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PLOT: A popular high school quarterback's untimely death under extremely strange circumstances in the small town of Comity prompts Mulder and Scully to investigate.
From the outset of the episode, Scully is more skeptical than usual, and Mulder is more insensitive than usual. It makes for one rather interesting situation in their professional and personal relationship. Since this was broadcast after the events in War of the Coprophages, Scully's behavior might be attributed to Mulder's callousness towards her from those events. After all, he was dumped by Bambi for a robotics engineer with an electronic voice and a wheelchair. A bruised ego would make any man act nasty towards the one they love.
Any wonder that Scully acts even more defensive when the local detective assigned to the case, Detective Angela White played by Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, also happens to be a tall, leggy blonde. The minute White opens her mouth about the case, Scully instantly shoves her theories aside. Mulder, who may have felt his ego brighten up a bit with White's presence, defends her in front of Scully. If looks could kill, Mulder would have been part of the casualty list. Through no fault of Detective White, Scully targets her as the enemy. A casual question about White's virginal status from Mulder makes Scully retort "I doubt she's even blonde."
The two teen girls, Terri and Margie, seem to have come out of the 90210 zip code with their fashionable clothes and snobbish ways. The girls' awareness of their powers makes their maliciousness towards others even more frightening. If it doesn't serve their personal agendas, people around them die. Period. And I thought exams and pimples were all I had to worry about in high school.
Yet, just like the cockroach episode, this one shows another character study of Mulder and Scully. No matter how many cases of paranormal phenomenon goes on in the world, they are just as susceptible to human emotions as anyone else. Their relationship was strained to begin with. A planetary alignment gone awry certainly doesn't help.
But this episode dealt with the humorous aspect of their relationship with a paranormal angle added in. Petty jealousy, pride and ego are all factors in straining it. A wounded animal is always the most dangerous. Thus, both Mulder and Scully hold nothing back when it comes to hurting the other.
For her part, Scully goes out of her way to make sure White feels like a novice when investigating this case. She accuses Mulder of having "ditched" her to go off with White. She refuses to see "the horned beast" or believe that satanic cults are even involved. She tells Mulder that since he and White have a "certain simpatico" going on, she doesn't feel the need to stick around.
For his part, Mulder doesn't completely confide in Scully and *does* head off with White to check out the "horny beast". He makes fun of her in front of White's presence and about her "little feet." He ignores her complaints about his behavior on the case. He gets angry at her for not seeing "the horned beast." He chides her investigative enthusiasm by saying "I know how you like snapping on the latex."
If a first-time viewer saw this episode, they would think Mulder and Scully were a typical married couple going through a rough time. I know that partners tend to be as close, if not more, than most married couples, but they really *do* act as though they are married. Notice how Mulder tries to explain to Scully why she caught him and White in his room practically ready to jump out of their clothes. He's apologetic and acting very guilty even though nothing besides kissing went on. Heck, he didn't even start it! Not to mention seeing Scully *SMOKE* a cigarette in her motel room while trying to blow off jealous steam about Mulder saying "Detective White needs our help" and other such fiery drivel.
Chris Carter, who wrote this episode, has always stated how Mulder and Scully will never get together romantically. "Syzygy" is a peek at what might happen if they did get involved. Scully has never been more jealous, and Mulder has never looked more guilty. Their chemisty is what makes their partnership so dynamic, and only a cosmic misalignment would cause such a rift between them.
This episode was a comedic misadventure. The plot was rather weak, but the fireworks that ensued between our two heroes certainly was not. Taking it in the context that Carter intended, this is an enjoyable episode, which is why I constantly had my finger on the rewind button while laughing hysterically. The more human Mulder and Scully become to us, the more believeable they seem in our eyes. In effect, unresolved sexual tension is fun to watch, and no couple does it better than Mulder and Scully.
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