F. Emasculata

I completely forgot what this episode was about. Normally I see a title, it rings some bells, but I couldn't for the life of me remember this one...

...Until I saw that gross boar covered in turkey vultures and boils. I must blocked this one from my memory on purpose because it is the grossest episode ever. I feel fairly dedicated to watching every episode in this rewatch. But. I have to say, I don't think I ever need to watch this one again.

Written in true Chris Carter style, there is a lot of sound-bitey dialogue, things like 'You see what I let you see' or 'There'll be a time for the truth, Mulder, but this isn't it'. Does not help me enjoy this episode. However, I do really love how the incinerator scenes are shot, I think the dark redness looks really great.



Scully is very interesting in this episode. In the first scenes, she is very upset with being saddled with a prison break. It's not an X-File so why do they have to do it? I just find it amazing that a case is not paranormal enough for her liking.

S: According to my briefing, the prisoners escaped by hiding in a laundry cart.
M: I don't think the guards are watching enough prison movies.

I also find her general behaviour to be interesting; she is in serious ass-kicking, don't-do-anything-by-the-book mode once they find out there is a contagion involved. Sometimes the by-the-book Scully of Season One seems so long ago. She has been working too closely with Mulder for far too long.

Also, she doesn't seem to take any precautions with the contagion. None. She doesn't even bother to wear that flimsy face mask most of the time. How is she not infected?!

And how did they end up with this case anyway? It isn't an X-File, it's just dangerous.

CSM was setting them up. He sent it through Skinner, though if he wanted them dead, it would have happened already. Uhm, any number of times.



Mulder is visibly disappointed (and so am I) to see that Skinner is still in CSM's pocket. Though now that Mulder and CSM have had at it face to face, Mulder doesn't hesitate to speak directly to the man who normally would have just loomed in the corner of the room.

The main theme, or moral, of the episode is public access to knowledge. All of the threats are about making the masses aware of the outbreak, which the perps want to avoid at all costs. Mulder becomes obsessed with letting the truth be known. He's even mad at Scully when she tells him they can't leak the information until they have more information.



Interestingly, when Mulder asks if she's OK, Scully replies "Yeah. I'm okay" not 'I'm fine', which would be code for 'not fine'. She's not too worried about herself despite being really unsafe around the infected boils.

S: Take care of yourself, Mulder.

He doesn't. He puts himself on the bus with the escaped prisoner even though the Greyhound station was already swarming with US Marshals. I can't believe this guy thinks he's getting into our country with those sick boils on his face! Oh well, as long as he's headed to Toronto and not here... :P

Final scene.... public has a right to know.. blah blah blah... The most interesting part of the episode is this:

S: The Costa Rican government just faxed me the report on the missing scientist.
His name is Robert Torrence, the same as our prisoner. It was their failsafe in case it ever came to this so they could blame it on a simple postal error. A mistake.
M:(laughs/scoffs, to Skinner) That's why we were given this assignment, right? They knew all along... so that even if we succeeded in finding the truth, we'd be discredited as part of it. Am I right? Am I right?!

That is so clever, I just love it.

SKINNER: You never had a chance, Agent Mulder. For every step you take, they're three steps ahead.
M: Well, what about you, where do you stand?
SKINNER: I stand right on the line that you keep crossing.

Uggh...What does that even mean?



To show their frustration and solidarity, M & S go to leave. Skinner stops them.

SKINNER: I'm saying this as a friend. Watch your back. This is just the beginning.

Of what... exactly? Is this alluding to Anasazi somehow?

Gah, whatever. Next episode, please!