"Demons" was an emotional exploration of that incredible bond
between Mulder and Scully, featuring Mulder at his most desperate and Scully
at her strongest and most caring-- loyal and her own woman simutaneously
in Anderson's hands. It also featured both Duchovny and Anderson at their
best, always a treat. What really struck me about this episode as being
different from others was that Scully's loyalty to Mulder was personal.
This was no case they were working on (unlike Pusher or Paper Hearts), which
made this episode stand out for me.
Mulder awakens from a nightmare about (who else?) his sister to find
blood on him that is not his own on him. Shots have been fired from his
gun and he has no memory of this (the elusive nature of memory being a common
theme of this show). Naturally, he calls Scully, who is at his
side in little over an hour later (and with no speeding tickets!). In a
wonderful scene, she wraps her freezing partner up in a blanket and tries
to get him to seek medical attention. He refuses, needing to know if he
has committed a crime or not. I was glad for this concern; with Mulder so
far near the edge, without any sense of judgement, I would have had a hard
time relating to him enough to be really moved by this episode. I believed
his concern. If I am to see him as one of the heroes of this show, I need
that concern. Duchovny gave a touching, engrossing performance. I was especially
impressed by his scene with Det. Curtis, who arrested him, as Mulder tries
to convince this officer that he is not guilty even as he himself wonders.
His face and
delievery were wonderful. And while we're here, he looked great in those
jeans but I didn't even have the heart to drool; this hour was just too
heavy.
Anderson's tough, sexy, gritty, gentle, protective Scully stole the show for me though. I was blown away by Scully's utter, unquestioning faith in Mulder, in the fact that he had not and would not commit such a crime. This faith was especially stunning in that Mulder himself was not at all sure. Again, her faith in Mulder allows me to continue having some. I think my favorite image of the night (okay, one of them) was Scully grabbing the evil Dr. Goldstein (what is with the Jewish bad guys, anyway?) by the collar and shouting, "Answer me, dammit!" Someday people will learn not to mess with him when she's around (even if he asks them to--twice). Another wonderful moment of Valkeryie!Scully was when Det. Curtis was first questioning Mulder. I could *feel* her listening with every pore for anything that might harm Mulder. And if looks could kill, Det. Curtis would have dropped dead.
The armed stand-off at the end was another highlight, putting a whole new spin on Scully's staple line, "Mulder, it's me"; it was tense and vivid, an incredible contrast between Mulder's darkness to Scully's light. Scully here was willingly placing herself between him and insanity. She seems to be the cure to his madness, the answer. And yet in her voiceover in the final scene, she questions if there even is an answer for him if he continues his quest at such costs. As much as the shipper in me would love to see her as his solution, I think he needs to find it himself, with her support and comfort, as she would (and is) were the situation reversed. I am not sure even someone you love can or should solved all yours problems. But back to that scene: I think I sighed aloud at that tender embrace at the end, with her cheek on his back. How she could embrace a man who had just shot her (or so he thought) is beyond me. This just makes me love her all the more.
The direction in this episode (Kim Manners) seemed quite good as well.
I loved the shot of the picture of Melissa's (the female victim) house fading
into the actual house itself. I also loved the flashbacks; the fact that
they were seemingly consistent with the mythology was we know
it was a wonderful tease. We never do find out if those nightmares he suffered
so from were his. At least we do find out what he was trying to do there.
All that said, a couple of lines irritated me. Can they please stop saying
"The truth is in there/in me/in you/out there?" We get it already.
And Mulder's line, "You've hidden things from me" to his
mother as he seeks his answers about the flashbacks took me out of that
otherwise excellent scene. He's just figuring this out? But Duchovny's reaction
to the face slap was perfect. Everything about him projected a 10-year old.
When Mrs. Mulder said, "Fox, you're bleeding" I wondered if this
were not the first time she had said that. To understand, at least in part,
the differences between Mulder and Scully, one need look no further that
their families.
For its emotional content, flashy direction and wonderful acting, I give "Demons" 9 tic-tacs out 10.
SWILS Note: I loved her look with the sun in her hair and eyes-- the sunset must get jealous....
MulderDrooling: This ep was so serious and sad I almost didn't have the
heart to drool.