Nitpicking The Nitpickers Guide for X-Philes: As Phil suspects, one of his nits for this episode does receive some context later on. The Consortium obviously doesn't have to worry about anyone finding a cure for the bees. As we later see, they will not be used to spread smallpox but in fact the alien virus.
Josh: As we later see, they will not be used to spread smallpox but in fact the alien virus.
Quite right Josh. The "trial run" in this ep was just to see if bees can be used as a dispersal method. However, such a test was completely unnecessary as it was already a proven method by the guy in Herrenvolk and the two people who died in this ep.
Phil points out a lot of good observations on the bees' odd behavior in the Guide, and very little of it made sense. I also find it hard to believe that Skinner could cover up all that evidence and only get spotted on a bank's outside camera; not to mention him carrying what looked to be about a 200lb woman around with relative ease.
The FBI does indeed carry a Sig Sauer P-228 (or used to rather; likely still the same brand at least) so why do the agents in this show keep switching their guns around? Not long ago in this season they were still using S&W automatics. I found it a bit funny that Phil was just as unimpressed with Marita's position as I was. The UN doesn't really have any real authority, particularly when it comes to the US and the other nations in the Security Council.
Josh M The Consortium obviously doesn't have to worry about anyone finding a cure for the bees.
There's one more thing on this that I thought odd upon reviewing the ep yet again; Skinner mentions to the ER doctor about treating the infected kids for smallpox and the dr. basically laughed at him saying smallpox was not around anymore and doesn't show symptoms that fast. With this Skinner basically lets the conversation end and we don't hear anything further about it later in this ep or others. Wasn't he present when Scully was talking about the variola virus, on more than one occasion? Isn't this something the dr. might want to know about and important enough to chase him down one more time?
Otherwise, still a great ep, though I do agree with Phil in that Skinner's 'deal' should've been streached out a little more.