But apart from my initial disappointment in the lack of well-groomed facial hair, this episode was fantastic!!
Mulder and Scully are called to investigate the deaths of several people by a giant lizard-man, and, not surprisingly, find that things are not as they seem.
Throwback Monday
Not only does this episode throwback to the classic monster stories of the original X-Files, it has specific references to Quagmire, among others, to the delight of old-school fans! The stoners (from Quagmire and War of the Coprophages) appear, and Queequeg (Scully’s violently dispatched dog) is mentioned. Mulder’s existential angst is back, the same angst that produced one of my favorite early-days interactions:
Snort! This time Mulder is facing a mid-life crisis. So much of the unexplained has been explained – he wonders if the X-Files is really legacy he wants to leave?
Smart Phones is not Mulder
Technology has changed so much in the past 14 years that there are times Mulder is as befuddled by it as our 200 year-old friend Ichabod Crane over on Sleepy Hollow.
word
After bemoaning the lack of photo evidence of the purported monster in the face of omnipresent phone technology, Mulder, when faced with the creature, is unable to seal the deal.
Mulder-the-goof is the best kind of Mulder, and his video footage did not disappoint:
*facepalm*
Scully cannot
This week Scully’s eye-rolling returned with a vengeance. After dismally predicting that the culprit would turn out to be a garden-variety serial killer, Mulder does a 180 and begins spouting theories about giant lizard men who shoot blood out of their eyes. Scully reacts predictably:
From the mouths of lizard-dudes
In a clever turn, the weremonster in question was living a happy life as a giant lizard who could shoot blood from its eyes until it was bitten and transformed into a horrible creature – a human (aptly named Guy Mann)!
And much to his dismay, he discovers he is pretty-darn good at it! His epic tech skills not only land him a job, but a sweet promotion by the end of his first day.
Soon he finds himself trapped in the vicious cycle of monstrous human appetites: a steady job, the overwhelming urge to take on a mortgage and the burning desire to write the next great American novel. His human urges also compel him to get a puppy:
And with this Guy unlocks the key to the universe:
. . .the only way to be happy as a human, is to spend all of your time in the company of non-humans.”
hahahaha, men
In addition to the aforementioned human foibles, Guy is also possessed with an need to lie about his sex life. Unfortch, he decides to boast about his prowess in the sack to the wrong guy.
just.stop.
The cameos
This episode featured great cameos from both the living and the dead. Rhy Darby’s (Flight of the Conchords) fantastic lizard-soliloquy was set in a graveyard featuring the tombstones of Jack Hardy (First AD of I Want to Believe), and Kim Manners, a prolific producer and director of The X-Files, who passed away in 2009.
I really hope that is what his actual tombstone says
Ultimately, the killer turns out to be just another serial killer, played by superfan Kumail Nanjiani (Silicon Valley). Upon capture, the life-choice questioning animal control officer is prepared to reveal his evil plans Scooby-Doo-style, only to be shot down by Scully, who advises him to save it for the judge.
Let me guess: “I would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for you meddling kids!”
Clyde Bruckman rides again
My favorite moment in Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose got a shout out in this episode when Scully refers to her immortality. That episode is one of the all-time greats, and this exchange still gives me chills!
eeeeeeeeeeeee!
Even in light of a criminal lack of beards, this was a great episode and a good antidote to the heavy plot lifting of the first 2 episodes!
ME TOO!
See you next week for a recap of “Home Again.” (It looks awesome!!!)
Catch all of our The X-Files coverage here!
All The X-Files images are courtesy of FOX.
