After being betrayed by Alex Krycek, again, Mulder manages to escape from the slave camp with Krycek in tow. Mulder manages to fall into with some locals who help him out. Krycek also falls into with some locals, but is not so lucky, as he loses his left arm. It is a very striking image to see a bunch of men with only one arm to protect themselves from "the test". The reason why it helps to cut off your left arm is because the doctors inject the people where their small pox vaccination scar is. And that apparently is important for the testing. So, no vaccination scar, no test. After Mulder returns from Russia, the action dies down a bit, making Terma not quite as exciting as Tunguska. When Mulder walks into the senate sub-committee hearing, Scully is VERY excited to see him. It is such a genuine smile of love and affection, excellently done by Gillian Anderson. The Tunguska/Terma two-parter once again leaves the viewer with more questions than answers about the conspiracy, but that's what keeps us coming back for more.
12 Reviews
This is not why we are here today...
Sanpaco1328 June 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Terma is the sequel to Tunguska, one of season 4's mythology sequences. The teaser is a little random and at first doesn't seem to have much to do with the episode other than the black oil coming out of the old lady after she dies. But we later find out about black oil tests being done on elder care patients. The episode picks up the story right where we left off, with Mulder in a Russian prison camp and Scully studying the infection of an exobiologist with the black oil. A old man who appears to have been sent on an assassin's errand features prominently through out the episode as he goes around killing a doctor who we learn has been spying on the American syndicate for the Russian syndicate. Something like that. The conspiracy gets a little confusing. But what remains clear is that the Russians and the Americans don't appear to be playing on the same side here. Some very interesting elements are used in the episode such as the "cult" of Russian tundra people who have been cutting off their arms so as to not become subject to the smallpox vaccination tests being done at the camp. And then Krycek losing his own arm after falling in with this group. It appears as though Mulder himself is about to lose his arm but somehow he gets away and shows up at a Congress hearing where Scully is being drilled about his whereabouts. There is some good conspiracies, and even some pretty decent action in the episode including a downhill runaway truck crash and an oil explosion in North Dakota. Speaking of North Dakota, what a great place to hide something. I mean no one goes to North Dakota for anything. No one drives through North Dakota on their way somewhere. No one visits. No one moves there. It is probably the least exciting state in the entire U.S. So Mulder and Scully rush to North Dakota to try and reclaim the black rock before it is buried in an oil explosion and they leave. The End. Decent episode. I give it an 8 out of 10.
Not as good as the first part
SleepTight66613 November 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Not as good as the first part, but still a strong closure to this great two-part Black-Oil myth arc.
My only issue with it were basically the scenes where Scully had to explain herself in front of that jury. First of all, they repeated the intro of the previous episode. Then Mulder came in, did his thing. Nobody cared. Evidence was thrown away. Ugh, the conspiracy was never my favorite part of the series.
But then you have the rest, which I thought was fascinating. I loved the look of Russia, the people with no arm were all pretty creepy. Most of my favorite scenes involved Krycek this time. It was shocking when he got his poor arm amputated.
Another thing I liked was the oil thing, how the government was experimenting on old people, and when Mulder got all covered and dirty under oil. Some nice action there.
FOUR stars.
My only issue with it were basically the scenes where Scully had to explain herself in front of that jury. First of all, they repeated the intro of the previous episode. Then Mulder came in, did his thing. Nobody cared. Evidence was thrown away. Ugh, the conspiracy was never my favorite part of the series.
But then you have the rest, which I thought was fascinating. I loved the look of Russia, the people with no arm were all pretty creepy. Most of my favorite scenes involved Krycek this time. It was shocking when he got his poor arm amputated.
Another thing I liked was the oil thing, how the government was experimenting on old people, and when Mulder got all covered and dirty under oil. Some nice action there.
FOUR stars.
