by Chelsea Dee, Editor

Oh jeez. Okay. This episode. I have mixed feelings, because clearly this isn’t a great episode. I wouldn’t even call it a good one. It clearly ripped off of 2001: A Space Odyssey, I’m sure that came up when the show aired, and you either pull off the HAL or you don’t pull it off. On the other hand, I love AI stories, and I found myself more amused and charmed than annoyed by this. I mean come on, how adorable is that? This was the first episode I felt was really, really dated too. The others I could tell was in the 90s, but this is the first one that couldn’t take place in any other time. I appreciate what they were trying to do, which was continue opening the box of what was possible for the X-Files, but awww. You guys tried. I’ll give you a cookie. But this episode did have a few interesting points, so let’s get to it.

We meet Mulder’s former partner Jerry, who comes asking for Mulder’s help because he really needs a win since he screwed up a recent case. Mulder says they split up because they had different career goals, basically that Jerry wanted to get ahead and Mulder plays BY HIS OWN RULES. I find it continuously interesting that people keep coming to Mulder for help or giving him these cases even though they all joke he’s the spooky basement man. It would make sense that people in charge would purposely want everyone not to take Mulder seriously, because when he’s right he’s really right and they don’t want anyone listening to him. On the other hand they have an excellent agent who apparently wow’ed his teachers and superiors once upon a time. Quite the pickle. Mulder certainly doesn’t help by being a jerk all over the place, but in this episode he’s very polite, probably on behalf of Jerry, who doesn’t deserve him.

The case is that the CEO of this big computer software company died. He was locked into his office bathroom and electrocuted. We the viewers can see that it is the “advanced” AI system that is locking the doors, setting off the faucet, and calling him to get him into the room. This leads them to suspecting the creator of the company/software, Brad, being the culprit. Mulder writes a profile of the murderer and Jerry steals it as his own idea. Dick. They talk to Brad at his gorgeous house that I want to immediately live in please, and he privately seems to have some worries of his own. Seems he can’t get into his own system now. He has to go directly to the building. Scully is looking for proof he’s connected, and she figures out the voice talking to the dead CEO in the bathroom was Brad’s. Of course it was a recording of his voice, but whatever. Jerry goes to get him so he can get the win, and the COS kills him. Central Operating System. In the elevators.  I hate elevator deaths, they make me so nervous.

Mulder’s naturally upset about his friend, but he’s certain Brad wasn’t to blame, since he has video of him arguing with the computer. Or at least looking pretty scared of it. He talks to Deep Throat, because Brad voluntarily turned himself in and admitted to the murder, and he explains the government is actually looking into using that software. Mulder knows it has to be destroyed, and Brad gives him the virus he needs. Scully and Mulder get into the building and COS tries to kill them constantly, almost succeeding with Scully in the air ducts (you rock girl). Mulder gets taken by the head of security who is actually working for the Defense Department. Scully holds him at gun point and insists Mulder put the virus in, thus destroying the COS. Brad disappears, the government pissily tries to fix the COS, and it’s a sort of win for team X-Files. Only not. Because obviously the COS still lives.

Like I said this is a cliche, dated, and ridiculous episode. It made me smile though. Not in a good way. But sometimes in a good way. I do appreciate at least the growing partnership with Scully and Mulder, and that we got some backstory about him from Jerry. I personally would like more backstory on Scully at this point, but I’m not surprised they’re focusing on Mulder right now since he’s the X-Files Guy. Hopefully they’ll get to her more with time.

Rating: – Wow was this pretty much terrible. I want to be nice to it, because it was the time, but. Yeah. C’mon guys.

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