THE X-FILES ROUNDTABLE: Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster

After two episodes that were notable mainly just because we were seeing new episodes after all these years, this week’s episode was completely absurd in the best possible way. Written by Darin Morgan (best known for the Emmy-award winning episode Clyde Bruckman’s Finale Repose), this episode showed that even 13 years later, the show can make fun of itself in a way that only make you love it more. With a great commentary on what it [might] mean to be human, an actual “monster”, and some really witty lines, this episode was a great example of everything that was ever right with the series.

Melissa, Liz, and I share our thoughts below. Feel free to add yours in the comments or hit us up on Twitter (@nicegirlstv).

Mulder’s existential crisis and Scully’s bemusement

Cay: Loved Scully saying that the “I Want to Believe” poster was hers and Mulder’s droll summary of pretty much his life’s work and how it was all for not (and this part didn’t even include aliens or government conspiracies!). It was perfect to have the Were-Lizard having his own sort of crisis, but for pretty much opposite reasons.

Melissa: I loved Mulder and Scully in this episode. The depth of their relationship was displayed in Scully’s amusement and support of him, and Mulder’s comfort with revealing his thoughts to her. Her gentle teasing was a nice change of pace, and he really is better when she’s around.

Liz: I thought it was fun to see Mulder in Scully’s shoes, so to speak. And he was so childlike in his disappointment that the odd cases were so easily explained away. Poor Mulder!

Mulder and Scully have really questionable taste in motels

Liz: Government cuts? It was pretty skeevy.

Melissa: Seriously. And what was the proprietor drinking? It looked like rubbing alcohol.

Cay: It was definitely rubbing alcohol. As if all the heads on the wall weren’t creepy enough, there was that dirty old man staring through them? Gives me the heeby jeebies. In 10 seasons of horrible motels, I think this one takes the cake except for maybe the one from Humbug, the episode about the circus freaks where they were staying in an RV park. On the plus side, we got a great throwback with Mulder in the red bikini briefs (aka Speedo) courtesy of the peeping Tom!

THE X-FILES: L-R: David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson in the “Mulder & Scully Meet the Were-monster” episode of THE X-FILES airing Monday, Feb. 1 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Ed Araquel/FOX

The Were-Lizard’s story

Liz: Do you know, I actually felt sorry for him! (The character reminded me of one from an “Amazing Stories” episode about a mummy, by the way.) I found his story sad and fun all at once. The real twist was at the end, when he tells Mulder that he goes into hibernation for about 10,000 years.  That’s when you knew he was more than a lizard. Way more.

Melissa: I thought that was a neat twist, having him be a lizard who turns into a man, rather than a man who turns into a lizard. His bewilderment about what it means to be human mirrored Mulder’s own existential crisis, and I think the ending gave Mulder some validation that his work isn’t meaningless or fruitless.

Cay: I loved that Mulder really didn’t want to believe him, kept assuming he was the one doing the killings and all along it was the animal control guy. Too funny to have Mulder not willing to believe because it was all too crazy when Guy the Were-Lizard was [mostly] telling the truth. It was also awesome that Guy’s human identity was a dapper English chap – it made it all the more surreal, particularly when Mulder barged in on him when he was in the Portapotty!

THE X-FILES: Guest star Rhys Darby in the “Mulder & Scully Meet the Were-monster” episode of THE X-FILES airing Monday, Feb. 1 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Ed Araquel/FOX

Favorite Lines or Scene

Liz: Favorite line was from Scully, when Mulder was trying to tell her about the were-lizard. “Mulder, the internet is not good for you.” LOL!

Favorite scene was when Scully admitted that she was enjoying working these cases again with Mulder. She was having fun!

Melissa: “That’s how I like my Mulder.” Amen, Scully!

Cay: I liked the “fight” between Mulder and Guy in the cemetery and Mulder with his smart phone camera while Scully had her gun. The scene in the forest where Mulder came up with more and more implausible explanations for the bodies was a lot of fun, too. It’s hard to pick just one line or scene!

Overall Impressions

Liz: This was a completely light-hearted and fun episode. I enjoyed every second. It’s been a long time so I don’t remember episodes like these the first time around, but I think shows like this need to bring some levity sometimes. It would lose me quickly otherwise.

Melissa: Very funny! I always liked the Monster of the Week episodes where they were chasing Sasquatch or Batboy or whatever.. This was prime X-Files fun.

Cay: There were definitely some places where the dialogue ran a bit longer than ideal, but overall, this episode was a ton of fun and I watched the whole thing with a stupid grin on my face, laughing loudly multiple times. It’s not easy to poke this much fun at yourself and have it seem like a loving ode to 9 seasons past, but this episode really worked and it worked that much better for the time that has passed.

Notable Quotes (lots of them!)

Maybe he was a nudist. Took a midnight hike in the nude, got attacked by a wolf, a mountain lion, or a bear. That’s how I’d like to go out – Mulder

Aww Scully, I gave up profiling before I gave up monsters. You’ve seen one serial killer, you’ve seen them all. – Mulder

Nah, that thing I saw was wearing underwear – prostitute
Boxers, or briefs? – Scully

…I told the officers, but they think I’m on crack – prostitute
Are you? – Mulder
Yeah.

It shot blood at me from out of its eyeball. At least I think. It was hard to see with blood in my eyeball – Mulder

So, you are agreeing with me? – Mulder
NO! You’re bat crap crazy! – Scully

…and then I did something insane! – Were-Lizard
You attacked and killed someone. – Mulder
No, I got a puppy – Were-Lizard

Ever since I became a human,  I can’t help but lie about my sex life – Were-Lizard

I’m not a reptile! That’s racist! – Were-Lizard

Watch The X-Files on Mondays at 8/7c on FOX!