This is a site featuring X-Files reviews, so here's the requisite "woah-is-Space-really-terrible-or-what?" review. Woah! Is Space really terrible or what? It may not be deserving of the frequent "worst episode ever" squeals, but it is a ridiculously flat and artistically lazy X-Files hour.The biggest problem here is the use of Mulder and Scully. Until the last ten minutes or so, they do absolutely nothing of any use, merely standing around observing other people do the work. Their presence seems almost unnecessary, but I'm guessing it's just another example of Chris Carter and co. working out what works so early in the game.
It's interesting that Space was one of the most expensive X-Files episodes, as it has a weird feel of both gorgeous expenditure and flat-out cheapness. The NASA sets are pretty extraordinary and realistic, but the frequent use of archive footage and the fact that the astronauts on board the NASA flight at the center of the episode's drama are never glimpsed majorly constricts any kind of tension, resulting in guest stars running around in a panic trying to act their way out of a bad script.
The storyline itself is mildly intriguing (I liked the idea of a ghostly image haunting somebody), but it isn't executed well at all, while the hinting at the episode's deeper meaning (an American hero, and more specifically Mulder's childhood idol, exposed as a fraud) isn't explored enough to be effective either.
Space is just a problematic hour which features some interesting ideas but poor execution. It isn't as horrific as many would lead you to believe, but it's certainly not good either. Rating D
Credits
Guest stars Ed Lauter (Marcus Aurelius Belt); Susanna Thompson (Michelle Generoo)
Writer Chris Carter Director William Graham
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