As a non-X-phile, I must admit this was my favourite episode, together with "Max" (or part II as Trek would have called it). Great stuff, well written and executed.

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It wasn't very wise of Mulder to openly talk about Max at the initial NTSB breifing, for multiple reasons. Pointing out that the recording mentioned an intercept was fine but for secrecy purposes, since he believes a conspiracy is involved, he should've left it at that and avoided the humiliation.

Why did Scully take the USAF guy to a crowded bar to meet with the Marshals? Were TPTB that anxious to get rid of Pendrell? That whole scene was just unnecessary drama. Speaking of unnecessary, was that guy on the plane just going to shoot Max in front of all those people? He went into the bathroom to get his plastic gun ready, ala In The Line of Fire, and the smart thing to do would be to wait until Max got off the plane, but somebody already at the destination could've done that so I don't really see the point of showing this guy getting locked-n-loaded.

For a guy who's seen a lot of weird stuff and is actively looking for proof that ETs exist Mulder seems to frequently freak out when he actually finds that evidence, like he does upon seeing the alien body underwater and drops his flashlight. It was also quite fortunate of him that he came across the "second crash site" so quickly with no SCUBA experience and only spotting some random bubbles in the water at night.

In the Guide Phil mentions that the bed begins to shake before the rumbling begins prior to Max's 'sister' being abducted. I personally don't see a problem with this. Who knows what procedure these aliens are using on this occasion