The X-Files - Rm9sbG93ZXJz (Followers)

Back in my College days, I took a literature course entitled, "Horror Story".  Our first assignment was to read the classic tale of, "Frankenstein".  As our professor stressed to us, the story of The Modern Prometheus was not only to give us a good scare, but to remind us of our responsibilities.  Especially, towards our inventions.

Or, as The X-Files would tell us in this cautionary tale, "Teach your children well."

This was another fun entry from The X-Files.  Aside from the aforementioned cautionary tale, we got an inside look on how Mulder and Scully handle their down time.  (We found out where Scully lives!)  We learned about the travails of our modern eateries.  Plus, an in depth look of the perils of not tipping your servers.  And, of course, just how sweet Fox and Dana can be together.

Very sweet.

The ease at which these two actors slide into the comfortable intimacy of each other company is impressive indeed.  Yes, they've spent a lot of time with each other over the years.  But, it wasn't always smooth sailing.  Fortunately, time heals all wounds and instead of familiarity breeding resentment, it bred an enduring affection.

So, it would be a shame to see it come to end as Gillian Anderson has intimated.  (At least for her.)  However, money talks, so I wouldn't get out the crying towels just yet.  If things do come to a close, tears would be shed but, we'd always have Einstein and Miller.  Seriously, with a mentoring Mulder.  No?

Since we're on the topic of couples, was there a little meta-commentary going on about Mulder's and Scully's parenthood from this episode?  The lessons of being responsible for your inventions applies to your progeny as well.

"Teach your children well."  Right?

Wouldn't it be fair to criticize them for not being there for William?

Yes, they did put him up for adoption for his protection.  Perfectly legitimate considering the world they travel in.  But, considering the world he travels in, wouldn't it have been better to raise him as their own considering there are no two better parents for the job?

A tough call to be sure.  How could they have known William would be different from everyone else?  As far as we know, the telepathy that has connected William and Scully is only a recent event.  Should they have been more aggressive in their search for him?  Maybe so.  The bond between parent and child is very strong but the commitment towards protecting that child is equally as powerful.

It seems like a no win situation.

Of course, the events of "Ghouli", (where we met William) plus the lessons learned from this episode, all could be a setup for the season finale.  Perhaps we'll get our answers then.

In closing out this part, I was puzzled they chose to keep Mulder and Scully apart for a good portion of the episode.  I'd rather see how they faced this culinary food menace together.  In retrospect, I see the decision to separate them as a way of showing us how much better off they are together. 

That's great.

And sure, we got some fun little glimpses into their private lives and we became part of that human intimacy once they joined forces in the end.  (Which was comforting in a way.)  But, they separated them in the season 10 finale too.  A very odd choice.  Let's hope this isn't repeated for the season 11 finale.


Oh, Those Private Lives

Yikes, Mulder!  Please don't tell you run with these too!  This may be Scully's year to shine but Duchovny's comedic chops have never been better.  His natural glibness combined with a certain vulnerability and a good dose of arrogance have been a true gift to us all.

#FoxFreakinMulder !

Then there's this. 

Scully's little friend!  

Anderson had a lot of fun with this twitter.  If you follow the thread you'll learn that it was voted "Best sex toy of 2014 according to Good Housekeeping UK."  All-righty then!

This little keepsake was presumably lost under her bed only to be re-discovered by the Robo-roomba from hell.  It then survived the frantic escape from her home. Sadly, it had to be discarded when it was realized it could be revealing their location.  Traitor!

(Do you suppose she nicknamed it, "Reggie"?)


Nighthawks

We were blessed with another great cinematic touch to open this episode and this time, there was also a nod to the arts.

Seen immediately above is Edward Hopper's original Nighthawks.  An oil on canvas painting widely regarded as Hopper's most famous work.  It speaks to a sense of loneliness and isolation in a world not shared by many.

But, there is a certain humanity to it in that there is also a communal existence to it's denizens.  This may be the road less traveled but it still beats with a human heart.  Despite the noticeable lack of it's daytime brethren!  It also offers a satisfying reprieve from the hustle and bustle that characterizes that world.

Ah, the bliss of quietude.  

It goes without saying Mulder and Scully travel in a different world than all of us.  This vignette takes it to the extreme where the restaurant is totally devoid of people.  Comically, only these two poor souls could be haunted by the "Ghost in the Machine" that takes umbrage to their lack of tipping. 

Our heroes didn't help their cause as "Avatars to humanity" by immediately resorting to their phones in a repast devoid of conversation.

Oh, which reminds me.

Did anyone else get a flashback to the classic Buffy episode, "Hush"?   Speaking of traveling in a different world!  The difference between these two episodes was Buffy and her Scooby gang were cursed with silence while Mulder and Scully chose not to speak.

Careful what you wish for department.

We got a quick look at the dystopic future when humans fail to engage with one another.  Hanging on the diner wall near the end was "Robo-Nighthawks".

Fortunately for all, Dana comes to the rescue with the most basic and powerful of human gestures.  Holding hands!  Take that silicon based overlords.

Another aspect of this cautionary tale is not just the silicon servants taking on their masters but turning on the secret government.

Our natural response to this new classic is to be responsible to our inventions.  (And tip the waitstaff!)  But, who's to say our silicons brothers and sisters don't have a higher evolved morality or set of ethics?  Perhaps, they will someday turn on their Wall Street and secret government masters and come to the aid of the Mulder's and Scully's of the world.

I'd love to see that episode.


Odds and Ends

Lots of good digital sushi to choose from this week.  Shall we start with "Blobfish"?

Mulder and Scully establish their "Kidult" bona fides by getting a picture with Blobfish.  You're not going to save humanity from the "AI" threat if you're going to resort to childish diversions!

 

Here's our title card.  It translates from "Base64" code as, "The Truth is Out There."  So clever.  The episode title, "Rm9bG93ZXJz" means "Followers".

I'm not sure if "Followers" refers to social media slaves, fans of the show or that frightening horde that chased Mulder out of his home.

Maybe it just means we're all just sheep and ripe for the "AI" picking.


More cinematic treasures...

 


I spoke of the use of the cinematic "Nighthawks" imagery earlier.  But it wasn't just confined to that scene.

I loved the use of color when Mulder and Scully were trapped in the copy room and the 3-D printer came alive.  (Topmost.)

Mulder peering through the blinds was a nice use of perspective.  It added a feel of paranoia to his plight.  (Middle.)

Our last image, immediately above, is a very cool blue.  Cool as in cold and inhuman.  Nice add of the "Wait-staff" red eyes gazing from the beyond.

Mulder gets a text from former Senator Harry Reid.  Reid was responsible for setting up the "Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification" program as far back as 2007 and it ran to at least as far as 2012.

Looks like the New York Times is on to them.  It's kind of odd Mulder would get this text now.  Especially given the project has been over for a while and was outed in 2017.

Is "The X-Files" running in a different time line than us?