularly gross!

The next morning at work Mulder appears to be fine.

S: How are you feeling?
M: Like I should've used the crosswalk.

If you can joke, you are fine, right? :p Scully suggests they drop the case.

M: Scully, if what our friend from the C.I.A. says is true, this could blow the lid off one of the biggest national security conspiracies ever.
S: Our friend from the C.I.A. is about as unbelievable as his story... as is everything about this case. I mean, whatever happened to "trust no one," Mulder?
M: Oh, I changed it to "trust everyone." I didn't tell you?



Uhm, that line actually kills me! I find it hilarious. Scully starts to voice all of the concerns that I as a viewer, have as well. Why would this CIA guy need their help? Couldn't he be responsible for the other agent's death? They actually get into a heated argument about 'drawing lines', but it only lasts a minute. They don't want to fight.

Scully changes the topic by showing Mulder her shoes. No, seriously...




S: I have to show you something. (Maybe a little angry)I got these a week ago.

S: I stepped in something last night that ate clean through the sole. Now, maybe I'm being paranoid, but it was in the exact spot where this man Chapel said the doctor escaped.

Mulder pokes his pencil through the hole in the shoe. It wasn't particularly suggestive, but you can be damned sure I found a screen cap that was :P



They both look at each other like they know they may be on to something after all. I can't remember how much exposure Scully has had to aliens' melty deaths, can you? Did she see any of it in Erlenmeyer Flask? Probably not.. anyway, Mulder suggests Scully round up an autopsy bay. What for?

M: I came across something I think you'll appreciate. Whoever killed that field agent in Syracuse was so clever, no clear cause of death can be established.

You know, I enjoy the phasing Mulder chose to go with on that one. I enjoy the idea of Mulder reviewing notes and discovering a interesting tidbit that makes him think 'I have to tell Scully about this. She will appreciate this'.

S: Well, Skinner's going to want to know why you didn't file your report. What're you going to say?
M: Just the truth. I got hit by a car.



Valid excuse I'd say. Skinner is no longer interested in Mulder's report, instead he looks... concerned. Instead, he tells Mulder that his father's been trying to reach him with a family emergency.

That's always a frightening thing to hear because it could mean anything. In this case, however, Mulder could have never seen it coming.

When he arrives at his father's place, Mr Mulder is sitting on the porch smoking a cigarette, looking for all the world like CSM.



I'd be shocked to find out this was an accident; I think they are trying to make us vaguely aware from the beginning that Mr Mulder is not exactly who he appears to be. He and Mulder share a tense handshake. It's clear they aren't exactly friends. Mulder's entire family situation seems very strained. I can't help but wonder if it's because Mr Mulder knows he's not really his father...

Mrs Mulder is inside talking to... Samantha. Mulder is completely blown away. Mr Mulder seems distant from the entire thing. Like he already knows it's not really her, but can't bear to cause any more pain. I was really touched by the scene where Mulder tucks his mother in; they both seem so fragile.



Everybody stays up all night talking, but it's not until morning that Mulder asks Samantha about what happened to her since her abduction. She had no memory of her previous life, only her life with her adopted parents, who she confesses right away are these alien clones that are being killed.



Scully, meanwhile, has tracked down an address and has to go to Edmonton.



OK, not really :) There she finds evidence of the cloning experiment and later discovers she's been followed home from it. Here begins a frustrating game of phone tag; Scully desperately wanting to tell Mulder about what she found and let him know she thinks she's in danger. Mulder is trying desperately to warn her that she might be in danger, because his long lost sister told him so!

Scully decides to play it safe and stay at a motel near the Edmonton location. She gets on a bus and unwisely leaves a message with Mulder giving him the details of where she is staying. She doesn't think she's been followed, but she just didn't recognize ABH, so he tracks her down easily.

He appears at her door disguised as Mulder... but the phone rings and it's also Mulder! What is Scully to make of this?



She understands instantly that she is in danger. Again.