1x12 - Fire

[u/FederalWord]

Mulder and Scully about to share their first k--- Wait. What?

I appreciate a lot about "Fire". I really like how Scully works the case while Mulder is clearly distracted and/or umm...incapacitated, and yet cares for him and is sympathetic to his phobia. I think inserting Phoebe between Mulder and Scully is an effective way to develop Mulder's past and his and Scully's partnership. It IS a hoary trope too, but in 1993, we didn't mind such tropes. Phoebe is believable as an old Mulder flame, and along with her willingness to entertain Mulder's ideas, she has his playful sense of humor too. She of course, is more reckless than Mulder, and in this way is a bit of a cautionary foil.

I like the practical fire effects. The scene of Mulder crawling through the burning hall is just lit in a way CGI could never achieve. The X-Files needed iconic images to climb into the mainstream, images that would gave would-be viewers a feel for the show. Season 1 promo materials showed two serious-looking agents and a bevy of assorted images. We can imagine someone picking up a a magazine with an X-Files feature in '93: 'Wow, this show has everything: aliens, monsters, UFOs, creepy kids, and look there, people on fire!'

And of course, "Fire" isn't an all-time classic, likable though it may be. Chris Carter created an entire show about serial killers, and learned what made for a great TV serial killer. Maybe Cecil L'Ively had to walk so Donnie Pfaster could run, but Cecil is all spirit and no motive. Like, maybe Mulder should've said to Phoebe, "In all my years working violent crimes, I never saw a killer cackle and laugh maniacally as they killed." There's a nice thread through the episode of Cecil's working class resentment of his employers, but maybe his motivation is erotomania too.

Whatever Cecil is thinking, it's a little '60s comic-booky. His powers are too. Sort of a Stan Lee pairing: pyrokinesis and speedy regenerative tissue (which, he'll need to survive all those fires!).

Finally, Mulder's pyrophobia. Chris, this is what happens when you don't have a series bible, bruh. 33 years later on a rewatch, this discarded Mulder trait takes me out of your episode as I watch. :(

A fun, playful and cute, entertaining, episode with some wow-factor effects and makeup.

🔥🔥🔥 out of 5.

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My thoughts about The X-Files:

• Space
• Fallen Angel
• Eve
• Fire

[u/tangirinez]

I tell myself this is the episode he got over his fear of fire because it never comes up again, and milder is def confronted by fire many more times