Post-Modern Prometheus
Nitcentral's Bulletin Brash Reflections:
XFiles:
Season Five:
Post-Modern Prometheus
Synopsis: Mulder investigates the mysterious pregnancy of a woman who claims to have had something similar happen to her eighteen years ago, resulting in her son Izzy being born. As the woman describes it, the room became misty and she heard Cher music before passing out. The woman's description of the monster who attacked her matches "The Great Mutato," a comic book character created by Izzy, who claims that Mutato really exists. The agents and Izzy attempt to lure him out one night, but Mutato manages to get away. The agents do discover an old man who points them to his son, Dr. Pollidori. Dr. Pollidori is a brilliant geneticist who has been conducting unorthodox experiments, and whose wife is later attacked by the creature. Mulder and Scully see her house covered by tenting and investigate, only to be affected by the gas used to knock Mrs. Pollidori out. We later see that the creature is living with Dr. Pollidori's father, and that Dr. Pollidori, furious at his father for having Mutato assault his wife, strangles his father. Analysis of a residue left on pots in both of the houses of the victims shows that it is an animal anesthetic, leading the agents back to the father's farm. An angry mob soon follows, led by Dr. Pollidori, ready to kill Mutato. Mutato himself soon shows, however, and explains that he and his "father," Pollidori's father, were attempting to create him a suitable companion, and reveals that Pollodori killed his father. Police take Pollidori away, and the agents take Mutato, only to take him on a side trip to a nightclub where Cher is playing, to the great delight of Mutato.
By Charles Cabe on Monday, November 02, 1998 - 6:43 pm:Finally, an episode in a part of the contry I know about. (It's in Indiana, I live in Kentucky.)Just wondering why do they seem to avoid some states altogethere, like Kentucky; and use other states to the point of ridicioulusness, like Pensylvania? For example, "Home" would have been much better if it was in the south. (The episode with Mayberry refrences)
By annelies mariano on Monday, March 29, 1999 - 10:59 pm: hmm, I wonder why nobody -- aside from Charles -- bothered to comment on this episode. I just saw it on tape today, and I found it totally hilarious! It's in black and white! Jerry Springer is in it! Mutato got a cheesy looking mug! Pollidori is an even cheesier mad scientist, and to top it off Mulder and Scully end the episode dancing to "Cher"!
They never show Cher's face, btw. It must have been a body double who looked nothing like Cher.
The opening and the ending give the episode a beautiful touch -- the opening and closing of the comic book draws just enough attention to the episode's total self-consciousness.
BTW, isn't Dr. Pollidori the name of a vampire? Just a thought.
By Murray Leeder on Tuesday, March 30, 1999 - 7:39 am: No. Dr. John Polidori (one 'L') was the author of the first real vampire short story in English literature, "The Vampyre". He was Lord Byron's personal physical and was with him, Percy Shelley and Mary Shelley the night of July 16, 1816, when they decided to each write a ghost story. "The Vampyre" was his. "Frankenstein" was hers.
By Murray Leeder on Wednesday, May 05, 1999 - 2:25 pm: I actually saw an interview with Cher where she said she was offered to do a cameo in this episode, but refused. Once the episode aired, however, she was so affected by it that she regretted her decision.
By Chris Thomas on Thursday, May 06, 1999 - 3:37 am: From memory, the doctor's fiancee in this was called Elizabeth - which just happened to be the name of Victor Frankenstein's fiancee in Mary Shelley's novel.
By Gordon Lawyer on Friday, May 07, 1999 - 7:22 am:I think this episode could compete with Home as the worst ever X-Files episode. I thought they really took the Frankenstein parallel too far when I saw the townsfolk carrying torches. I mean really!
By annelies mariano on Tuesday, May 11, 1999 - 2:48 am: I just watched this episode again, and it occurred to me that they didn't explain who really fathered Izzy. When Izzy's mom asks the question (in the basement scene), the camera cuts to shots of the animals looking in from the windows -- including a pig. Am I to believe all those barn animals are failed experiments and that Izzy's father was literally a horny pig? DUH!
Anyway, I still think "Home" is the worst episode. I actually liked this one because it was too silly. So sue me.
By trekkerxphile on Friday, May 12, 2000 - 10:02 pm: I loved this episode! There were more refrences to "Frankenstein" than anybody could really see. Even the title -- the subtitle of Mary Shelley's novel was "or the Modern Prometheus." It seems like it would be very hard to nitpick, though. . .I mean, the whole thing was a comic book, right? Any inconsitancies can be traced to a teenager's strange mindset (I'm insulting myself as much as anyone else with that comment, so live with it). The premise was really cool -- and I loved how every time Mulder, Scully, or Polidori said anything dramatic, the lightning would flash!
By Miko Iko on Monday, July 02, 2001 - 2:42 pm:I just saw this ep again on tape and must say I enjoyed it thoroughly! It's definitely a "change-up" episode and as such probably takes a second viewing to really grow on you. It shows a real confidence in the show that CC, at the time, could throw something like this, or Small Potatoes, up against the wall to see if it sticks (Potatoes certainly did). They're probably still on pins and needles with the line-up changes lately to try the odd ep, and it's a shame.
Anyway, everything works here, from the dialog to the visuals. It's all pure comic book aesthetics, almost every line has a real pre-meditated feel to it, like mini speeches. The tent, the smoke, the camera angles- pure comics, not in any sort of derogatory way but done with appreciation.
My interpretation of Izzy's father is that the pig was definitely the sperm donor (wouldn't go so far as to call him "horny" though)
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The story about Cher's being asked to do a cameo is new to me, but I can't say I blame her. How do you get the idea of an episode like this across to somebody without having already produced it? Most people wouldn't take that leap of faith. Anyway, the ending works better without her, for me. When I first saw it, and then this last time, I got the distinct impression that the performer was a drag queen, not the real deal. I kinda like the idea of M & S dancing to a drag queen better anyway, seems more in line with Mulder's character.