War of the Coprophages

I am going back and watching all the seasons before the new movie comes out and I must say that in the first three seasons this episode stands out like no other. It's a throwback to old science fiction movies and the playful banter between Scully and Mulder is reminiscent of early season one. This episode was funny and a nice depart from the myth/arc episodes and the MOTW episodes. I always love the dynamic between Mulder and Scully and it's really showcased here. It's meant to be a light-hearted venture rather than the serious intense episodes of late or even some of the weaker MOTW episodes. Kick back and relax. I give it 10/10 for being a much welcomed surprise.

With Clyde Bruckmann, this is the goofiest, funnest, most inventive storytelling in the show.

It takes a new and unusual approach like this to illustrate what an absurdly narrow experience it has all been so far. By this point, we've had about 45 hours of the same thing: our pair enter a sci-fi movie, have a few strange encounters and leave with some generally unambiguous glimpse of more cosmic machinations. Then we cleanly start anew in the next one swapping say the werewolf with a telepathic killer or mysterious virus, except of course in the sporadic myth arch which features a different set of laws.

Adolescently conceived and targeted, we have precious little about the overall world, the time and urges of these people outside a case, because apparently that would be boring whereas sewage monsters and vampire cults 'thrill'. Put that aside a second and imagine: Mulder and Scully come and go daily from their office, and the only person that we know is onedimensional Skipper doing the same disapproving frown.

Anyway, this isn't great but it registers because it bends the norm. Every story element is memorable, that's for sure. The overall thrust is silly, deliberately so: killer roaches. This branches off in several directions, all skewering the sexlessness, seriousness, and paranoia of previous stuff.

The house with 'flowing' walls and sexy (almost a bimbo) entomologist in shorts who Mulder hits on. The suspicion of a secret government experiment shrugged off for practical reasons. The on and off talks with Scully on the phone. The sense of a weary acceptance in Mulder as he runs from one incredulous death to the other. The sedentary crippled scientist and his robots. Scully finally entering the case to find a small town gripped in mass hysteria. The roaches tied (of course!) to alien space travel. It ends with our pair covered in dung and Mulder telling Scully that she smells.

Probably the funniest "X-Files" episode so far, "War of the Coprophages" is a hilarious (and disgusting if you don't like cockroaches) affair from second one.

Mulder is taking a break from his UFO searching when he gets wind of a series of deaths that seem to be related to cockroaches. He goes to investigate, while constantly calling Scully for help. Scully keeps giving him logical and sound reasons for the different deaths, but Mulder is not sold on her reasoning and continues to investigate.

Everything in the episode is great. The pace is high, the direction keeps things happening non-stop, and the plot is full of funny twists and great one liners. It helps that everyone is in on the game, especially David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, who deliver their dialogue with great glee, their constant banter bringing laughs the the viewer. And Mulder's infatuation with entomologist Bambi is hilarious, with Duchovny's face being the expression of awestruck. Just seeing him looking at Bambi will bring a smile to the viewer.

It is all played with so much tongue-in-cheek that it is impossible not to enjoy this episode.

I must say I've never been much of an X-files fan until recently when someone loaned me the seasons. I caught this gem mid-way through season 3 and it caught me completely by surprise. I had just commented to someone earlier in the day how they recycled ideas, lines, actors and events far too often only to be amazed by an episode which seemed to come from a different mind altogether. It has a serious noir quality, something of a dark detective story. Right away you notice that it's not going to be like the rest, I caught myself laughing right away, Mulder asks Scully "what are you wearing?" Don't get me wrong I enjoy most of the episodes, but I just think it's great that the cast and crew took an opportunity and had a little fun with the whole thing. The best I can discern is that the X-files operate on a two-plane system. The main story, which deals exclusively with the UFO's and relates to the abduction of Mulder's sister and the MIB/Black Berets. The other episodes just seem like filler, they have no real bearing on what happens in the main episodes and generally don't even include the FBI other than Dana and Fox. So essentially, what difference do they make to the series? None, so I applaud the X-files team for this one. If anyone reads this that worked on this episode I'd like to know where I can find out more about it.

Totally Rad.

i love how scully seems almost bored with the going ons and has an offhand explanation for each death, but as soon as dr. bambi enters the picture she is raring to go (she gets dressed mighty quickly).

loved the phone conversations. mulder is unusually accepting of scully's more down to earth theories abut the mysterious deaths.

the mass panic is hilarious (how great is the 'die bug die' insect spray?!) and a nice foil to second season episode 'f. emasculata'. so *this* is what would have happened if they hadn't kept the outbreak secret.

love gillian anderson's very real reaction to the (non scripted and unplanned) mini car crash in front of the convenient store just as she enters it. and her facial expression when the guy bumps in her. did anybody else flash back to the cricket eating scene in 'humbug' when she casually pops one of the spilled sweets people mistook for roaches int her mouth? great script - absolutely absurd and hilarious but not lacking content and quite thought provoking at times.

as usual excellent direction by the late great kim manners a.k.a. the roach-whisperer.

10/10