"It is wonderful, the persistence of life."
classicsoncall22 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Consider for a moment the way we left Mulder at the finale of the prior episode of this two-parter. He had just been injected in the neck with some experimental serum, and was left encased in a wire mesh in a very ominous closing scene. So what happened with all that? He shows up in this story for the first time as part of a prison detail. looking not too much the worse for wear except for being somewhat tired and dragged out. And then, one might ask, is how he got the energy to pull off hijacking the truck to make his escape. I'm glad he did, mind you, but it all seems a little far fetched.
Something else to think about. What about those forest dwellers who came across Krycek with their left arms missing? The story made it seem like the removal of the arm was to negate the effects of an experimental injection they all received as prisoners at the work camp. But wait a minute; how would that work if the bloodstream carries serum to the rest of the body? On the flip side, if removing an arm was meant to discourage an injection, why wouldn't the mad doctors at the prison camp just use the other arm? Maybe I'm overthinking this, but I don't think so.
With Mulder showing up at the Senate sub-committee where Scully was testifying under duress and contempt of court, this episode had an even more disjointed aspect to it. Getting to the heart of the matter, she was at least able to get her point across that there was a widespread conspiracy to control a lethal biotoxin (the black oil) of extraterrestrial origin. Putting myself in one of those Senator's seats, I don't think I'd be ready to accept any of that, nor even Mulder's passionate interruption. But it made for good drama, and kept the conspiracy thread going as part of the X-Files mythology arc.
Something else to think about. What about those forest dwellers who came across Krycek with their left arms missing? The story made it seem like the removal of the arm was to negate the effects of an experimental injection they all received as prisoners at the work camp. But wait a minute; how would that work if the bloodstream carries serum to the rest of the body? On the flip side, if removing an arm was meant to discourage an injection, why wouldn't the mad doctors at the prison camp just use the other arm? Maybe I'm overthinking this, but I don't think so.
With Mulder showing up at the Senate sub-committee where Scully was testifying under duress and contempt of court, this episode had an even more disjointed aspect to it. Getting to the heart of the matter, she was at least able to get her point across that there was a widespread conspiracy to control a lethal biotoxin (the black oil) of extraterrestrial origin. Putting myself in one of those Senator's seats, I don't think I'd be ready to accept any of that, nor even Mulder's passionate interruption. But it made for good drama, and kept the conspiracy thread going as part of the X-Files mythology arc.
An action packed, exciting conclusion.
Sleepin_Dragon1 August 2022
Mulder has to try and escape The Gulag, it's a brutal regime, and security is tight.
Great storytelling, I loved the way it picked up with Scully's court case scene, and explained it. I have really enjoyed this two part story. I think the first half had all of the horror element, this second part focuses more on the action. It's well paced, it's quite exciting.
I thought Jan Rubes was great here as Vassily Peskow, he was silent, but deadly, I'd love to know more about this guy.
Today, I thought I was having a bad day, then I compared it to poor Krycek, he's become that comedy guy that steps on a garden hoe, then bangs his head, then puts his hand on a hot barbecue, he's truly had no luck here at all.
The whole story of black cancer, that was really quite chilling, I can't help but wonder if they'll return to this in the future.
Enjoyed that, 8/10.
Great storytelling, I loved the way it picked up with Scully's court case scene, and explained it. I have really enjoyed this two part story. I think the first half had all of the horror element, this second part focuses more on the action. It's well paced, it's quite exciting.
I thought Jan Rubes was great here as Vassily Peskow, he was silent, but deadly, I'd love to know more about this guy.
Today, I thought I was having a bad day, then I compared it to poor Krycek, he's become that comedy guy that steps on a garden hoe, then bangs his head, then puts his hand on a hot barbecue, he's truly had no luck here at all.
The whole story of black cancer, that was really quite chilling, I can't help but wonder if they'll return to this in the future.
Enjoyed that, 8/10.
I'm leaving the window rolled down. If I'm not back in a week, I'll call Agent Scully to come bring you a bowl of water.
bombersflyup12 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Terma continues on from Tunguska, Mulder in a prison camp and Scully appearing before a Senate sub-committee.
