This is Not Happening: Off the Top of My Head (SPOILERS)
(February 25, 2001)

There is no spoiler for the next ep in this commentary.

I'm posting an abbreviated version of OTTOMH this week.  I
haven't had a chance to read many of the postings since I
returned from my weekend trip, but wanted to comment on the
things that most stick out in my mind from last night's ep
(although I'll probably forget a few...).

THIS IS NOT HAPPENING (8ABX14):

In a nutshell:  The search for Mulder ends.  (Or so says 1013,
and you know how reliable they are...)  Spectacular performance
from GA.  Introduction of (ho hum) Agent Reyes.


What I liked:
-  "Enjoy your new company."  You tell 'im, Scully! <g>
-  Jeremiah Smith is back!  Woo hoo for continuity!
-  GA's performance throughout the ep was outstanding.  Scully's
fear and grief were spot-on, as was her restrained anger
regarding Agent Reyes.


What I didn't like:
-  How is it that Richie Szalay (sp?) knew what was going on in
Montana and Scully/the Gunmen didn't?  I'm sure Mulder will be
glad to know that the people who cared for him the most were
paying no attention to the *very thing* that they should have
been paying the greatest attention to.  Grrrr.
-  Agent Reyes.  Sorry, she didn't do a thing for me (actually,
I found her rather grating), and I didn't see any chemistry
between her and Doggett in the few moments they had together. 
And is it just me, or was anyone else reminded of that empath
character (what was her name?) from ST: TNG?  Oh, great, this
really *is* going to be TXF: TNG.  :-pppppp


What's got me puzzled:
-  Why did Doggett drag Scully and Skinner all the way out to
the site where Theresa Hoese was found to introduce them to
Agent Reyes (especially when they should have been *looking* for
Mrs. Hoese)?  Was that payback for his middle-of-the-night trip
to the diner last week?
-  And for that matter, how did Doggett get permission to bring
another agent on the case without Skinner knowing about it?  (Or
if Skinner *did* know, I certainly saw no indication.)
-  Is anyone going to question Mrs. Hoese about what happened to
her, or will we never see her again?
-  Why was Mulder just left in the woods when Jeremiah seemed so
concerned that no one find him?  Mulder didn't seem to be
particularly well-hidden.
-  Why isn't 1013 doing more with Mitch Pileggi?  Come on, guys,
give Skinner more to do.  He's perfectly capable.


Etc.:
-  Was anyone else bothered by the way Doggett and Skinner
hemmed and hawed about telling Scully what had happened in
Montana?  Poor Scully must have been ready to shoot one or both
of them if they didn't start talking.  When I watched that scene
I immediately thought of when Scully told Mulder that his mother
was dead.  He said, "What is it, Scully?" and she told him the
truth straight out -- quite a contrast to last night.
-  Oooh, so now we know that that little boy in the photo that
Doggett had back in "Invocation" was his son.  And... so what? 
::shrug::  Sorry, 1013, but you've jerked me around so many
times (Starlight children?  Remember that crappy resolution to
the Samantha story?) that I just don't care.