This episode seems to really pick right up where Patient X/The Red and the Black left off. We find out what happened with Cassandra Spender, what happened to Marita Covarrubias, we're back to the faceless aliens and Jeffrey Spender dealing with his mother and all that same old jazz. Cassandra is found again in a train car where doctors have finally turned her into "The One". The first successful alien human hybrid. This is seen by the viewer through an interesting sequence in which she is cut open with a laser and the wound self heals. She of course immediately wants to speak to Agent Mulder who unlike his previous appearance has rekindled his belief in extra terrestrials. The story of the episode really seems to be more about Jeffrey Spender and his father as he deals with performing henchman tasks and ultimately finding out that he has been working for the very people he thought he was working against. I was led to wonder about CSM's motives in sending Jeffrey to kill the imposter alien. He says that it was his last chance to carry on his legacy, but I don't quite see how having Jeffrey kill an alien carries on CSM's legacy. The only thing I could come up with is that by finally convincing his son of the truth about extra terrestrials that he would in fact become fully convinced of the importance of his father's work and follow in his footsteps. But of course Krycek decides to throw a wrench in the workings as always and reveals the full truth to Jeffrey about his mother and he ends up turning against his father instead. The episode ends with Cassandra escaping from the hospital and frantically begging Mulder to shoot her so that "they" can't get her. I have to admit the ending was a little hokey and unbelievable. I sincerely doubt that Mulder honestly would have shot her or even been tempted to as is implied. And for some reason Cassandra just bugs me. I mean she really is kind of a nut even if she is telling the truth about everything. Another thing I didn't quite understand was the significance of the picture of Bill Mulder and CGB Spender together. Didn't they know since a long time ago that Bill Mulder was part of the syndicate? Anyway. I give the episode a 7 out of 10
Review of Two Fathers
