AIR DATE:  October 11, 1996
Written by Glen Morgan and James Wong
Directed by Kim Manners

	"Home" will only work for you if you are willing to suspend your
belief in how certain things happened in the episode: 

1) The Sheriff called the F.B.I. first instead of the State Police.

2) Scully and Mulder claiming it would take a day to be able to get backup
for their assault on the Peacock brothers house. 

3) The Sheriff wouldn't have thought the brothers were the suspects for
the buried baby right from the beginning.

	If you can get by these and a few other things then you'll find
this an enjoyable X-Files episode.  Unfortunately, for me I couldn't get
beyond the illogical actions of some of the characters throughout the
episode.  It always amazes me how I can watch some X-Files episodes along
with other tv shows and movies that I know as I'm watching them what is
going doesn't make sense yet I willing go along for the ride because I'm
being entertained.  It was hard to find "Home"  entertaining since it
seemed to attempt to make fun of the idea that small towns are so safe you
don't have to lock your doors at night, etc.  while at the same time
saying there is always evilness in small towns.  The unnecessary violence
that ran throughout the show put a real damper on the overall feel of the
episode.  Were we supposed to think it is funny in a black comedy kind of
way that as the three brothers are driving up to kill the Sheriff that
dippy sweet song is playing on the radio?  I don't mind violence in movies
or tv as long as it serves a purpose, but I don't think the murder of the
Sheriff and his wife served anything other than trying to be cute in
showing the brothers animal instinct to survive and the futility of the
Sheriff's belief in a small town lifestyle.

	I know I'm in trouble with an X-Files episode when while I'm
watching it I start asking myself questions such as "Do they pay taxes? 
Do they file a yearly income tax?  What about state taxes and property
taxes?  Do they pay by check?  Who went out and brought their clothes,
kitchen equipment, etc.?"  When these things start popping into my head
during an episode then I know I'm in trouble since these are the kind of
things that one shouldn't be thinking about during an episode, but do when
what is happening on the screen isn't that interesting or believable.  I
guess I expected too much from Glen Morgan and James Wong, but even they
can write some clunkers ("3").  At least when Morgan and Wong write a
sinker they don't sink like last year's "Hell's Money" instead their
episodes are okay.  It's not bad nor is it good, it is just there and
either you will like it or you won't.

Now onto the random thoughts and musings:

- I have to admit I should have seen it a mile away, but it took me off
guard when Scully started to use that phrase from the movie "Babe".  Does
anyone ever wonder how allowing children nowadays to watch a movie over
and over again is affecting them?  Considering how when I was a kid you
saw a movie maybe twice if you were lucky.  I only mention this because
Scully says she spend the weekend with her nephew who watched "Babe"  15
times.  Oh yeah, if Scully spent the weekend with her nephew does this
mean one of her elusive brothers lives in the Washington/Baltimore area? 
You had to think they lived far away since they were never around for any
family emergency.  Hell, I'm surprised they even showed up for their
father's funeral.  Basically, I want an episode where we get to meet these
so-called brothers.

- The conversation between Scully and Mulder outside the police station
wasn't too bad.  The best bit was Mulder saying that other than alien
abductions and international conspiracies the Mulder genes pass muster.

- The callousness of Scully and Mulder at the scene of the Sheriff and his
wife's murder was a new high of distancing themselves from the situation. 
I know they are supposed to never show any emotions on the show, but
Mulder and Scully showed more horror looking at the deformed body of
Mother Peacock than at the brutal murdered bodies of the Sheriff and his
wife.  It was as if they no longer existed as human beings, just another
thing against the brothers.  Did they just leave the bodies to rot while
they went off to get the Peacock brothers?  All three of them (Scully,
Mulder and the Deputy) should have died for their stupidity in assaulting
the house when they knew how dangerous it would be to try to take in the
brothers.  I mentioned earlier that I just found it too hard to believe
the State Police wouldn't have been the first law enforcement officers on
the case since I know in New Hampshire that is usually how it works,
especially for the smaller towns.  How big a state is Pennsylvania if it
would take a day to get backup?  I mean it didn't take Scully and Mulder
that long to hop a plane and rent a car to get there.  Also, I find it
hard to believe the Mayor wouldn't have been all over the Sheriff's back
to find out who was responsible and that everyone in town wouldn't have
believed the brothers were involved in the baby's death. Considering they
are town weirdos and the body was found in the lot next to the brothers
property, it would make sense that the town would make them the number one
suspects and wonder why the Sheriff isn't questioning the brothers.

- Can someone please explain to me the purpose of showing Scully sleeping
when the brothers are riding in their car to the Sheriff's house.  I know
it can be said that we didn't know they were going to the Sheriff's house
at the time, but it seemed very awkwardly put in the scene.  It doesn't
take too many brains to figure out they were going to the Sheriff's house
since we were shown the Sheriff doing things that screamed this character
is going to die, such as looking outside at his small town one more time,
and showing him not locking the door.

- I was quite shocked when Scully stopped Mulder from entering the house
because they didn't have probable cause.  This isn't your typical tv cop
show method of doing things though it didn't take them long to start
poking their flashlights around the room in order to find something to
give them an excuse to enter the house.  Speaking of flashlights, I see
they forgot their big powerful ones again though it appears Scully and
Mulder remembered to bring that special equipment for their assault on the
Peacock's house since there is no way in hell a small police department
would have or need such equipment.


	"Home" was an okay episode which could have been a lot better if
it wasn't trying so hard to make fun of people's concept of a small town
being a safe place to live.  I just couldn't stop questioning some of the
actions the characters did throughout the episode since these actions had
a real smell of plot convenience to them.  In order to enjoy an episode
like "Home" one has to get beyond these things which is something I had a
hard time doing.


Claudia
E-Mail:  Claudia.Cauchon@unh.edu

10/14/96

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