At the end of season 2, the producers of the X-Files were looking for a way to top the exciting season finale of season 1. Anasazi was able to do that. This episode is exciting and tense from start to finish. The story of Mulder experiencing paranoia plays out well. When you see that someone in his apartment building kills her spouse, you don't even make the connection at first. Later on, it ties in to Mulder's paranoia. It's cool to see Mulder fighting with Skinner and Krycek in this episode. Although, Skinner takes Mulder's best shot and gets him in a headlock. A shot I really liked is when Bill Mulder is at his medicine cabinet. Bill's reflection is alone on the mirror. He opens it, gets something out, closes it, and Kryeck is standing there in the reflection of the mirror. Chris Carter makes his first cameo as the second agent interrogating Scully in Skinner's office. It was interesting to find out in the special features that they sprayed a rock quarry red with thousands of gallons of paint to make it appear that Mulder was in New Mexico. Also, there is a deleted scene where The Thinker gets kidnapped. It's a good thing it was deleted because it looks like a cheesy 80's action television show. Also, for shippers, this show has Mulder lying on Scully's bed for the first time in an innocent situation of course. I try to imagine what it would have been like for someone watching this show for the first time through wondering whether or not Mulder was killed in the rail car blow-up. This episode is just great in every way. Enjoy.
21 Reviews
Who Cares about Minor Ethnic Errors?
XweAponX7 April 2014
Back when I saw this the first time it was run on TV, I Wanted to believe, and I believed.
I believed that they actually flew the production crew out to New Mexico or Arizona, I WANTED to believe that. I wanted to believe that the late and incredibly great Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman was an ancient Navajo Shaman, and I believed that as well.
But Mostly, I remember not being very interested in The X-Files until this very episode, which was the first great Mythos episode. The threads of the story are all here: Genetic Manipulation, Skully and Skully's Sister's involvement, Mulder's Father and his relationship to Cancerman, Alex Crycek's enigmatic involvement and the questions we have about him all the way to the end of the series. We also see the first evidence here that Cancerman has a special Protective Interest in Mulder. If we had watched the show from start to finish, we know why- But for this to be revealed here, was just another puzzle piece.
It was only revealed to me recently how Chris Carter tricked us. He really had us believing that Mulder and a Navajo Kid are riding a Bike through a Reservation. Carter Himself makes one of his three appearances in The X-Files, the others in "Hollywood AD" and in the film "I Want to Believe".
A comment was made about "Research" - And I want to knock that down just to say that a name is not important, there are a lot more details in this and the two following episodes to get caught up in conventions about how to pronounce any Native American names. For instance, we do know that in WWII, Messages in the Pacific Arena were written in Najavo, this is basic history- And I had heard this long before this episode was originally broadcast.
What is important here, are the beginnings of Themes used all through the series - Train cars, Smallpox Vaccinations, genetic markers used to keep track of specific people. Some of the information may be real, some of it just sounds real- I have heard that when you are making a fabrication, stick as close to the truth as possible, and The X-Files research department got all the right words in - "Majestic" is used, as well as some other hints and tidbits. And that if you have a piece of metal embedded in you, think twice about removing it.
I had only been watching The X Files sporadically up to this point, it was this episode that made me a lifetime Fan and that has not wavered since then. Besides, it is better when we know a conspiracy is going in, but we can't quite grasp the whole Boundaries of it. When they were finally revealed in the first X Files Film- And it reaches back from that film all the way to this episode, it was a lot larger than the TV show and the TV sets of the time could handle, but it was also the end of the story.
So I salute this as one of the best Cliffhanger Episodes of all time, for me it was the best Season Finale of the whole series.
I believed that they actually flew the production crew out to New Mexico or Arizona, I WANTED to believe that. I wanted to believe that the late and incredibly great Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman was an ancient Navajo Shaman, and I believed that as well.
But Mostly, I remember not being very interested in The X-Files until this very episode, which was the first great Mythos episode. The threads of the story are all here: Genetic Manipulation, Skully and Skully's Sister's involvement, Mulder's Father and his relationship to Cancerman, Alex Crycek's enigmatic involvement and the questions we have about him all the way to the end of the series. We also see the first evidence here that Cancerman has a special Protective Interest in Mulder. If we had watched the show from start to finish, we know why- But for this to be revealed here, was just another puzzle piece.
It was only revealed to me recently how Chris Carter tricked us. He really had us believing that Mulder and a Navajo Kid are riding a Bike through a Reservation. Carter Himself makes one of his three appearances in The X-Files, the others in "Hollywood AD" and in the film "I Want to Believe".
A comment was made about "Research" - And I want to knock that down just to say that a name is not important, there are a lot more details in this and the two following episodes to get caught up in conventions about how to pronounce any Native American names. For instance, we do know that in WWII, Messages in the Pacific Arena were written in Najavo, this is basic history- And I had heard this long before this episode was originally broadcast.
What is important here, are the beginnings of Themes used all through the series - Train cars, Smallpox Vaccinations, genetic markers used to keep track of specific people. Some of the information may be real, some of it just sounds real- I have heard that when you are making a fabrication, stick as close to the truth as possible, and The X-Files research department got all the right words in - "Majestic" is used, as well as some other hints and tidbits. And that if you have a piece of metal embedded in you, think twice about removing it.
I had only been watching The X Files sporadically up to this point, it was this episode that made me a lifetime Fan and that has not wavered since then. Besides, it is better when we know a conspiracy is going in, but we can't quite grasp the whole Boundaries of it. When they were finally revealed in the first X Files Film- And it reaches back from that film all the way to this episode, it was a lot larger than the TV show and the TV sets of the time could handle, but it was also the end of the story.
So I salute this as one of the best Cliffhanger Episodes of all time, for me it was the best Season Finale of the whole series.
Season Two
zkonedog7 July 2019
Warning: Spoilers
In the preceding (first) season of the X-Files, the show was meant to be a scary show. Based off of the old "Kolchak: Night Stalker" television show, the X-Files explored paranormal F.B.I. cases dealing with all sorts of spooky phenomena. The core of the show, however, was Agent Fox Mulder's (David Duchovny) pursuit of UFO's (as he believed aliens abducted his sister when he was young) and his pairing with the skeptical Agent Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson). Yet, during that first season, there was little to no continuity within the "mythology" episodes. Deep Throat (Mulder's secret informant) was the only recurring character, while the UFO/alien plots did carry over beyond a single episode. The Second Season changed all that, providing quality drama in three distinct fashions:
1. First, the coherent "mythology" (over-arching plotlines) of the show was inadvertently created when lead actress Gillian Anderson needed some time off to have a baby. So, show creator Chris Carter had Scully be abducted by aliens (or was it the government?!) and the mythology was off and running. Over the course of this season, Mulder learns more about the mysterious Cigarette-Smoking Man (William B. Davis), comes face-to-face with his long-lost sister, and discovers a government cover-up the likes of which has never been unearthed.
