#txf: salvage

[randomfoggytiger]

Hello, Tiger! I discovered TXF at the beginning of January 2024 and your blog recently and… thank you! It's my reading material on TXF, I think you're great, don't ever stop writing. I haven't been able to see all your material yet, so I'm sorry if you've answered this question before: in your opinion, is there a possibility of continuing TXF, with Mulder and Scully in special appearances or should they leave the series alone, just in the memory of the fans? Happy 2025!

Thank you-- that means a lot a lot a lot. :,))))) Ask as many questions as you want. I'm always up for repeats!

As per your question, I'm part of the fandom faction that hopes The X-Files stays dead. I wasn't satisfied with the quality or care of the Revival, nor soothed by any remarks the writers have said since then. To them, the series has devolved into a jolly good time where anything can happen; to me, the show was always about preserving believability in the face of the unnatural. And, unfortunately, the quality of their work has seriously deteriorated; and they seem in no rush to alter or polish up said work.

I know there's a reboot underway... I think. I have no faith, at all, in the project because The X-Files does not have a good track record; but also because the potential new show runner hasn't expressed what drew him to the work-- except to say he has ideas to re-imagine it. If he can do something cool, creative, or fresh, good for him. It would have to be radically different for me to forget that Duchovny and Anderson are The X-Files. And, frankly, I'm not that curious to see what happens. Other tv show revivals and reboots have been bottom of the barrel, even when "updated" by the original writers; so.... Yeah. Perhaps I'm in my "trust no one" phase. ;)))

DD and GA have expressed interest, here or there, in one-off appearances as a "passing the torch" gesture to the next cast or crew. However, it all rides on Gillian's interest-- and she's been burned pretty badly-- because David won't do it without her (good man.) And I'm fine with that. I'd much prefer the two of them doing another podcast episode together, or bantering back and forth on social media.

I'm content that other fans accept all of canon or derive enjoyment from later canon-- taste is subjective, after all. :DDD Mine just can't stomach anything past Season 8, though I love to discuss the show as a whole and learn what others do (and don't) like about S9, IWTB, S10, and S11.

What do you think thus far, anon? You're always welcome to drop back in. And if you love what I don't or have different thoughts, let me know-- always curious!

[dabeth-is-dead]

"So what, you're saying he's some kind of metal man? That only happens in the movies Scully"

I see what you did there Mr. The Terminator 2

[x-files-scripts]

The X-Files - “Salvage”

Written by Jeffrey Bell

January 3, 2001 (2ND PINK)

Scully anticipates Doggett’s frustration...

Doggett gives Scully a little of her own medicine...

The inevitable Terminator reference...

[benoitblanc]

hello :) i hope you don’t mind me popping into your askbox like this, but i just noticed that you’ve started watching the x files, and it made me so happy to see your posts because that is my absolute favorite show! i started following you awhile back because i noticed you also like agent carter, so it’s really nice to see that the agent carter fan to x files fanatic pipeline is very real and i’m not the only one lol. anyways, if you ever want someone to scream about txf with, PLEASE by all means send me a message or an ask; i am always down to talk about it!

i will DEFINITELY keep in mind the invitation to come and scream about txf with you because i'm almost finished s1 and am absolutely OBSESSED. like point-of-no-return OBSESSED. scully and mulder are so brilliant and so STUPID and i love them SO much. if you love txf and don't know doctor who i would highly recommend watching doctor who because they have sort of similar vibes in terms of "sci-fi show that manages to salvage itself from being irredeemably cheesy by having a lot of heart and amazingly charismatic leads that every now and then will deliver the most horrifying episode of tv you've ever seen in your entire fucking life." based on what i've seen from tumblr and a few out-of-order clips from some of the later episodes i can say with almost absolute certainty that my favorite ep will be pusher when i get to it, but out of the ones i've properly seen i think ice and eve have been my faves- which are yours?

[california-112]

Predictions: A Pre-Review (TXF S8)

Oh-kay, now that I've finished Je Souhaite (and finally found where the thumbnail from S07E01 came from!), we're up for the crossover into S8, and therefore the pre-review. Ignore the fact that there have been several weeks (more than a month?) between Je Souhaite and this...I know that this is going to be hard ;-;

Thoughts going in are that this season will be angsty, and I believe that there are some more characters added, also that Skinner becomes a regular. Maybe a new credits sequence? Hopefully not a revamped theme, please. What fun awaits me? Let's go ahead and guess...

S07E22 'Requiem' - Revisiting their first case?! Hell yeah! However. It seems to come up a lot in AO3 tags, so. Potential for the Sad. 6/10

S08E01 'Within' - I recognise this guy from GIFs. On another note, WHY ARE WE MANHUNTING FOR MULDER. FIND MY BOY PLEASE. NOW. I'm scared for this. 7/10

S08E02 'Without' - That thumbnail hello??? I think we found him, get him to a hospital??? I don't think his arm should be that shape. I'm even MORE scared for this, but staying cautious. 7/10

S08E03 'Patience' - NEW PARTNER??? And it's matey from E01? What in the hell is going on here. Where is my boy. Murderous bat-like creature I can get behind though. 7/10

S08E04 'Roadrunners' - A Scully solo ep, could be fun. However, getting in over her head sounds less so. It probably can't beat Chinga. 6/10

