The Lone Gunmen are admittedly not my favorite characters on The X-Files. Too often, they come off as another Larry, Darry & Darryl of Newhart fame. However, this continuation of the Susanne Modeski epic gave these three characters an opportunity to really shine.
Of course, it didn’t hurt that they duped “Agent Scully Go Lightly” into aiding them in their plot. The scenes where Scully was brainwashed were worth my time alone. Not to mention the fact that the Michael McKean cameo was flawless…talk about unexpected continuity.
The real star of the hour, though, had to be the lovely Susanne. Why doesn’t this actress have her own weekly drama? She exudes enormous amounts of intelligence and sexuality without ever seeming larger than life. It’s not difficult to see why Byers experienced love at first sight for this femme fatale. I just hope that someday they’ll give these two the happy ending they deserve.
And where was Mulder the whole hour? Who care! I have to say that I didn’t really miss him.
Rating: 
1/2
As far as I’m concerned, this week’s episode of MP was among the best this series has ever offered. I was alternately shocked, titillated, amused and angered. The writing was top notch and the acting (especially by Locklear) was first class. Aaron, are you sure you want to say goodbye to this address?
Let’s get the dorks out of the way first. So, Jane and Kyle finally jumped in the sack….no big surprise. It did happen rather quickly, though. However, am I the only one who was hoping that the flower trail was actually left by Stalker Boy? C’mon, they have to bring him back.
The Megan, Ryan, Auntie Dearest triangle is really heating up. I can’t wait for the catfight. Who wants to place bets on whether or not Auntie Dearest is a total psychopath?. No wonder The Bad Seed is such an annoying brat.
Meanwhile, poor Michael, the only remaining original cast member, has no storyline of his own for the finale. He has been relegated to stud service for Lexi. Granted, their antics have been hilarious, but it’s not much of a plot for him. Lexi, on the other hand, had some great moments. Her best line was, “Good thing I do my best thinking on my back.” But, her confrontations with Lizard King and The Bride of Lizard King were awesome.
Speaking of Lizard King, I almost barfed when he kissed Eve….I don’t know who is yuckier. And, of course, she gets all turned on by the old coot. Is he supposed to be Spelling or something? And, why did Eve rebuke his advances the next time around? They love to tease us with her. Just dump her over the side of the boat already.
Finally, Amanda and Peter had their big reconciliation. It was a huge anticlimax, though, when Peter got dressed and left the next morning. Locklear was acting her ass off showing Amanda’s vulnerable side and admitting that she never got over him. His ambiguous response has me counting the minutes until the next episode.
The biggest surprise, however, was Eve standing up to Amanda. Granted, everything she said about Amanda’s selfishness and treachery was absolutely true…but I still can’t believe that she grabbed Amanda by the throat. What will they do for round two?
Eeeek, only three episodes left. I hope they’re all as good as this instant classic. I’m looking forward to the climactic mayhem.
Rating:
Thank goodness this show had the good sense to move past the whole Ally/Billy kiss debacle and return to solid storytelling this week. Ally continued to share the spotlight with her top notch supporting cast.
My favorite moments of the episode were provided by the ever lovely Elaine. It was nice to see her achieve some success with the face bra. It was even better to see her make Georgia eat crow. And, her bitter victory was some of the best acting that Krakowski has done on the series.
Meanwhile, I had some mixed feelings on the whole Biscuit plotline. First of all, the whole scene with him and Fish in the hip hop club was a little much…even for a show with so many flights of fancy. And, I’m thrilled that he and Nell finally did the deed. But, what happened to Renee? Just last week he was doing the knee pit thing to her. And now, he’s completely moved onto Nell without a second thought. I guess The Biscuit is just a slut.
Well, it looks like the focus is moving back to Ally next week. But, the big guest star is Antonio Sabato Jr. as a male escort that Ling hires for Ally. This has some serious potential!
Rating: 1/2
This weeks episode began, as so many do, with Angel and Buffy in the graveyard. You are quite possibly heaving a sigh like I am. What are these two thinking? One day they are going to realize that they are just wasting each other's time. Several people think this as well...including the Mayor. How does he get a chance to give his thoughts? Read on...
There were several subtle plots at work this week. The first, being the most obvious. The Mayor and his BOX OF EVIL. It has a better name, I just can't remember it. And lemme tell you, that was an evil box. Filled with 5 Billion flesh eating spiders. Makes me creep out just thinking about it.
Buffy roughs up the limo-driver-vampire of the Mayor. Finds out about the BOX OF EVIL and the gang begins to plot to destroy it. Buffy wishes to take the action to the Mayor. So, she and Angel and Willow hi-tail it to City Hall. Willow is along only long enough to cast a spell to destroy the mystical barrier around the BOX OF EVIL. Willow then shinnies down the ladder to apparant safety. Angel and Buffy manage to get the box (after some serious FU with a couple of guard vampire goons) and get it back to Giles and Wes the Impotent Watcher. Of course, the bad guys got Willow. The obvious Trade Scenario comes up and the Mayor and the Scooby gang meet in the school (where else?) to trade hostages. Willow for the BOX OF EVIL. While the trade is going down, the Mayor gives a rather Highlander-ish speech about Angel watching Buffy grow old, getting ugly and senile and watching her die. He calls them both crazy kids. If you ask me, it was merely a really Classy way for them to get Angel off the show so he can go start his own. The Principal (Booo!) comes in and assumes a drug deal is going down, one of his officers opens the box and Instant Spider From Hell on his face. The gang kills 2 of the nasties. The Mayor gets the box and announces that everyone will be seeing plenty of his little 8-legged friends on his Day of Ascension. And to quote the Mayor from earlier when Faith asked him if he couldn't just have his Ascension without the BOX OF EVIL, the Mayor replies: "That would be like having a tollhouse cookie without the chocolate chips". Ick.
Willow is fine, in fact, she managed to rip a few pages out of the Books of Ascension while she was held hostage. This was after she slew her own vampire with her flying pencil trick. Alright for her. She also decided to turn down Yale, Harvard, Oxford, MIT and everyone else to go to Sunnydale College and stick around to fight evil with Buffy. Awwww.
Xander and Cordelia had another "meeting of the minds". In fact at one point he confronts her in a dress store where he sees her shopping. She shows him the 5 really good schools she got accepted to. Hmmm...that was an odd scene you think. At the end, Cordelia is back in the dressing room looking at a dress she has held up in front of her. Her BOSS comes in and tells her to get back to work. Perhaps Daddy's money has run out? It was a touching moment when you see that she is having to work part-time, but she has been such a BITCH lately, that I am not sure I have any sympathy left for her.
Overall a quality episode.
B+
My thanks to Dan for letting me pinch hit on the review this week.
