One Breath

I've been binge-watching X-Files for the first time since it first aired (thank you FreeVee!), and I'm captivated all over again. Scully and Mulder's tease-flirt relationship started in the first episode and never let up. Their chemistry is apparent. And the scene in this episode, with Mulder ready to murder Cancer Man, is top notch.

All in all, the X-Files is iconic, and even better on a re-watch. The cinematography is outstanding, even now. The casting for every character is perfect. This is as far as I've gotten in my binge, and it's cool that I'm not remembering some of the plots (like the vampire episode just before this one). I'm really looking forward to diving into more!

One more thing: Mitch Pileggi is frikken' hot :)

My opinion on "One Breath" has fluctuated over the years, but I seemed to have settled on a position of really liking it, but not thinking it was a truly great episode. Once again, my opinion on the episode has changed. "One Breath" is a wonderful and remarkable character-driven story, where the first two parts to the Scully abduction trilogy (which was interrupted by "3") were action-packed and intense, "One Breath" is somber and quiet for much of its duration, although there's one breathtakingly intense scene with Mr. X. The intensity here comes from a different place than it did with "Duane Barry" and "Ascension". It comes from genuine care for the characters.

My favorite shot in this episode, one which I've always liked even when I didn't enjoy the episode as a whole too much, is Mulder breaking down and crying after visiting Scully and returning home. It's one of the show's most emotional and tender moments, and just beautiful. While the mysticism is one of the reasons I'm not yet sure I personally love the episode, I found it worked really well in this context.

The episode is still a mythology episode and is hence still packed with intrigue. Mulder's meeting with Mr. X, the spectacular scene where he confronts CSM, the presence of the Lone Gunment (awww, Frohike brought Scully flowers!), and further development of Skinner's still fresh character make this something even fans of only the action-packed episodes will enjoy, even if its best moments are those between Mulder and Scully.

Oh, and Duchovny's just brilliant here.

9.5/10

The eighth episode of the second season of "The X-Files," titled "One Breath," directed by R. W. Goodwin, is a poignant exploration of loss, hope, and the lengths one will go to for the truth. The episode picks up immediately after the events of "Ascension," where Scully has been abducted by Duane Barry. It opens with Mulder (David Duchovny) grappling with the aftermath of Scully's disappearance and the emotional turmoil that follows. The episode is notable for its deep character development, particularly focusing on Mulder's struggle to maintain hope in the face of despair.

The narrative begins with Scully in a hospital bed, unconscious and fighting for her life after being returned from her abduction. Mulder is devastated and consumed by guilt, feeling responsible for her condition. As he navigates the hospital environment, he faces skepticism from Scully's family, particularly her mother, who has lost faith in Scully's survival. The pacing of "One Breath" is deliberate, allowing viewers to feel the weight of Mulder's emotional state as he confronts his fears and seeks answers about what happened to Scully.

Visually, "One Breath" employs a somber color palette and dim lighting to reflect the gravity of the situation. Goodwin's direction effectively builds tension; scenes where Mulder interacts with medical staff or confronts the Cigarette Smoking Man (William B. Davis) are particularly intense, showcasing the stakes involved in uncovering the truth behind Scully's abduction. The cinematography captures both the sterile environment of the hospital and the emotional turmoil experienced by Mulder, enhancing the episode's dramatic impact.

The performances in this episode are exceptional, particularly from Duchovny and Anderson. Duchovny delivers a powerful portrayal of Mulder as he grapples with despair and determination; his emotional range is on full display as he transitions from anger to vulnerability while seeking answers about Scully's condition. Anderson's presence is felt throughout despite her character being in a coma; her past interactions with Mulder are recalled through flashbacks, emphasizing their deep bond. The supporting cast also shines, particularly Mitch Pileggi as Assistant Director Skinner, who provides a grounded perspective amidst the chaos.

Thematically, "One Breath" delves into profound questions about mortality, faith, and the human experience in the face of trauma. The episode raises critical questions about what it means to fight for someone you love when all hope seems lost. Mulder's journey reflects a broader struggle between despair and hope; he must confront his own feelings of helplessness while also striving to protect Scully from further harm. This exploration invites viewers to reflect on their own beliefs regarding love, sacrifice, and resilience in difficult times.

In conclusion, "One Breath" stands out as one of the most emotionally charged episodes in "The X-Files," successfully blending elements of psychological drama with character-driven storytelling while advancing key plotlines that resonate throughout future seasons. The episode effectively maintains tension and intrigue while exploring deep themes related to loss, hope, and personal sacrifice.

This is the last part of a trilogy of sorts that started with Duane Barry.

Touted as a character-driven triumph for the show, for my taste this plays like better-than-average soap, but still dull as dishwater. The X-file problem is that there is no multifaceted vision behind the whole, oh there is some noodling with dreams in this episode and the usual conspiracy that goes nowhere and we're supposed to find exciting and 'deep', but what we see in any given portion of this is crushingly pedantic.

You'll see no better example of what I'm talking about than in Scully's deathbed dreams; Scully on the boat is certainly a memorable image, but the whole layering is trite, we know exactly what is the dream's distance from reality, who is dreaming and what it means, all perfectly clear which defeats the point of wanting to know.

Further proof; the episode ends with the usual 'we have no such person working here' twist.

One Breath the Limerick:

Scully returns but asleep

And causes her mother to weep

A man steals her blood

Mulder and X say he's mud

And Mulder's guilt almost leads him to defeat

When I first watched this episode I remember feeling a little betrayed and I hadn't really liked it as an episode since until now. I think a lot of the reason behind this is that I feel like there just weren't enough answers given or even enough new questions asked about the mythology. This is the first episode with Scully back after being in abducted and all that she really does the whole episode is sleep and sit in a boat and stare. This story is really about Agent Mulder. Because he feels responsible for what happened to Agent Scully he tries to suppress his guilt and anger by trying to find the members of the syndicate who are responsible and make them pay so that he won't have to face his own guilt that he is feeling.

I think what has kept me from giving this episode a higher rating in the past is that there really isn't anything much more than character and story development in this episode. No aliens or monsters or paranormal unless you count the two scenes with G. Owens R.N. the guardian angel. However I do think that the story development and dramatic elements were quite well presented and lately have grown to appreciate these elements a lot more.

After rewatching this there are a lot of things that I overlooked that have heightened my opinion of the episode. I love the scenes with Agent Scully's sister Melissa where she calls Mulder by his first name. Interesting how so many of the women in Mulder's lives tended to be as "spooky" as him but he ended up with the only one that wasn't. The confrontation between Mulder and X in the hospital garage was also great. The scene with Skinner telling Mulder about being in the Vietnam war was a wonderfully acted scene on Mitch Pileggi's part and I think this led into using him as a more main character other than occasional guest star. I also have always liked the way that David Duchovny does his crying scenes and the one in this episode was great. I felt that I could understand how he felt because I have had similar break down moments. Finally, I love the confrontation of Mulder and the Cigarette Smoking Man in his apartment. I love how Mulder completely owns him yelling "Shut up! Tonight I'm asking the questions!" and then slaps the cigarette out of his pompous mouth. The look on CSM's face at that moment is priceless. And then right after that CSM is able to completely manipulate Mulder by calling him on his own guilt for what happened to Scully. This just shows how good CSM is at manipulating people into doing what he wants them to do. What a great bad guy!

All in all after viewing this with a more open mind I have realized that even though I didn't like this episode on first view it really does have some wonderful moments that are very important to the mythology. Unfortunately I think the episode is just presented wrong. I have to give this episode an 7 out of 10.