S08E05 'Invocation' - Weirdly non-aged boy. Sounds like a standard MOTW, with a side of Scully and matey arguing. What does invocing something have to do with anything. 6/10

S08E06 'Redrum' - I have a fic idea with a very similar title! The episode sounds nothing like it though, pretty run-of-the-mill MOTW. Could be fun but I'll be cautions. 6/10

S08E07 'Via Negativa' - Skinner is serving someone a Look in the thumbnail, so this could be a fun little ep. Either that, or I will be giving the series a similar look by the end. 6/10

S08E08 'Surekill' - Oh, he would need x-ray vision? He probably has it then, we are in the paranormal show after all. Apologies for the consistency, but anyway. 6/10

S08E09 'Salvage' - Man Of Steel! This ep kept coming up when I was trying to see if that song actually appeared int he show. Something about the Gulf War? Could be good, actually. 7/10

S08E10 'Badlaa' - Oh dear, this looks as though it could be another Cultural Episode(TM). If we get through it without any cringing, I will let it above half way. 5/10

S08E11 'The Gift' - I don't even want to know what is going on in this thumbnail. Sweaty man lying in the dirt. Also MULDER IS STILL DISAPPEARED??? >:( Could have my boy content though. 6/10

S08E12 'Medusa' - A real medusa? In the Boston subway? Cool. Probably not for the victims, though. Also, I don't think she stripped flesh, more went in for turning it to stone. I'm not convinced of this one. 5/10

S08E13 'Per Manum' - Oh that's a name I know from AO3 tags, so something's definitely up. Thumbnail has Scully in white holding her stomach and the summary mentions pregnancy and there's a warning for 'scenes of surgery' so. This may be a f*cked up one. 5/10

S08E14 'This Is Not Happening' - From the thumbnail of a dead-looking Mulder, I am in full agreement, this is NOT happening and my boy is alright. Please. PLEASE. The angst potential though... 7/10

S08E15 'Deadalive' - Another known offender from AO3 tags, I think I know what happens in this one due to Spoilers, but basically WAAAH. BIG CRYING. ANGST AND REUNION AND WAAAH. 8/10

S08E16 'Three Words' - And we're back to MOTW! With Mulder in the thumbnail with Doggett?, so he's all good! This is a rollercoaster. Please just let them all be happy. 7/10

S08E17 'Empedocles' - So many hits in this summary. Who is Reyes? Doggett had a son? Now he's dead? Also Mulder is here? Where is Scully? I am confused but intrigued. 7/10

S08E18 'Vienen' - Return of black oil!!! Man, I hated this stuff to start with, but we've got a Mulder thumbnail and there's h/c potential. I have medium hopes. 7/10

S08E19 'Alone' - Doggett and his partner have disappeared now! Full house! Everyone involved with the X Files has gone missing in one way or another. I hope we get some echoes of early-season Mulder and Scully. 7/10

S08E20 'Essence' - BILLY MILES??? AGAIN??? I really thought he would be a one-time character...though they did apparently investigate his case again in the previous season finale, so...huh. 7/10

S08E21 'Existence' - Oh, oh. THIS thumbnail. With the baby and the kiss (I've seen GIFs) and...I have heard of this ep and suspect that it may not be as cutsey as all that. Probably one shining scene. However. He has the benefit of the doubt. How will they make it run into S9 though...? 7/10

[scenes-in-between]

Salvage

“Agent Doggett? Meet Curtis Delario. I guess he won’t be much help clearing any of this up.”

It isn't always painful to think about Mulder. There are rare, lucky moments when she’s able to quell the hurt and the sadness just enough to regard his absence almost like a deployment.

A really, really unconventional deployment.

Her father spent a lot of time at sea when Dana was growing up. Tours as long as nine or ten months, sometimes. Missy got extremely upset the first year he couldn’t come home for Christmas, raging at the injustice of it and blaming the Navy for keeping him away from them. Dana can remember getting swept up in the fervor of her sister’s 10 year-old indignance, the two of them eventually marching into the kitchen and tearfully demanding that their mother call the Admiral and make him send Ahab’s ship home because it wasn’t fair.

Maggie calmly sat them down at the kitchen table and pulled up a chair between them, taking their hands in hers. “Your father chose this life,” she told them. “For better or worse, deployments are a fact of life in the Navy. It isn’t a matter of fairness, it simply is. Ships need sailors, and ships don’t know whether or not it is Christmas.”

Even at 8 years old, Dana knew it was men, not ships, who made decisions about when and where sailors were needed. And men knew when it was Christmas. When she said as much, her mother squeezed her hand and sighed.

“I know you girls miss your father. I miss him, too. But he knew when he enlisted that there would be things he’d miss out on at home. Holidays, birthdays, first words and first steps. He and I both knew the sacrifices that his service would require, and we accepted them.”

“Well, no one ever asked us,” Missy pouted, and Maggie shook her head.

“No, they didn't. Because it wasn't your decision to make. Some things in this world are yours to decide, and some things are not.”

