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PLOT: Mulder coaxes Scully to go into a supposed haunted house with him on Christmas Eve, and their experience leaves them a bit confused.
This Chris Carter penned- and directed-episode was not as enticing as his earlier "Triangle," but it definitely was an enjoyable homage to classic haunted houses and "It's a Wonderful Life." As typical with many episodes in Season 6, this one showed two well-known actors in Ed Asner and Lily Tomlin and another humorous "fantasy" escapism theme for our hapless F.B.I. duo.
The first noticeable thing we see during the teaser was not hearing the Bing Crosby Christmas classic, "Have Yourself a Merry Christmas," but Scully pulling up her car next to Mulder's. Without any words spoken between them, it is obvious that Scully did not want to be there. She gives a look of frustration to Mulder, who has been patiently waiting for her, because he *knows* that she would come if he asked. Mulder knows his partner so well that he is not the least bit surprised that she shows up. She does and courteously listens to his retelling of the couple that haunts the house in front of them.
Of course, Scully doesn't believe the slightly embellished story that Mulder has just retold to her. After six years, she still has an incredibly irritating skepticism that almost hinders on blind faith. Her devout obsession to prove Mulder wrong plays a big part in her upcoming experience, and definitely places a shade of doubt on what she believes to be fact or fiction.
Leave it to the "X-Files" to come up with a haunted house story on one of the most celebrated holidays of the year, Christmas. The most famous spooky Christmas story was "A Christmas Carol." Since there are over 100 versions of that theme with even this show doing it's own version in Season 5, this episode had a fresh premise with all the elements that make a good episode. The spirit of the season was instantly thrust upon us with Scully concerned that she would be late bringing "Christmas cheer." The compelling story by Mulder hinted at the impending paranormal experience both will witness. The amusing interaction between the duo as each tries to hide their fright. And we certainly cannot forget their interaction with the two apparitions, Maurice and Lyda, deftly played by Asner and Tomlin, respectively.
The most interesting thing about this episode was the interaction between our duo. They were very much scared of their predicament, but since they were together, it was more bearable. Yet, notice how unglued both of them, particularly Scully, became when they were purposely separated. Though Mulder had a boyish enthusiasm upon meeting the ghostly owners of the house, his concern for Scully's well-being was never far from his thoughts. While Scully showed that even she can be scared of a ghost no matter how skeptical she may seem.
Another theme that has been evident in Season 6 is how other characters notice the closeness of Mulder and Scully, yet our duo denies that their closeness is nothing more than trust in their partnership. Maurice and Lyda saw a "star-crossed lovers" kind of thing between the duo and tried to capitalize on that to seal their fate forever. However, as we all know there is much more to Mulder and Scully than what is seen on the surface. Both Maurice and Lyda thought that the duo's shared loneliness, and the fact that they were together on Christmas Eve investigating a haunted house rather than spending it together near a Christmas tree would be enough to have a dual murder.
But one thing that the ghosts don't realize is the bond that Mulder and Scully have is much more complex than what it seems. Loneliness is definitely a part of their lives, but neither are never truly alone. Their deep abiding love and respect for each other's privacy allows them not to dwell on an obvious emptiness in their lives. Mulder and Scully survive that loneliness, because they know they have each other to depend on, which is plainly evident in this episode.
Though ghosts in any story usually involve much more fright, this episode was not shy on the comedy factor. There were the never-ending rooms; the realization by Scully of exactly whom she was pointing her gun towards; Mulder crashing into the brick wall; Scully's feigned bravery though it was obvious to both Mulder and the audience that she was really scared out of her wits; and the beautifuly lunacy of Maurice and Lyda in planning what they hoped would be another murder-suicide.
Though they may have a complex relationship, Maurice and Lyda do see a glimmer of their deepest neuroses with Mulder being narcissistic and Scully being obsessive towards proving Mulder wrong. So through this small sample of the truth, they instigate a distrust between Mulder and Scully. It works, because they implicitly trust each other with their lives. So it is a complete shock to both of them when they are shot by whom they perceived as the other. They have not figured out that it was Lyda who shot them, and better still, that they were not *really* shot. The reactions by both Mulder and Scully is absolutely priceless, and it is a credit to Duchovny and Anderson that their portrayal was highly believeable and not moving into the farcical stage. I have no doubt that they had fun making this episode.
In the end, our hapless duo are wondering if it was "live or Memorex?" Even the open-minded Mulder is not sure what to make of their latest experience, but it really doesn't matter anymore. These two lonely people are spending one of the most cherished holidays of the year exactly how they should - together.
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