Arcadia
PLOT-O-METER: 3 or 9 -- it depends
Okay, I digress, a monster made of garbage that a guy created to eat people that don't fit in is a bit far fetched. It's absolutely ludicris! But you have to admit, it is kind of interesting. Only the X-Files could pull it off. It's funny to think that the reason that all those fancy plans have rules is because a monster will eat everyone who disobeys the rules.
The first couple who lived at 420 Autumn Terrace at "The Falls at Arcadia" died the night they put up a whirly gig. The whirly gig came in unmarked, unstamped package. Remember the last time that happened? A whole prison was infected with a virus!
Seven months later, February 24 to be exact, Mulder and Scully went undercover as a married couple living in the house to find out about the community's mysterious underbelly. "Rob and Laura Petrie", dressed in full prep, are greeted my neighbors who rush to make sure they are moved in by 6.
Big Mike, a good intentioned vet, breaks their china, and brings over a box of his own for them. As soon as "Laura" starts asking about the Kleins, he runs away. Big Mike, by the way, is the same guy that plays Jerry on ER!
That night, a few neighbors meet at the head resident's house, the Goglack residence, to discuss "Rob" and "Laura". I'll add here that they all agreed the "Petries" made a nice couple ;-) Mike suggests that they let the Petries in on why they should obey the rules, but he is hushed.
At night, Mike's light will not turn on in his front yard. He rushes to turn it back on, but it's too late. This is where they could have put in a crossover with ER.
The next morning, the Petries go to return Mike's china, but find another neighbor, Win Schroeder, cleaning off his porch. He says Mike is away on vet business and invites the Petries over to dinner.
Over dinner, Mulder presses questions about Mike. The Shroeders feel threatened, it's obvious that the Petries are catching on to something. Scully walks Scruffy with the Cami. (I noticed how GA swayed greatly when she walked -- alot like in Playing By Heart. I've never seen her do a Scully walk that way. It seems almost out of character.) He darts into the sewer. Scully reaches in after him and finds Mikes necklace. The dog comes out with what looks like blood all over his muzzle.
The next day, Scully goes to the San Diego field office to check the blood sample. Mulder tries an experiment to see if bad things come to those that disobey the rules. He sticks a pink flamingo in the yard ("Bring it on!") and attacks his mailbox. He watches it until he has to pee. Instead of using an orange juice container (ewww), he uses a toilet. When he comes back, the mailbox is fixed and a letter of warning is placed in it.
At night, when he's had enough, Mulder pulls out his "illegal" basketball hoop and plays loudly. The neighbor comes out and yells at him, but they are interrupted by his wife, who is chased by the thing.
Scully arrives at the house, hears a noise, and becomes paranoid. She thinks she sees someone and grabs a weapon. She almost decapitates Mulder when he enters the house. Spousel murder -- that's always a good thing. She announces that the "blood" is really garbage and that the plan was built on a garbage site. Mulder thinks the Kleins are buried in the yard.
In the morning, they set all hell loose by digging away the yard, claiming it's for a relfection pool. After digging around all day and night, Mulder could use a massage -- Scully, come on! Give him a back rub at least! Anywho, he finds the Kleins whirly gig and links it to Gogolak.
He confronts Gogolak, figuring that the garbage monster was created by him. Gogolak agrees, but laughs because the case won't last in court. Mulder handcuffs him to the mailbox and looks for Scully in their house.
Meanwhile, Mike has found her and locked her in the closet. He uses her gun to unsuccessfully kill the monster he calls the Ubermencher. (Reminds me of Uberscullyies)
The Ubermencher kills Gogolak then disappears. Mulder and Scully must stop playing house and leave :-(
SHIP-O-METER: 10!!!!!
What a wonderful episode! I love Dan Arkin -- a fabulous writer!! The whole time Mulder and Scully were edgy about touching and kept firing sarcastic remarks and jokes. And there was a constant confusion of roles -- at first they kept saying "it's Rob" or "Laura, not Scully". When the situation got too uncomfortable, it was "Scully, it's Scully."
In the beginning, I was dying with the first shot of Mulder with his arms around Scully. As soon as Pat, the welcoming neighbor left, Scully pushed Mulder's arm away and gave him the look. Someone's a little defensive!
Then the joke about carring Scully over the threshold. While she was filming the movie, I loved his little comment about the honeymoon video. Now that is something that only smutsters dream of -- okay, and me too!
While discussing the last name -- shows you how original men are -- and arguing about taking the case seriously, Mulder's face lights up. "Admit it, you just wanna play house." And then the latex gets tossed at him. (That remineds me of "I know how much you like to snap on the latex" from Syzergy).
They way they acted infront of other couples was hilarious -- you could tell Mulder was trying to make it miserable for Scully. Like the nickname he gave her infront of the neighbor (of course, she fought back with "Poopey head"). Or how Mulder humiliated her by saying she was into New Age things and that they met at a UFO conference. And when she left to walk the dog, he reached out for a kiss, and she rolled her eyes and blew him and air kiss. Or Mulder's pat on the bed and wiggling eyebrows, inviting Scully on over!
Then there was the husband and wife stuff. Scully's annoyance with Mulder's habits: throwing his shirt anywhere (again with that look), rolling the toothpaste (possibly to mock how DD and CC always say it would be wierd for Mulder and Scully to argue about toothpaste if they got together), and leaving the toilet seat up (every man's biggest flaw). And Mulder yelping in surprise when he sees Scully emerge with a green mask on her face. This is also a good shipper sign, because it means that they are comfortable enough to be themselves. Mulder doesn't feel nervous enough to not be himself and nor does Scully. I hear wedding bells!
Plus my favorite part of all. While they are curled up on the couch together in Gogolak's house, Scully pats Mulder's arm because he can't put in a hoop. Then, a few seconds later, for no apparent reason, she does it again. It takes a moment for her to realize what she's doing. When she does, she moves her hand away quickly -- like a little kid who realizes she's doing something that feels great but is wrong. You smutsters, I didn't mean it that way! Eww!
ISM-O-METER: 10!!!
Mulder: Wow! Admit it. You just wanted to play house. [Scully gives him that look][In hick voice] Woman, get in here and make me a sandwhich. [Scully throws latex gloves at him] Did I not make myself perfectly clear?
Mulder [Patting bed]: Come on, Laura, we're married now!
Scully: Ya ready? [whips off jacket]
Mulder: Let's get it on!
Mulder: [sticks flamingo in ground] Bring it on!
I could go on, but GA and DD say it much better!
OVERALL: 10!!!!
Great ep -- hats off to Dan Arkin! I'll be watching this one over and over! What a funny idea! Only XF writers could pull it off! The only glitch: Where were the wedding rings?