Wouldn't it be great if writing an X-File were as simple as magic? Merely wave a special wand, and hocus-pocus, poof! An episode magically appears. Unfortunately, "The Amazing Maleeni" did not seem to be the result of any such enchanted creation. Looking beyond the smoke and mirrors, one could see it lacked heart, soul, and at times, a head. A fun ride, but not exactly my idea of television magic.

"It's about originality, style...and more than anything, soul."

If the troika was attempting to emulate the Amazing Maleeni and end their mediocre career as a X-Files writing team with a bang, I hope they've written another episode. This one just didn't turn the full three- hundred and sixty degrees. An amusing romp into the world of disappearing tricks and the sleight of hand, all the flashy effects and cute conversations between Mulder and Scully couldn't cover the fact that its depth of theme had mysteriously vanished. I don't mean to heckle - I'm sure it's very difficult to think of an original idea for an X-File that also has some greater thematic purpose - but it seems to me that with every episode they write this threesome is getting sillier and sillier. I thought "Dreamland" was over the top, but even it contained glimpses of a deeper message. "The Amazing Maleeni" merely came across as one of the many victims of the annual January slump. Now, on to the next show.

"Get on with it!"

As this was an X-File, I initially figured LaBonge and Maleeni had something more up their sleeves than simple magic. When it became clear this presumption was no more than an illusion of my own making, I started to wonder if The X-Files had finally run out of truly paranormal subjects. Magic is associated with the unknown and may seem supernatural to the untrained eye, but its basis has always remained firmly in the realm of the explainable. The ability to turn your head in a complete circle isn't exactly normal, but I don't know if I would call it paranormal either (unless it's in a "Exorcist" sort of way). Yet after that one mystical trick in the teaser this case was nothing more than a murder mystery. I once speculated that it would be refreshing to see a rational interpretation win out for once. Here, it disappointed me, especially in the way the conclusion was dealt with. Mulder's description with its black-and-white flashbacks and exceedingly logical progression of events was just a little too clean, and a tad too reminiscent of "Murder, She Wrote" for my liking. Not that this genre of television doesn't have its place. I just never thought I see it on The X-Files. As unfounded as some of Mulder's theories are, they have become the backbone of the series. Thus the incongruity of this stylistic amalgamation was almost amusing. Which fit, I suppose, since this episode wasn't anything but a light-hearted look at a world ruled by paradoxes. Now you see it...now you don't.

"Neat trick, huh?"

Mulder and Scully have been through many hardships together in their work on the X-Files. Abductions, serious injuries, and lost family members are all typical features of the average mythology episode. But "The Amazing Maleeni" made Mulder and Scully smile, and for this, I can almost forgive the writers its faults. The Great Muldini and his contortionist partner have always made for double bill I wouldn't want to miss, and "The Amazing Maleeni" provided ample opportunity for them to work their magic together. As usual, Mulder proved to be the more enthusiastic of the two, looking more like a child who had eaten too much cotton candy than an FBI agent. While he learned how to make a quarter disappear, the somewhat less exuberant Scully pondered how this amateur magician had convinced her to travel 3000 miles to investigate another of his crazy ideas. She claimed it was a trick, but past experience shows this feat requires no magic. (Remember "Quagmire"? Poor Queequeg's demise was a direct result of one of Mulder's little surprise trips.) However, even the reluctant Scully was soon swayed by the power of illusion. After silently observing the stunts Mulder had been playing on her over the course of the episode, she pulled out the ultimate trick. Scully may not have been able to mimic Maleeni's 360 with his head (something her action figure is creepily adept at), but her humeral rotation was still more impressive than Mulder's coin out of the nose. Of course this left Mulder feeling horribly inadequate, especially when she coyly refused to explain herself. Still...you can tell us, right? How'd you do it? Dislocate your elbow? Hire a stand-in? There's got to be an explanation...

"How'd you do that? Oh right. Magic."

After last season's sugary overdose, I rejoiced when it seemed "The X-Files" had finally decided to go back to its dark origins. But I had forgotten one very important point - whenever John Shiban, Vince Gilligan, and Frank Spotnitz get together, the sweetness cannot help but flow. The unfortunate result of one of these effusions, this episode was charmingly entertaining, but not nearly as amazing as it claimed to be. Their greatest show ever will have to wait.

"Abracadabra man."

Notes:

--One of my favourite parts of the episode was the teaser. The expansive shot of the Santa Monica Pier, the introduction of Ricky Jay as Maleeni (I loved his archaic style of speech), and the effect of Maleeni's head just sort of "plopping" off his body made for an auspicious beginning.

--I also really liked Mark Snow's score. The rhythmic tapping in the armoured truck and the circus music which pervaded the episode set the scene well.

--Craddock Marine Bank, everyone's favourite explosive monetary institution, made a reappearance in "The Amazing Maleeni." So, if you missed it the first five hundred times in "Monday," here it is again.

--Speaking of Craddock Marine, the boardroom at the bank looked suspiciously like Skinner's office. Was this just a coincidence, or another optical illusion?

--I found Maleeni's response to Scully's suggestion that he could cheat at poker ("But how could I live with myself? Who raised you?") kind of ironic since this is the (normally) moral Scully, who just earlier suggested he might cooperate with them simply for "...a feeling of pride from performing your civic duty." I guess her experience in "Orison" clouded her judgement.

--"Good morning Mr. and Mrs..." Another case of mistaken identity. They're not far from wrong, but please, can we put this joke to rest?

--Watch out for the plot hole! If Maleeni and LaBonge were attempting to get the FBI involved in this case so that they could steal their thumb print and badge number, why did they pick such an ambiguous crime? It may or may not have been murder, and only involved the FBI because it peaked Mulder's interest.

--I wonder if the decision to make Pinchbeck "lose his legs" was an allusion to the technology Ricky Jay created for "Forrest Gump." He developed the special effects that made Gary Sinese look like a double amputee.