by Adam Silva
Bring on the second season! I gotta know what happens! Could anyone believe the cliffhangar ending?! (I mean, they don't even know if they're coming back...) Oh god that was good. I don't know where to start. Excellent plot, great lines, funny scenes and in-jokes, better music this time around, Kimmy, Michael McKean as Morris Fletcher, and Mulder! This is everything the show should be! Ok, maybe I should stop using the exclamation points now. Anyway, it was awesome. The best episode of the season. And I can't wait for the next one. There better be another season, because we need the second part! Although I could see it being wrapped up in next year's season of "The X-Files" (if there is one) if need be, but I would think the producers must be optimistic to leave us hanging like that. Unless they go the way of "Alf," but anyway...
This episode certainly had the best and most intense plot, since the pilot. I couldn't believe how much they fit into 45 minutes (if it didn't run longer. I was watching the clock in the last few minutes! No wonder they cut the title sequence short again...). I'm really glad they are back to the conspiracy stories and action-Gunmen that we were used to from "The X-Files." I felt they got away from that too much this season. And unlike the title suggest, this episode was not all about Yves. We didn't really learn too much about her, but they got to save more for next year (oh, and go Jimmy with that kiss he got from her!) and the next part. But I totally believed in Romeo 61 (although I guess I should have known better with such a nonsensical name) just to been thrown off track in the end. Great X-Files-worthy plot twists! I liked the continuity about the Octium IV chip, the water-powered car, and "The Lone Gunman" magazine's name referring to hunting and fishing. This show has quite a bit of continuity like that between episodes, which I appreciate. Also, I was glad to see some nice tie-ins with "The X-Files" and continuity from Morris Flethcer's previous appearances too. Speaking of...
Michael McKean was hilarious! I really hope we get to see more of him. He really did floor me sometimes. In fact, all the jokes were funny this time, as were the scenes (Fletcher's abduction was pretty funny. Mulder must have told the Gunmen quite a bit of detail about his abduction...), unlike in past episodes. Kimmy indeed shows himself as a good recurring character again too (his Jessice Alba comment was pretty astute. Why else do people watch "Dark Angel"?). The John Gillnitz in-jokes were pretty cute also. I'll give props to the writers for that (if it's possible to give them anymore than I have already!).
Mark Snow's score was better this time too. I liked "The X-Files" theme remix music when you-know-who showed up. "Weapon of Choice" was indeed a great choice for the show. The video for that song is my favorite right now, so it was delighted to hear the song in this episode.
The Mulder parts were great, as expected. I think it is great that David Duchovny did a cameo for them. He was actually much more integral to the plot as I thought he would be, not that it was too much... I do wish he had gotten to work with Zuleikha and Kimmy (not to mention the Gunmen themselves), since this could be only time he gets too. But his part with Jimmy was really cool. They had good chemistry!
Finally, this episode totally rocked! Ok, ok, I'll calm down. But this really was a good episode, and I reiterate my hope that the show returns for a second season. After this, they truly deserve it.
