#first time down there since medical transition 😬

[enigmaticxbee]

✖️✖️✖️ 8x12 Medusa

The one where... Scully and Doggett investigate a biohazard situation in a subway tunnel (that’s supposed to be, despite all signage to the contrary, the Boston T)

Best: The scenes in the tunnels are tense, claustrophobic, creepy. If I was going to pick out a non-Mulder season 8 MOTW episode to watch it would probably be this one.

Worst: What’s with the random tunnel kid who leads them to the source of the contamination and then disappears? The contaminated sea water is just all conveniently neutralized by Doggett’s stunt with the third rail? The ending’s a little messy and unsatisfying.

✔️ Flashlights

❌ Woods/Desert

❌ Slideshow

❌ Autopsy

✔️ Evidence Disappears

❌ Scully Misses It

✔️ Mulder Ditch (the biggest ditch of all)

❌ Sunflower Seeds

❌ Voiceover

❌ 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: Massachusetts x13 (42/50)

Investigate: Apart

Solve Rate: 75%

✔️ Bechdel Test: Well, we’re over half way through the season and this is the 2nd episode that’s passed 🤨

MSR: 🐝

Goriness: 👽👽👽👽

Creepiness: 👽👽👽👽

Humor: 👽👽

Rewatch Thoughts:

Doggett check-in: I do like how comfortable Doggett is with Scully being in charge, with being her eyes and ears in the tunnel and carrying out her orders. He prefers to be the action guy, but he’s still thinking critically about the situation and prioritizing the outcome of the case over his own comfort and safety. That shot of unconscious bioluminescent Doggett is the first time I’ve been worried for Doggett 🥺

Pregnancy check-in: No mention, but it’s clearly the reason Scully decided to stay above ground and not put herself in physical danger. And she clearly feels guilty for sending Doggett into danger without her, but she’s still not willing to tell him why. This episode takes place over just a couple days so if no time has passed since the last case Scully must be at least 11-13 weeks along.

Missing Mulder: No mention 😢

Clay Street is not a Boston subway station! Did they not take a cursory look at a Boston T map??

I know the CDC said the tunnels were clear, blah blah blah, but if there’s any possibility it’s a contagion or contaminant shouldn’t they be wearing some PPE 😬

The Transit Police boss is unbelievably obnoxious. Scully should have called Skinner and had the FBI higher ups shut down the whole system. Believe me, the Boston subway system shuts down for lesser reasons ALL the time.

Not that they should be sending trains through the tunnel but how are people on the subway cars going to get infected? 🤔 It’s not like Medusa-infected sea water is going to eat through the train car instantaneously...

Nice leather jacket Scully!