Is this really so different? For better or worse, Mulder is gone right now because he chose to be. Maybe it didn’t happen entirely on his terms, and maybe he didn’t fully realize what he was getting into, but from the note he left her in his journal, he went willingly. She can be angry with him for making that decision unilaterally -- and oh, she certainly is -- but just like with her father, all she can really do now is find ways to come to terms with a choice made by someone else.

Maintaining such a pragmatic view of the situation is, of course, easier said than done; human emotions are rarely brought to heel without a fight. But neither is it an impossible task, and when she is able to accomplish it, she takes advantage of the opportunity for healing that it provides.

When she was 10 or 11, Dana coped with missing her father by writing him letters. With Mulder, she has taken a somewhat different approach.

Her “mental Mulder” went quiet for a while after her emotional breakdown on Mulder’s birthday. Maybe her subconscious mercifully recognized the need for self-preservation. In recent weeks, however, she has slowly and tentatively invited him back for brief conversations, this time on her terms. Autopsies, oddly enough, have become her preferred venues for such conversations. Perhaps it’s because her mind is mostly occupied with the task at hand, so the small amount of her attention she allocates to mental Mulder cannot become overwhelming.

You know, she muses while beginning the Y-incision on Curtis Delario, I hope I’m not losing my edge. It’s getting so much easier to approach these cases the way you would, and I’m starting to wonder what that will mean once you’re back.

You mean whether it will disrupt the balance of the Force to have us both on the same side in these investigations? His characteristic deadpan delivery would be offset by the mirth in his eyes, were he actually standing right here.

I hope you’d agree that we have always been on the same side, even when our approaches differ. The question, really, becomes whether we will ultimately be as successful if we’re looking at a problem from fewer angles.

In her mind’s eye, he is leaning against the counter across the room, arms crossed casually over his chest. Maybe we’ll solve cases even faster.

Some of them, maybe. Overall, though? I’m not so sure. She sets down the scalpel and reaches for the rib cutter. Even you have said you value the way our perspectives complement each other.

I do, absolutely. But you’re not giving yourself enough credit. Even if you’re allowing yourself to be more open to extreme possibilities now, I don’t think that means you’ve lost the ability to be skeptical. Your perspective hasn’t changed. It’s simply broadened.

She cuts through Delario’s ribcage, considering. Maybe you’re right, she concedes. If nothing else, I certainly understand where you were coming from a lot better than I used to. I’d like to think that would make you happy.

I’m proud as hell of you for it.

The illusion falters, her mental image flickering like a bad TV signal, because despite her ability to accurately imagine how Mulder’s half of the conversation might go, this is still all in her head. It feels more than a little self-indulgent to imbue this version of him with the exact words she wants to hear. Even if she didn’t consciously put those words in his mouth, it is enough to break the spell, pulling her out of the moment like a clunky passage in a novel.

She shakes her head, turning all of her focus to the removal of the chest plate and initial in situ exam, letting her mental Mulder fade away entirely for the time being. Observing the internal bleeding that seems to have occurred in between the car crash and the time of death, she makes a note as to the initial COD hypothesis.

“Moderate internal bleeding, likely resulting from the impact, continued for some time before cessation of cardiac activity,” she says aloud into the voice recorder. “Extent of internal damage is not sufficiently severe to point to the crash itself as being the cause of death.” She looks toward Delario’s head and the wounds there.

Scully has been quietly formulating a theory ever since she saw the footprints in the asphalt at the crash scene. It is still somewhat shocking how easy it’s been, these past few cases, to simply start from a place of belief in the extreme. Then again, maybe it is just that her definition of “extreme” has evolved. Maybe her mental Mulder was right about her broadened perspective. When she takes into account the full spectrum of her experience, everything she has seen, impossibility feels less and less like a concrete and absolute concept. If a man who eats livers and hibernates for 30 years at a time can exist in this world, why not one who can see through walls? If she accepts the reality of a man who can regenerate himself by consuming cancerous tissue, how can she reject out of hand the mere possibility that what they’re looking for in this case is someone who can take on a speeding car and win?

In accepting that possibility, it is not much of a leap at all to imagine that such a man might be able to inflict, with his fingers, the five large puncture wounds in Delario’s face. Considering how even a year ago she would probably have scoffed at the very notion of such a thing, maybe it is not so unrealistic to think that Mulder really would be proud to see her now. The idea spreads through her with a comforting warmth.

The door to the morgue swings open, and she looks up to see a young man in scrubs walking in. “Doctor Scully? I’m Jason Roberts, the ME’s assistant here. I’ve been instructed to provide whatever support you need on this case.”

She nods, mildly impressed. Cooperation and support from the local ME’s office is not unheard of, but it’s certainly rare enough that she doesn’t expect it.

“Thank you, Mr. Roberts. Let me bring you up to speed.”

[enigmaticxbee]

✖️✖️ 8x09 Salvage

The one where... Scully & Doggett investigate a man whose body is turning into metal and is trying to get revenge on those he blames for poisoning him.

Best: The guy turning slowly into metal looks kind of cool I guess...

Worst: See last episode’s comments re: characters I don’t care about and not enough Taking! It! Personally! MOTW was slightly cooler though.

