AIR DATE:  May 5, 1995
Written by Vince Gilligan
Directed by James Contnar

	"Soft Light" is interesting in the fact it is Vince Gilligan's
first script for the X-Files way back in 1995.  One of the things I
remember about is was my lackluster reaction to it.  Now looking back at
it one can see how Gilligan was going to be one of the better X-Files
writers in the future.  It has all the elements we come to expect from the
X-Files: Scully and Mulder argue over the case, there is a weird
phenomenon going on, and the conspriracy is brought in via Mr. X.  It also
gave a nice foreshadowing of the season finale "Anasazi" when Mr. X warns
Mulder this isn't a good time to be on his own.  I still think it is an
alright episode, but it is a lot better than I remember it being back in
1995.

	Just a few miscellaneous comments on "Soft Light":

- Oh boy, I forgot about the look Mulder gave Scully as the elevator door
closes on them after Scully questions Mulder's theory of spontaneous
combustion.  I think this is the episode where it started to appear to be
a riff between them which appeared to continue throughout season 3 until
the "Piper Maru/Apocrypha" episodes.  Actually their conversation
throughout "Soft Light" was fairly tense from Mulder not wanting to tell
Scully his new theory after the police officers were killed to their
discussion after Dr. Banton escapes.  All I'll say is if looks could kill. 

- I know it was mentioned by someone way back when this episode first
aired, but it sure was nice to see Scully check out the heating vent (as
in Tooms) in the hotel room. 

- Scully must have had an impact on Det. Ryan since she took the same type
of hairstyle and clothing as Scully though in the X-Files world there
isn't too much diversity in women's professional wear.  Not really
surprising since it appears Scully only likes to wear sweaters when she is
off duty.

- Hmm, I also forgot about those cool shades Mulder wore at Det.  Ryan's
funeral. 

- Tony Shalhoub did a good performance as Dr. Chester Banton (or is that
Dr. Bruce Banner aka the Hulk).  A man who touched the dark side more than
he wanted and kind of got what he deserved in the end.  He proclaims he
wants to try to get rid of the shadow, but he didn't really seem to mind
killing those people when it was convenient, and I don't think he would
stop his research if he did find a way to get rid of the shadow.  It is
always nice to see an actor being able to expand beyond the tv role he is
currently doing.

- I like to know how Banton got from the police station to his workplace
without being seen wearing only his pajamas. Gee, how about the shadow
that went under the door to kill someone.  Well, it was suppose to be
alive so I'll let it go.  I think this is all I can nitpick right now. 

	"Soft light" was a decent second season episode and a good
indicator on what to expect from a Vince Gilligan script.  Also, who here
doesn't believe FOX decided to show this second season episode because it
was a Gilligan script considering his scripts have been the strongest this
past season.  Always nice to see these early ones to remember how it was
in those young and innocent days of X-Files. 

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

5/26/97

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