2. While developing that mythology, the X-Files also continued to crank out solid "procedural" episodes. "The Host" (a toilet-dwelling monster) and "Irresistible" (featuring a serial fetishist) are two of the creepiest hours of the show ever produced.
3. Finally, with the episode "Humbug" (the investigation of a bizarre circus side-show), this season began the tradition of what are now know as "comedic" episodes. In a show where the subject matter is often quite serious and often disturbing, these comedic episodes (filled with sly humor) were a breath of fresh air.
To conclude, the Second Season of the X-Files is better than the first, as it continues to provide intense drama, while also creating a mythology for the show and introducing humorous episodes.
Update (12/2015) -After a recent re-watch, this Second Season is truly a marvel. It may be my favorite season of the show. The standalones are still original/creepy, while the mythology begins to take root in some epic episodes.
1. First, the coherent "mythology" (over-arching plotlines) of the show was inadvertently created when lead actress Gillian Anderson needed some time off to have a baby. So, show creator Chris Carter had Scully be abducted by aliens (or was it the government?!) and the mythology was off and running. Over the course of this season, Mulder learns more about the mysterious Cigarette-Smoking Man (William B. Davis), comes face-to-face with his long-lost sister, and discovers a government cover-up the likes of which has never been unearthed.
2. While developing that mythology, the X-Files also continued to crank out solid "procedural" episodes. "The Host" (a toilet-dwelling monster) and "Irresistible" (featuring a serial fetishist) are two of the creepiest hours of the show ever produced.
3. Finally, with the episode "Humbug" (the investigation of a bizarre circus side-show), this season began the tradition of what are now know as "comedic" episodes. In a show where the subject matter is often quite serious and often disturbing, these comedic episodes (filled with sly humor) were a breath of fresh air.
To conclude, the Second Season of the X-Files is better than the first, as it continues to provide intense drama, while also creating a mythology for the show and introducing humorous episodes.
Update (12/2015) -After a recent re-watch, this Second Season is truly a marvel. It may be my favorite season of the show. The standalones are still original/creepy, while the mythology begins to take root in some epic episodes.
ei 'aaniigoo 'ahoot'e
Sanpaco1312 December 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Anasazi the Limerick:
The Thinker while hacking one day
Gets DOD files on a digital tape
The files are in code
So Mulder goes to a Navajo
And finds dead aliens wrinkled and gray
This is the first episode in my favorite 3 part mythology series. The story is quite entertaining and engaging and is everything about the mythology that got me hooked on this show. It starts with a character known as The Thinker who if I remember right his character was based as a tribute to an online fan of the show. The Thinker by pure chance is able to hack into the DoD database and download a DAT tape, a holy grail to any conspiracy theorist. All of the top secret files that Mulder mentions in the Pilot that someone had been blocking his access to. The Thinker hands this tape over to Mulder trusting that he will do what's necessary to make the information public. We start off somewhat confused at Mulder's behavior in this episode as well as another strange moment early on. First there's his reaction and insulting of the Lone Gunmen calling them the 3 Stooges and accusing them of defacing library books, then an old lady down the hall in the same scene shoots her husband for seemingly no reason. Later Mulder flips out when he realizes the files are not English and immediately thinks its a joke, then he hits Skinner in the hall, he mentions he's been having trouble sleeping and is running a fever, then he becomes overly paranoid of Scully. Something is going on. It turns out as Scully later finds out that someone had been injecting his water with LSDish drugs. Scully is really on her game in this episode. With Mulder's psychosis she keeps a cool head and does everything right in order to keep Mulder from getting into trouble even to the point where she shoots him to keep him from killing Krycek with the murder weapon that killed his father. I'm getting ahead of myself. Mulder leaves his apartment while waiting for his informant to go see his father. During this time there is an attempt on Mulder's life which we realize because of how nearly the bullet grazed Scully. Thinking Scully to be Mulder the shooter aimed for the head of Mulder which is above Scully's. Then Bill Mulder is killed in his home by Krycek. The only real sense I can make of these events are that they wanted Fox Mulder dead because of the DAT tape and they wanted Bill Mulder dead because he would have been tempted to come clean to Fox now that he was going to find out the truth anyway from the files. What was in these files that was so worth hiding? Merchandise. Or in other words, human tagging. Including Mulder's sister and including also Scully. Scully takes Mulder to New Mexico to meet Albert Holstein who can show Mulder the proof he needs in a boxcar in a remote quarry on the reservation. While at this car Mulder receives a call from CSM who is able to track the signal and arrives in a helicopter as Mulder is checking out the inside of the car. From here we don't know what happens to Mulder. The army guy says he's not in the car but we didn't see him leave. And then they blow up the car! This is a great cliffhanger. I remember feeling like I definitely needed at least another episode of story to figure out what exactly was happening with that tape. Luckily we get two.
One thing I noticed this time watching that I had never seen before and I'm not sure how. Chris Carter is in this episode. He plays one of the interrogating agents when Scully is being questioned about Mulder's bizarre behavior. I had never noticed this before. Strange. Good trivia to know though. Last thing about the episode that I would like to say is how much I love the scene where Mulder beats the crap out of Krycek screaming about how he killed his father. It actually reminds me a lot of the scene later on in the episode Apocrypha when Scully catches the man Luis Cardinal and starts screaming at him how he shot her sister. Very similar emotions coming from Scully as we see coming from Mulder in this one. Anyway, I really like this episode and give it a 10/10.
The Thinker while hacking one day
Gets DOD files on a digital tape
The files are in code
So Mulder goes to a Navajo
And finds dead aliens wrinkled and gray
This is the first episode in my favorite 3 part mythology series. The story is quite entertaining and engaging and is everything about the mythology that got me hooked on this show. It starts with a character known as The Thinker who if I remember right his character was based as a tribute to an online fan of the show. The Thinker by pure chance is able to hack into the DoD database and download a DAT tape, a holy grail to any conspiracy theorist. All of the top secret files that Mulder mentions in the Pilot that someone had been blocking his access to. The Thinker hands this tape over to Mulder trusting that he will do what's necessary to make the information public. We start off somewhat confused at Mulder's behavior in this episode as well as another strange moment early on. First there's his reaction and insulting of the Lone Gunmen calling them the 3 Stooges and accusing them of defacing library books, then an old lady down the hall in the same scene shoots her husband for seemingly no reason. Later Mulder flips out when he realizes the files are not English and immediately thinks its a joke, then he hits Skinner in the hall, he mentions he's been having trouble sleeping and is running a fever, then he becomes overly paranoid of Scully. Something is going on. It turns out as Scully later finds out that someone had been injecting his water with LSDish drugs. Scully is really on her game in this episode. With Mulder's psychosis she keeps a cool head and does everything right in order to keep Mulder from getting into trouble even to the point where she shoots him to keep him from killing Krycek with the murder weapon that killed his father. I'm getting ahead of myself. Mulder leaves his apartment while waiting for his informant to go see his father. During this time there is an attempt on Mulder's life which we realize because of how nearly the bullet grazed Scully. Thinking Scully to be Mulder the shooter aimed for the head of Mulder which is above Scully's. Then Bill Mulder is killed in his home by Krycek. The only real sense I can make of these events are that they wanted Fox Mulder dead because of the DAT tape and they wanted Bill Mulder dead because he would have been tempted to come clean to Fox now that he was going to find out the truth anyway from the files. What was in these files that was so worth hiding? Merchandise. Or in other words, human tagging. Including Mulder's sister and including also Scully. Scully takes Mulder to New Mexico to meet Albert Holstein who can show Mulder the proof he needs in a boxcar in a remote quarry on the reservation. While at this car Mulder receives a call from CSM who is able to track the signal and arrives in a helicopter as Mulder is checking out the inside of the car. From here we don't know what happens to Mulder. The army guy says he's not in the car but we didn't see him leave. And then they blow up the car! This is a great cliffhanger. I remember feeling like I definitely needed at least another episode of story to figure out what exactly was happening with that tape. Luckily we get two.
