X-Files--"Small Potatoes"

David Duchovny has named ‘Small Potatoes” as his favorite acting experience on The X-Files because he got to play Mulder as a comedic character rather than the usual uptight, restrained character he normally is. It is more difficult than it sounds to parody an established character without turning the caricature into a farce, but Duchovny pulls it off wonderfully. Part of me thinks Duchovny’s joy at jabbing Mulder is an early sign he has grown tired of playing him, but I try to cast the notion asidee to enjoy one of the most amusing episodes of the series.

Mulder and Scully head off to West Virginia on a tabloid tip that five women have given birth to babies with tails. Mulder suspects alien involvement. While scully finds the statistical anomaly worth investigating by some health agency, it is not an FBI matter. That is until the agents discover all five babies have the same father. By chance, Mulder discovers a fertility clinic janitor with a scar from the removal of a vestigial tail. But that does not explain how the latest mother claims she was impregnated by Luke Sky walker.

Such is the beginning of a light hearted romp which bring surprising insight into Mulder. Eddie van Blundht--do not forget the silent “H”--is a sweet natured, nebbish loser who, with the ability to morph his appearance into other people, can escape his own life. Van Blundht has been posing as the husbands of women attempting to get pregnant by artificial insemination in order to engage in romantic relationships which elude him normally. The one woman he posed as Luke Skywalker for is his old high school girlfriend. She is someone he obviously still loves--she is the lone woman who was not using the fertility clinic--but she finds him a loser, though a person she could easily talk to.

Her attitude reveals an uncomfortable truth about relationships--van Blundht is a nice guy, quite a romantic, actually, but he is short, chubby, balding, and has a low class, blue collar job, so no one really cares until his assumes the identity of better looking, more successful men. Do we ronly care about such qualities if they come in a superficially pretty package? Yes, it certainly looks that way.

Van Blundht gets the drop on mulder once the agents have evidence to nail him for social security fraud because he has been posing as his dead father to keep cashing the checks. He replaces Mulder after locking him in the hospital basement and assumes his life. It is illuminating for van Blundht and the rest of us. Mulder works in a basement office, wasting tax dollars pursuing his own a personal quest uncovering a conspiracy no other than him believes exists. He lives alone, has geeks as friends, and his only romantic encounters are of the adult entertainment variety. In van Blundht’s estimation, mulder is a loser.

His biggest error is in his treatment of scully. Van Blundht decides to make the moves on her by the incredible trick of--wait for it--listening to her. Mulder never trulty listens to Scully. Perhaps because there is still a sense she is against his work on the x-files, but more likely because Mulder is so absorbed in his own agenda, he pays no attention to anything else. It only takes an evening a of wine and hanging on Scully’s every word before she is warm to the idea of a romantic encounter. This even though she has to have noticed her partner of four years is far less witty and urbane as he normally is. Again, we are willing to overlook a lot of things as long as the outward appearance is pretty.

The real Mulder intervenes into the date night before van Blundht can seal the deal. He winds up in prison. Mulder visits upon his request and receives some advice from van Blundht--live a little. Stop being such a loser on purpose.

A psychologist would have a field day with “Small Potatoes.” Van Blundht as mulder represents Mulder’s unrestrained id, engaging in all the activities Mulder’s ego would never let him do--playing the tough guy FBI agent, flashing the badge authoritatively, practicing quick draws with his gun, and, of course, romancing the lovely Scully. As a Fruedian bonus, van Blundht locks Mulder in the hospital basement, representing suppressing the ego into the subconscious, in order to let his id run wild before Mulder breaks out to put van Blundht--his id--back into it place. It place happens to be buried as deeply as possible so the ego can do its normal thing.

Aside from the psychological aspects, “Small Potatoes” is hilarious in general. The whole matter of mistaken identity and pretending to be other people could quickly devolve into farce, but it is all done with an amazing skill. Chalk it up to the acting chops of Duchovny and Darin Morgan--yes, that Darin Morgan--for playing the main roles. As noted above, Duchovny plays Faux Mulder as an awkward parody without insulting the character. Not easy to do, considering a couple pratfalls and dropping the clip to his gun while practicing a quick draw are called for in the script. Duchovny plays the joy, though fleeting, as van Blundht gets into the role as van blundht plays out his fantasy of what it must be like to be an FBI agent. Really, would you not flash your badge and tough guy image in front of a mirror, too? I am sure I would.

It does not take long before faux Mulder is boring to play, so van Blundht goes for what he has always been after--sex. Is that not why we do everything we do--to attract the best sex partner?I imagine psychologist would have a field day with that aspect of the episode, too.

For an episode steeped in comedy, “Small Potatoes” has some profound revelations to offer about our favorite characters, as well as some uncomfortable truths about what we value in other people. Maybe we do not value the better qualities of others unless our most superficial desires are satisfied first. Not a very pleasant thought, but easier to take because it is wrapped up in a lot of laughs. Ironic, if you think about it, no?

Rating: **** (out of 5)