Meaning of title? Scully has bad hair!! (Sorry, I just couldn't resist! I love her as much as the next person, but yikes! I'm glad they got rid of that make-up artist/hairstylist.) Mulder in this episode was in quite the joke telling mood- how Scully manages to keep a straight face I don't know, but I still say someday she is going to say it was the jokes that won her over.

One part of the plot that struck me as kind of funny was the fact those boys in the woods were trying to scare the girls to "get some". If this strategy really worked, with as often as Mulder and Scully get each other drawn into creepy situations, imagine the "get some" that would have already been gotten! Just a humorous thought. But onto the UST... :)

There was one real full-fledged UST scene: The Shower. It has been mentioned how Mulder tried to shield Scully with his body when the PTC man shot himself, and only in the X-Files could trying to shield someone from blood be 'shippy! Don't you just love this show??? And yes, it was another example of Mulder's gallantry, along with his hand around her shoulder leading her from the room where they first confront the PTC (must be the Southern Gentleman Sullivan Biddle coming out in him- oops, sorry Laurie--accidental TFWID reference!) (Editor's note, *Shuddering at the mention of TFWID* *grins*) But after that is over and Mulder and Scully are lying on the shower floor back to back, listen to the sighing and moaning sounds emanating from Scully as their wet, slightly touching bodies writhe, struggling to untie each others' hands. *Beck fans herself with her UST-4-Ever fan she keeps by the television.* Not since "Ice" have I seen M&S in such a glaringly body-oriented UST, as opposed to the verbal UST that is so prominent. (Think "Never Again") This scene is definitely going in the FA (Foreplay Archives). Whoo!

UST was not the only interplay between M&S in DHDV. (Phew!) The conversation that takes place after the raining toads is one of the more hilarious exchanges on this show ever, IMHO, and that is saying a lot for a "Syzygy" and "WOTC" lover like myself. But the scene immediately following is am defining example of the love and respect that has grown between M&S up through this the second season.

Scully comes into the school library where Mulder is standing at a card catalogue and begins to tell him about the storms in the area, which would be responsible for the toads falling out of the sky. Her head nods in rapid agreement with her own words as she looks expectantly up at Mulder, waiting for his reaction. And this is it: "Oh." We have to strain to hear it as he barely even looks at her. He then begins to explain the information he has found in the card catalog, and the toads are forgotten. This could be construed by some as a lack of interest in her contribution, but what *I* see is a Scully that just *really has to find out about the toads*. Are the toads important to the story? No. Do they have any bearing on the case in any way? No. Which is why I can forgive Mulder's brush-off of her explanation. How many of us, having watched the character of Scully search for the scientific time after time, can completely see her going in search of the reason for the toads, even though it has no importance fact-wise to the actual investigation, because she just has to know! And we know that Mulder, because he knows Scully, will not chide her for this, or mock her or belittle her for it. He quietly accepts is as part of her, and lets her do what she needs to do. Could I love this man any more?? And once she tells him, it's over. She doesn't say "Mulder did you hear me", nor does he try to reason with her theory. A small "Oh" is sufficient, and then time to continue on as the partners they are, accepting one another and working together. What a seemingly small moment, and yet it is these sublets that give the XF, and Mulder and Scully's relationship, the deeper meaning that is so rare in celluloid. NOW I remember why M&W used to be the most beloved- phew that Vince Gilligan was paying attention! (And honest, how many of us would think he penned this ep if we didn't know better :D)

By Rebecca Foster

Click here to go back to main page

Click here to go back to Reviews page