It's an action-filled eventful episode, but lacking detail and substance. Krycek's got the old man meddling with the Syndicate's affairs, I dunno. The arm thing's also a bit extreme.
It's an action-filled eventful episode, but lacking detail and substance. Krycek's got the old man meddling with the Syndicate's affairs, I dunno. The arm thing's also a bit extreme.
This episode had it all
radustanciu-772158 September 2022
When I first watched this episode I got occurred from some past events but it finally arrived as an episode full of action and mystery, out of their comfort zone, bringing some light into the upper parts of the state, more important people got aware of significant facts. I don't want to spoil it for everyone but I really enjoyed this episode. I see how they are pushing side episodes to wait for the real ones but I think every side episode has its story that can continue our saga! The difference between Mulder and Scully is not anymore about perceptions because it is clear that both value the same encounters as they pursue in their mystical journey not necessarily of extraterrestrial purpose, that get involved in the ultimate truth! Enjoy this one because it is the best! I do not usually send reviews but this one made me the o! No spoiler alert just exposing parts of our beloved world as its hiding more truth that we can think of!
Wake the Russian bear and it will find who's stolen it's honey.
devonbrown-9064914 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Russia has caught onto exposure of their black oil experiments and somehow the syndicate has corrupted "Honourable men". The focus on this episode is the location of mulder to stop him from uncovering the truth about the alike black oil virus.
Meanwhile mulder has escaped Russian prison and somehow found his way home. Whilst krycek has found new allies and seems to have gotten was he deserves.
I enjoyed the meeting of CSM and well manicured man in the shadows it seems CSM aid unaware of krycek and his orchestration of the black oil investigation nevertheless he has great oversight in the situation.
Overall a great episode, that allows men in power to say unaccountable whilst evidence is destroyed.
Meanwhile mulder has escaped Russian prison and somehow found his way home. Whilst krycek has found new allies and seems to have gotten was he deserves.
I enjoyed the meeting of CSM and well manicured man in the shadows it seems CSM aid unaware of krycek and his orchestration of the black oil investigation nevertheless he has great oversight in the situation.
Overall a great episode, that allows men in power to say unaccountable whilst evidence is destroyed.
Great direction, but all the inaccuracies made me laugh
kuarinofu4 June 2020
The X-files work the best when they maintain a level of self-irony when they don't take themselves too seriously.
While this episode and the previous one "Tunguska" are well-directed lore expanding ones, they still make me laugh at times just because of how nonsensical they are (mostly because of how inaccurate they are in terms of representation).
There are just too many wrong things. The geography is all messed up, British Columbia landscapes don't correspond well with ones in Taiga, Tunguska site is closer to Krasnoyarsk, not Norilsk, Mulder also asks help to get to Saint-Petersburg to leave the country, while Moscow would've been a much closer and more convenient city to fly out. While I give them credit for hiring actual Russian actors with no accents, the dialogue itself is clunky, Krycek accent was funny though.
That GULAG thing was also weird and overly politicized. Russians in the 90ties were not as barbaric as they were shown (horses were ok though because they are much more convenient as transport in Taiga conditions).
What saved these two episodes from just becoming post-cold war shlock was the direction. I'm sure that the ending monologue by Mulder was much easier to accept in the 90ties, but now, in 2020, it just puts a smile on my face.
While this episode and the previous one "Tunguska" are well-directed lore expanding ones, they still make me laugh at times just because of how nonsensical they are (mostly because of how inaccurate they are in terms of representation).
There are just too many wrong things. The geography is all messed up, British Columbia landscapes don't correspond well with ones in Taiga, Tunguska site is closer to Krasnoyarsk, not Norilsk, Mulder also asks help to get to Saint-Petersburg to leave the country, while Moscow would've been a much closer and more convenient city to fly out. While I give them credit for hiring actual Russian actors with no accents, the dialogue itself is clunky, Krycek accent was funny though.