One thing I noticed this time watching that I had never seen before and I'm not sure how. Chris Carter is in this episode. He plays one of the interrogating agents when Scully is being questioned about Mulder's bizarre behavior. I had never noticed this before. Strange. Good trivia to know though. Last thing about the episode that I would like to say is how much I love the scene where Mulder beats the crap out of Krycek screaming about how he killed his father. It actually reminds me a lot of the scene later on in the episode Apocrypha when Scully catches the man Luis Cardinal and starts screaming at him how he shot her sister. Very similar emotions coming from Scully as we see coming from Mulder in this one. Anyway, I really like this episode and give it a 10/10.
A huge improvement over the first Finale
SleepTight66612 August 2008
Warning: Spoilers
The second Season finale was a huge improvement over the first Finale.
It's not as 'shocking' or surprising after watching it several times, but it always keeps that great suspense up. It's really what has this episode working for it. it has some great Mulder/Scully moments, I adore how she tried to look after him by shooting him. This is yet another episode that shows us how great their chemistry is and that the show wouldn't be as good without it.
The episode also takes a big step into the Mythology as it reveals Bill Mulder's involvement and has Cancer Man ordering Krycek to kill him. And then he tries to kill Mulder himself.
My only real problem with the episode is that it feels more like the beginning of an arc instead of the Season finale. And it WAS the beginning of an arc, which gives it an awkward position as the Season finale. I'm going to give it FOUR stars, but it's close to perfect.
It's not as 'shocking' or surprising after watching it several times, but it always keeps that great suspense up. It's really what has this episode working for it. it has some great Mulder/Scully moments, I adore how she tried to look after him by shooting him. This is yet another episode that shows us how great their chemistry is and that the show wouldn't be as good without it.
The episode also takes a big step into the Mythology as it reveals Bill Mulder's involvement and has Cancer Man ordering Krycek to kill him. And then he tries to kill Mulder himself.
My only real problem with the episode is that it feels more like the beginning of an arc instead of the Season finale. And it WAS the beginning of an arc, which gives it an awkward position as the Season finale. I'm going to give it FOUR stars, but it's close to perfect.
The X Files/Anasazi - 19/5/1995
babydolphin821 February 2009
Albert tells Mulder about the Anasazi, a tribe who vanished without a trace hundreds of years ago. Albert says the truth is "nothing disappears without a trace," and that the tribe was abducted "by visitors who come here still." Albert's grandson takes Mulder out to the canyon and reveals what he found - a train refrigeration car buried in the earth. Mulder gets a call from the CSM, who warns him that if he exposes the MJ files he will also expose his father's involvement in the project. The call is traced, and CSM and a group of soldiers take off in helicopters. Mulder goes into the car and finds mounds of bodies like the one from the teaser. Scully calls him to say that both her name and Duane Barry's appear in the files involving a test. Mulder thinks the bodies in the car are alien...until he sees one has a smallpox vaccination scar. "Oh my God, Scully...what have they done?" he asks before the door to the car closes from above. The Cigarette Smoking Man has arrived and asks Albert's grandson where Mulder is. The soldiers search the boxcar and say that Mulder is gone, vanished without a trace. CSM angrily insists that "nothing vanishes without a trace!" and orders the soldiers to burn the boxcar. They drop an incendiary bomb into the car and depart in helicopters as it explodes, flames leaping out of the car, burning the bodies and possibly Mulder inside...
One of the best television seasons finale ever produced. When I first watched this I was literally on the edge of my couch. Wondering is Fox Mulder dead or alive? that made so highly anticipated for Season 3 premiere. I could not wait.
One of the best television seasons finale ever produced. When I first watched this I was literally on the edge of my couch. Wondering is Fox Mulder dead or alive? that made so highly anticipated for Season 3 premiere. I could not wait.
Mulder: You have my files, and you have my gun. Don't ask me for my trust.
bombersflyup23 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Anasazi is about Mulder coming into possession of an encrypted computer disk containing the defense department's top secret files on extraterrestrial life, he subsequently becomes a target.
A quality first episode of the three-part mythology, as well as being the finale of the second season. CSM visits Bill Mulder before he sends Krycek to kill him. He can't risk Bill having a sit-down with Fox and fast-tracking his knowledge. It's odd that CSM would call Mulder and talk about his father, basically letting him know that he had his father executed and Mulder sees it's Krycek who pulled the trigger later in the episode. Some encounters between Mulder, CSM and Krycek down the line are hard to accept given the events here. Scully fights back the tears and saves a wild, drugged and loose-canon Mulder from his demise. CSM also tried to kill Mulder here, which goes against his said protection of him.
A quality first episode of the three-part mythology, as well as being the finale of the second season. CSM visits Bill Mulder before he sends Krycek to kill him. He can't risk Bill having a sit-down with Fox and fast-tracking his knowledge. It's odd that CSM would call Mulder and talk about his father, basically letting him know that he had his father executed and Mulder sees it's Krycek who pulled the trigger later in the episode. Some encounters between Mulder, CSM and Krycek down the line are hard to accept given the events here. Scully fights back the tears and saves a wild, drugged and loose-canon Mulder from his demise. CSM also tried to kill Mulder here, which goes against his said protection of him.
"Nothing vanishes without a trace."
classicsoncall6 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Though this was the Second Season finale for 'The X-Files', it wound up as part of what quite possibly could be the best three part story arc in the history of television. I'm not generally given to superlatives, but if one had even a fleeting interest in this program, this is the one that would have hooked you as a fan forever. When the bathroom door of Bill Mulder (Peter Donat) closes and Krycek (Nicholas Lea) is standing right there to eliminate him for Smoking Man and the Consortium, well, that was just a stunning moment. The episode is filled with those kinds of stunning moments, right up to The Thinker's (Bernie Coulson) hack into the Defense Department and download of fifty years worth of intelligence files on the existence of UFO's and extraterrestrials.
