I have always liked "Theef" since the first time I saw it. The teaser while a little corny with the happy family all being so proud of their wonderful doctor of a father is still very good. Having the father-in-law hang himself and the word "TheeF" written on the wall in his blood is very classic X-Files.
One major reason this episode appeals to me so much is that the idea of voodoo dolls or "poppets" has always been one of those things that intrigues me. I am reminded of "India Jones and the Temple of Doom" where the kid has a doll of Indiana and is stabbing him in the back with a pin. Ever since I first saw that when I was 8 or however old I was I have been interested in the idea of being able to do things to someone vicariously through a doll. And the Appalachian Magic that this episode brings in is also interesting to anyone who enjoys fantasy type games like Diablo where one can play a necromancer who uses charms to do all sorts of things like Oral Peattie does in this episode.
I also find a number of things about this episode comical yet dark and creepy. Let me try to explain using the example of possibly the best scene in the episode. I am of course referring to the popping' corn. Peattie's mannerisms are just so comical and seem so innocent and we are inclined to laugh or be amused at his unfamiliarity with microwave popcorn and the med student's frustration at having to explain to him how to get the popcorn. But then we turn from amusement to horror at him microwaving the poppet of Mrs. Weider and her getting fried by the MRI to a crisp. I can't imagine anything that would horrify me more than to watch my wife/mom/any family member get burnt to a crisp in front of my eyes unexpectedly.
There is a question of whether Peattie's actions were justified or not presented by Scully at the end of the episode. I would answer this with a resounding no. I do not feel any pity for Peattie at all. He claims that if he had been present at the hospital he could have saved his daughter but the doctor then says but you weren't there at which Peattie seems to be affected by an anger or even possibly guilt. He just seems to me like a father who feels a personal responsibility for his daughter's death but rather than deal with this he turns his anger at himself towards others and tries to find someone else to blame.
Casting for this episode was well done. Billy Drago was the perfect actor to play Peattie. I don't think there is any creepy person part that he wouldn't be perfect as but seriously a voodoo appalachian hillbilly? That part was written for him. Also I am a big fan of James Morrison ever since he has been on "24" as Bill Buchanan. He has also appeared in one of my favorite Millennium episodes and looking over his bio I learned that he was born in Bountiful, Utah. Woohoo! No wonder I am a fan he is a fellow Utahn.
In conclusion I think this is one of the better X-files episodes available. The only points I might take off are due to the fact that some of the actions of Mulder and Scully seem a little out of character and they seem to try and write this off by adding in the underlying theme of Scully still surprising Mulder with things she does. But other than that I enjoyed the episode a lot. I give it a 8/10. "Stinky's good." - Oral Peattie
One major reason this episode appeals to me so much is that the idea of voodoo dolls or "poppets" has always been one of those things that intrigues me. I am reminded of "India Jones and the Temple of Doom" where the kid has a doll of Indiana and is stabbing him in the back with a pin. Ever since I first saw that when I was 8 or however old I was I have been interested in the idea of being able to do things to someone vicariously through a doll. And the Appalachian Magic that this episode brings in is also interesting to anyone who enjoys fantasy type games like Diablo where one can play a necromancer who uses charms to do all sorts of things like Oral Peattie does in this episode.
I also find a number of things about this episode comical yet dark and creepy. Let me try to explain using the example of possibly the best scene in the episode. I am of course referring to the popping' corn. Peattie's mannerisms are just so comical and seem so innocent and we are inclined to laugh or be amused at his unfamiliarity with microwave popcorn and the med student's frustration at having to explain to him how to get the popcorn. But then we turn from amusement to horror at him microwaving the poppet of Mrs. Weider and her getting fried by the MRI to a crisp. I can't imagine anything that would horrify me more than to watch my wife/mom/any family member get burnt to a crisp in front of my eyes unexpectedly.
There is a question of whether Peattie's actions were justified or not presented by Scully at the end of the episode. I would answer this with a resounding no. I do not feel any pity for Peattie at all. He claims that if he had been present at the hospital he could have saved his daughter but the doctor then says but you weren't there at which Peattie seems to be affected by an anger or even possibly guilt. He just seems to me like a father who feels a personal responsibility for his daughter's death but rather than deal with this he turns his anger at himself towards others and tries to find someone else to blame.
Casting for this episode was well done. Billy Drago was the perfect actor to play Peattie. I don't think there is any creepy person part that he wouldn't be perfect as but seriously a voodoo appalachian hillbilly? That part was written for him. Also I am a big fan of James Morrison ever since he has been on "24" as Bill Buchanan. He has also appeared in one of my favorite Millennium episodes and looking over his bio I learned that he was born in Bountiful, Utah. Woohoo! No wonder I am a fan he is a fellow Utahn.
In conclusion I think this is one of the better X-files episodes available. The only points I might take off are due to the fact that some of the actions of Mulder and Scully seem a little out of character and they seem to try and write this off by adding in the underlying theme of Scully still surprising Mulder with things she does. But other than that I enjoyed the episode a lot. I give it a 8/10. "Stinky's good." - Oral Peattie