The X-Files: Deep Throat Rewatch
February 27, 2020 9:11 PM - Season 1, Episode 2 - Subscribe
Scully and Mulder travel to Idaho to investigate the disappearance of Lt. Col. Budahas who, according to his wife, began acting strangely and developing a bodily rash, and then was taken into military custody.
I just get such a kick out of hearing them say Budahas with a straight face. Something about that name gives me the giggles.
posted by valkane at 5:24 PM on February 28, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by valkane at 5:24 PM on February 28, 2020 [2 favorites]
Mrs. Budahas's "that is not my husband" seems a little hysterical. As with Mulder, Budahas seemed like the same person, just a little confused and with some specific memory blanks. But then he'd been kept away from his wife and children for months with no explanation, so it's understandable that his poor wife might be overwrought. I don't know why the Air Force had to handle the situation THAT badly.
The plot was otherwise pretty solid though, and way to indicate that something is seriously rotten in the state of Denmark with just a rash and a few dancing lights. And Deep Throat made his first appearance... by accosting Mulder while he was peeing.
The two stoner kids were also a fun touch. Mulder and Scully often had to make use of unofficial channels in their work.
posted by orange swan at 5:37 PM on February 28, 2020 [1 favorite]
The plot was otherwise pretty solid though, and way to indicate that something is seriously rotten in the state of Denmark with just a rash and a few dancing lights. And Deep Throat made his first appearance... by accosting Mulder while he was peeing.
The two stoner kids were also a fun touch. Mulder and Scully often had to make use of unofficial channels in their work.
posted by orange swan at 5:37 PM on February 28, 2020 [1 favorite]
It would be interesting to know if the USAF had past experience in dealing with pilots who had been damaged when flying craft engineered with alien tech. Was it standard procedure to just disappear them with no explanation? Maybe the goings on at Ellens AFB were something new and the AF just didn't know how to explain things to the families? But the other husband had been returned, so... Hmmm.
posted by Fukiyama at 6:00 PM on February 28, 2020
posted by Fukiyama at 6:00 PM on February 28, 2020
This episode feels like the show trying to find it's voice. It's an interesting re-watch because we'll see all of these elements again but all done much better. The stoner kids (hey, young Seth Green!) is really awkward, X-Files hasn't yet figured out its sense of humor but it will.
There's some nice government conspiracy stuff in here. The phone-tapping, the white van outside, how tightly controlled everything seems to be with how the "journalist" shows up right Mulder and Scully are stonewalled by the Major or whoever. Although it was a little funny how the stoner kids have a hole in the fence right by the road and get into the base undetected with how high-security everything else is.
The "journalist" is so good. Mulder's plot is a little dry but Scully's interactions with this agent are, for me, the real highlight of the episode. When he starts talking to her right outside of the hotel there's a tension that's pretty absent from the rest of the episode. That moment when he taps on the car window with his keys? Perfect.
posted by Neronomius at 4:20 PM on February 29, 2020 [1 favorite]
There's some nice government conspiracy stuff in here. The phone-tapping, the white van outside, how tightly controlled everything seems to be with how the "journalist" shows up right Mulder and Scully are stonewalled by the Major or whoever. Although it was a little funny how the stoner kids have a hole in the fence right by the road and get into the base undetected with how high-security everything else is.
The "journalist" is so good. Mulder's plot is a little dry but Scully's interactions with this agent are, for me, the real highlight of the episode. When he starts talking to her right outside of the hotel there's a tension that's pretty absent from the rest of the episode. That moment when he taps on the car window with his keys? Perfect.
posted by Neronomius at 4:20 PM on February 29, 2020 [1 favorite]
I had forgotten quite how quickly X-Files dashed out of the gate and started setting up the mytharc right away. No wonder it was such a sensation (Duchovny and Anderson didn't hurt - the chemistry is out of this world).
Neronomius - we'll see all of these elements again but all done much better
Great observation, in particular the alien flying tech in the episode where the air force pilot's mind was transferred into an old first nations woman. Stoner kids are to be a thing again, especially the one with the reptile that took humanform before having to hibernate again. The hovering UFO being done again on the bridge with the whole bunch of "survivors."
hasn't yet figured out its sense of humor but it will
Duchovny nails Mulder's sense of humour right away, though, "You think if we ignore them, they'll go away?"
Don't know if it was intentional, but Scully's magazine is a cutout and there's only one bullet loaded (you can see through the spring the MIB's thumb).
omg. Yellow Pages.
Scully running in heels (they weren't that high, but they were very stiletto - and those weren't replaced with prop flats); later hammed up between her and Téa Leoni.
Michael Puttonen (the motel manager) is to be a recurring extra. I thought he was familiar.
posted by porpoise at 2:48 PM on March 21, 2020
Neronomius - we'll see all of these elements again but all done much better
Great observation, in particular the alien flying tech in the episode where the air force pilot's mind was transferred into an old first nations woman. Stoner kids are to be a thing again, especially the one with the reptile that took humanform before having to hibernate again. The hovering UFO being done again on the bridge with the whole bunch of "survivors."
hasn't yet figured out its sense of humor but it will
Duchovny nails Mulder's sense of humour right away, though, "You think if we ignore them, they'll go away?"
Don't know if it was intentional, but Scully's magazine is a cutout and there's only one bullet loaded (you can see through the spring the MIB's thumb).
omg. Yellow Pages.
Scully running in heels (they weren't that high, but they were very stiletto - and those weren't replaced with prop flats); later hammed up between her and Téa Leoni.
Michael Puttonen (the motel manager) is to be a recurring extra. I thought he was familiar.
posted by porpoise at 2:48 PM on March 21, 2020
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This quote by the reporter/security guy always tantalizes me. It hints at other directions the show could have gone in over time where things were less black and white on all sides.
Aside from the atmosphere of the show(!), the growing relationship between the two agents, and the introduction of Deep Throat, this episode really doesn't do much. Mulder has had his mind wiped by the end, so he's basically back at square one.
This episode is a great example of how the show in the early seasons did so much with so little. Come up with a name like "Yellow Base" and shoot some scenes along a fence in the middle of nowhere and presto! Top secret government installation!
This one is a goodie.
posted by Fukiyama at 9:52 AM on February 28, 2020