The X-Files 4/7
04-07-02, 11:17 AM
#1
DVD Talk Limited Edition
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The X-Files 4/7
Improbable
The agents rely on numerology, their powers of deduction and a mysterious stranger to help catch a serial killer.
Written and Directed by Chris Carter
Guest Star: Burt Reynolds
The agents rely on numerology, their powers of deduction and a mysterious stranger to help catch a serial killer.
Written and Directed by Chris Carter
Guest Star: Burt Reynolds
04-07-02, 02:50 PM
#3
DVD Talk Limited Edition
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Originally posted by Snake Plissken
uh, common sense says we have to watch the episode before we can talk about it.
uh, common sense says we have to watch the episode before we can talk about it.
Just getting the thread ready.
04-08-02, 02:42 AM
#12
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Finally an episode I can at least laugh with! I dug it, great soundtrack even. This reminded me of the MIB epsiode many moons ago. Although, the checkers red and black for hair coloring analogy I thought was pretty damn lame.
I even like that they had to do some research on it as well--not numerology but unified theory.
I even like that they had to do some research on it as well--not numerology but unified theory.
Spoiler:
Last edited by superstringtheory; 04-08-02 at 02:53 AM.
04-08-02, 07:56 AM
#14
DVD Talk Hero
Yet another breather episode marking time as we wind down the X-Files franchise on TV.
Burt Reynolds was his charming self as something akin to a force of nature when it comes to games of chance.
The dialog between FBI agents sounded like something out of plays with a bit of iambic pentameter tossed in. Doggett ruined that scene, though.
Reyes and her numerology theory breaks a serial killer case, and the rest of the episode is played for subtle laughs as Reyes and Scully are stuck in a garage with Reynolds, playing checkers.
Too bad they didn't explain the motivation as to why there would be 9 murders, or why the pattern was blonde, brunette, redhead. Was the serial killer compelled based on some equation that guided his action? The episode tried to convey that numerous times, but it sort of fell flat.
But, it was a pleasant episode to watch, as the agents became more and more puzzled by Reyes's magic number tricks.
Oh, did enjoy the music on the show.
Burt Reynolds was his charming self as something akin to a force of nature when it comes to games of chance.
The dialog between FBI agents sounded like something out of plays with a bit of iambic pentameter tossed in. Doggett ruined that scene, though.
Reyes and her numerology theory breaks a serial killer case, and the rest of the episode is played for subtle laughs as Reyes and Scully are stuck in a garage with Reynolds, playing checkers.
Too bad they didn't explain the motivation as to why there would be 9 murders, or why the pattern was blonde, brunette, redhead. Was the serial killer compelled based on some equation that guided his action? The episode tried to convey that numerous times, but it sort of fell flat.
But, it was a pleasant episode to watch, as the agents became more and more puzzled by Reyes's magic number tricks.
Oh, did enjoy the music on the show.
04-08-02, 08:50 AM
#16
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Okay - let me try to take a stab at this complex and well constructed epsiode (I wish I had taped it!).
There were series of 3's going on throughout the episode - visuals abounding with threes (three bangs on pipes by someone in the street, the dominos were blanks with multiples of three - six and three, three sixes (or now possibly NINES) in the numerologists bangs).
Scully sees a six domino marking on the numerologist (great to see Ellen Greene getting work - too bad she only had one real scene) when she starts the autopsy at 6:06pm which leads her to realize that the ring marking on all the victims was 666 - THREE SIXES (or possibly 999)...
The overall concept that Reyes eventually gets to is that there are three murders in each set of victims - Burt Reynolds tips them off to the "hair color" with the checker game. Reyes with black hair and Scully with red. Scully is going to be the final murder since her numerology number (later revealed by Reyes) is a nine - I think Reyes says Doggett is a six but what did she say she herself was? I think you can assume that the "number" for each victim in order is 3-6-9 (three sets of three).
The whole gist of the epsiode is that the killer is NOT planning the murders. It is a cold, unknowing calculation which leads to each - no research, hunting or investigation of the victim. The numbers are simply plunked into place automatically and the murder happens (which is why Reynolds says to the killer, Dwyane(?), in the beginning that the cards don't control the player the player needs to control the game because the cards are what they are - inattimate objects).
