X-Files--"Two Fathers"

While there is some debate among fans when the ‘five year plan” began, the most popular theory is the mythology arc for The X-Files was crafted after Gillian Anderson got pregnant. In order to explain her maternity leave, she was to be abducted as part of a grand conspiracy to create human/alien hybrids. Assuming that is true, the story arc began in 1994. “Two Fathers,” set in 1999, brings the original mythology to a head. Math is not my strong suit, but I am confident 1994-1999 is five years. So here we go crashing towards the end.

As with many long television story arcs, it feels like the conclusion was not there from the beginning. (I am looking at you, Lost) The original mythology for The X-Files hinges on Cassandra Spender, a character introduced last season for two appearances, then *poof.* She vanished. Now she returns as the most pivotal character in the series.

Not that I fault Veronica Cartwright in the slightest for the let down. She earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a drama Series for ’Two fathers’ and I clearly see why. Her character goes from the euphoria of being rescued from Syndicate doctors and the realization she is not longer wheelchair bound to the horror of discovering it is because she is the first successful human/alien hybrid and therefore, signals the beginning of alien colonization of Earth. For a character we hardly know, we feel sympathy for her in a hurry.

One wonders if it was originally meant to be Scully who was the first successful hybrid. Her experience was the same as Cassandra’s, but one might think it would be going overboard to put Scully front and center so much in the conspiracy, particularly considering she does not believe any of it. Maybe it would have been a bit much, which is another reason I am going easy on the mythology’s conclusion hinging on a relatively new character. Further reasons come down the road a bit when Scully becomes prominent in the second mythology arc that seems like a bit much to have her mired.

Since ’Two Fathers” is the beginning of the end, there is an unusually large amount of exposition to explain the situation. A great deal of it was famously after initial filming when it was decided the Cigarette smoking Man should narrate the episode to Diane Fowley because so much needed to be explained beyond the story filmed. What did the narration reveal/ Take a deep breath….

The conspiracy began with Roswell in 1947 when a cabal of State department officials discovered a plan for aliens to reclaim the Earth. This is the first time the term ’reclaim’ is used, which hints at the blink and you will miss it story arc that life on Earth originated from outer space. The aliens plan to use the black oil, which is their life’s blood, to wipe out humanity. The State Department officials, who eventually become an international cabal of other diplomats, agree to work on creating human/alien hybrids. Once they are successful, colonization can begin. The Syndicate, as they are now called, works on the long term project, but drags its feet in hopes of finding a way to stop colonization. They almost had it with the black oil vaccine, but unfortunately, they were successful with Cassandra as a hybrid faster than hoped for. Luckily, faceless alien rebels have begun attacking the Syndicate’s resources in an effort to stop colonization.

Samantha Mulder was taken as punishment for Bill Mulder’s desire to resist colonization in the first place. Fox Mulder has been inadvertently carrying on his legacy by piecing together the syndicate’s plan with The X-Files. The Cigarette Smoking man arranged for his son, Jeffrey Spender, to take over the X-Files in order to stall investigation into the conspiracy as a legacy to him. Hence, the fathers and sons theme.

The Cigarette Smoking Man winds up highly disappointed in Jeffrey for paling in comparison to Mulder. The disappointment is particularly poignant considering the cliffhanger has Jeffrey murdering a rebel alien and Mulder about to shoot Cassandra, upon her desperate request, so the two of them have the nerve to commit an evil act for what they both see as the greater good. Looking back on it with the knowledge they are half-brothers makes them appear much more equal, though perhaps in a warped way.

“Two Fathers” is an interesting episode. For one who has followed the mythology story from its beginning, there is not much new to learn. There is so much exposition and Spender family drama, Mulder and Scully are not particularly prominent. As often happens, they are more buffeted by events around them than anything else. Anticipation of the conclusion of the mythology arc and the performance by Veronica Cartwright make ’Two Fathers” a worthy episode.

Rating: *** (out of 5)