The X-Files: Deep Throat

Case: The disappearance of Colonel Robert Budahas, a U.S. Air Force test pilot.
Destination: Ellens Air Force Base, Southwest Idaho

For our second outing, we continue with the overarching alien and government conspiracy plot. Agent Mulder believes that the missing Colonel Budahas was a test pilot for UFO-based military aircraft. In theory, the colonel cracked because of the extreme stresses his body experienced, and was then "disappeared" by the military because he knew too much. When Mulder and Scully come to investigate, the colonel suddenly returns, but it appears part of his memory was wiped. All of which, of course, is unsubstantiated. Once again, Mulder and Scully get serious interference during their investigation and their evidence gets taken/destroyed, leaving them with nothing, except the cryptic musings of a new mysterious figure we come to know as ‘Deep Throat.’

This episode is notable, not so much for the case of the week, but for the title character it introduces and its further elaboration on the government conspiracy at the heart of the series mythology. Even though Mulder’s “consuming devotion” to his beliefs often makes him seem like a UFO-obsessed, conspiracy theorist nutjob, it turns out he’s right. His search for The Truth isn’t just the pipe dream of a deranged man. The government is most definitely covering something up, very possibly the existence of extra-terrestrials. Now, the primary question is what exactly are they hiding and why? And why is this mysterious ‘Deep Throat’ trying to help Mulder to expose the conspiracy?

The episode also gives us an interesting look at the evolution of the Mulder and Scully partnership. It seems as though it has been a little while since the pilot episode. Scully has gone from new kid on the block to alternately resigned, exasperated, frustrated, and bemused by Mulder’s interests and modus operandi. (The looks she gives him throughout the episode make me chuckle.) But when the going gets tough and things get serious, she stands by him and gets him out of trouble, even though he brought it on himself with his impulsive behavior.

I give Mulder credit for not dragging Scully along with him, but sneaking onto that air base was just plain irrational and stupid. After all these years, I still don’t understand why any part of him thought that was a good idea. What was he hoping to get? Photographs? Did he just want to see what they were doing, so he could know for his own edification? What on earth made him think he wouldn’t get caught? I know he said that finding out what they are hiding is all that matters to him, but this episode really demonstrates just how driven and desperate he is.

Other Thoughts

We got opening credits this week, which are some of my all-time favorite show credits. From the haunting “whistle,” to the blurry UFO and freaky paranormal images (my favorite has always been the white corpse outline falling into the blue ethereal handprint), to the closing shot of the show’s clever mantra “The Truth is Out There.”

It looked like Mulder was going to kiss Scully when he first came up to her in the bar. Weird. At this point, I don’t get the sense that they are into each other in that way. I wonder if he does that kind of stuff just to keep her off balance.

I loved seeing a pre-Buffy Seth Green as the stoner kid. Hilarious!

It was great fun to see uber-tough Scully. Especially when she turned her anger back on Mulder and lashed out at him for continuing to pursue a non-existent case. You tell him, Scully! The man needs to learn when to just let things go. (Good luck with that.)

Quotes

Mulder: “Tell me I’m crazy.”
Scully: “Mulder, you’re crazy.”

Paul: “Everything you’ve seen here is equal to the protection we give it. It is you who have acted inappropriately.” In that moment, it’s kind of hard not to agree with Paul.

Deep Throat: “Mr. Mulder, why are those---like yourself---who believe in the existence of extra-terrestrial life on this earth, not dissuaded by all the evidence to the contrary?”
Mulder: “Because all the evidence to the contrary is not entirely dissuasive.”
Deep Throat: “Precisely.”

Mulder: “They’re here, aren’t they?”
Deep Throat: “Mr. Mulder, they’ve been here for a long, long time.”

Final Analysis: For me, not as good as the pilot, but it was interesting and certainly more humorous. The episode furthered the series mythology by showing us that Mulder’s not crazy and by providing him with his very own secret informant, presumably from inside the conspiracy. It also showed us just how far Mulder is willing go to find his answers, no matter the cost.

(Season 1, episode 2)