Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) & Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) are assigned to help the U.S. Marshall Service recapture two escaped convicts from a high security prison
an unusual assignment for FBI agents. After bumping heads with Marshall Tapia (Derrick Norris), the head of the US Marshall's team, the X-File's duo discover a quarantined section of the prison filled with men in hazmat suits. Scully breaks off from Mulder; and, through some investigation and some talks with a guilt ridden scientist (Charles Martin Smith), she discovers that the prison is the beginning point of an outbreak of an infectious disease – probably a war germ – caused by the fictitious Pink Pharmaceuticals. Worse she believes that the two escapees might be contagious, and will probably spread the disease if not captured soon.
This is a Conspiracy Theory of the Week episode. It probably is based upon how the government handled the outbreak of the Ebola virus, and the sexual diseases that later became known as AIDS, HIV, and Hepatitus-C. The story, as written by Chris Carter & Howard Gordan, has two main competing plots, and two main subplots: Catch the killers vs. figure out the disease; and uncover the conspiracy and find out who is infected.
This is not an episode for a novice watcher of the X-Files. This recurring character of the Cigarette Man in this episode would be considered more of a distraction, and confusing to someone who hasn't followed the show. (Heck he doesn't appear till the second half hour!) And Mulder's conspiracy leanings as well as Scully's faith in governmental procedures would be considered too over the top if not backed up with some background stories that previous viewers would have. In other words, this story can't stand on it's own.
For followers of the show, however, there were a lot of rich nuggets to mine. One was Scully's embrace of the government's keep it quiet scheme even though she agreed with Mulder that they were nothing but slimeballs. And another was convincing Mulder to at least temper his actions till the time was right. What a great double agent Scully was!
The two subplots are carried out very personally for the two mains. This really helps bring out the acting chops in both. It was stunning that Scully never reveled who all might be infected, but it added weight to why she had some faith in the governmental procedures.
This is a Conspiracy Theory of the Week episode. It probably is based upon how the government handled the outbreak of the Ebola virus, and the sexual diseases that later became known as AIDS, HIV, and Hepatitus-C. The story, as written by Chris Carter & Howard Gordan, has two main competing plots, and two main subplots: Catch the killers vs. figure out the disease; and uncover the conspiracy and find out who is infected.
This is not an episode for a novice watcher of the X-Files. This recurring character of the Cigarette Man in this episode would be considered more of a distraction, and confusing to someone who hasn't followed the show. (Heck he doesn't appear till the second half hour!) And Mulder's conspiracy leanings as well as Scully's faith in governmental procedures would be considered too over the top if not backed up with some background stories that previous viewers would have. In other words, this story can't stand on it's own.
For followers of the show, however, there were a lot of rich nuggets to mine. One was Scully's embrace of the government's keep it quiet scheme even though she agreed with Mulder that they were nothing but slimeballs. And another was convincing Mulder to at least temper his actions till the time was right. What a great double agent Scully was!
The two subplots are carried out very personally for the two mains. This really helps bring out the acting chops in both. It was stunning that Scully never reveled who all might be infected, but it added weight to why she had some faith in the governmental procedures.