Can you handle some more stunning moments? Mulder attacks Skinner, Scully shoots Mulder - Yikes!, and a shadowy assassin grazes Scully's own skull attempting to kill Mulder. With all this going on, you wouldn't have had the slightest idea that a Navajo elder would hold the key to interpreting the information on The Thinker's file. Following a hand off to Mulder, a deadly race is on to retrieve the incriminating cassette that will eventually lead to the deaths of the elder Mulder and Scully's sister in a subsequent episode.
A recurring theme in this story involves the comment in my summary line. It was stated twice by two different characters; the first was Albert Hosteen (Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman), the Navajo code talker speaking to Fox Mulder, and the second time it was spoken by the enigmatic Smoking Man (William B. Davis). The conclusion of this episode was as tense as any cliffhanger ending one might experience, virtually assuring that Mulder was a goner, and insuring that the Third Season would get off to a heart pounding start.
Can you handle some more stunning moments? Mulder attacks Skinner, Scully shoots Mulder - Yikes!, and a shadowy assassin grazes Scully's own skull attempting to kill Mulder. With all this going on, you wouldn't have had the slightest idea that a Navajo elder would hold the key to interpreting the information on The Thinker's file. Following a hand off to Mulder, a deadly race is on to retrieve the incriminating cassette that will eventually lead to the deaths of the elder Mulder and Scully's sister in a subsequent episode.
A recurring theme in this story involves the comment in my summary line. It was stated twice by two different characters; the first was Albert Hosteen (Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman), the Navajo code talker speaking to Fox Mulder, and the second time it was spoken by the enigmatic Smoking Man (William B. Davis). The conclusion of this episode was as tense as any cliffhanger ending one might experience, virtually assuring that Mulder was a goner, and insuring that the Third Season would get off to a heart pounding start.
Mulder's final finale?
BreakingDawnx2 September 2008
Warning: Spoilers
In my opinion , the best episode of season 2. This episode keeps you hooked 45 minutes and doesn't let go. Mulder is experiencing severe paranoia , and when his father is killed , it goes into overdrive. So bad that he punches Skinner , attacks the reappeared Krychek and Scully is forced to shoot him in the shoulder in order to stop him taking Krychek's life.
This episode is high on action and suspense , the end must of been a real cliff hanger at the time it was first broadcast.
Trapped in a metal bunker underground , filled with a pile of dead decomposed alien bodies , Mulder realises hes trapped. Thats when the CSM gives the order to burn the bunker.. with Mulder inside.
This episode is high on action and suspense , the end must of been a real cliff hanger at the time it was first broadcast.
Trapped in a metal bunker underground , filled with a pile of dead decomposed alien bodies , Mulder realises hes trapped. Thats when the CSM gives the order to burn the bunker.. with Mulder inside.
the truth is much more complicated than u may have expected,,,
Sam_Ramzy1 March 2012
Warning: Spoilers
In this episode we keep learning more facts about the conspiracy made by the government 2 hide any evidence about aliens, this began in season 1 when we saw deep throat, in this episode things began 2c get more and more interesting and yes complicated as more players began 2 get into the picture like Mulder's dad, this episode is really interesting and a hell of an ending 2 series 2, which tells u how will series 3 look like, so when u watch this episode make your self ready for a roller coaster ride, i really liked the episode it made me want 2 know more, how is Mulder's dad involved??? what tests were made on Scully?? who the hell is the smoking man, what's his position and is he really protecting Mulder?? this episode makes u ask more questions than giving answers....
You shot me!
Sleepin_Dragon4 October 2020
Mulder receives encrypted information detailing alien visits to Earth, he also learns more about his father.
It's a dramatic ending, this episode rightly has a very high rating, but if I'm totally honest, there are several episodes I have enjoyed more from this excellent second series, but Anasazi does have some real highlights.
Major pluses include, the point at which Mulder finally learns of Scully's posting, the setting is great, more questions are asked, the visuals are very good, particularly at the end, and of course the explosive conclusion.
Series one's finale had me drawn in and captivated, this one didn't quite so much. It is very good, I look forward to the continuation, 8/10.
It's a dramatic ending, this episode rightly has a very high rating, but if I'm totally honest, there are several episodes I have enjoyed more from this excellent second series, but Anasazi does have some real highlights.
Major pluses include, the point at which Mulder finally learns of Scully's posting, the setting is great, more questions are asked, the visuals are very good, particularly at the end, and of course the explosive conclusion.
Series one's finale had me drawn in and captivated, this one didn't quite so much. It is very good, I look forward to the continuation, 8/10.
Mulder should inspire all of us
CursedChico29 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
At first, we see the culture of Native Americans. With long hair and wiseness people. The old guy said something about earth and he was right, his grandchild found a dead alien body with ship. Probably that grandchild cant speak the language of his family.
Anasazi Empire is real by the way. They have nie cliff dwellings. I searched some: "The Anasazi lived here for more than 1,000 years. Then, within a single generation, they were gone. Between 1275 and 1300 A.D., they stopped building entirely, and the land was left empty."
Neighbour of mulder killed his husband. I did not understand it at first but later we understood. It was because of something in the water they put.
Mulder punched skinner, he said he did not know why but i thought he made it to be able to free while searching for that code. But also this was because of water.
They are still alone. mulder and scully. If they gave the document to a journalist, it could be easy. Why did mulder try to understand first? He should just send it to multiple journalists anonymously. At same time, he can try to decode it.There must be journalists like mulder who wont be afraid to tell the truth to the public.
We see also an anarchist person who get the document. Anarchists normally dont work with goverment people but mulder is different person. Anyone can trust and respect him.
It was really interesting to see his father was also an important person for UFO things in old times. Maybe mulder's sister was not captured by aliens. The military who use alien tech took her to make her super human, with the permission of his father. I dont know.
Those dark people can kill mulder and scully easily and show it like some robbery accident or car accident. But they wont do it for years , because series end in 2018 so they dont do it :)
In the end, they tried but probably they could not :) they did not try to kill scully but for mulder they tried without mercy. I wonder how he would survive.
I also cant understand skinner. He was good guy but now he does not do anything.
Why did they leave the corpses there, it is also interesting. It is like "come and discover what I have done in past.". Maybe they did not know about those train wagon. It just came from bottom of the ground somehow.
I thought krycek was dead but he appeared and disappeared again :)
Next season will be very exciting. Mulder and scully now have strong trust and feelings for each other. They cant be stopped.
I will miss this series. Because i watch series by a season in a row. So after i watch one season for other series, i can come for 3. season of x-files.
