💫 Ascend To The Stars 💫

Disclaimer: this is not set out to be an official ranking list, it is just my opinion. It is okay to disagree. See here for individual ranking lists: season 1, season 2, and season 3.

Top 10 worst episodes:

73. Excelsis Dei.

72. The Walk.

71. Space.

70. Roland.

69. Shadows.

68. Lazarus.

67. Fire.

66. Gender Bender.

65. Grotesque.

64. Hell Money.

63. The List.

4x15: Kaddish.

Episode type: monster of the week.

Written by: Howard Gordon.

Directed by: Kim Manners.

Episode rating: 👽👽👽.75

My enjoyment: 👽👽👽

Overall score: 👽👽👽.37

MSR: 🐝🐝

Favourite scene: ?

Favourite quote: ?

My thoughts:

My main issue with this episode is that it doesn’t really tie into anything. An emphasis could have been placed on Mulder and even if nobody wanted to go down the Mulder is Jewish route, Scully has cancer. Scully is dying at some point and it could’ve looped back around to that. Instead we get a very basic MOTW episode that could fit in anywhere (I know this was originally meant to be written for early s4/pre cancer arc and it shows) the episode by itself isn’t one of my favourites but the Jewish mythology held my interest.

Running commentary:

* It was going pretty well and then I heard the ethnic flutes. They’re so overused and not necessary at all. They could’ve gone with a really creepy score instead.

* Scully looks so good here wtf.

* Oh yeah remember she has cancer.

* He’s meant to be 16??

* Jacob’s making some good points here.

* That man looks like a paedophile.

* Third use of ethnic flutes. Gonna start a counter.

* “Seems pretty redundant messing up the body of the man they already killed.”

* I love logical scientific scully.

* Love a scully pov cam.

* The score could’ve been so much better in this episode.

* If it’s not locked does that mean they just get to enter?

* Fourth ethnic flutes.

* Feel like Scully should’ve done the rope cutting no?

* Why did mulder start shooting him?

* That’s gotta be a heavy ring.

* Also. Why did scully not come up to mulder when she heard the gunfire? I know so it’s probably so she didn’t see the golem but mulder could’ve been being shot to pieces up there.

4x14: Memento Mori.

Episode type: mytharc.

Written by: Carter, Gilligan, Shiban, Spotnitz.

Directed by: Rob Bowman.

Episode rating: 👽👽👽👽

My enjoyment: 👽👽👽👽.5

Overall score: 👽👽👽👽.25

MSR: 🐝🐝🐝🐝

Favourite scene: the scene between csm and skinner in the basement.

Favourite quote: “you have one remaining witness, agent scully.”

Running commentary:

* Do you think scully broke into this lab to look at her x ray or did she ask to look at it? I like to think she just broke in.

* “Forgive me for not making the rest of the journey with you.” 😭

* Do you think they ever considered actually killing scully off at the end of this?

* Counter for how many times mulder and scully are mistaken as a couple.

* “Quit staring at me I’m fine.” 😭

* “You have one remaining witness, agent scully.” I love that bit.

* So that guy was just waiting outside on the off chance Mulder would leave?

* Maggies anger totally justified btw. Scully can’t take accountability.

* Byers sad he isn’t part of the break in anymore.

* And mulder just keeps scully’s ova in his freezer does he.

My thoughts:

My order remains the same: never again, Leonard Betts then memento Mori. The transition from scully’s nosebleed at the end of Leonard Betts into the opening scene for this episode bleeds together perfectly I wish that was the original airing order. Like I said in my last post, by having this episode follow Never Again there’s a disconnect between mulder’s behaviour in that episode versus this episode and the flowers and joking in their first scene is through guilt. Anyway, I like mulder in this episode regardless he should have told her about her ova though.

4x13: Never Again.

Episode type: monster of the week.

Written by: Glen Morgan & James Wong.

Directed by: Rob Bowman.