❌ Flashlights

❌ Woods/Desert

❌ Slideshow

✔️ Autopsy

✔️ Evidence Disappears

❌ Scully Misses It

✔️ Mulder Ditch (the biggest ditch of all)

❌ Sunflower Seeds

✔️ Voiceover: Scully & Doggett discuss case

❌ Catch Phrase

❌ Scully is a Medical Doctor

❌ Mulder is Spooky

❌ Scuuullllaaaaayy! Muullllderrrr!

❌ Fox/Dana

❌ Inappropriate Touching (that I am here for)

❌ Casual Scully

❌ Casual Mulder

✔️ Trench Coats

❌ Bad Tie Watch

❌ Glasses Watch

50 States: Indiana (42/50)

Investigate: Apart

Solve Rate: 67%

❌ Bechdel Test: Only conversation between women is about men.

MSR: 🐝

Goriness: 👽👽👽

Creepiness: 👽👽

Humor: 👽

Rewatch Thoughts:

Doggett check-in: Eh, he’s fine I guess.

Pregnancy check-in: No mention. This episode takes place over just a few days so if no time has passed since the last case Scully must be at least 9.5-11.5 weeks along.

Missing Mulder: No mention 😢

Initial car crash makes me think of the end of Trevor - except I guess this guy isn’t stopped by glass...

Fingers through the head like a bowling ball 😬

NGL I started looking up pizza delivery while “watching” this episode

Outcome: the episode was boring, the pizza was delicious

[pottdplant]

yeah ngl i really zoned out near the end of that ep but i still think it was better than the one before it so….

[scullybynight]

season 8, episode 9, “Salvage”

[scullydubois]

thoughts on Salvage (8x09)

Written by Jeffery Bell     Directed by Rod Hardy

A metallic man? Alright

So this dude died seemingly out of nowhere

Jesus

That did some serious damage

Scully playing the Mulder role never fails to get me

“You know I hate to ruin your beautiful theory with ugly facts” I kinda hate this sentence

EW what the hell 

Autopsy Scully! Autopsy Scully! Autopsy Scully!

I think Scully’s trying to say that...it’s no ordinary man

So he’s not dead after all….duh duh duh

A halfway house...huh

Doggett’s really like, ‘ma’am, sorry to tell you but your husband’s not dead’

He’s eating the tinfoil too, yummy

Hanging out in the junkyard, what a fun place to be

Good lord

This episode has some nice set pieces

He is, in fact, metal 

Yuck

Ray...is not okay

When Mulder comes back I might actually cry of relief...that’s all

He’s a metal man!! Deal with it!!

That must be weird as fuck to see an obituary of someone you know is alive

Scully’s wearing turtlenecks so much

Ray has entered the building

Alright, this is sexy, I’ll give it props

Maybe Scully should not be putting herself into these situations….just a thought

He’s out

It’s turning into metal...Scully looks so awestruck

OMG it’s 11:08PM here and in the show….I’ve been waiting for the times to match up for so long, and they finally did

The wife found him

Handprints!

That’s an interesting find

So something went wrong at this company and someone got metal poisoning….that’s what I’m getting from his

No, not the girl who was just trying to help you!!

The wife is defending her husband 

Scully doing an interrogation is 10/10

He needs the name

Owen Harris is the name

Snazzy

He’s a real life tin man

Poor boy

Ray Pierce disappeared 

He became a machine

Consensus: This had some intriguing moments, but overall comes off a little cheesy.

3.5 out of 5 stars

[chavisory]

-Oh, right, this is the episode in which Doggett uses the phrase “dollars for donuts” in all seriousness like we’re in State Fair.

-Wait, Clinton was still President when this aired?!

[jlf23tumble]

Hey Jen! Happy Birthday first of all!! As my favourite TXF-era Louis hate-watcher/enthusiast/scholar (and one of my all-round absolute fave bloggers) I 1) would love to hear your thoughts on his post-TXF comments and 2) Remember when there was this nice nerdy boy auditioning on XF? Simon said he lacked personality, but Louis defended him passionately saying that just bc he wasn't the bad boy Simon was looking for didn't mean he didn't have any personality. And then fast forward to... 1/2

Louis’ interview with Satan Cowell’s #1 provider of anal unguent… his answer about having been a “party boy” was so interesting to me. He seemed uncomfortable and said “yeah there’s a responsibility at both ends, to be good and also to be a little bit bad, a little bit mischievous sometimes”. Super interesting choice of words… “a responsibility”. And DW, transparent as always “that’s what we want from our rock stars”. Mmh. What Simon wants for sure. 2/2

