Sunshine Days

"Sunshine Days," the eighteenth and penultimate episode of The X-Files ninth season, written and directed by Vince Gilligan, offers a quirky and heartwarming departure from the series' darker themes, exploring the power of nostalgia, human connection, and the search for happiness in a world filled with uncertainty. While its lighter tone may not appeal to all viewers, "Sunshine Days" stands out as a unique and memorable entry, showcasing Gilligan's directorial talent and the cast's ability to embrace both humor and pathos.

The episode unfolds in Van Nuys, California, where two young men trespass into a house eerily resembling the Brady Bunch residence, leading to a bizarre murder investigation for Agents Doggett (Robert Patrick) and Reyes (Annabeth Gish). They soon encounter Oliver Martin (Michael Emerson), a man obsessed with the classic sitcom, who possesses telekinetic abilities linked to his emotional state. Scully (Gillian Anderson) connects Martin to an old X-File involving a boy with similar powers. As the agents delve deeper, they discover that Martin's powers are both a gift and a curse, causing harm when he feels threatened or alone. The team works to help Martin control his abilities, seeking assistance from a parapsychologist, Dr. John Rietz (John Aylward), who studied him as a child. Ultimately, they realize that Martin's loneliness fuels his powers, and by rekindling his friendship with Dr. Rietz, they save his life and prevent further harm.

Visually, "Sunshine Days" distinguishes itself with its vibrant colors and stylized direction, mirroring the cheerful aesthetic of The Brady Bunch. The meticulous recreation of the Brady Bunch house adds a surreal and nostalgic element to the episode, contrasting with the darker and more unsettling environments typically found in The X-Files. Gilligan's direction effectively balances the episode's comedic and dramatic moments, creating a whimsical yet emotionally resonant experience.

The performances in "Sunshine Days" are exceptional, with Michael Emerson delivering a standout portrayal of Oliver Martin, capturing his vulnerability and inner turmoil. Robert Patrick and Annabeth Gish provide a solid anchor as Doggett and Reyes, while Gillian Anderson brings her signature skepticism and empathy to Scully. The return of Walter Skinner (Mitch Pileggi) adds a touch of familiarity and warmth, as he witnesses Martin's powers firsthand and envisions the vindication of the X-Files.

Thematically, "Sunshine Days" explores the search for happiness and meaning in a chaotic world, as well as the significance of human connection in overcoming loneliness and despair. The episode also touches on the power of nostalgia and the comfort that can be found in familiar stories and images. Scully's yearning for "incontrovertible proof" of the paranormal reflects the series' ongoing exploration of faith and reason, while Doggett's skepticism serves as a counterpoint to the episode's more fantastical elements.

"Sunshine Days" is a memorable and heartwarming episode of The X-Files that offers a refreshing departure from the series' darker themes. While some may find its lighter tone jarring, the episode's unique style, strong performances, and exploration of human connection make it a worthwhile entry in the series. Gilligan's direction and the cast's ability to embrace both humor and pathos elevate "Sunshine Days", leaving audiences contemplating the power of nostalgia and the importance of finding joy in the face of uncertainty.

Sunshine Days is a reasonably fun episode about a man who can essentially morph the matter around him to whatever is in his head. He also happens to be a fan of the Brady Bunch, so he chooses to spend his time with them, in his head, and it becomes a reality. It's some form of psychokinesis that isn't fully explained but hey, it's the X-Files - anything's possible.

The episode itself is fine. It's a decent season 9 effort with a few humorous parts and a feel-good episode overall, but a couple things I can't shake off.

A: Why is Doggett just now getting the hang of the job? It's been two years, he's seen his fair share of the paranormal and has solved such cases many times over, but now he says he's finally comfortable in the X-Files? Leading into my next point...

B: Why was this the penultimate episode? After the increased quality of William and Release, Sunshine Days sticks out like a sore thumb. I know it's supposed to be a bittersweet farewell to monster-of-the-weeks, but in the context of the show it makes no sense. Mulder isn't around, it's a standard X-Files case in every aspect - nothing about this episode sticks out to me as "remembrance" material, let alone a precedent to the series finale.

C: Why in the hell would three intelligent FBI agents bring a man with unexplainable, obviously dangerous psychokinetic powers (as in he killed two people) into a federal building? Let alone that ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Skinner would allow this man in his office, or that he'd let this guy PICK HIM UP WITH HIS MIND AND DO FLIPS? And Scully and Reyes are just sitting there smiling watching while Skinner's life is literally in the hands of a stranger with superpowers.

The verdict - this episode should have aired sooner. Not that it really matters, it's an average episode, but tonally it would have fit much better somewhere in the middle of the season or even towards the beginning; definitely not leading up to the series finale. Sunshine Days amounts to a decent X-Files episode in a lackluster final season, and not much more than that.

Sunshine Days is an enjoyable, light-hearted episode to take in before the serious series finale. People think it's out of place, being right before the finale, but who says you have to have a serious episode before the series finale?

It's funny to see Reyes know a lot about the Brady Bunch, and funnier seeing Doggett's looks at Reyes for knowing such stuff. Doggett makes the illogical leap in this episode that turns out to be true. Doggett says that he's "finally getting the hang of this job". I think this line is intentional irony by Vince Gilligan to show that Doggett was just settling into his role as the X-Files was being canceled.

