by Adam Silva
"Jump the Shark" is what we've been waiting for, and what we haven't. It's a brilliantly titled, plotted, and balanced episode that is one of the best of the year and rounds out a wonderful trilogy of Lone Gunmen "X-Files" episodes, as well as being a more than worthy successor to the series and its final episode's cliffhanger.
The episode begins with a wonderful montage of great Gunmen moments and afterward a shot of some sharks. Mark Snow kicks in with music from "The Lone Gunmen" and we quickly come to see Morris Fletcher and his continuing (or, at least, his attempts at such) infidelities. However, his fun is not to last long as his girl is kidnapped and boat exploded. He later woos Doggett and Reyes with the promise of finding a "super soldier," but we all know he is lying. This is one of the many ways "Jump the Shark" brillaintly combined "X-Files" characters and plots with that of "The Lone Gunmen." The writers (1014's own Lone Gunmen - Vince Gilligan, John Shiban, and Frank Spotnitz) put on quite a balancing act with all these characters and their different tonalities. The plot goes from "super soldiers" to shark research to terrorism without flinching; from the seriousness of characters as Doggett and Reyes to the comedic personalities of Kimmy and Fletcher. It was quite an impressive task, and they succeeded.
Equally impressive was their ability to keep this a "X-File" and also continuation of "The Lone Gunmen" series without the evil of exposition. Again, it's all brilliantly worked in. The hidden background of Yves, whose real name we learn is Lois Runce, is quite simple, but clearly hinted at in the series and wasn't disappointing. However, one has to think there would have been more to the story if the series had not been cancelled. The episode didn't exactly explain what happened directly after "All About Yves," but wrapped up the important loose ends nonetheless, including what became of Jimmy and their newspaper. One can even see a "resolution" of sorts to the budding Jimmy/Yves romance.
On that note, it was so wonderful to see Jimmy and Yves again, as well as Kimmy the Geek and, of course, Michael McKean.
As for our boys, they were great. Awesome interation, awesome dialogue, and Langley got to mention Joey Ramone! I had hated the fact he never got to mention that when their show was cancelled. His words were poignant and, of course, stood for the Gunmen themselves.
I'm certainly mixed to the decision to kill off these characters. It was a great end for them, but I don't quite see why it had to happen. I see it of no coincidence that John Gillnitz killed them both literally and figuratively. In a way, I think the real John Gillnitz thinks himself a murderer, but at the same time, believes making them noble heroes was the best thing they could do to honor their legacy.
One things for sure. I'm going to miss these guys.
They always dropped everything to help Mulder and Scully and later, Doggett and Reyes. Never once did they turn them down. They risked life and limb God knows how many times. I guess I always thought they were unkillable. There are so many great memories with these guys. I'll always look back on them with a fondness and now, probably a sadness.
Frohike, bless the little guy's heart. He always got a smile out of me. When he brought flowers to Scully, fans became instantly attached. Langly, with his head full of random gigabytes and megahertz, was the kid who never grew up, and always wanted the world to make as much sense as his computers. But Byers... Byers was always my favorite. Always in those damn suits of his. Always the voice of reason. Always the one who new what it was all about.
I just can't believe they're gone. I cried so much, I can't believe I can sit here and write this.
Every time they helped, every time they fought, every time... they never gave up.
And taking their cue, Jimmy and Yves will keep going. They'll fight the good fight. And they'll never give up.
Their funeral scene was very nice. It was great to have Skinner get them an Arlington Burial. They deserved it.
I'll miss them. They were something pure and good. They stoof for "truth, justice, and the American way" in a world where most find those expressions meaningless.
Goodbye, guys. As Scully said, "they're gone, but they live on through us all." And though Jimmy said that nobody knew what heroes they were, he is mistaken.
We always knew.
R.I.P. The Lone Gunmen 1994-2002
