This episode of the X-Files takes a step back in time to 1989 to give us an origin story of the Lone Gunmen and how they individually and as a team wound up meeting Fox Mulder, initially believing, upon the advice of a distraught young woman, that Mulder was her psychotic boyfriend. David Duchovny plays these roles to the hilt, and since this story comes at a time before Dana Scully was assigned as his partner, she's not even a factor in this episode.
The main protagonist of this tale is Susanne Modeski (Signy Coleman), who's entire demeanor is given to conspiratorial ambiguity. Her cover story maintains she's a former employee at a government science facility in Arizona, however Langly's (Dean Haglund) hack into an FBI website suggests she's psychotic, profoundly paranoid, and extremely dangerous. Mulder actually is on her trail, but not for the reason Modeski stated; she's wanted for murder and sabotage of the Whitecorps facility where she was formerly employed.
What's particularly amusing about the still un-named Lone Gunmen, is how exceedingly inept they seem to be as contrasted to the earlier episodes in which we've seen them cleverly hacking away into various encrypted websites and government facilities. And since the events here took place before the X-Files were given unofficial status, it's cool to see Steven Williams brought back as Mr. X, a clever way to utilize a character that was killed off in a prior season.
The episode ends as ambiguously as it began, as Mulder is about to arrest Modeski, and two unidentified agents arrive on scene and subject him to a toxic agent. Modeski shoots both men, but in turn is hauled off by a team led by Mr. X, who inadvertently offers up the moniker that will come to stick with the trio of Byers (Bruce Harwood), Frohike (Tom Braidwood) and Langly - "I heard it was a lone gunman". As for the fate of Susanne Modeski, I guess you have to arrive at your own conclusion.
The main protagonist of this tale is Susanne Modeski (Signy Coleman), who's entire demeanor is given to conspiratorial ambiguity. Her cover story maintains she's a former employee at a government science facility in Arizona, however Langly's (Dean Haglund) hack into an FBI website suggests she's psychotic, profoundly paranoid, and extremely dangerous. Mulder actually is on her trail, but not for the reason Modeski stated; she's wanted for murder and sabotage of the Whitecorps facility where she was formerly employed.
What's particularly amusing about the still un-named Lone Gunmen, is how exceedingly inept they seem to be as contrasted to the earlier episodes in which we've seen them cleverly hacking away into various encrypted websites and government facilities. And since the events here took place before the X-Files were given unofficial status, it's cool to see Steven Williams brought back as Mr. X, a clever way to utilize a character that was killed off in a prior season.
The episode ends as ambiguously as it began, as Mulder is about to arrest Modeski, and two unidentified agents arrive on scene and subject him to a toxic agent. Modeski shoots both men, but in turn is hauled off by a team led by Mr. X, who inadvertently offers up the moniker that will come to stick with the trio of Byers (Bruce Harwood), Frohike (Tom Braidwood) and Langly - "I heard it was a lone gunman". As for the fate of Susanne Modeski, I guess you have to arrive at your own conclusion.