Anasazi Empire is real by the way. They have nie cliff dwellings. I searched some: "The Anasazi lived here for more than 1,000 years. Then, within a single generation, they were gone. Between 1275 and 1300 A.D., they stopped building entirely, and the land was left empty."
Neighbour of mulder killed his husband. I did not understand it at first but later we understood. It was because of something in the water they put.
Mulder punched skinner, he said he did not know why but i thought he made it to be able to free while searching for that code. But also this was because of water.
They are still alone. mulder and scully. If they gave the document to a journalist, it could be easy. Why did mulder try to understand first? He should just send it to multiple journalists anonymously. At same time, he can try to decode it.There must be journalists like mulder who wont be afraid to tell the truth to the public.
We see also an anarchist person who get the document. Anarchists normally dont work with goverment people but mulder is different person. Anyone can trust and respect him.
It was really interesting to see his father was also an important person for UFO things in old times. Maybe mulder's sister was not captured by aliens. The military who use alien tech took her to make her super human, with the permission of his father. I dont know.
Those dark people can kill mulder and scully easily and show it like some robbery accident or car accident. But they wont do it for years , because series end in 2018 so they dont do it :)
In the end, they tried but probably they could not :) they did not try to kill scully but for mulder they tried without mercy. I wonder how he would survive.
I also cant understand skinner. He was good guy but now he does not do anything.
Why did they leave the corpses there, it is also interesting. It is like "come and discover what I have done in past.". Maybe they did not know about those train wagon. It just came from bottom of the ground somehow.
I thought krycek was dead but he appeared and disappeared again :)
Next season will be very exciting. Mulder and scully now have strong trust and feelings for each other. They cant be stopped.
I will miss this series. Because i watch series by a season in a row. So after i watch one season for other series, i can come for 3. season of x-files.
Let down at the end
jodi-4452826 February 2019
I thought this was finally when Mulder would get some confirmation that his beliefs were merited. Instead, it's a lame ending for a season finale.
As suspicious as Mulder is, why in God's name would he answer his phone when he was almost to the evidence? He had to know he'd be traced. As soon as it was the smoking man, why didn't he hang up?! That is the most irritating thing with this series. These two people are supposed to be incredibly smart but they repeatedly make stupid mistakes. It's like they have no common sense between them!
As suspicious as Mulder is, why in God's name would he answer his phone when he was almost to the evidence? He had to know he'd be traced. As soon as it was the smoking man, why didn't he hang up?! That is the most irritating thing with this series. These two people are supposed to be incredibly smart but they repeatedly make stupid mistakes. It's like they have no common sense between them!
Hasn't aged well
mrwb7728 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Found myself laughing through a lot of it. The conspiracy just comes across as ridiculous to me in the 21st century.
The government has been hacked, solar winds, but it didn't go down like this.
I find the crime and mystery x files episodes are great. Just the story thread ones don't work for me anymore. When I watched them 25 years ago seemed much better.
The government has been hacked, solar winds, but it didn't go down like this.
I find the crime and mystery x files episodes are great. Just the story thread ones don't work for me anymore. When I watched them 25 years ago seemed much better.
Nothing disappears without a trace.
alexandercappelli24 May 2016
Warning: Spoilers
"Nothing disappears without a trace." - Albert Hosteen.
Episode 25, season finale, 'Anasazi', original air date May 19th, 1995. Written by Chris Carter and David Duchovny, directed by R.W. Goodwin who also directed the season 1 finale. Mythology episode count, 13. Carter worked closely with Duchovny to develop the story for the final episode of season 2, the first of a three-part story arc that continues in to season 3. Carter was apparently pleased with the way the finale posed more questions than it answered and this is certainly a trademark of most mythology episodes. While the standalone shows would often vary in many aspects; tone, rhythm, pacing and so on, the myth-arc entries almost all share a very similar structure, and one aspect of this is that they often featured quite densely layered plots, attempting to cover a lot of ground in limited time period. Early on these episodes were few and far between so you get the sense that when they did venture into mythology territory that they worked hard to make the most of it. This method achieves varying effects. For one, they can rarely be described as boring, moving swiftly from scene to scene with frantic urgency, teasing the reveal of a course changing revelation, though admittedly never quite satisfying our desire for the infamous 'truth'. Arguably an intentional effect, attempting, and often succeeding, at keeping us baited but never fully content that we've been given the whole story. And herein lies the root of their undoing. This obsessive desire to cover so much ground while persisting to hold back on ever answering the big questions unfortunately resulted in as much, if not more, frustration as fulfillment. Looking forward, it's clear that the series weaved itself in to tangled mess of loose ends and while it's certainly possible to stand back and construct some overall sense of structure, it still demands a lot from the viewer in the process. While it's easy to criticise the mythology arcs when looking at the big picture in retrospect, it's important to attempt to take each episode on its own merits, regardless if the end doesn't quite match up perfectly with what was set in place in these early stages. With that in mind, 'Anasazi' is undoubtedly an enjoyable episode that ends on what could be called the series greatest cliffhanger, the apparent death of Mulder.
At a Navajo Indian reservation in New Mexico, a young boy discovers what looks like the remains of an extra-terrestrial in a boxcar buried in the ground. Meanwhile, a computer hacker has just broken in to the Defense Department database and downloaded secret files which detail the governments long standing knowledge about alien life on earth. This file, which is encrypted, finds it way in to the hands of Mulder courtesy of the Lone Gunmen. The Cancer Man approaches Bill Mulder and warns him that his son is about to uncover secrets about Bill's nefarious past. His father prepares to confess to Mulder but before he's able he is killed by Alex Krycek. Mulder, now desperate to decode the sensitive material heads to New Mexico to speak to Albert Hosteen (Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman), a Navajo code talker which Scully helped him locate. Throughout this time, Mulder has been acting out of character, becoming more and more erratic and unhinged. Scully discovers that his building's water supply has been tampered with and possibly laced with some type of LCD substance which is causing both Mulder and other residents in the building to act dangerously irrational. It turns out that this is part of an elaborate plot to frame Mulder for his father's murder, altering his state of being prior to the killing so that he would be witness acting in a bizarre way before being linked directly to his father's death. Back in New Mexico, Albert Hosteen's grandson guides Mulder to the buried boxcar, which is full of alien-like corpses. While he is inside, the Cancer Man shows up and fire bombs the car, leaving the agents fate unknown by the episodes conclusion.
It's difficult to sum up the mythology episodes in a succinct fashion as there's simply so much plot to cover. This isn't the only time the series teased the possible demise of Mulder, however at this stage after only two seasons it would have been possible to convince audiences that the character may in fact not return for future episodes. The future of the series was undetermined and really could have gone in any number of directions. The apparent death of Mulder brought a lot of interest to the show and succeeded in keeping the fan base on board for the next installment. The writer's also shocked audiences with the sudden death of Bill Mulder, whom we had only just begun to get to know. Carter has been quoted as saying that this turn of events proved that 'anything could happen in the X-Files' and to this end the plot device served its purpose.