The NINE that Doggett discovers is turned "up" in the map of the murder victims at the FBI - they THOUGHT it was a six but it was an upside down NINE. Doggett must have realized this when puzzling over the death of the numerologist ("Her number was up"
) since she was the seventh victim which seemingly breaks the pattern of SIXES.
Was anyone able to translate the message after the opening credits which replaced "The Truth is out there"? It was three words, and I thought it said something about TRIO...
Overall this was a brilliantly constructed epsiode which I would LOVE to hear Carter give commentary on. I don't think I got half the number jokes and there was definitely something important about the music. The dialogue was trying to be metrical in some fashion which goes with the numbers too. There really was a LOT going on in the background. As for Reynolds' face at the end - don't ask me (kinda reminded me of a Moulin Rouge trick with the pan out - lots of overhead shots in this episode). I don't get it.
I thought the funniest moment was Scully trying to shoot off the combo lock - her way of trying to get around the numbers.
There were series of 3's going on throughout the episode - visuals abounding with threes (three bangs on pipes by someone in the street, the dominos were blanks with multiples of three - six and three, three sixes (or now possibly NINES) in the numerologists bangs).
Scully sees a six domino marking on the numerologist (great to see Ellen Greene getting work - too bad she only had one real scene) when she starts the autopsy at 6:06pm which leads her to realize that the ring marking on all the victims was 666 - THREE SIXES (or possibly 999)...
The overall concept that Reyes eventually gets to is that there are three murders in each set of victims - Burt Reynolds tips them off to the "hair color" with the checker game. Reyes with black hair and Scully with red. Scully is going to be the final murder since her numerology number (later revealed by Reyes) is a nine - I think Reyes says Doggett is a six but what did she say she herself was? I think you can assume that the "number" for each victim in order is 3-6-9 (three sets of three).
The whole gist of the epsiode is that the killer is NOT planning the murders. It is a cold, unknowing calculation which leads to each - no research, hunting or investigation of the victim. The numbers are simply plunked into place automatically and the murder happens (which is why Reynolds says to the killer, Dwyane(?), in the beginning that the cards don't control the player the player needs to control the game because the cards are what they are - inattimate objects).
The NINE that Doggett discovers is turned "up" in the map of the murder victims at the FBI - they THOUGHT it was a six but it was an upside down NINE. Doggett must have realized this when puzzling over the death of the numerologist ("Her number was up"
) since she was the seventh victim which seemingly breaks the pattern of SIXES.Was anyone able to translate the message after the opening credits which replaced "The Truth is out there"? It was three words, and I thought it said something about TRIO...
Overall this was a brilliantly constructed epsiode which I would LOVE to hear Carter give commentary on. I don't think I got half the number jokes and there was definitely something important about the music. The dialogue was trying to be metrical in some fashion which goes with the numbers too. There really was a LOT going on in the background. As for Reynolds' face at the end - don't ask me (kinda reminded me of a Moulin Rouge trick with the pan out - lots of overhead shots in this episode). I don't get it.
I thought the funniest moment was Scully trying to shoot off the combo lock - her way of trying to get around the numbers.
Last edited by rfduncan; 04-08-02 at 08:55 AM.
04-08-02, 12:23 PM
#17
DVD Talk God
Originally posted by Snake Plissken
uh, common sense says we have to watch the episode before we can talk about it.
uh, common sense says we have to watch the episode before we can talk about it.
04-08-02, 01:57 PM
#20
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Damn, when are the mythology episodes going to begin? I don't think there has been once since the countdown began. I believe the last one was done before the countdown (when Scully's baby was kidnapped). Although I could be wrong.
04-08-02, 02:41 PM
#22
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Originally posted by rfduncan
Was anyone able to translate the message after the opening credits which replaced "The Truth is out there"? It was three words, and I thought it said something about TRIO...
Was anyone able to translate the message after the opening credits which replaced "The Truth is out there"? It was three words, and I thought it said something about TRIO...
I think it was "Dio ti ama". I did a web search on the phrase and it appears to mean something along hte lines of "God loves you" (assuming I got the phrase right in the first place).
04-10-02, 01:07 PM
#25
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Originally posted by AgtFox
Damn, when are the mythology episodes going to begin?
Damn, when are the mythology episodes going to begin?