——–

Hey, thanks for the birthday wishes!! I’ve had a few (got drunk on you, etc.), so I’m gonna try and answer this, but if it comes off as incoherent, let’s all just blame sweet lady vino. As you (correctly!) suggest, I’m so here for all XFUK talk, and I’m curious to hear more about Louis’s experiences on the show as we get deeper into promo that neatly swerves Louis’s personal life. Olivia got some GREAT INTEL from him, but he’s hinted in previous interviews about being nervous or having to be a certain “character,” and a LOT of it is tied in to this Sun-perspective, which is more or less run by the people running Simon (I don’t like to give him coded language because that gives him more attention and power, like we’re watching a shitty soap villain, when in reality, he’s a sad, vain little man whose “empire” is imploding faster than his cheap tit job). Make no mistake, XFUK was a calculated risk to salvage Louis’s rep in the UK (the demo that engages with it is the demo that reads the Sun, and he’s been trashed there for years), but it WORKED, and part of that is Louis’s natural charm, but it’s also down to the edit, both on screen and in print. And Louis knows it, calls it out with Wootton, the whole thing about the responsibility, as you say, but also that most of those shit articles are Dan’s work (just like Niall hinted at, with pretty much the same smirk). They all know it’s part of the game, but it does do some damage, and he’s in damage control mode…seemingly, everyone’s on board with it, but the shrapnel (at least in print) is Zayn, and that’s because Louis didn’t throw Harry under the bus like he was supposed to (Dan needed a headline about someone Louis hates in the band, so he took Louis’s sad resignation about Z and puffed it up because there’s literally nothing there about H…and don’t even get me started on the whole “party boy” image and who it was originally intended for). I have so many thoughts on all of it, but you have to watch everything to talk about it, and I’m not here to engage with anyone who hasn’t. I’m drunk enough to share some of my random unpopular onions, so here you go, in one go:

El’s definitely “vital” for selling an album about long-term love for an artist who’s closeted, and she’s the best fit for it (they get along, they’re coworkers, “she’s” been there through all the ups and downs, so get ready for those long-term love songs because they ain’t about her)

bg won’t end anytime soon, so if you’re one of those who’s constantly screaming ‘end it’ in tags, you’re only upsetting yourself (I think it WILL end eventually, but with a whimper, and trying to push for a scream is not worth your own personal angst)

That said, look at the negative space here, there’s less and less and less talk about him having a son, seeing him with a son, but he can still talk about his “boy” and do all kinds of other things that play with that narrative subversively (is it his bf, his son, his brother? an emotion? we’ll never know)

Simon has an outdated idea of what “sells” for rockstars, but so does Irving Azoff (Louis’s media rollout with his team is on POINT, and it hits all platforms, but he still has to deal with shit related to the Sun, Metro, etc.; the Azoffs are notoriously not plugged into SM, they use print like Billboard and a fairly outmoded form of non-print pub PR, but Harry has a lot of charm that bleeds out into OTHER PEOPLE’S SM…oh, and p.s., he STILL has to deal with the Sun, Metro, etc. from time to time)

But this is why Louis’s current media push is so GOOD, you don’t even know…all platforms, all of the biggest ones, there’s a strategic plan here, please stop pretending like you have this more figured out than they do, my god, he has GOT THIS

XFUK was an intentional move to repair tab damage in the UK, and it worked (it was fucking SMART, and he smashed it, so much damage was repaired, and on an actual schedule)

I don’t know any BTS arrangements (before you @ me, let me stop you right there, neither do you), but clearly, more than one party/contract is at play here, and you really should do yourself the favor of listening to ALL OF IT, because he drops hints all over the place (that Olivia interview alone had so much happening that wasn’t excerpted or giffed)

There’s a very real possibility that Louis and Harry don’t WANT to come out because of the invasive interest in their lives, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that! But it might also explain when things appear that aren’t aimed at the gp

Argh, I’m rambling, and this is getting too long/too boring, but yeah, I’m probably drunkenly blanking on even more fantastic thoughtsTM, but XFUK was a game changer in a lot of ways, for everyone involved.

[scully-eats-sushi]

Iris’s Guide to Watching Seasons 8 and 9 of TXF

I see a lot of Philes saying that they never watched, or haven’t rewatched, entire swathes of seasons 8 and 9 because of Mulder’s absence or because the storyline veered completely off course. But with time and distance, you might feel comfortable revisiting this part of the show. There are actually some good episodes and even some hidden gems. Here are my recommendations. This is in response to a post by @spookydarlablack.

Season 8 (reviewing the mostly Mulder-less part of the season, because if Mulder and Scully are both in it, you’re probably going to watch it anyway)

Within/Without (8x01, 8x02) – Obviously DD is in these episodes, but he isn’t really Mulder. These episodes aren’t great, but you need to know who Doggett is and this is his introduction. He’s actually a really great character when you get to know him.

Patience (8x03) – It’s okay. You get to know Doggett a bit better and see that he’s a good guy.

Roadrunners (8x04) – Excellent creepy AF episode. TW: strong overtones of rape.

Invocation (8x05) – A pretty strong episode, actually. You get some background on a tragic part of Doggett’s story.

Redrum (8x06) – Underrated episode. Well acted and a unique concept. I enjoyed.

Via Negativa (8x07) – Generally considered to be one of the best of season 8. It’s creepy and fun and overall very good.

If you want to skip any, feel free to skip Surekill, Salvage, and Badlaa (although if you enjoy gross-outs, Badlaa might be your thing). These are meh at best.

The Gift (8x11) – The return of Mulder, albeit in flashbacks only. It might be worth a watch just for him, but the episode is meh overall.

Medusa (8x12) – Underrated episode. This is actually a suspense-filled action episode. I enjoy it quite a bit. The unstated fact of course is that Scully can’t tell Doggett that she’s pregnant.

Per Manum (8x13) – Unfortunately it’s not a strong episode in terms of writing or making sense, but it is important to the MSR storyline, so you’re going to rewatch it.

TINH/DeadAlive (8x14, 8x15) – They rip your heart out. So prepare for the biggest pain and angst of season 8, and the return of Mulder.