The art department had their work cut out for them with the re-creation of the New Mexico environment. As it was too difficult and expensive to fly the crew to the location, 16,000 gallons of red paint were used to transform a rock quarry in Vancouver in to a believable New Mexico location. The painted rocks were then combined with images shot in New Mexico to achieve the final result, which all things considered is nothing short of spectacular. Duchovny pulls in a compelling performance as he gradually shifts in to a more agitated state due to the contaminated water. It's a subtle direction at first, which is almost imperceptible, but progressively builds at a steady rate throughout the show and is one of the episode's strong points. It's a pity Scully doesn't have more to do but this is a very Mulder-centric story that's being told, which is fine as it works very well in that regard.
Episode 25, season finale, 'Anasazi', original air date May 19th, 1995. Written by Chris Carter and David Duchovny, directed by R.W. Goodwin who also directed the season 1 finale. Mythology episode count, 13. Carter worked closely with Duchovny to develop the story for the final episode of season 2, the first of a three-part story arc that continues in to season 3. Carter was apparently pleased with the way the finale posed more questions than it answered and this is certainly a trademark of most mythology episodes. While the standalone shows would often vary in many aspects; tone, rhythm, pacing and so on, the myth-arc entries almost all share a very similar structure, and one aspect of this is that they often featured quite densely layered plots, attempting to cover a lot of ground in limited time period. Early on these episodes were few and far between so you get the sense that when they did venture into mythology territory that they worked hard to make the most of it. This method achieves varying effects. For one, they can rarely be described as boring, moving swiftly from scene to scene with frantic urgency, teasing the reveal of a course changing revelation, though admittedly never quite satisfying our desire for the infamous 'truth'. Arguably an intentional effect, attempting, and often succeeding, at keeping us baited but never fully content that we've been given the whole story. And herein lies the root of their undoing. This obsessive desire to cover so much ground while persisting to hold back on ever answering the big questions unfortunately resulted in as much, if not more, frustration as fulfillment. Looking forward, it's clear that the series weaved itself in to tangled mess of loose ends and while it's certainly possible to stand back and construct some overall sense of structure, it still demands a lot from the viewer in the process. While it's easy to criticise the mythology arcs when looking at the big picture in retrospect, it's important to attempt to take each episode on its own merits, regardless if the end doesn't quite match up perfectly with what was set in place in these early stages. With that in mind, 'Anasazi' is undoubtedly an enjoyable episode that ends on what could be called the series greatest cliffhanger, the apparent death of Mulder.
At a Navajo Indian reservation in New Mexico, a young boy discovers what looks like the remains of an extra-terrestrial in a boxcar buried in the ground. Meanwhile, a computer hacker has just broken in to the Defense Department database and downloaded secret files which detail the governments long standing knowledge about alien life on earth. This file, which is encrypted, finds it way in to the hands of Mulder courtesy of the Lone Gunmen. The Cancer Man approaches Bill Mulder and warns him that his son is about to uncover secrets about Bill's nefarious past. His father prepares to confess to Mulder but before he's able he is killed by Alex Krycek. Mulder, now desperate to decode the sensitive material heads to New Mexico to speak to Albert Hosteen (Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman), a Navajo code talker which Scully helped him locate. Throughout this time, Mulder has been acting out of character, becoming more and more erratic and unhinged. Scully discovers that his building's water supply has been tampered with and possibly laced with some type of LCD substance which is causing both Mulder and other residents in the building to act dangerously irrational. It turns out that this is part of an elaborate plot to frame Mulder for his father's murder, altering his state of being prior to the killing so that he would be witness acting in a bizarre way before being linked directly to his father's death. Back in New Mexico, Albert Hosteen's grandson guides Mulder to the buried boxcar, which is full of alien-like corpses. While he is inside, the Cancer Man shows up and fire bombs the car, leaving the agents fate unknown by the episodes conclusion.
It's difficult to sum up the mythology episodes in a succinct fashion as there's simply so much plot to cover. This isn't the only time the series teased the possible demise of Mulder, however at this stage after only two seasons it would have been possible to convince audiences that the character may in fact not return for future episodes. The future of the series was undetermined and really could have gone in any number of directions. The apparent death of Mulder brought a lot of interest to the show and succeeded in keeping the fan base on board for the next installment. The writer's also shocked audiences with the sudden death of Bill Mulder, whom we had only just begun to get to know. Carter has been quoted as saying that this turn of events proved that 'anything could happen in the X-Files' and to this end the plot device served its purpose.
The art department had their work cut out for them with the re-creation of the New Mexico environment. As it was too difficult and expensive to fly the crew to the location, 16,000 gallons of red paint were used to transform a rock quarry in Vancouver in to a believable New Mexico location. The painted rocks were then combined with images shot in New Mexico to achieve the final result, which all things considered is nothing short of spectacular. Duchovny pulls in a compelling performance as he gradually shifts in to a more agitated state due to the contaminated water. It's a subtle direction at first, which is almost imperceptible, but progressively builds at a steady rate throughout the show and is one of the episode's strong points. It's a pity Scully doesn't have more to do but this is a very Mulder-centric story that's being told, which is fine as it works very well in that regard.
The truth cannot be buried.
devonbrown-9064923 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Amazing episode. So happy we finally got some character development for cancer man. It seems he will go to no lengths to cover up his "merchandise" mulder and his dad have become an obstacle so they have been terminated or so it seems.
Can't believe they decided to pull out all the stops to destroy mulder after so many episodes. Why now ? I guess he's very close to the truth of the experimental vaccines with alien DNA. Cancer man cannot allow that.
The truth is conveniently handed to mulder and scully via a hard drive mulder will know of his father involvement with the secret government and scully will know of her abduction.
The show must go on so this isn't the end for mulder and scully.
Can't believe they decided to pull out all the stops to destroy mulder after so many episodes. Why now ? I guess he's very close to the truth of the experimental vaccines with alien DNA. Cancer man cannot allow that.
The truth is conveniently handed to mulder and scully via a hard drive mulder will know of his father involvement with the secret government and scully will know of her abduction.
The show must go on so this isn't the end for mulder and scully.
Possible Easter Egg found that may have not been noticed
way72926 March 2017
Just wanted to make notice of a possible Easter Egg that may have not been noticed. When Mulder returns to the front door of his apartment we see that the number of his apartment is "42". That may be a reference and honor to the Science Fiction Comedy book called "Life, The Universe, and Everything" written by Douglas Adams, of which the number "42" plays a part of the story. So correct me if I am wrong if this has no reference to the novel. Or even the related T.V. series that was made from his novel.
Anasazi
lassegalsgaard13 January 2024
With this season, the show has started to heavily focus its time on the mythology aspect, setting up an overarching story that will probably go throughout the entire show. It was a good guess that we wouldn't get all the answers by the end of this season, but there were a lot of loose ends that the show definitely needed to touch upon and add some more information to in order to make the season feel overall satisfying. With this finale, it feels like the show is kinda trying to figure out where to go with it all, but the directions are all quite fascinating.
