The X-Files (TV Series) Trevor (1999) User Reviews

"I want what's mine."

[classicsoncall · 8/10 · 29 July 2017]

I'm a senior citizen now, and the only Trevor I ever knew was an Englishman I met on a camping tour of Iceland! I probably would never have given that a second thought if I hadn't seen this episode. Seems kind of weird, doesn't it?

So let me stop and think about this a minute. Mulder's having a hard time coming up with a theory, and Scully's ready to go with spontaneous human combustion!!! What?!?! She even offers a scientific rationale for the prison warden to be burned up at his desk. Mulder's reaction was to be appropriately stunned, but he still thinks there's something else going on.

It was interesting to watch the reaction of Robert Werther (David Bowe), the fiancé of June Gurwich (Catherine Dent) when she began confessing her prior life to the FBI agents. He couldn't hit the road quick enough, could he? I guess I don't blame the guy, I don't think I would have stuck around either.

Implausible as Pinker Rawls' ability to go through solid objects was (as if any other monster of the week situation was plausible), what I had to wonder about was whether he could have stopped killing people long enough to calm down and meet his son Trevor like a rational human being. Seems to me that was as much in his own power as walking through walls. As it is, Mulder's reaction at the conclusion of the story was just too compassionate to my mind. Sure, the guy might have merited 'another chance', but just like Clyde Bruckman once opined about a killer in a classic X-Files episode - the guy was a homicidal maniac.

I Want What's Mine.

[DWilliams1089 · 7/10 · 4 August 2010]

After what was arguably the worst episode of season 6, it's nice to see The X-Files kick things back into high gear with "Trevor," the story of a man named Pinker Rawls who has been given the supernatural ability to move through solid matter. Though this episode did not leave a notable impression on me the first time I watched it back in 1999, I enjoyed it much more on a repeated DVD viewing, and actually deem it one of the more underrated episodes of season six.

I liked the mysterious aspects of the episode, in that it was never clear what Rawls wanted until the last few acts. There are a few "redrum-ish" moments alluding to the object of pursuit, Rawls's son Trevor, that are relatively eerie, and also a few cool death scenes, including a man getting his face scooped out and the final scene involving a car windshield. My partner who watched this with me had more insight into insulators and conductors and thus gave me a marginally better understanding of the plot, but for the most part it's never thoroughly explained how Rawls obtained his unique ability. Still, it was nice that the writers opted out of covering up these plot holes with faux scientific drivel (*cough* "Soft Light" *cough*). Add in some laudable guest acting from Catherine Dent, John Diehl and Tuesday Knight, and you have a better-than-average X-File. Or at least certainly better than some would give it credit for.

7/10

An overlooked episode from Season 6

[bigblue123 · 8/10 · 2 September 2010]

I like this episode a lot and feel it is one that is often overlooked from Season 6. I guess it is a "Monster of the Week" episode but it doesn't feel like one. The storyline involves a convict, Pinker Rawles, who acquires the ability to pass through solid matter. He then uses this ability to try and track down his son who is the 'Trevor' of the title. Naturally he leaves a trail of destruction and fear in his wake and Mulder and Scully have to try and track him down. The acting is good but I found a few of the female cast rather annoying (Anderson exempt of course). It is John Diehl's performance that really makes the episode for me. He has a great physical presence and manages to create quite a threatening character. Yet one can't help but feel sorry for him, particularly at the end, as all he really wants is a second chance. As mentioned by other reviewers there are some minor inconsistencies in the episode but for me it is well executed and the climax is good.

Definitely am interesting episode.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 17 September 2022]

Convict Wilson Pinker Rawls escapes from custody, his mission is to track down his ex wife, leaving behind a string of deaths and destruction.

It's a better episode than I first gave it credit for, it's actually quite powerful, it shows just what someone will do for love, the extraordinary lengths someone will go to, and not just for the love of a partner or intended.

Pinky definitely made for an interesting villain, he has some quite phenomenal powers, even if they weren't perhaps explained.

I'm enjoying the way that it's gone back to being a series of one off stories, it feels a little more like the show's earlier years, no overriding story arc to be concerned with here, and as such Mulder and Scully's involvement seems to be somewhat quieter.

John Diehl was impressive as Wilson Pinker Rawls, he made him sinister and chilling, without overdoing it.

Definitely something of a curiosity episode from series 6, 7/10.

Monster of the week creates good drama

[erdenerenerdem · 8/10 · 8 October 2020]

This is what happens when X-Files in its best. Arguably a dumb power given to a realistic character gives us a super villain in a world of normal people. The threat itself, the way they deal with the threat and everything and the reactions of some of the characters tells me this was a really well written episode.

Sadly the episode could have used more visual effects but probably due to budget constraints they couldn't use the threat in a more visual way, instead they dealt with through well designed props. If they could employ more visual tactics they could potentially give us a true feeling of helplessness like the Invisible Man movie.

He wanted that...

[anzaldua · 8/10 · 14 December 2006]

After a very bad episode "Alpha", Trevor is a very good one. First of all you don't know why this episode is called like this until almost the very end. This is not a story about a convict or a murderer that escapes out from prison, this is a story about redemption and forgiveness, even a story about the great love a father can feel for his unknown child.

A guy that can walk through walls may be a cliché but the way this story is told is so different from any other that can be alike. Dark as most of the X-files episodes, this is a quick one that goes faster than a blink of an eye, a must see for X-Files fans even than it's just a Monster of the week show.

It Was A Dark And Stormy Night...,

[caf-19 · 9/10 · 10 May 2022]

Besides a crazed, escaped convict named, Wilson Pinker Rawls, What could possibly go wrong? But this is the X-FILES, so what ELSE is wrong with the Redneck sporting bad stolen clothes and the surliest temper?

