Tithonus starts out feeling like an episode with elements cribbed from various other X-Files hours. There's the traumatized guest star-with-abilities of Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose, the ability to spot coming demise of Leonard Betts, and the death photographs of Unruhe. But what this episode does so well is constantly subvert your expectations, opening as an ordinary pursuit of a supposed murderer, before becoming something far heavier at the end.
Alfred Fellig was a strong guest character, somebody who sees life as a burden and eagerly awaits his own demise. It's an interesting approach to an obvious subject, and I enjoyed the developing relationship between Scully and Fellig, especially in that great initial scene where he proves his ability to her. In the end, there's a powerful discussion about fate and what it means to die, punctuated by the continued implication that Scully isn't as mortal as she believes she is. That seemed like a pretty fatal gunshot wound. The story had some interesting visual flourishes, too. Notably the black-and-white effect whenever Fellig spots somebody about to die.
This is also a very Scully-centric episode, with Mulder taking a backseat and calling her to check in every once in a while. I always feel like this dynamic is far more successful than episodes in which Scully is relegated to desk duty, since it allows Mulder to have fun at the office and Scully to charge the investigation. It seems like the writers are never sure what to do with Scully when she sits episodes out, while Mulder is more flexible.
Tithonus marks a return to the dark X-Files of yesteryear, an episode that raises the bar for the season and is able to both entertain and create discussion. I didn't completely love it, but it's definitely interesting. B+
Credits
Guest stars Geoffrey Lewis (Alfred Fellig); Richard Ruccolo (Peyton Ritter); James Pickens, Jr. (Alvin Kersh)
Writer Vince Gilligan Director Michael Watkins
No comments:
Post a Comment