That "Oh...My...God!" could apply to so many things in the eighth season premiere. It could apply to the teaser, the opening credits, the first appearance of Doggett, the tombstone... suffice to say all philes sat with mouths open and eyes fully dilated throughout!

Let's consider Skinner. Boy howdy, has he changed! He is trying to make up for all those times he feels be abandoned or betrayed Mulder. He's struggling with his newfound belief, much like Scully did in "The Pilot." He's anxious to tell the truth, but the cost could be way too high. He's definitely on the right track  forming an alliance with the Lone Gunmen. I can see them doing great  things together!

Doggett is still a bit of a mystery to me. My gut instinct is to dislike the guy, especially for the way he baited Scully at the beginning. But, I can see some honor in him. He's made a stand with Kersh, which is always a good thing! I think he just wants to find Mulder, but I'm afraid he could be manipulated since he's coming into this ballgame so late. And just who's feeding him the info? Alex Krycek(who was curiously absent)? The dead-maybe Cancer Man? The Alien Bounty Hunter? We'll see...

What in heck is Gibson Praise doing at a school for the deaf? Is he just hanging out there? Did someone put him there? Is he deaf now after the operations? So many questions and I fear we won't have the answers. Let me say this: I work at a school for the deaf anf blind and you do NOT get  placed with us unless you have a documented impairment. Is he that good an actor? Or is he truly deaf?

Scully. She has so much going on inside and outside, it's no wonder she was paralyzed in front of that mirror. I can definitely see the skepticism switch turning off as the "I Believe" switch turns on. She's having to deal with an awful lot, even though Skinner's "in the know." She can't turn to Mulder. Her mother's not available right now. She's alone. And I think she's been too busy dealing with Mulder's disappearance and now the taskforce to even begin handling the fact that she's pregnant. Perhaps next week.

Is Mulder really being tortured by the aliens? Or are those just Scully's nightmares? That's the million dollar question among files. The tortures seem very much in line with documented cases of abductions and Scully's own experience. However, it is slightly different: Mulder is strapped to some kind or rock or metal device. That imagery is very similar to the story of Prometheus**. Prometheus was a titan who had the gift of foresight. He gave humans fire and technology, which angered Zeus. Zeus ordered him chained to a rock (some legends describe this as the Caucasus Mountains) and each day an eagle would land on him and eat his liver. (The liver would grow back each night.) Zeus demanded Prometheus tell him the name of the woman whose son would be greater than the father (greater than Zeus). Prometheus would not. But, Prometheus' mother did tell Zeus and Heracles released Prometheus. However, some legends state Prometheus had to carry around a piece of that rock on a chain. Some humans wore a piece of rock or gem on a ring to honor Prometheus. Prometheus then went on to become the father of the Greek Noah, who survived the flood in an ark/box, according to some. Interesting, isn't it? Especially in light of Scully's pregnancy.

Next week, perhaps we'll get some answers, and I stress SOME. But, the cliffhanger was mindboggling: Mulder! It's gotta be the Alien Bounty Hunter... right?
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

within these walls by susan frankovich ~~~~~~ within these walls i am nothing to Them i am an object a test subject to be examined for study within these walls i am nothing time and time again They dip inside of me methodically carving into who i am and scraping out pieces of my soul within these walls i am nothing but i feel everything -to see more of Susan's poems visit  Reflections

 

*a co-worker phile who is boycotting the new season inspired this!
**Thanks to Just Wondering and everyone at X-Files Cafe for the heads-up on Prometheus.