The entire season has very much been focused on Mulder and how all of his personal problems are really what has led him to this point. It made sense that the finale would continue to poke into his past, but it did come up with some very interesting twists that weren't that easy to predict beforehand. It does manage to cap certain things off quite fast and it may have gone a little too fast for an audience desperate for the nice conspiracy elements that the show tackles around so well. However, the show has plenty of intrigue and the main storyline places our lead characters in another fight with the people that they are supposed to serve, although this time they may be the ones on the opposite side of the law. The episode seems to lead up to a point that would have big repercussions for the rest of the show, but that point never really arrives, and instead, we are left with a very frustrating ending that simply leaves a lot more questions than answers. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but for a show that is so obsessed with setting up mysteries, it would be nice if they would give us a little payoff once in a while. Whether or not this will actually lead to anything significant, or if the next season will simply be more of the same, we'll not know yet, but it's clear that Mulder and Scully have hard times ahead, and I'll be there all the way.
"Anasazi" is a very good finale that leaves the show on a high note with a lot of twists and turns and a very surprising ending. However, there are certain frustrations that come up in the show's seeming unwillingness to give clear answers, although the directions are interesting enough to still keep the audience invested.
The entire season has very much been focused on Mulder and how all of his personal problems are really what has led him to this point. It made sense that the finale would continue to poke into his past, but it did come up with some very interesting twists that weren't that easy to predict beforehand. It does manage to cap certain things off quite fast and it may have gone a little too fast for an audience desperate for the nice conspiracy elements that the show tackles around so well. However, the show has plenty of intrigue and the main storyline places our lead characters in another fight with the people that they are supposed to serve, although this time they may be the ones on the opposite side of the law. The episode seems to lead up to a point that would have big repercussions for the rest of the show, but that point never really arrives, and instead, we are left with a very frustrating ending that simply leaves a lot more questions than answers. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but for a show that is so obsessed with setting up mysteries, it would be nice if they would give us a little payoff once in a while. Whether or not this will actually lead to anything significant, or if the next season will simply be more of the same, we'll not know yet, but it's clear that Mulder and Scully have hard times ahead, and I'll be there all the way.
"Anasazi" is a very good finale that leaves the show on a high note with a lot of twists and turns and a very surprising ending. However, there are certain frustrations that come up in the show's seeming unwillingness to give clear answers, although the directions are interesting enough to still keep the audience invested.
Jangling an Alien Shaped Keychain in Front of Your Face
frankelee14 July 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Despite its overall IMDB rating, this episode was rather lackluster. Somewhere in Indian Country a young brave discovers a hidden hunk of metal in the sandy dirt, along with a mummified alien body. "You best put that back where you found it," the village elder advises. Meanwhile, back in the white man's land a hacker busts into the DoD's interwebz and discovers a file named 'All Our Secrets About the Coming Alien Invasion Do Not Look,' and proceeds to look.
That unfortunately is the last part of this episode which is awesome. The rest of the episode is Mulder trying to find somebody who can read Navajo, while also avoiding extremely incompetent and ham handed attempts to murder, poison, discredit, write-up, and frame him.
Alright, I admit it, The X-Files is ridiculously silly even when it's trying to be serious. It's always ridiculously silly. I like the mythos episodes better when the writers accept their own limitations, which in this episode, they do not. The shadow government doesn't harm Mulder because they don't want him harmed. Now, maybe they do want him harmed, except up until now, and including in this episode, they are shown as omnipotent. They can do anything. They can kill anyone, disappear anyone, disappear any evidence, rewrite any report, intimidate any official, break into any secure area, discredit anyone... they can do anything. Except they try to kill Mulder but fail, they try again but fail, they try to discredit Mulder through some cockamamie scheme to poison his water with LSD and Florida bath salts and get caught, and for some reason they can't steal back the secret file Mulder has? They stole Scully's evidence of alien life and murdered every doctor and lab tech who heard about, inside a secure federal government building, but they can't steal back a tape from Mulder's office while he's in a meeting with Skinner?
You REALLY have to turn your brain off to enjoy episodes like these, and I fear a not insignificant number of viewers who really were enjoying this episode stopped breathing and died when their brain stem started to question plot contrivances and were reflexively deactivated.
It would have been WAY better if they made the Men in Black suddenly caught on their back heel, it's a lot more realistic anyway for them not to be omnipotent and omniscient. How about not having everyone up to and including Director Skinner know within an hour that Mulder has the secret file? That's the exact moment the episode goes off the rails, just don't do that. It would actually make sense and be dramatic if Mulder secretly has the file, and after murdering the hacker the MiB have to wonder exactly who all he turned it over to.
Ahhh, but that's the nonsensical catalyst that sets in motion all the plot points I wanted to happen before coming up with a reason for them to happen, says a young Chris Carter. Unfortunately set-up and plot don't match up, and so the bad guys can infiltrate Mulder's building and poison its water supply, easily find the hacker and make him spill all his secrets, kill Mulder's father, tip off Skinner that Mulder has a secret alien file, make Mulder behave like a crazy person, track Mulder's cellphone in 10 seconds, fly to Mulder's location in less than a minute, keep an alien invasion conspiracy secret from the public for five decades despite requiring tens of thousands of helpers across a half dozen different nations, BUT they can't steal back Mulder's copy of the file, run a high powered magnet over his secret tape, and bonk Mulder on the head with a lead pipe so he's in the hospital for three weeks while this all blows over.
Also Indians discovering a hidden alien train car and a hacker stealing the secret plans for an alien invasion happening AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME is what, thanks to screenwriter Blake Snyder, Hollywood knows as double mumbo jumbo. Two incredibly rare, usually supernatural, but related events happening at the exact time despite having no causal relationship. It's bad writing, and it definitely occurred to me that something seemed stupid when Mulder just so happened to find the Navajo Wind Talker who also just found aliens so he could get a translation of secret government files coded in Navajo that just happened to be uncovered by a hacker.
Watching this episode reminded me of watching Batman v Superman, it runs on the same level of logic. It's better, but it runs on the same level of logic.
In the end, most people are impressed because they finally get to see a dead alien, other than the other times we got to see an alien.
That unfortunately is the last part of this episode which is awesome. The rest of the episode is Mulder trying to find somebody who can read Navajo, while also avoiding extremely incompetent and ham handed attempts to murder, poison, discredit, write-up, and frame him.