And the rest of Season 8, episodes 16-21, features Mulder completely of course. He’s a jerk in Three Words (8x16), but I give him a pass, due to his PTSD.

Season 9 (the completely Mulder-less season, other than The Truth Parts 1 and 2). General rule of thumb: if it is a Doggett-centric episode, and less so a Reyes-centric episode, it is probably better than you expect.

NIHT Parts 1 and 2 (9x01, 9x02) – Feel completely free to skip these, unless as a matter of principle you have to watch the mythology episodes (and the mythology is stupid at this point).

Daemonicus (9x03) – Peak Scully sexiness. Creepy plot. Enjoyable subtle MSR reference. I like this episode, tbh.

4-D (9x04) – Highly underrated episode. Well written and suspenseful. Rewatch it, for sure.

Lord of the Flies (9x05) – Weak episode but humorous, and there is the MSR reference. You might (or might not) enjoy this one.

Trust No 1 (9x06) – Weak episode, but important for the MSR storyline. The highlights are the gorgeous photomontage to open the episode (with the silly CC monologue overlaying it) and the finally canon reference to MSR. The weak points are the CC script in general (especially the email from Mulder to Scully) and the nonsensical Shadow Man.

John Doe (9x07) – Highly underrated and strongly recommended. I have said it multiple times, but this piece of drama is actually brilliant in almost every respect (the only weak point being the paranormal connection). This is a truly gorgeous piece of cinematography. Definite rewatch.

Hellbound (9x08) – Creepy and gross AF. Be warned. The main plot is connected to Monica Reyes’ story a little bit. Worth the watch if you like creepy and gross.

Provenance/Providence (9x09, 9x10) – Skip if you value your mental health. Suffice it to say, one group of crazies wants to kidnap William to make him their alien king-god or some-such nonsense. Another group of crazies wants to kill him to stop the first group. That’s all you need to know. This pair of episodes sucks balls.

Audrey Pauley (9x11) – Not great but not that bad actually. Centers on Monica Reyes. The special effects are not great.

Underneath (9x12) – Meh. This is forgettable. I remembered just enough to remember the basic plot. Just fine to skip.

Improbable (9x13) – LOVE LOVE. This is so funny and clever. And Burt Reynolds as G-d. How can you go wrong? Rewatch!

Scary Monsters (9x14) – Somewhat weak episode but still enjoyable, mostly for the MSR references. The kid is scary, but in the end not in the way you would first think.

Jump the Shark (9x15) – Sigh. This episode represents Chris Carter’s second or third biggest mistake EVER. The return of The Lone Gunmen should be enjoyable just to have them. You probably know what happens. Skip if you are sensitive and you value your mental health.

William (9x16) – FUCC. Seriously. F.U. forever and ever. Skip if you value your mental health.

Release (9x17) and Sunshine Days (9x18) – Both very underrated episodes, for very different reasons. They have very different tones. If you can suspend your disbelief on Scully and the previous William storyline, these are enjoyable watches.

The Truth 1 and 2 (9x19, 9x20) – Mulder is back. Too bad CC wrote it. It is an at times silly and weak script, but: CANON make-out kiss in front of Skinner and all the MSR, and of course you’re going to watch it.

[frangipanidownunder]

i just ruined a load of dark laundry (i think; only hot water came out and there's a bunch of stuff in there that's supposed to be washed cold) and the girl i'm sort-of dating blew me off today, on my day off, and i think it was to go see a guy she's interested in, so the laundry was my attempt at being productive on the home front, but it backfired. i'm just so frustrated that my rare saturday off turned out to be such a nightmare. i don't think there's advice for this but it feels like Monday.

(Monday anon pt2) and i keep encountering things that remind me of her that usually make me smile (even txf! we bonded over that early in our friendship! woof.) i don't know that there's applicable advice for... any of that. but i just wanted to say thank you, thank you. because i feel a little better already for typing all of that out, as vaguely as it might have been.

Oh, Monday anon. It’s shitty days like these that make the good days shine. We’ve all ruined the laundry, or been stood up or found out that being friends might just be better than being lovers, or that mundane things remind you of special people. It’s the ebb and flow of life. 

Try some salvage strategy for the rest of the weekend. Work out what clothes survived. Anything ruined can maybe go to charity/goodwill, even for rags. That’s something positive you’ve got out of it. Maybe find a recipe and make something that you haven’t eaten in a while. Listen to your favourite band. Sing and dance in your kitchen. Watch a favourite episode of XF. Go for a walk, visit a museum, write a story! 

Take the negative and turn it inside out. And by Monday, life will feel a little better.

Let me know how you got on!

Confessional is open.

[baronessblixen]

Birthday Cake

Am I still in time for the @txf-prompt-box 1013/Mulder’s birthday challenge? I hope so! 1013 words - without the title. Had to cut like... a lot of it. Mulder’s birthday through the years. Tagging @fictober and @today-in-fic

1995

A disaster.