That GULAG thing was also weird and overly politicized. Russians in the 90ties were not as barbaric as they were shown (horses were ok though because they are much more convenient as transport in Taiga conditions).
What saved these two episodes from just becoming post-cold war shlock was the direction. I'm sure that the ending monologue by Mulder was much easier to accept in the 90ties, but now, in 2020, it just puts a smile on my face.
Terrible and rushed.
tsode18 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Put aside your nostalgia - and both Tunguska and Terma are terrible, rushed, far-fetched episodes. Too much is packed into both, particularly with Mulder/Krycek and the Russian operative. What even was all the stuff with power plant at the end? Why were all those one-armed Russians hanging out in the forest so conveniently for Krycek? Why was it so necessary to chop arms off after the black cancer? Why was scully not amazed to see a sentient, leech-like liquid? Nothing was clear. Terrible writing and rushed all around.
Confusing shark jumping mess
wtw-9230214 December 2023
I'll be honest I find this to be a really disappointing end to the great setup of the initial first parter. I found this episode insanely hard to follow, packed with absurd twist after twist, and ex machina after ex machina. I just watched it and I probably couldn't explain to you how any of the plot threads from Tunguska were resolved.
The senate hearing felt really obtuse. Mulder shows up just in time but it never seemed like he was truly in danger from the hearing in the first place. The "black cancer" threat was,,, resolved? Mitigated? Covered up? With like,, barely any effort. Mulder seems to be immune from it because of,, plot armor? I don't know. I really genuinely have no idea what was going on for most of this and come away frustrated.
Thankfully it's not a massive slog full of padded runtime like some of the worst episodes are. And thankfully there is still drama to be engaged with and stakes to the "mystery" unlike more boring episodes are. I can't say this truly goes nowhere like some frustrating episodes do, but I can say it fails to resolve in ways that feel satisfying or even engaging. Maybe it's laid some tracks for the meta-plot to follow but as of right now I feel like this episode was a big let down.
The senate hearing felt really obtuse. Mulder shows up just in time but it never seemed like he was truly in danger from the hearing in the first place. The "black cancer" threat was,,, resolved? Mitigated? Covered up? With like,, barely any effort. Mulder seems to be immune from it because of,, plot armor? I don't know. I really genuinely have no idea what was going on for most of this and come away frustrated.
Thankfully it's not a massive slog full of padded runtime like some of the worst episodes are. And thankfully there is still drama to be engaged with and stakes to the "mystery" unlike more boring episodes are. I can't say this truly goes nowhere like some frustrating episodes do, but I can say it fails to resolve in ways that feel satisfying or even engaging. Maybe it's laid some tracks for the meta-plot to follow but as of right now I feel like this episode was a big let down.
Terma...nate this plotline already!
frankelee9 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Not a terrible episode from a purely experiential view, but ultimately we discover this two part episode was all about a plot within a plot within a plot to accomplish something that would have been more easily accomplished by not using any plots. And of course, Heaven forbid you actually sat down and started writing out evidence to connect the dots here, because I'm quite certain none of the plots actually make sense.
Overall these two episodes are meant to introduce the idea that shadowy world powers are actually trying to play both sides, developing a vaccine against the black oil so that when it later tries to conquer the planet it hits a snag. But of course they're too stupid to realize the only reason the black oil aliens can invade is through the collaboration of evil humans and that they would never have involved them if they didn't have to.
Anyways, it's like they say, in Soviet Russia black oil alien reject YOU!
Overall these two episodes are meant to introduce the idea that shadowy world powers are actually trying to play both sides, developing a vaccine against the black oil so that when it later tries to conquer the planet it hits a snag. But of course they're too stupid to realize the only reason the black oil aliens can invade is through the collaboration of evil humans and that they would never have involved them if they didn't have to.
Anyways, it's like they say, in Soviet Russia black oil alien reject YOU!
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