[episode recap] The X-Files: "Paper Hearts" (part 1)

Dedicated to all the beautiful, intelligent X-Philes on my friends-list...

The fates have been kind to me this month. During the program rewatch over in the LJ community trustno1_redux, another volunteer was regrettably unable to complete her recap of this episode, so I stepped in and gratefully received an opportunity to take a shot at it. Why was I so excited and happy about that?

Because the episode is "Paper Hearts." ♥

Written by the brilliant Vince Gilligan and directed by the mega-talented Rob Bowman.

Before I get started with the recapping -- which I originally posted yesterday over on trustno1_redux -- please let me take a moment to express just how much I love this episode. It's interesting to me because it's not the standard monster-of-the-week thing, it's not to do with conspiracies or aliens; instead, it's something so simple yet so scary. The bad guy is so ordinary, he could be anyone, he could be your neighbor, which is why he's so terrifying. Yet it gets marvelously psychological: he mocks and needles Mulder, just pokes him in all the right emotional spots. He makes Mulder think that he might have taken Mulder's sister, and that causes Mulder to doubt everything he ever believed about his sister's disappearance, which is fascinating because it calls into question almost everything about the show, everything he's worked for, everything he's obsessed about, and it's SO amazing to watch him deal with that and struggle with it and try to figure things out and not let this horrible man get to him.

In my opinion, it's one of David Duchovny's best performances in the history of the show. He's fantastic, and the episode is fantastic. It's emotional, intense, riveting, scary, creepy, and unsettling... it's just amazing stuff. Great story, great idea, great execution, creepy dream-like music throughout, and terrific acting. Just a phenomenal episode. It's in my top ten favorites, may even be my most favorite as an overall episode.

Without further ado...

The X-Files: "Paper Hearts"
Recap, Part One

( Dreams and Nightmare Realities )

See Part Two for the rest of this episode's recap! Thank you very much for reading.

[episode recap] The X-Files: "Paper Hearts" (part 2)

The X-Files: "Paper Hearts"
Recap, Part Two
(Part One of the recap found here.)


ACT 2
SCENE 3

Skinner watches prison videos?

FBI HEADQUARTERS
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Mulder bursts into Assistant Director Skinner's office, asking why he's been denied further access to John Lee Roche. Skinner snaps at him: "Could you tell me why you saw fit to strike a prisoner in federal custody?" Oooh... did Scully tell on him?

Mulder whips around and gives his partner a look. She approaches quietly, concern all over her face. Skinner admits that Scully didn't report that to him, but snarks pointedly that she should have. "The whole thing was videotaped as per prison policy. I saw it. You're lucky I don't have your ass in a sling!"

Skinner, I gotta tell you, you're hot when you get all bossy like that. Heh.

( 'I need to know.' )

If you've made it this far, thanks so much for reading.

If you love this episode as much as I do, you might be interested in some further reading material: the lovely and talented leucocrystal has written a brilliant, thought-provoking essay for this episode, entitled Down The Rabbit Hole: Dreams, Memory, Subjective Reality and Mulder as Alice, that is well worth your time. I highly, highly recommend it.

Thank you again for reading my take on this marvelous episode.