This is probobly my favourite X-Files episodes, and the one I've seen more than any other. And that, despite the fact that Scully isn't even in the ep. I love the whole introduction of Krychek and the reaslisation that he is working for the CSM. And it ends on such a sad note for poor Mulder. You really feel for the poor guy - first losing Samantha and now Scully.
The conspiracy and mystery in the episode is so brilliant. Where is she? Why was she taken? What is going to happen? This is by far the best way of giving someone maternity leave in a TV series that I have ever seen.
Having just watched this episode and also recently watching the last ever X-Files, there really is no comparison. The early X-Files (pre-movie) were so so good. After the film the series really lost the plot.
Actually Scully is in the ep, she's gagged and bound in the car....
Something I forgot to add in the previous ep, Duane Barry, was that when Scully was looking into that implant found in Duane's stomach we see the markings that she was able to scan at the supermarket. Their first thought that it was shrapnel yet neither Scully nor the scientist mentions the possibility of the metal being a bullet and the markings being rifling.
When Mulder was questioning Barry in that office Duane says something along the lines of "her instead of me, that was the deal." I'm a bit surprised Fox didn't ask who he made the deal with since Barry still thought the aliens were after him and that Mulder wasn't satified with the information he was giving him.
Fox goes to the Quantico pathology department seeking info on Duane's autopsy report and the doctor tells him he'll have to go through "military channels" to get the finalized report becasue she's a Navy pathologist. While it's true that the FBI Academy is on a Marine base they are still seperate entites and no matter who is doing the autopsy it's still being done for the FBI in their facility, so Mulder getting a copy of the finalized report shouldn't be a problem. Also, I find it strange that Barry's body was sent there and not somewhere closer to where he died. There are other military bases in VA and WV, some probably closer than Quantico.
During one of the images of Scully's abduction testing, when presumably a chip was implanted and her eggs stolen, we see two or three figures standing on the other side of an observation window. Are these figures suppose to be aliens or humans? I ask because they are wearing white lab coats and I don't recall any other time where they were wearing clothes of any kind when in their true form.
Phil brings up the fact that Mulder didn't confront Alex about him almost getting killed and missing Scully because of the air-tram malfunction in the Guide, but there plenty of other evidence that should've made Fox suspicious of Krycek. For example, Mulder sees Alex talking to Duane with no problems before Skinner shows up and then he dies, but Mulder doesn't mention this observation at the hearing.