At long last, Chris Carter got a chance to play the ultimate storyteller - Dr. Seuss. In an episode more like a Halloween tale than a holiday fable, all the best elements of a ghost story were set upon a backdrop of Christmas Eve, with some eerie results. It was a little like "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," a bit like "A Christmas Carol," but nonetheless, this episode came across as one truly original X-File. Introduced by Mulder in the form of a ghost story, we soon learn the reason he brought Scully to this foggy mansion on the day before Christmas. Apparently, every couple that has ever lived in the house met their fate on Christmas Eve. Why? That's what he's there to find out. What follows is a look into the true meaning of Christmas and the four characters caught in this potentially fatal game of cat and mouse - a scary, claustrophobic, funny episode dealing with Mulder and Scully's relationship. What else could you want?

"I think the spirits are among us."

"How the Ghosts Stole Christmas" was not your average "happy families drinking eggnog" Christmas show. But being an X-File, and only the second Christmas episode, it was relatively merry. Still, one might call it . . . odd. You would think I'd get tired of all these comedic, quirky forays into eccentricity. You might think I'd bore of having every episode relate to Mulder, Scully, and their relationship, for "Triangle," "Dreamland," and "How the Ghosts Stole Christmas" were essentially the same in that regard. Surprisingly, I haven't. For each has presented these topics in different ways. "Triangle" depended on its fast pace and interesting camera shots for its punch, while "Dreamland" caught the audience's attention by its sheer silliness. In "How the Ghosts Stole Christmas," the overriding theme was quite different. The ghosts' purpose, to play out the tragic drama they had started eighty years earlier, set up a melancholiac theme that would pervade throughout the episode. The most acute moment of despair occurred when both Mulder and Scully were shot, their lives apparently being drained out of them. Though I knew they would not die, I was filled with a sense of grief for these two, made even more poignant by the Christmas music playing in the background. There was definite irony in the words, "From now on your troubles will be far away," as Mulder staggered down the stairs, clutching his oozing wound. They believed they were dying, and this was conveyed across the screen, enough to make me feel the despair they must have felt. It also made the moment they realized they weren't going to die all the more joyous. Maybe they could have themselves a merry little Christmas after all.

"We almost got those two."

Though the ghosts may not have been true psychologists, they still managed to psychoanalyze Mulder and Scully as well as any shrink. They essentially acted as paranormal marriage counselors, allowing these two confused souls to understand themselves and each other better, hopefully developing a stronger relationship in the process. Like in Dicken's classic "A Christmas Carol," this experience forced them to analyze their lives from an outside perspective, enabling them to see themselves for the first time as they are . . . and make changes accordingly. As outrageous as some of the ghosts' claims may be, others had some truth to them. Mulder may not be "a total wacko maniac," and even "narcissistic egomaniac" is going a bit far, but he is most definitely "antisocial," and does seem to be "overcome by an impulse to make everyone believe" him at times. These traits are obvious even within the time span of the episode. Only someone with no life would spend Christmas Eve staking out a haunted house, and often he seemed confused as to why Scully didn't share his beliefs ("I thought everyone believed in ghosts.") However, that doesn't mean he's a bad person. He can still tell a mean ghost story, do an excellent impression of a leprechaun with his flashlight, and while he may be a loner, he's not lonely, and is therefore not the delusional man Maurice claims he is. Though that would make a nice Scully explanation for all those aliens he's seen . . .

"Do you realize how seriously disturbed that man is?"

As much as Scully tries to deny it, after this episode, I think it's safe to say she's got quite a phobia of ghosts. She may ramble on (and on and on . . . gosh she had a lot of lines to memorize!) about how ghosts are nothing but ingrained cliches from horror films, silly and ridiculous illusions resulting from man's longing for immortality and a life after death, but when it comes down to actually encountering one of these ghoulish apparitions, all the skepticism in the world can't help the inevitable outburst of terror. (And gosh what a scream it was! I was rubbing the waxy build up after that one.) But as it turns out, Scully plays a great scared person, and is at her best when she's "a little on edge." In fact, I'd venture to say that's what really "stole" the show. (Insert groan here.) Who wouldn't chuckle at her clumsy attempts to retrieve her gun . . . though you do have to wonder, what exactly would be the point of shooting a ghost? I mean, they're already dead! As with Mulder, the ghosts relished their analysis of Scully. Though I doubt her only joy in life is disproving Mulder, she does seem compelled to stick by her beliefs absolutely ("I don't believe in ghosts."). More and more though, these beliefs are becoming conflicted. She had to keep repeating, "This is some bad dream," while trapped in the house, and afterward, seemed confused and unsure about what just happened ("That was all in our heads, right?") Logically, she must know it had to have happened, for truly, how could two people share the exact same memories unless it really did happen? (Some really trippy drugs?) This confusion is most likely just another symptom of Scully's gradual metamorphosis into Mulder. Since they began working together, she's slowly taken on some of Mulder's characteristics - she's a bit of a loner, she chases after apparitions, and now it seems she's having troubles sleeping as well! I can only imagine what's next . . .

