A big thing that we all know about and see on a daily basis is man's relationship, and in many instances, his battle against nature. Despite the fact that we need the very basis of nature to stay alive, we constantly do whatever we can in our power to diminish it and do things that only serve our own interests, instead of thinking about what would be best for our planet. In some cases, nature decides to fight back, and while we mostly find this happening in the form of diseases or natural disasters, it feels right "The X-Files" would do it in their own ways. This is not the first time they've explored this, and if I know the structure of the show, it's also not going to be the last time. The episode shares a lot of similarities to "Predator," and that is definitely not a bad thing, because it adds to this episode's incredible sense of constant dread, and the makeup used on the monsters are absolutely phenomenal. The highlight of the episode is the continued development of the relationship between Mulder and Scully, and this episode features multiple moments of genuine affection between the two; exactly what we like to see.
The idea of using these creatures protecting their home as a type of commentary on humanity's constant desire to conquer things and use them as their own was a very cool direction to take. It is nature's way of telling you not to get ahead of yourself and break down the things that were just to replace it with new and lifeless stuff. It's a fun direction to take it in, and the monsters work very well as a creepy agent of nature in this. The makeup effects are brilliantly done and makes them blend in with nature quite seamlessly.
Any episode that primarily focuses its time on Mulder and Scully's relationship is a good one, and this entire episode really hits home the fact that they have a very special relationship. The opening scene features a monologue about a seminar that FBI agents attend, and it's clear these two have a rapport that can't be attained through a few days of courses. It's amplified in a magnificent scene set in the woods, where Scully gracefully sings "Joy to the World" for a wounded Mulder, a scene that may have been the emphasis of their beautiful, yet really chaotic relationship.
The technical aspects of this episode are on-point. The makeup works very well, but the cinematography is also in a league of its own, navigating the characters through this insane maze of a forest without ever losing their own way in it. There are some truly frightening shots and every time they perform a visual illusion with the monsters, it's chilling and ecstatic to watch. And despite the shooting issues they had because of rain, none of those issues translate to the screen, which only shows the product of a well-oiled crew of people who really performed at their best.
"Detour" is another great monster-of-the-week case that uses its sci-fi genre and tone to get an important message across in terms of its nature advocacy. The technical aspects are working at the highest level with some spellbinding cinematography and incredible makeup, while the writing truly highlights the relationship between our two favorite FBI agents.
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