Scully's autopsies at time turn into the comic relief for the episodes. I like her "well-nourished" line, referring to the corpse. It's cool to see the agents using a high-tech web-cam to communicate with each other, instead of just a cell phone. I don't think they've used a web-cam since the Lone Gunmen used it once. Scully also gets high-tech with a headset recorder during her autopsy.

Michael Emmerson does a fine job as Oliver Martin. It's interesting to see that Doggett doesn't go through the roof like the other two victims, a sign that his power is decreasing(a good thing for Doggett).

I don't like to see Scully and Dr. Rietz's selfishness in wanting to study Oliver. Sure, it would give Scully proof, but no one wants to be a human lab rat. Even towards the end, you see the disappointment in Scully's eyes when they decide that it's best not to use Oliver as a human freak show.

Another problem I have with the episode is that once they discover that Oliver has this power, they just whisk him off to DC to study him, totally dropping the murder investigation. No mention of it. Sure, Oliver didn't have total control of his powers, but there are still two deaths two account for. The guy needs to be charged with manslaughter at least.

And finally, Bud Bundy. I loved seeing David Faustino in the role of Michael. He is a riot. It's too bad that he had to bite the dust. If he had stuck around the episode for a while longer, I might have given this a higher rating.

Overall, Sunshine days is a decent episode, but nothing extra-special. Vince Gilligan does a fine job writing and directing the final Monster of the Week episode which just about wraps up "the story of two lovely agents".

"I think I'm finally getting the hang of this Job."

This, the last ever "Monster of The Week" Episode of The X-Files - Unless you count the Film "I Want To Believe" — is an Alternate Reality view of an X-Files 10th Season that could have happened. Didn't happen. For a number of reasons, number one being the fans of the show had all but abandoned Chris Carter, as did the Fox network.

To put it bluntly, "The X-Files" was a Clinton Administration show. Our Entertainments, or, the ones we are allowed to watch, reveal the kind of leadership the country is under.

And one of the things we have in this country is FREE SPEECH, meaning I should be able to write my review about this episode without fear of someone "running to daddy." This is my take on this episode and on this series, the country was right at the beginning of an oppressive cycle, ergo, this series, which was still a good series, did not survive into that cycle.

One thing I have NEVER ever done was complain about anybody's review, regardless of how much I disagreed with it or how much it offended me personally.

So I am going to re-write this review, and hopefully it will be left alone. My review of "I, Robot" was deleted in this debacle, and it is not there for me to see and repost.

As this is the very last MOTW, I wanted to reflect on the bittersweet ending of a series that was part of our lives for most of a decade. The X Files, for most of 8 years, reflected an Administration where we had NO WARS, our economy was good, and there were no issues like the issues being fought about today. Now, somebody does not like me saying this, but it's true. But you can keep your complaints to yourself.

This show, and this episode in particular, was the very end of the an era of unprecedented Economy and Freedom.

In the 90's - The decade of The X Files: Far Away were the Conspiracies of The X-Files - At least in Real Life: But they served as DIRE Warning for the Administration to come-Those episodes showed us what could happen.

This last MOTW shows where the series would have gone, had there been a 10th season. The X-Files like Law and Order, could still be on the air today.

It was one thing to have Fox Mulder and Dana Skully flush out Government Conspiracies, Shadow Governments, Alien Abductions, from 1993 through 1999. But Chris Carter was NOT allowed to make any new shows, or even any movies, until 2008. And so this was the last "humorous" episode. After this, there was no Sunday night where we could watch these shows and forget about all of it.

While I blame the so called X-Files fans for not standing with Chris Carter as he wanted to move his show into a new era, I also find it Highly Likely that The X-Files and The Lone Gunmen were yanked - For telling the TRUTH too clearly.

This episode here, is the last "Humorous" X-Files show, and in of itself is good, and a clear direction on where the show could have, and should have, gone.

The Fox Network which now had to Pander to puerile interests, and even Carter Himself - Were forced to GIVE UP their unique and entertaining Storytelling, after this particular episode. Because Darkness was Falling Fast.

It is very interesting, that in the last 4 years of a new Administration, the Torch has been passed to new writers, producers and shows, and now we have the freedom to not watch Reality shows if we so wish.

It really is simple, from A to B to C. At least Dogget was able to start following X-Files logic at this point.

Connecting a, to b to c.

Doggett and Reyes investigate two very strange deaths, guys that broke into and claim to have seen The interior of The Brady Bunch house.

Ten out of ten for originality, this is like no other episode from the show's illustrious history, a plot like no other. It manages to find the balance of humour and drama, with an element of surrealism thrown in.

I bet several laughs and crazy ideas were thrown around in the story planning, almost as if the question were asked about mixing in the most unexpected show.

There were some funny moments, I loved the distain on Doggett's face as he scowled at Scully and Reyes for being fans of The Brady bunch, they certainly didn't look the type, but you never know.

Michael Emerson was excellent as Oliver Martin, a suitably creepy performance.

Really enjoyed this, and excited for the next one, 8/10.