Scully stares at what was supposed to be a delicious banana chocolate cake. It's burnt in some places, pure chocolate soup in others. She tries to salvage at least one piece that she can offer to Mulder but it's no use. It's Friday the 13th and Mulder's birthday. Scully has been planning this for weeks. When they poisoned Mulder and he, raw and hurt after his father's death, slept in her bed, he kept mumbling something about banana chocolate cake. Then later, while she drove cross country with a sick, shot at (her fault, arguably) Mulder, he talked about it again in his sleep. Back home, after Melissa's funeral when Scully couldn't sleep, she remembered.

And now this.

She knocks on Mulder's apartment door, feeling silly. His smile when he opens it is tired, yet pleasantly surprised.

"Happy birthday, Mulder." Scully sheepishly hands him the recipe. He stares at the piece of paper then at her.

"Thank you? Scully, what is this?"

"I wanted to bake you a cake," Scully blushes, "it didn't go very well."

"Banana chocolate cake. That's one of my favorites."

"I know," his eyebrows go up in surprise, "You mentioned it."

"I did?"

"When you were sick." Scully admits. That blush on her face refuses to disappear.

"My aunt used to make the cake for Sam and me. She died when I was 15. I haven't had it since then." He glances at the recipe, worries the edges of the paper. His voice trembles under the weight of all the loss he's had to endure.

"I'm sorry, Mulder."

"Friday the 13th. Not the best day for cake, it seems." His expression is peaceful, amused. He grabs his coat from the rack and closes the door behind him.

"Where are we going?" She asks when he puts his hand on her back.

"Go and eat cake, of course."

"Next time your birthday falls on a Friday, Mulder, I'm going bake you this cake." Scully promises on a whim.

"2006."

"What?"

"That's when my birthday next falls on a Friday."

"How do you know this?" He shrugs and grins. "You think we're still together then?" Mulder turns to her, his expression unreadable. "I mean work together." She specifies, feeling flushed and embarrassed.

"I hope so, Scully. I really hope so."

2006

It's well, a cake.

It's not necessarily shaped like the picture on the website. The color is slightly off, but it's a cake. A real banana chocolate cake in honor of Mulder's birthday. It's Friday. Friday the 13th. Eleven years ago, who would have thought they'd be here? Who would have thought they'd be alive at all?  

"Hm, morning, Scully." Mulder strolls into the kitchen, yawning.

"Happy birthday." She murmurs, throwing her arms around him. He draws her closer, nuzzles her neck. "It's Friday the 13th, Mulder."

"Hmm." He mumbles against her, his lips trailing along her skin.

"I made your cake."

"Cake. Yeah. You taste better than any cake, Scully." He tells her, kissing her throat.

"That's nice, Mulder, but can we try it anyway?" Mulder lets go of her to look at the cake. "I waited eleven years to do this." He nods, takes a fork and digs in. Scully watches him intently as he puts the soft cake into his mouth. He chews slowly, his face not giving anything away.

"Is it good?" She asks impatiently.

"Why don't you try it yourself." Mulder offers her a forkful of cake. Scully opens her mouth and lets Mulder feed her. She lasts less than five seconds, spits it out, and glances at Mulder.

"It's terrible!" Mulder nods, grins.

"Why didn't you warn me?" She asks, pouring herself a glass of water. She drinks thirstily, but the heavy, salty taste remains.

"I wanted to see your face." Mulder admits. 

"I'm sorry, Mulder. I can never get it right." Mulder hugs her and kisses her cheek.

"Your next chance is in 2017. And anyway, I'd rather eat you than any cake." They laugh, kiss and don't care when the rest of the cake tumbles into the sink while they make love right there against the kitchen counter.

2017

Standing in front of his house, their house, waiting for him to open the door feels strange. Another Friday the 13th, another birthday, another try. Mulder opens the door and there might be more wrinkles these days, his eyes more tired, but his expression is the same as 22 years ago. 

"Happy birthday, Mulder." Scully presents the banana chocolate cake to him as if it were the Holy Grail.

"Thank you, Scully. Come on in." Daggoo runs towards her, wagging his tail excitedly. 

"Down, boy." Mulder says taking the plate out of Scully's hand. The dog sits still but strains his head in hope of being petted.

"Hey there."

"He misses you."

"I miss him, too." Scully sighs stroking the dog's soft ear. 

"Too bad I'm not a dog." Mulder grumbles and takes the cake into the kitchen. Scully and Daggoo follow him. "I hope you're not trying to poison me, Scully." The cutlery drawer rattles as Mulder takes out two forks and hands one to Scully.

"Try it, Mulder." With all the things they've got wrong lately, she did this one thing right. Her hand trembles as she watches him lift his fork. 22 years ago she wasn't ready. Eleven years ago she didn't pay attention. Now, today, things are different, changing. This time it's perfect.

"This is really good, Scully." 

"I know."

"You have to try it too." Mulder tells her. He doesn't know that she already did. There are so many things he doesn't know these days. So many things they don't talk about. That's going to change today, too. Before she can use her own fork, Mulder offers her his. "Try it." He repeats; his voice as deep and dark as the chocolate.

"Tastes good." She says swallowing hard. "I know something that tastes better, though." She gets on tiptoes, captures his mouth. He tastes just like Mulder, but he's the sweetest taste she's ever known.

