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10 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :- Resist Or Serve, 25 November 2006 Author: Muldernsanta from Washington Terrace, Utah
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
You've got to be paying attention while watching The Red and the Black. With all the new twists and turns that occur, it's hard to keep track. Supposedly, Kryeck is working for the Russians and Marita is working for the United Nations. Then, we discover that those two are working together and are lovers. Then, we discover that Marita is betraying Krycek and attempting to help Mulder. Now, we have faceless alien rebels who are resisting colonization. And, a vaccine for the black oil has supposedly been developed. Lots of exciting new developments that make this two-parter fun to watch. Now for some random episode thoughts: I liked the helicopter blade sound effects as Mulder is exploring the burn site. Aliens just can't fly. They are always crashing their spacecrafts. I found it touching that Scully subconsciously reaches for Mulder's hand during her regression hypnosis. The special effect of Cassandra being abducted is really cool with the ashes floating upward with Cassandra. Classic visual. The syndicate really isn't working well together. First Elder decides to go ahead and turn the alien rebel over to the colonists without consulting the Well-Manicured Man. I think they are in disarray because of the alien rebels and don't know how to approach the situation. Last of all, it appears that Krycek of all people helps Mulder to start believing again. Mulder and Krycek have a great exchange in Mulder's apartment, Krycek turning to Mulder for help after his alliance with Marita has failed and the syndicate will have nothing to do with him. The new twists and developments along with the role reversal of Mulder and Scully help keep Patient X and The Red and the Black up with best of the mythology episodes.
3 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :- hypnotic regression, 17 October 2008 Author: koalablue_1993 from Australia
I believe Cassandra Spender's abduction is a pure, classic X-Files moment. The visuals in the scene where fantastic. Scully's hypnotic regression scene has to be my favorite moment in the entire season, its just pure "X-Files" greatness. Laurie Holdie is red hot as Marita Covarrubias, she and Krycek share the best kiss in the entire series. Brian Thompson is back for a little while as the awesome Alien Bounty Hunter. Veronica Cartwright gave a great performance in the first part of this two-parter. She is really good. When the episode ends you are left asking for more. These are great mythology episodes, that you should not skip.
1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :- If those are my last words I can do better., 28 June 2009 Author: Sanpaco13 from Sandy, UT, United States
Beginning. A man is typing a letter to his son whom it is apparent that he is somewhat distanced from. As he types a boy marches through the snow in the woods to a cabin where the man has been living for a time. It is none other than the Cigarrette Smoking Man who last we knew had been shot in his office and left for dead. But we will not find this out until later. The boy has come to deliver the message for the man to: "Federal Bureau of Investigation". We find out immediately that not everyone has died in the faceless alien burnings. Scully is alive but in bad shape; she has no memory of how she got there or what happened. Later she undergoes hypnosis to recall the events and we learn that the faceless aliens were killed in the act of burning the abductees and then they took Cassandra Spender with them, leaving everything else. The theme of the episode almost seems to be the entire crew of people who have doubted Mulder's beliefs in the past trying believing his new theory of government plot and misdirection as even less plausible. Many important mythology facts are learned. The purpose of the faceless rebel aliens and the existence of the Russian vaccine for the black oil being key. A note on the crash of the rebel alien craft, maybe if they wouldn't have crashed if they had had at least the one flying the craft NOT sew his eyes shut? Just a thought. And as a Mulder honorable mention...KRYCEK: You must be losing it, Mulder. I could beat you with one hand.MULDER: Isn't that how you like to beat yourself? If those are my last words I can do better.9 out of 10.
One Law: Fight or die. One Rule: Resist or serve, 7 December 2009 Author: Furious_Fenner from United Kingdom
The conclusion to the brilliant two parter started up by Patient X, The Red and the Black continues a breathless introduction of numerous new characters, alien races, plot points and revelations that breathes life into the stale Mythology.We head back into the story the morning after the night before, with a new massacre at the bridge sitting proudly alongside those in Kazahkstan and Skyland Mountain. Mulder and Skinner arrive desperately seeking Scully, and luckily she is found with only superficial burns in a culvert nearby. It seems this attack wasn't as successful as those before.Meanwhile, Krycek endures some role reversal at the hands of Well-Manicured Man who informs him of Marita's fate. She, incidentally, is in a Syndicate run medical centre being treated for the black oil. WWM demands the vaccine from Krycek, but the double agent insists his information is more vital, even when chained up in the hold of a ship that is soon heading back to Russia and no doubt signalling a rather gruesome end for our Comrade. Scully under goes hypno-therapy with Dr Werber in an attempt to unlock her memories, which shows what occurred.Like Patient X, the strength in The Red and the Black is the writing. Chris Carter's direction is impeccable, Mark Snow's score is perfect and the acting is sublime, but the dialogue sparkles and the numerous subplots and bluffs are never too much to take in. The pace is excellent, and there's plenty of excitement, awesome reveals and great character moments. It's a very quotable episode, and features some memorable work from recurring characters (in particular Krycek and Well-Manicured Man, both brilliant here).Overall, Patient X/The Red and the Black is an action packed, intelligent and highly satisfying cinematic double bill which for me is probably the pinnacle of the mythology.
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