X-Files Rerun "Blood"

"She couldn't come. She was afraid of her love for you."

Originally Aired 9/30/94

Larry's finally had enough of Daryl and Daryl.

Surely inspired by the instances of people “going postal” in the early 1990’s, this X-Files episode is a wonderful blend of thrills, humor, and paranoia. It’s a big rebound for Morgan and Wong after their first episode of this season called “Little Green Men.” Maybe the humor has to do with the story coming from Glen Morgan’s brother Darin, though this week’s guest star William Sanderson is deserving of a lot credit, too. He is spectacular as his character succumbs to the subliminal messages that he’s tried to resist throughout the episode.

I think this episode is full of a lot of unintentional humor. It starts right away with Funsch’s boss calling him into his office to fire him, but first he offers a glass of water as some form of sympathy. “Here’s a glass of water, now get the hell out, you’re FIRED!” is pretty much how that scene plays out. Funsch is allowed to finish off the work week and that’s when he sees the first of many subliminal messages on a digital screen at work. More of this humor follows as a lady is at the most dimly-lit mechanic’s shop I’ve ever seen. The mechanic asks the lady to come closer so he can explain all of the repairs he’s going to recommend, but I’m with that lady, I wouldn’t go any closer either! From the sounds of it, she needs more than just a simple repair as the guy says oil is leaking everywhere, it’s not putting out an efficient amount of horsepower, engine mounts need replaced, and on and on. Later is actually an intentionally humorous scene with the Lone Gun Men and Frohike asks Mulder about Scully. I got a bigger kick out of Byers playing old newsreel footage of the government spraying DDT, as if they just have all of this essential footage Mulder needs that’s cued up and waiting for his next visit.

Finally Funch snaps after seeing too many of these messages that are commanding him too kill, though I don’t blame him for getting mad at that frantic door-buzzing from that lady conducting cholesterol tests. The scene where he snaps at the city bus driver is awesome, as he goes from yelling to board the bus to commanding him to stop in a matter of seconds. The finale takes place at a community college, which is also borrowed from a real-life event. I’ve noticed other shows have had characters attempting to pick off innocent bystanders with a shotgun from their perch in a clock tower, from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to King of the Hill. One thing that did slightly disappoint me was earlier in the episode when Mulder lists other killings caused by digital read-outs, with one being at a gas station. That would be cool to see, though maybe it’s too grim for television, as I imagined someone being set on fire; I guess that’s better left to your imagination. After its forty-five minutes have wrapped up, “Blood” is a fun gem that’s full of mad-cap mayhem.