[minuete-blog]

Sunday Little League

My very first tumblr post, and I liked the 1013 challenge fanfictions that keep popping up in AO3 from @txf-prompt-box.  This is my take on Mulder’s brithday. I’m thinking it’s drabble/slight angst/friendship.  Not including the title, MS Word says I reached 1,013 words.  It was difficult because my story ended at 700, so I suppose “fluff” should be added to the tags as well.

It was strange to hear from Scully telling him to meet up at Simpson Field on a late Sunday morning, but her voice made it sound urgent, and Mulder quickly got ready and was on his way.  The field was only a couple blocks away from his apartment complex as he stepped out onto the sidewalk in his worn-out running shoes and headed north. The whole DC area was experiencing an Indian-like summer where the temperature was already at a nice 77-degree weather, the high an anticipated 85 degrees. As Mulder approached the field, he could see a little league game already in progress and a small crowd by the bleachers. He found Scully standing by the fence between home and first base. It always surprises him to see how young she looked in casual clothing sporting a gray top and jeans with a crossbody purse, her hair in a messy pony tail wearing minimal make-up. 

“Hey, Scully!” Mulder greeted when he approached her, “I thought you’d be spending time at your mom’s place, your standard Sunday get-together?” 

“I cancelled with her last night. I just need to decompress and process what we experienced in Home,” Scully answered slightly shaking her head in disbelief, “I’m still disturbed by the case.” She looked back out to the diamond again, as the kids started the 5th inning, "I just wanted to be reminded of the simpler times again, like you mentioned." 

Mulder simply nodded. The Peacock family's years' worth of inbreeding coupled by the gruesome deaths of the town sheriff, the sheriff’s wife, and the deputy spread like wild flower in that small town.  Its good Americana ignorant innocence gone in a blink of an eye.  They returned home early yesterday, not speaking much of the case, agreeing to discuss and finish the report on Monday to submit to Skinner. Scully led the way up to a couple of empty seats on the stands sitting a little ways away from the crowd who gave occasional cheers and encouragement to the young players.  The two sat down at the same time, their knees grazing each other as they watched the little league game for a few minutes. He stole a glance or two at Scully every so often as she took in the scene. 

“This is why we do what we do, Mulder. To keep the monsters and darkness away for all this,” she gestured with her hand as she said “all this”, “We let people live their lives.  And they do, despite all the darkness and monsters that are within us, are among us every day." 

"But what about the aliens, Scully? Little gray beings from Reticula?" Mulder quipped.  She rolled her eyes but there was amused expression in them as well. 

"Let’s just root for the kids in the gray uniforms for now, Mulder." 

"But both teams are wearing gray." 

"My point exactly." 

The little league game started to get good at the bottom of the 6th inning, Purdy leading Woodbridge at 3-2, but Woodridge had the chance to tie, and quite possibly lead, with players on 1st and 2nd base with 1 out.  Mulder intently watched, rooting for the underdog Woodridge in this game; they had been trailing ever since he met up with Scully.  Mulder joined in with the crowd when a Woodbridge batter connected with a wicked ground ball, but the Purdy shortstop made a fantastic catch and quickly flicked the ball to the 2nd baseman who then threw to 1st baseman ending the inning with a double-play. 

"Oh, holy shit! Did you see that?! That Purdy #35 kid's gonna go places with those skills!" He caught Scully starting at him smiling, "What?” he asked with a lopsided grin. 

“Nothing. It’s just— it’s nice to see you acting like a normal guy on a beautiful Sunday. Oh! And ‘Happy Birthday’ by the way,” Scully answered grinning. Mulder inwardly grimaced.  He had completely forgotten about today being his birthday after the case. One would think he wouldn’t have, given the fact that he and Scully spoke on the topic of settling down and babies just the other day. Her comment forced him to view her as a fertile female, one who wanted to be a mother someday. A beautiful, prepossessing woman who had no idea that she turned heads both male and female wherever she went in her FBI power suits.  If he had to be honest with himself, there were times when he did want to see her not as his partner. Uber-Scullies. He’d laced that comment for Scully to view him as a man with a healthy, sexual appetite. It was only fair. Tit for tat.  Damn her! Look my way, Scully, he'd thought. 

“Damn! I was hoping you didn’t remember,” he groaned looking up at the sky feigning displeasure.  Though Mulder would rather not acknowledge his own birthday, he felt grateful that someone in his life did.  

“And... I completely forgot about the ice cream I bought at the concession stand…” Scully replied as she pulled the melting ice cream sandwiches from her purse, “Quick! Eat! We can still salvage them!” She tossed him one which he devoured in a couple minutes, the chocolate and vanilla coating his mouth. He watched as Scully was being dainty, opening hers methodically yet still getting the melted ice cream over the webbing between her right thumb and index finger.  Before she could react, Mulder grabbed her hand and licked off the offending cream slightly sucking on the webbing, just to taste a small bit of her. 

“Mulder! What the hell?!” she gasped slightly breathless, in shock. But he got the reaction he wanted. Her face was slightly flushed, half-hooded blue eyes darkened from widened pupils, lips slightly parted.  It was a rare gift to see Scully, who would argue that his action elicited normal physiological responses between two healthy, opposite gender individuals, as being Dana.  She was simply aroused.  Gotcha. 

Mulder gave her a knowing smirk and turned back to the game, “Waste not, want not, Scully. Thanks for the birthday gift.”