Episode rating: 👽👽👽.75

My enjoyment: 👽👽.5

Overall score: 👽👽👽.12

MSR: 🐝🐝🐝🐝

Favourite scene: the ending scene with mulder and scully and they just stop talking. And I like the bar scene with Ed and Scully too actu

Favourite quote: 🤷

My thoughts:

I don't actually know if I like this episode. I feel so uncomfortable watching it alone, idk. I do prefer watching this episode before Leonard Betts though. I don't like how lost Scully appears throughout the episode to be directly related to her cancer revelation. I prefer her knowing something is wrong but not knowing exactly what it is but trying to fix herself by doing things she wouldn't necessarily do and then it's the cancer reveal and then it's into Memento Mori. Also thinking about how Mulder is in this episode because he is such an asshole and I don't like the idea that Scully telling him she has cancer be what makes him realise he fucked up and now he's guilty about it. I'd rather he realise he messed up just through time passing (nothing triggering it like her cancer reveal) and that's why he tells her she did a good job at the end of Leonard Betts because that alone, to me, as always seemed weird- Mulder doesn't really praise Scully that often for just doing her job but if he's doing it because he realised he wasn't the best to her X amount of weeks ago, I just like that more than it just being because she told him she has cancer.

Running commentary:

* Ed’s apartment looks like mulder’s. Just less furniture.

* Oh yeah she’s got big cancer.

* Ooh scully looking at the list of names and then looking at mulder’s name plate later on.

* Did you know there has been THREE desks in this damn office before.

* THERES ONE BEHIND THEM.

* “I’m not going.”

* I love it when they’re not friends.

* Male rage 😐

* Can nobody hear this? Or is the idea that nobody cares?

* I forget how many scenes aren’t actually scully scenes.

* The Road™️

* Could’ve put that sauce back in its proper place scully.

* She should’ve got that crocodile thing next to the snake instead.

* I don’t get the whole tattoo you deserve thing they do in this. I use a dumbo tattoo, what does that mean.

* Feels slightly anti-tattoo.

* 5:24. Is that morning or evening?

* Wonder if Mulder felt like a right tit after doing that.

* Ouch.

* I’m convinced they’ve just reused mulder’s apartment for Ed’s.

* Ngl the tattoo scene gives me second hand embarrassment.

* I’m team they had sex btw.

* Ooh the last time they spoke she told him she was going on a date and he’s not heard anything since. He thinks somethings happened to her.

* Why did she take the notepad??

* Oh did she just rip the page out.

* Just casually signing into your fbi account on the guy who’s suspected of murdering a woman downstairs’ computer. Zero survival instincts.

* I always forget how much she smacks into that wall.

4x12: Leonard Betts.

Episode type: monster of the week.

Episode rating: 👽👽👽👽.75

My enjoyment: 👽👽👽👽.5

Overall score: 👽👽👽👽.62

MSR: 🐝🐝🐝

Favourite character: mulder and scully.

Favourite scene: when scully asks mulder to look through the body parts waste bin thing and mulder very clearly does not want to.

Favourite quote: “you have something I need.” (The version said to scully)

My thoughts:

I’m gonna treat this episode, never again, and memento Mori as a three parter cause I think they all kinda work together. Anyway, usually I’ll watch never again before this episode but for the sake of this rewatch I thought id watch it in airing order just to see and spoiler alert but I do prefer to watch never again before this episode but I’ll speak more on that when I get to the never again post next time.

This episode wouldn’t be as high up on the list if it wasn’t for the twist. It plays out just as a normal motw, I don’t think there’s anything standout-ish about it until that final 5 minutes. Leonard Betts saying you have something I need and I immediately know what he’s referring to gets my heart racing every time. It’s out of the blue but in a good way and I love it when mytharc plots bleed into motw and this is an example of how well it can be done.

Running commentary:

* How does this woman still keep her job after that?

* The back of that ambulance is fucked.

* And i don’t think their patient is dying of cancer anymore. I think he’s just dead.

* At least they gave her a plaster for her head.

* Nah cause if I heard a dead body tryna get out of a fridge I’d be out of there immediately and probably never coming back.

* That’s called inference, mulder.

* “I’ll show you.” Scully loves a flex.

* Mulder does not want to help.

* This is the highlight of her week btw.

* Couldn’t that conversation waited until they weren’t balls deep in a load of body shit.

* Ew.

* The amount of places they just wander in alone.

* Cryptic much mulder.

* I still don’t understand how this woman has kept her job.

* And why she’s allowed to drive the ambulance.

* Chuck!!

* Her words say scully is disinterested in what chuck is doing. Her movement says otherwise.

* Way.

* “Worms. Cut a worm in half you get two.” “Mulder…they’re worms.”

* Who. Is Danny.

* Rip michelle.

* Can a security guard just smack someone with their flashlight?

* Ew.

* Love the random snow out of nowhere in that scene.

* Not their best use of cgi.

* I love mulder grabbing scully out the way.

