#nfbxhdndndn i need to rewatch

[swinging-stars-from-satellites]

okay so I watched the s1 episode “darkness falls” last night, and I was just thinking that it has similar vibes to the earlier episode “ice.” Like how in both these episodes, Mulder and Scully are fighting an unknown enemy in nature, they’re isolated, their trust for each other is tested, etc. and there was a very tangible sense of suspense too, probably because of the “unknown enemy” factor. It also really struck me how in both of these you can see Scully’s fear FAR more visibly, whereas in the other cases she’s kept it under wraps more (and seeing her freaked out hit me in the FEEEELS!!) idk I just think these are some cool parallels for them

yes!!! TXF bottle episodes, my beloveds!! Ice and Darkness Falls are two of my favorites, something about the terror and trust of them stuck with no one to trust but each other and the way it causes tension but also binds them together... it's my favorite.

Scully is generally the steadier of the two of them, the more down to earth and reasonable one, but these are the episodes where we really get to see her strong exterior crumble. she is so scared, she can't offer up a scientific explanation to reassure herself, can't really DO anything to protect herself or Mulder. the moments where she finally breaks — in Ice, when she throws the dresser in front of the door or the moment her face crumbles when she's pointing her gun at Mulder, so terrified that the one person she's supposed to be able to trust is turning on her; in Darkness Falls, when she realizes the bugs are everywhere and is tired enough, scared enough, that it sends her absolutely spiraling in a way none of us or Mulder have ever seen before — are heart-wrenching, because in every other circumstance she is so incredibly strong.

but even the strongest ones need to be supported sometimes, right? and like, in Ice Mulder isn't really there for her. it's super early in their partnership, they're still figuring each other out, and she's scared for him and for the first time, also of him. but in Darkness Falls the thing is that he IS there for her, he grabs her hands and talks her down and comforts her, sits with her on the bed and leans into her just as much as she leans into his side. you have to wonder what that forest ranger thought of that strange little pair from the FBI, huh?

the parallels and contrasts between the two episodes are really so interesting tbh, because they play on somewhat similar themes, but in different stages of Scully and Mulder's relationship. there's another bottle episode, also, in season 2 — Firewalker — and it adds even MORE parallels and contrasts and growth. honestly those might be my favorite genre of TXF episode 😅