War of the Coprophages

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.

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.

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.

What can I say.

This is the first time I've seen The X-Files, some episodes are very good and memorable and others are more normal but entertaining.

But this has undoubtedly been the most fun so far.

I found myself constantly laughing out loud at Molder and Scully's conversations and then Bambi showed up and things got even better.

At the end of the chapter when the bug appeared I thought that Molder would spare his life and not kill him just because he could... and then I realized that he only stopped because he didn't want to destroy his plate and Molder killed him at the end, that was a good finishing touch to the funniest chapter so far.

This chapter was cinema 🚬🗿

War of the Coprophages(say that 10 times fast) is another gem from the pen of Darin Morgan. He just knew how to write Mulder & Scully. This episode is also brilliantly directed by Kim Manners. The use of the roach going across the screen is creative and a bit surprising the first time. The shot from the sink pipe into Mulder's and the sheriff's faces is original and funny. When Mulder is typing at the end and his computer freezes on the word "technology" is funny. David Duchovny voices that by saying, "tech-, tech-, tech-," hits the computer, "technology". It's interesting to see Scully cleaning her gun and then cleaning her dog on her time off. Also, I love the shot of the roach's view when Mulder grabs one and gives it a greeting from planet Earth. I like the transition of Mulder telling the sheriff that he was getting off the phone with his "drug dealer"(Scully) and then the scene shifts straight to the meth lab. Another great part of the episode is that Dr. Bambi's UFO theory and Dr. Ivanov's alien theory both debunk Mulder's beliefs about UFOs and aliens. It's funny to see his reaction to these two theories. War of the Coprophages is just pure comic genius from the classic Mulder/Scully dialogue to the hilarious guest performances. Well done, Darin Morgan!