* Well that was anti climatic.

* “Will the real Leonard Betts please stand up.”

* Ew.

* Obsessed with her climbing the ambulance.

* YOUVE GOT SOMETHING I NEED.

* Scully just wants to go home.

* The entire demeanour change for Scully. She’s literally been fine all episode but now she’s scared.

4x11: El Mundo Gira.

Episode type: monster of the week.

Episode rating: 👽.5

My enjoyment: 👽

Overall score: 👽.25

MSR: 🐝

Favourite character: no one stood out ngl 😂

Favourite scene: the dead man in the porta potty with the tendril spores coming out of his mouth.

Favourite quote: “I don’t think he’s going anywhere.”

My thoughts:

It’s not the worst episode but it’s never been one I particularly enjoyed. We’re told from the beginning that Eladio is the El Chupacabra so there’s no mystery and the telenovela theming falls very flat. So many themes fall flat like the commentary on immigrants being the aliens and being invisible. Like Teliko, it’s just written by the wrong person so there’s no depth or real experience added to the story.

Running commentary:

* Why is she yelling? She’s right next to her.

* Looks more like piss than…whatever it’s meant to be.

* Moldy Maria.

* I love mulder pushing scully’s badge down.

* “Okay but I care.”

* “The FBI? Here?” Imagine his disappointment when he realises it’s the spookies.

* Re the dead body: “I don’t think he’s going anywhere.” 😂

* I do appreciate eladio pausing perfect time so we can hear the translation.

* I thought that was an open gate they were climbing over for a second 😂

* Of course we get ethnic flutes.

* The mold around the man and the spore tendrils coming out of his mouth was really cool.

* What did gabrielle have to do with this? She just shows up randomly.

* Love lorenzo’s expression.

* Mulder: nattering about space debris and the fungus. Scully: “let me handle the fungus.” 😂 she’s sick of him.

* Why is lorenzo so aggressive with gabriela?

* Love the idea that the girl on the front never wondered where her co worker went 😂

* What is going on.

* “I’m confused by this story.” Same skinner, same.

4x10: Paper Hearts

Episode type: monster of the week.

Episode rating: 👽👽👽👽

My enjoyment: 👽👽👽👽.75

Overall score: 👽👽👽👽.37

MSR: 🐝🐝🐝🐝

Favourite character: scully.

Favourite scene: second Roche interrogation scene with both mulder and scully.

Favourite quote: “I used to think missing was worse than dead because you never knew.”

My thoughts:

I really enjoy this episode despite it being very clear that Samantha was never kidnapped by an ordinary man but I like how serious the episode is and how it does try to it does try to add a more “realistic” reason to what could’ve happened to Samantha. We know from the clones in Herrenvolk that it isn’t true but it’s a good episode nonetheless.

Mulder should not have a job at the end of this and I hate how it’s Scully who is told off about it. She isn’t his babysitter or handler and yet Mulder gets not even a slap on the wrist? It’s a little clumsy.

Running commentary:

* The best episodes are the ones that aren’t really xfiles.

* 5am on a Sunday and scully’s there.

* Love how they expect us to remember who Reggie Purdue was 😂

* This is very not scully. I love her I want more.

* “Mulder, we’ll have to verify this. Are you up for that?” 🥹

* “Yes sir and he won’t get out.” Eat your words, Mulder.

* “I used to think missing was worse than dead because you never knew.” and then the camera just on mulder the whole time 😭

* I think that guy would be less thrilled if they told him serial killer was also a paedophile.

* This basketball scene is forever ruined by the cursed face swap photo.

* “Trust a child molester.” 😭

* “Not again.” 😭

* “My last dream came true.” What was his last dream??

* Ohh the one where they found Addie.

* I love that scully didn’t say anything about mulder punching Roche but he looks at her anyway. The betrayal. Scully would never.

* “I’m not talking to you if you’re gonna hit me again.”

* I love how angry Scully is looking here.

* “Help me, Scully.”

* “You okay?” 🥹

* “Where were you when this was happening?” At home probably?? She’s not his babysitter.

* “You let me down.” SkinNER she didn’t do out.

* “You’re in the wrong house, you stupid son of a bitch. You were never here, you liar.”

* It’s interesting dream Samantha is dressed in clone Samantha’s clothes.

* Let’s be honest Mulder should’ve been fired for this 🫠

* I have to be honest I never understood the Alice in wonderland connection/reference.