AIR DATE:  March 16, 1997
Written by Chris Carter & Frank Spotnitz
Directed by Rob Bowman

	I have to admit after the last two parter mythological episodes I
didn't have high expectations for the "Tempus Fugit/Max" two parter.  This
is because recently with these two parter mythological episodes I'm
starting to question whether they (Carter and Gang) have any idea where
they are going in this plot line.  Let me put it this way, the person who
got me to start watching the X-Files back in the first season stopped
watching X-Files after "Terma" because she just couldn't believe the
nonsense they were trying to have us believe in it.  This is always a
concern with me now with mythological episodes; what are they going to
throw at us for a plot and is it going to make any sense.  So far "Tempus
Fugit" has made sense which is a relief and it is making me hopeful "Max"
will continue to make some kind of sense.

	"Tempus Fugit" didn't end with a bang like "Tunguska" or "Colony",
but with a whimper because we knew since this was a two parter one of the
main characters would be put in danger.  Unlike "Tunguska" and "Colony" 
where there was some actual suspense to wondering what was going to happen
to Mulder and Scully, with "Tempus Fugit" we get Mulder underwater with a
powerful light on him and Scully stopping an assassination attempt.  Gee,
at least you would have thought they would have left it with the inept
assassin about ready to shoot instead of having the action already ending.
Maybe this was the problem with the episode in that there wasn't any real
suspense to it and this had to be one of the slowest paced X-Files
episodes in a long time.  How much longer were they going to spend at the
plane crash site, at the hanger or them driving their car?  I kept
thinking let's cut to the chase.  Oh yeah, they did that, didn't they, in
the episode.  Funny thing is even with all my reservations I still kind of
liked the episode.  Sure it was slow paced and nothing much really happens
in it, but there was something refreshing in an episode that didn't seem
rushed or forced.  Mulder and Scully worked well together in the episode. 
Hey, the birthday scene made it worth it.  Bringing back Max was great and
I can't wait for next week's episode where I'm hoping he is featured a
little bit more though I didn't expect him to be in this one too much just
by the title of the episode.

	As with all two parters it is hard to get an idea of how this will
all add up, but there are things we can be certain of:  the alien in the
spaceship will disappear leaving Mulder with no evidence, Frish will
either be killed, change his story or is part of a an elaborate hoax on
Scully and Mulder, Max will return, give Mulder and Scully some new info
on the alien conspiracy and disappear with his sister, Scully and Mulder
will be back to square one at the end of episode and Mulder will give a
big speech about all the lies the government is covering up and how wrong
it is for them to do it.  If I'm wrong in any of this then this will be a
pleasant change for the X-Files where Scully and Mulder always end up with
nothing at the end of a two parter.

	A few random comments on "Tempus Fugit": 

- Mulder's little birthday celebration for Scully in the waterhole where
all the F.B.I. agents hang out.  It is these little human moments that
makes it a good show.  Plus, having Scully joke about her implants is just
what a person would do to relieve tension.  Also, I liked the thought the
producers are now going to have to pay some publishing company for the
right to use "Happy Birthday" in the show.

- Now if they kill off Agent Pendrell they are in big trouble.  It was
funny to see Pendrell drunk and sizing up Scully's companion and seeing
him think to himself that this guy is no match for him.  Also, it was a
nice touch by having him say he had a present for Scully.  Poor Pendrell
he might have finally had the drunken courage to tell Scully how he felt
and he ends up getting shot for her.  I loved the look of surprise on his
face after he was shot, as if he was thinking to himself I just work in
the lab I'm not supposed to get shot.

- I don't know how the weather is near Albany, NY, but I suspect it is
like it is here in New Hampshire, and in February that is snowy and damn
cold.  As we can see it wasn't snowy or didn't appear to be cold where the
airplane crash took place except this past February around Scully's
birthday it was unseasonably warm in the area (well, in NH at least).  So
lucky for them who film in Vancover it was okay for everyone to be running
around as if it was late Spring.

- Is it me or did anyone else think the assassins in this episode were a
little bit incompetent?  Let's see, the assassin on the plane decides,
hey, why don't I kill Max on the plane where there are people instead of
waiting until we are on the ground alone or have someone waiting at the
airport to take care of him.  The assassin who has Frish's air controller
partner killed instead of just waiting for Frish to come back sends out a
big signal to him that he is coming to kill him by sending an army after
him.  And the same assassin in the bar at the end of the episode makes
himself so noticeable to Scully (you would think they would have sent in
someone who she wouldn't recognize) it's no wonder he was spotted so
quickly.  I don't know who is doing the training of these assassins, but
it is obvious they aren't hiring the best anymore.  Hey, they should just
hire that Russian assassin from "Terma" since he had the ability to go
everywhere and kill people without ever being questioned.

- Once again we get the ironic touch of the only person who survives the
crash is the guy who was sitting next to Max saying how much it is
unlikely they will ever die in a plane crash.

- I'm glad Mr. Photographic memory wasn't able to recognize it wasn't Max
in the body bag.

- Oh yeah, I don't know about anyone else, but I don't think I would be
sticking my bare hands into body bags as Mulder was doing to see if people
had any watches on.

- Ah, how far out in the boondocks were Scully and Mulder since Mulder was
using an old dial phone instead of a touchtone phone.  I think NYNEX
better get moving and start updating their phone lines that are only 30
miles outside of Albany, the capital of New York, if they don't want to
give back any more rebates and have their planned merger with Bell
Atlantic be denied. 

- Anyone else think Scully was pissed about being awakened by Mulder after
hardly getting any sleep the past 36 hours?  The look she was giving as
she was heading towards Mulder's room was one of "this better be important
Mulder."

- As always even though she hasn't slept in days Scully still manages to
look professional when she, Mulder and Frish go to the airport hanger.
Whereas Mulder looked his usually messed up self without a tie or having
shaved.  Hmm, there is no way you are going to catch Scully looking bad to
the general public. 

- Did anyone else think the second Mulder sends Scully off that he was
going to get into trouble?  You could almost see it in Scully's eyes and
comments to Mulder to keep her appraised of the situation knowing full
well he was going to get himself into trouble.  Boy, it didn't even take
him long, what was it a few hours after he sent her off.

- At least they didn't suddenly let Mulder have the ability to scuba dive
though I don't think the guy on the boat would have let him go down if he
knew how inexperienced Mulder was.  Mulder must have been a good liar to
get him to let him do it.  F.B.I. agent or not, he is still libel for him
if he dies.

- I guess this lake isn't any good for fishing since we didn't see one
swim by Mulder the whole time he was down there.  Maybe the fish are
fishocentric and didn't want to associate with a non-fish.

- Oh yeah, if you really want to see the emotional impact of a plane crash
rent the movie "Fearless".  It is a totally depressing movie about what
happens to the survivors of a plane crash.  It isn't any wonder why this
movie wasn't a hit since it was such a downer, but it was quite a good
movie.


	Nothing much happen in "Tempus Fugit" so it most likely is just
setting up for the second part which is probably a good thing since the
X-Files people haven't been hitting the mark lately with two parters. Once
again I'll state so far this episode is making sense and hasn't stretched
the credibility factor yet.  We'll see if everything falls apart in "Max"
though I have the feeling it isn't going to happen and I'm looking forward
to seeing how this ends.


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

3/17/97

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