Coming near the mid-point of season four The X-Files delivers a blockbuster stand-alone episode, definitely one of the finest, in "Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man".
For X-Files viewers there isn't anything endearing about the shadowy figure simply known as "The Cigarette Smoking Man". He's the enigma of a dark power working behind, seemingly, even the government itself. Simply put, CSM is the personification of evil conspiracy. Finally, we see much more of that evil, but we begin to understand there is a human with emotional frailty that deserves, albeit a small bit, of our sympathy.
This episode of The X-Files is brilliantly conceived, written, and realized. The back-story of CSM is seamlessly blended with, perhaps, the two most pivotal assassinations of the twentieth century. Along with the plausible conspiracies surrounding these events a powerful expose' on the CSM is dropped upon the faithful. It works...Brilliantly as previously mentioned. We get a person who is trapped by his beliefs that have become too heavy a burden since escape is, in the end, only a fictional piece of pulp.
One wouldn't imagine an episode without almost no Scully or Mulder as even possible until this, but yet this is one of the finest in the entire series. It is a testimony to how quality writing with complex characters is always the most potent part of any story. Though the conspiracies can't be believed in the context presented, they are, overall, very plausible and are woven expertly into the bigger picture that is The X-Files. This is absolutely a must see.
For X-Files viewers there isn't anything endearing about the shadowy figure simply known as "The Cigarette Smoking Man". He's the enigma of a dark power working behind, seemingly, even the government itself. Simply put, CSM is the personification of evil conspiracy. Finally, we see much more of that evil, but we begin to understand there is a human with emotional frailty that deserves, albeit a small bit, of our sympathy.
This episode of The X-Files is brilliantly conceived, written, and realized. The back-story of CSM is seamlessly blended with, perhaps, the two most pivotal assassinations of the twentieth century. Along with the plausible conspiracies surrounding these events a powerful expose' on the CSM is dropped upon the faithful. It works...Brilliantly as previously mentioned. We get a person who is trapped by his beliefs that have become too heavy a burden since escape is, in the end, only a fictional piece of pulp.
One wouldn't imagine an episode without almost no Scully or Mulder as even possible until this, but yet this is one of the finest in the entire series. It is a testimony to how quality writing with complex characters is always the most potent part of any story. Though the conspiracies can't be believed in the context presented, they are, overall, very plausible and are woven expertly into the bigger picture that is The X-Files. This is absolutely a must see.