[TV Reacts] The X-Files Episode 03x04

The X-Files

Season 3, Episode 4
Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose

"As you're looking down he comes up with the knife and...
Banana cream! Definitely banana cream."

Director: David Nutter

Writer: Darin Morgan

Original Air Date: 13 October 1995

Running Time: 44 minutes

"If coincidences are just coincidences, why do they feel so contrived?"

So since I have no idea where to start with this review blog thing I'm just going to jump right in with what I'm currently going on. After a three-parter bridge between the end of season 2 and beginning of season 3, we're back with these mysterious, generally self-contained single episodes. This was a pretty fascinating episode, with a memorable mix of humor and sad, sad feels, and is overall my favorite one yet.

The story is a rather simple one: “On the trail of a serial killer, the agents seek the help of a clairvoyant who predicts Mulder’s death.” But the implications that follow make it powerful and a very philosophical piece. How many factors had to line up just right for the present to be the way it is, and how much choice do we have in the matter of the future? Plus the dialogue is just plain entertaining. There were quite a few unexpected turns, but the autoerotic asphyxiation line is fucking gold. It makes sense at the end, but at first I was all like, "woah Mulder, didn't realize you were into that kinda thing".

Also Scully is now immortal.

Peter Boyle is the best guest actor yet. Period. I really wanted to punch that Stupendous Yappi guy tho, even if it's mainly because only Mulder is allowed to be called spooky. Yappi has more forehead muscles than any natural human should. There's also a nice callback to an earlier episode, Beyond the Sea, with the piece of cloth supposedly from Mulder's New York Knicks t-shirt:

Unfortunately Mulder's the one that missed

Still, the episode's atmosphere was genuinely funny, especially around Mr. Bruckman's comments, but also with an underlying element of depression to his character. His banter really covers up the fact his ability has "sucked all the joy out of his life", as Scully said. Even Bruckman's dream sequence seemed otherworldly but earthly at the same time, even equipped with 90's graphics, though still really beautiful somehow. The ending really hit it out of the ballpark, especially with Gillian Anderson's acting while holding the old man's hand. It was a beautiful piece of work and a great goodbye to an amazing character, even if he only was in this single episode. Crafting and developing a full character like this for only one apperance takes some damn good writing and brilliant acting.

*gross sobbing*

It's truly funny, scary, and touching all rolled into one, in that Night Vale inspirational kinda way (though much less absurd). Definitely a special episode with great one-liners and a very reflective and emotional center. My favorite episode from the series thus far.

Also Scully totally kept the dog.

"Yes, it looks like a fat little white Nazi stormtrooper."