"Tell me you're not afraid."
"Okay, I'm afraid. But it's an irrational fear."

For what must have been the umpteenth time in the six years they've been working together, Mulder and Scully's relationship was put to the test in "How the Ghosts Stole Christmas." No matter how many psychics or government agents or ghosts try to turn them against each other, their bond of trust has never been breached. They may have come to the house because of their "deep seeded terror of being alone" and the lonely nature of their souls, but they left because they're not. They're lonely people, yes, but they're not alone, and that's why the ghosts couldn't defeat them. They have a trust for each other that runs deeper than any mind game. If you can believe in someone, even when they're shooting at you ("Mulder, I don't believe a word of this!"), there's definitely a bond there. That trust is what allowed them to get through this dilemma. If Mulder hadn't found Scully and realized that the shots they had received were only in their heads, they might have both ended up dead. The confused scene in the hallway, where both Mulder and Scully were apparently dying but neither had enough strength to do anything but lie there and bicker ("We should have thought of this." "You should have thought of this.") was kind of cute in a paradoxical way. It also served to heighten their utter relief when it became clear they were okay. But what most relieved me was that it wasn't just in their heads, it wasn't a dream, and it wasn't some weird rip in space and time. I would have been very upset if they had pulled that gag for the fourth week in a row (though that "let's have fake Mulder shoot Scully" was kind of old). What a nice way to end - a fairly tale ending to a ghost story.

"We're not lovers."
"But you're both so attractive, and that will work out in time."

In a show about relationships and trust, the last scene stood out as a prime example of what this episode was about. It was sweet, sentimental, and quite characteristic of the people Mulder and Scully have become. Initially suffering from the miscommunication bug every couple seems to fall prey to ("When have you proven me wrong" "You mean you don't want me out there?"), they quickly made up, and got on with the important matter of business - Christmas presents! I had to laugh when, both clutching their new toys, Mulder and Scully grinned like little kids and began ripping open the wrapping paper. I agree it was cruel and unusual punishment on Chris Carter's behalf in not showing us the presents Mulder and Scully got each other, but then again, the unknown is the nature of the show. Besides, isn't it a lot more fun trying to figure it out on your own? I know I had a good time coming up with my own wild ideas. I haven't a clue what Mulder got Scully (one idea I liked was an "I Want to Believe" poster), but I have a great idea for what Scully got Mulder. I think it would quite fitting if she got him an Apollo 13 keychain. Not only would it make his keys easier to find after being stolen by sneaky ghosts, the keychain would serve to represent their lives. They may not have reached the moon yet, in fact, they may never achieve their quest, but they always manage to make it home safely, and they still have each other. That, and it kind of sounded like a keychain rattling around in the box. :)

"I got you a little something."

As integral to the story as Mulder and Scully were the ghosts. "How the Ghosts Stole Christmas" had the smallest guest cast list of any X-File, but both Lily Tomlin and Ed Asner played their parts beautifully, delighting in the mischievous nature of the roles. I didn't even mind the fact that these two were familiar faces. One could forget that in the suspense of the moment, and by the adept way they played their parts, it didn't loose any believability in the process. However, you can tell you're not in Vancouver anymore when people start making foyer rhyme with lawyer. :-P Nevertheless, this one slip didn't make "How the Ghosts Stole Christmas" any less fun. The whole concept of two aging ghosts haunting on Christmas Eve in an attempt to instill misery and depression in their hapless victims, but in actuality more concerned with keeping up their image than the actual haunting, is a most original idea. They might not have tricked Mulder and Scully, but I wouldn't call their efforts a failure. After all, it resulted in this episode.