I really liked this good-n-scary episode, and I can't explain exactly why other than I think it's because the real monsters are so often 'just a person', that dude or chick down the street. This script for the episode, Trevor, in the X-Files sixth season, played off that very real possibility quite well.

This episode's great tension and fright-factor has also got to do with an IMPRESSIVE character role more than capably acted by John Diehl, as the convict, Wilson Pinker Rawls. Mulder & Scully veritably sleep-walked through this episode (Hey, it was their 6th Season, they were tired) It was all about Wilson Pinker Rawls, a.k.a 'Pinky', an authentic hillbilly name if I ever heard one. When the X-files producers played it straight, as this episode is, they often hit home runs. I hope actor, John Diehl's, admirable command of his character opened future doors for him. Watch 'Trevor' yourself and see if you agree.

Another clever episode from Season 6

[rho-38372 · 8/10 · 1 February 2024]

After getting reassigned back to the X-files midseason Mulder and Scully have been getting some real freaky cases. This one focuses on a Mississippi prison mate, who at first is thought to have died during a twister, but seems instead to have been affected during the tornado and gifted with the ability to pass thru solid objects. The character is a bit more complex than first thought. His repeated motto of "I want what is mine" isnt really about the bank robbery he went to prison for.

John Diehl plays this part so well; determined, but not too over the top. The other side characters are pretty standard, one dimensional and I think the ending was bit rushed but overall its still a pretty good episode.. Bonus points... If you are a true x-file fan and fan of its core actors you should catch the injoke relating to the prisoner's name "Pinker" and the name of Mitch Pileggi's character in the movie "Shocker. This alone made me want to add 2 stars to the score.

I Want What's Better

[andyetris · 5/10 · 19 October 2006]

Wilson 'Pinker' Rawls (John Diehl) is a hick convict with lots of chips on his shoulders who gets unnatural abilities from... oh, another magical X-Files lightning strike, I guess... Anyway he can now walk through almost anything to get what's his, and only one other person knows what THAT is! Scully and Mulder must find some way to stop him before he turns yet another law enforcement officer into toast.

A lack of consistency affects all of season 6, and Pinker, who loses all his clothing when passing through SOME walls and carries off sneakers at other times, is a sad example of it. Although we are presumably supposed to find something touching in the intentions of this murderous jerk, it's about as touching as an equally murderous certain someone with an awfully similar issue earlier in this same season! Not one of the great "monster of the week" episodes!!!

Fairly average stuff....

[stevenjlowe82 · 4/10 · 7 October 2023]

This isn't one of the stronger X Files outings in my opinion and it's vaguely familiar as in I'm sure we've had similar episodes about folks walking through walls or at least I certainly seem to recall so.

The subject matter is interesting it's just not executed very well and feels very average and by the numbers. The story itself isn't anything new or original nor is how they go about it. Also Scullys scepticism by this point is very questionable, we're 6 seasons in now so for me it's frustrating and shows no real character growth over the 6 seasons if she's still questioning things so much at this point.

The episode is as uninteresting as the title

[Muldernscully · 4/10 · 12 March 2007]

Trevor, as the title so expertly describes, is the name of the boy who Wilson 'Pinker' Rawls is trying to find. That's the show's "big mystery". Pinker Rawls, a bank robber serving time, miraculously escapes from prison during a destructive tornado that levels the shack where he was confined during the storm. It appears, as Mulder and Scully suggest, that this tornado gave Pinker the ability to pass through solid objects, except for glass. We are led to believe that he's looking to recover the money he stole that was never found, and will kill anyone who gets in his way. The big reveal is that he is actually looking for his son by his former girlfriend. The story itself is not compelling, a storyline I think I've already seen a half a dozen times on the Lifetime channel. Also, Pinker's abilities are confusing and inconsistent. First, how does he discover that he can pass through walls, but only with his clothes off? In the middle of the tornado? I think I'll strip my clothes off and jump through this wall. And then, because he can walk through walls, he naturally assumes that bullets won't hurt him? That's mighty presumptive. The bland, uninteresting story, along with outlandish, inconsistent abilities of Pinker, makes Trevor one of the more forgettable x-files.

There's something so nice about putting on a brand-new pair of socks. I don't know what it is.

[Sanpaco13 · 5/10 · 22 November 2009]

A very simple storyline. Some inmate suddenly is able to walk through walls. But not glass. He uses this ability to kill his warden and escape prison. Everyone assumes he is off after his old woman to get the $90,000 he stole. Especially as he writes on a wall "I want what's mine". But when he finds this woman, he doesn't seem to have even thought about the money. Somehow he knows that she gave birth to his son and wants to know where he is. The boy's name is Trevor, and he has been raised by her sister. Supposedly he is 7 but that kid looks more like 10 to me. Anyway, Mulder and Scully show up as Pinker is trying to take the kid and he ends up naked and running after them and scaring the crap out of his kid. This causes him to have second thoughts about what he is doing and he is cut in half by a windshield and Mulder lectures the lady about not giving him a second chance. The end. Not a very interesting story if you ask me. I kind of liked Pinker Rawls. He seemed like a very interesting character and he had a point about the new socks. Too bad he died and was crazy. I give the episode a 5 out of 10.

Dumb girl sold out her son...wtf

[thehonestreviewer01 · 2/10 · 8 October 2020]

What mother would sell out her son and then go ahead and kill the father of her son? This is just stupid. She should have gotten arrested at the end of the episode for murder. As Mulder says at the end, "he was looking for another chance". And she took that away from him.