All his life, Mulder has wanted access to the stuff the government knows, the conspiracies, the rogue groups and secret projects. All Morris Fletcher wants is out of the distinctly drab, boring and unrewarding life of a Man in Black. Via a strange time-space warp, they get their wishes, switching bodies and lives.
Aside from the irony that Mulder does not get what he supposed he would with Fletcher's access and that nobody in Mulder's life wants Fletcher around, especially Scully and the Lone Gunmen, the results are endlessly hilarious. His attempts to redecorate Mulder's apartment alone are worth the watch.
This episode is a great commentary, not on how diabolical the government conspiracies are (for the most part) but how boring! Not only are Mulder's expectations dashed, but Fletcher manages to throw cold water on Fox's theories and those of his friends, while dissing his lifestyle as well, intending to re-invent himself as a carefree bachelor.
The plot also owes a lot to the film "It's a Wonderful Life", in which both men-- mostly Mulder--get to see what good things they actually had in their old lives. It's not probable that they will learn enough to change permanently but even a few days' of self-examination is worth seeing.
Another blast in this episode, especially now, is the chance to see Michael McKean, who has just finished playing Saul Goodman's judgmental, unhappy, vengeful older brother Chuck McGill in "Better Call Saul". Here, he is just the opposite: a slacker, a lech and almost casually villainous, utterly lacking Chuck's high-minded "morality". It's refreshing to see a guy who just doesn't give a damn what people think of him.
I agree with the other viewers that this is one of the best, most brilliant and funny X-Files episode ever. The metaphysical contemplation by all characters are great too.
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