Alright, I admit it, The X-Files is ridiculously silly even when it's trying to be serious. It's always ridiculously silly. I like the mythos episodes better when the writers accept their own limitations, which in this episode, they do not. The shadow government doesn't harm Mulder because they don't want him harmed. Now, maybe they do want him harmed, except up until now, and including in this episode, they are shown as omnipotent. They can do anything. They can kill anyone, disappear anyone, disappear any evidence, rewrite any report, intimidate any official, break into any secure area, discredit anyone... they can do anything. Except they try to kill Mulder but fail, they try again but fail, they try to discredit Mulder through some cockamamie scheme to poison his water with LSD and Florida bath salts and get caught, and for some reason they can't steal back the secret file Mulder has? They stole Scully's evidence of alien life and murdered every doctor and lab tech who heard about, inside a secure federal government building, but they can't steal back a tape from Mulder's office while he's in a meeting with Skinner?
You REALLY have to turn your brain off to enjoy episodes like these, and I fear a not insignificant number of viewers who really were enjoying this episode stopped breathing and died when their brain stem started to question plot contrivances and were reflexively deactivated.
It would have been WAY better if they made the Men in Black suddenly caught on their back heel, it's a lot more realistic anyway for them not to be omnipotent and omniscient. How about not having everyone up to and including Director Skinner know within an hour that Mulder has the secret file? That's the exact moment the episode goes off the rails, just don't do that. It would actually make sense and be dramatic if Mulder secretly has the file, and after murdering the hacker the MiB have to wonder exactly who all he turned it over to.
Ahhh, but that's the nonsensical catalyst that sets in motion all the plot points I wanted to happen before coming up with a reason for them to happen, says a young Chris Carter. Unfortunately set-up and plot don't match up, and so the bad guys can infiltrate Mulder's building and poison its water supply, easily find the hacker and make him spill all his secrets, kill Mulder's father, tip off Skinner that Mulder has a secret alien file, make Mulder behave like a crazy person, track Mulder's cellphone in 10 seconds, fly to Mulder's location in less than a minute, keep an alien invasion conspiracy secret from the public for five decades despite requiring tens of thousands of helpers across a half dozen different nations, BUT they can't steal back Mulder's copy of the file, run a high powered magnet over his secret tape, and bonk Mulder on the head with a lead pipe so he's in the hospital for three weeks while this all blows over.
Also Indians discovering a hidden alien train car and a hacker stealing the secret plans for an alien invasion happening AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME is what, thanks to screenwriter Blake Snyder, Hollywood knows as double mumbo jumbo. Two incredibly rare, usually supernatural, but related events happening at the exact time despite having no causal relationship. It's bad writing, and it definitely occurred to me that something seemed stupid when Mulder just so happened to find the Navajo Wind Talker who also just found aliens so he could get a translation of secret government files coded in Navajo that just happened to be uncovered by a hacker.
Watching this episode reminded me of watching Batman v Superman, it runs on the same level of logic. It's better, but it runs on the same level of logic.
In the end, most people are impressed because they finally get to see a dead alien, other than the other times we got to see an alien.
Engineered hallucination
chaos-rampant29 June 2013
This is exciting on its own as a mythology episode and cliffhanger, but more interesting in how it exemplifies the X-files template.
The idea for me is that Mulder is the viewer, the same as the viewers of the show: curious to know, idealistic, drawn to stories that reveal. He wants to see into a complex web and reveal fundamental truth, which mirrors our own experience. What narrative arises around him in the show, stories about aliens, monsters, spirits, mysterious biologies, is the sort of narrative he'd fantasize about, conjuring secrets to investigate. It arises because there is the desire for it, which is the cornerstone of film noir far more meaningful than the clothes and shadows falling a certain way.
In this episode Mulder is outright handed the most important documents he could ever hope for, the most secret stuff. It's funny that they're handed to him by a guy called 'The Thinker', an anarchist hacker with grunge-rock hair in his mid-20s, the type of guy who would be a viewer of the show then. Apparently, he merely stumbled onto them one day, which is another way of asserting the magical (adolescent) nature of the experience, which is penetrating the murky, shady world of adults in the name of truth.
More instances of this adolescent distortion of the world, the distortion as byproduct of looking:
He experiences irrational, absurd behaviour, which is later explained as being under the influence of hallucinogens.
His own father is in the know, revealed as a chief engineer of what the son is driven to tear down.
He is brought into contact with Indians who can unlock the secrets, elder guardians who can decode the narrative 'truth'.
So is it a wonder that every teenager on the planet loved the show? Alas, typical for the show, our own seeing is not allowed agency in the world to determine the truthfulness of different levels. In better hands, we'd have to decide for instance how much of Mulder's exchange with his father really did take place, knowing he was under the influence.
The idea for me is that Mulder is the viewer, the same as the viewers of the show: curious to know, idealistic, drawn to stories that reveal. He wants to see into a complex web and reveal fundamental truth, which mirrors our own experience. What narrative arises around him in the show, stories about aliens, monsters, spirits, mysterious biologies, is the sort of narrative he'd fantasize about, conjuring secrets to investigate. It arises because there is the desire for it, which is the cornerstone of film noir far more meaningful than the clothes and shadows falling a certain way.
In this episode Mulder is outright handed the most important documents he could ever hope for, the most secret stuff. It's funny that they're handed to him by a guy called 'The Thinker', an anarchist hacker with grunge-rock hair in his mid-20s, the type of guy who would be a viewer of the show then. Apparently, he merely stumbled onto them one day, which is another way of asserting the magical (adolescent) nature of the experience, which is penetrating the murky, shady world of adults in the name of truth.
More instances of this adolescent distortion of the world, the distortion as byproduct of looking:
He experiences irrational, absurd behaviour, which is later explained as being under the influence of hallucinogens.
His own father is in the know, revealed as a chief engineer of what the son is driven to tear down.
He is brought into contact with Indians who can unlock the secrets, elder guardians who can decode the narrative 'truth'.
So is it a wonder that every teenager on the planet loved the show? Alas, typical for the show, our own seeing is not allowed agency in the world to determine the truthfulness of different levels. In better hands, we'd have to decide for instance how much of Mulder's exchange with his father really did take place, knowing he was under the influence.
Does anyone on the show do RESEARCH?
badponymedicine17 September 2008
Chris Carter could have saved himself a LOT of headaches by having someone do a little simple research on Navajo culture. All these Navajos claiming to not know the language? If they were raised there, it's likely their first language, so the kid asking what grandpa said doesn't pass, nor does the DC woman only recognizing TWO WORDS, and recognizing them as 'modern'. Any Navajo could tell you what the words are, though yes, it would take a Code Talker to decipher it. Also, Navajo was not the only native language used in code talking. In addition, Anasazi does NOT mean 'ancient aliens', and "Hosteen" is NOT a name, but a term of respect for an male elder, pronounced 'Hah-steen' not 'Hoe-steen'. I can see why the Navajos jumped on Carter for all the boo-boos in this episode. Otherwise, great and enjoyable, but if you're familiar with the culture, these mistakes and others are GLARINGLY obvious, which does kill the thrill a bit.
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