THE X-FILES ROUNDTABLE: BABYLON

After last week’s episode was a bit of a downer, we were hoping that the penultimate episode would be a return to the fun of Were-Monster. We mostly got our wish. While it focused on a heavy subject – terrorism and intolerance and hate – the episode overall turned out to be reasonably light. We were introduced to Mulder and Scully’s younger doppelgangers and a very entertaining  depiction of Mulder’s Big Texas Night Out.

Melissa and I share our thoughts below. Please share yours in the comments or let us know what you thought on Twitter (@nicegirlstv).

Mini Mulder and Scully

Melissa: They were fun! I like Lauren Ambrose and Robbie Amell in general, and they were terrific in these roles. I appreciated that they put their own spin on the characters so while we could see the similarities, they were still unique. It was a good move pairing them off with their elder opposites, too. A glimpse into the future, if you will.

Cay: I thought it was clever as well. Robbie Amell as Agent Miller was so adorably earnest although I found Einstein to be a bit annoying (like she was the sum of only Scully’s worst traits, but none of her best).

The Muslim terrorist plotline

Melissa: I appreciated the discussion of hate versus love and the connection to the Tower of Babel. It was a bit heavy-handed, but then morality tales on The X-Files always were.

Cay: While they were clearly trying to make a point about tolerance and show us how prejudice comes off to others and how hate breeds hate,  I think they could have done it in a way that doesn’t reinforce current stereotypes. In the end it was exactly as it seemed – Muslim terrorists, it was just the man in the hospital that wasn’t fully on board in the end. Overall, though, I thought it was handled in a thoughtful way.

Mulder and the “Magic Mushrooms” (and The Lone Gunman cameos)

Melissa: I was torn between thinking “he is HOT” and cringing over memories of learning to line dance to “Achy Breaky Heart” in PE for a country-western themed school dance. The broader implications of Mulder seeing/doing all of that while on a placebo…I’m not sure what to think about that. Especially given that his mind somehow still communicated with the comatose terrorist. (Yes, I noticed all three Lone Gunmen! We also had a cameo from Cigarette Smoking Man!)

Cay: Yeah, I’m a bit baffled with the set-up as well – why did Einstein seemingly agree to help – just to try to make Miller jealous? And then why did she then give Mulder a vitamin instead of the mushrooms – what was she trying to prove? Did she just want to make him look ridiculous? However, hard-to-comprehend-plot-devices-aside, the whole scene was hilarious! Loved the cameos, loved the music, and definitely found myself thinking “wow, Mulder is still hot!” and his dancing isn’t bad, either. How the heck all of those shenanigans led to him communicating with a mostly dead terrorist is another difficult thing to comprehend, but somehow he did. I think I might just assume that he got roofied at the first bar and then everything else went from there. Or maybe Mulder just had flashbacks to his previous experiences with peyote (Blessing Way) and ketamine (Demons)…he’s no stranger to elicit substances.

Mulder and Scully’s philosophical discussion

Cay: I really liked this scene – both of them still trying to understand the world they live in, both with different perspectives, but clearly very comfortable with sharing with each other. You could really feel the love between them. I’ve always loved these episodes that end with M&S waxing philosophical. And then of course we got a bit of a mirror with Miller and Einstein as well.

Melissa: I also thought their discussion was very sweet. In the end, they are two people who are searching for truth and who love each other, both of which came through in that scene. The trumpets that only Mulder could hear coupled with the extreme pullback shot of Earth set against the backdrop of the galaxy made me really happy at first (I love the whole “Goid s watching out for us” vibe), but now I’m wondering if we were seeing Earth from the perspective of an alien ship which is not at all comforting.

Cay: Ha, I didn’t think of the alien ship idea, but judging by the previews of the finale episode, we’re definitely headed back into ahem…alien territory.

The soundtrack

Cay: The soundtrack hasn’t really stood out in previous episodes, but this episode had lots of recognizable songs. I particularly liked “Ho Hey” by The Lumineers at the end.

Melissa: It was effective, but GAH! Now I’m going to have “Achy Breaky Heart” stuck in my head again!

Favorite line or scene?

Melissa: “There’s nobody here except the FBI’s most unwanted. I’ve been waiting 23 years to say that.” – Scully

Cay: Mulder’s dancing, for sure!

Overall Thoughts?

Melissa: I expected this to be another romp a la “Were-Monster”, and it did have moments of levity, but it ended up being surprisingly deep. And we had yet another mothers-and-sons plot. We’re getting William in the finale, right? And more Skinner?

Cay: The writing was clunky with plot holes a plenty,  and I had to suspend a lot of disbelief, but somehow I still really enjoyed this episode, all because of the Miller-Einstein as young Mulder-Scully and Mulders “trip”. If they would have left out the whole terrorism plot and it actually made sense, it could have been a really great episode.

Memorable Quotes:

Agent Skinner, who speaks highly of you, by the way. – Mulder
I helped him with his migraines, which he claims are due to you – Agent Einstein

I don’t do woowoo – Mulder

When I stand on a scale and think of ice cream, my ass doesn’t grow! – Einstein

Not a simpleton, a mugwump. – Mulder
I resent that characterization, and I don’t even know what it means! – Einstein

The placebo effect has been known to have a lasting psychological outcome – Einstein

Wonders never cease with you, Mulder – Scully

Catch The X-Files Season 10 finale next Monday at 8/7c on FOX!