"The X Files" Providence (2002)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Chris Carter

Writers:

Chris Carter (creator)
Chris Carter (written by) ...

TV Series:

"The X Files" (1993)

Original Air Date:

10 March 2002 (Season 9, Episode 10)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Plot:

Scully's baby becomes a bargaining chip for a psychotic UFO cult that feels the baby is ultimately connected to a UFO they have uncovered. |

Plot Keywords:

FBI | FBI Agent | Alien | X Files | Conspiracy

Cast

Gillian Anderson	...	Dana Scully
Robert Patrick	...	John Doggett
Annabeth Gish	...	Monica Reyes
Mitch Pileggi	...	Walter Skinner
James Pickens Jr.	...	FBI Deputy Director Alvin Kersh
Cary Elwes	...	FBI Assistant Director Brad Follmer
Bruce Harwood	...	John Fitzgerald Byers
Tom Braidwood	...	Melvin Frohike
Dean Haglund	...	Richard 'Ringo' Langly
Neal McDonough	...	Robert Comer
McNally Sagal	...	Overcoat Woman
Denis Forest	...	Lone Man
Alan Dale	...	Toothpick Man
Kerrie Keane	...	Nurse
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joe Bernier	...	Detective Bryant
Brad Kalas	...	Cult Man #1
Kevin McCorkle	...	Cult Man #2
Jamie McShane	...	Wounded Soldier
Brian Morri	...	Soldier #1
James Riker	...	Baby William
Travis Riker	...	Baby William

Runtime:

Argentina:60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Certification:

Argentina:13

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In an early scene with Skinner and Scully talking in a hallway there is a visible crew member hiding behind a trash can.

Quotes:

Scully: I'm on my way. That was Agent Doggett again. They're waiting. Mom, I've got to go.
Margaret Scully: It's the middle of the night, Dana. I just don't understand what can't wait 'til tomorrow.
Scully: Mom, it's important. I wouldn't go if it weren't.
Margaret Scully: Yes, I know, Dana. You say it's about getting answers.
Scully: Answers about William, Mom.
Margaret Scully: I know you're worried about him... that there are things about him that you just can't explain - but even if you were to get those answers what would it change?
Scully: Mom, he's my child.
Margaret Scully: And you have to love him and raise him in spite of everything. Dana, god has given you a miracle. A child that wasn't supposed to be. Maybe it's not to question... just to be taken as a matter of faith.
[...]

Soundtrack:

This is Not Happening Theme

Bring Me The Head Of Fox Mulder

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Providence continues the storyline of William's life being in danger for being some kind of "Christ child". Except in this episode, some Super Soldiers is thrown in dampening the story some.

With Scully's child's life at risk, Scully chooses to revert to the creed of the X-Files of "trust no one", not even Skinner. Gillian Anderson is exemplary again in this episode. Scully gets murderous intentions when trying to get information from Agent Comer. This is a very desperate side of Scully that we rarely see. We've seen her threaten people with death before, but not choke anyone before.

When the spacecraft opens for the first time, the score by Mark Snow reminds me of the Raiders of the Lost Ark score when they see the ark for the first time. I wonder if that was intentional.

We also see a new side of Reyes in Providence when she enters the hospital chapel and prays for Doggett. And not to be outdone by Reyes, Doggett receives a revelation in his coma, hearing voices, warning him to warn Scully not to trust Josepho.

Besides continuing the possible continuity error from last episode of Mulder supposedly being dead for six months, even though we know he was alive two months ago in 'Trust No 1', another minor script error occurs when Josepho quotes scripture to Scully. He asks her if she knows the Bible. She replies that the scripture is from Ephesians. Wrong, Scully. The scripture Josepho quoted is from Ezekial. Somebody messed up there.

Besides mentioning Super Soldiers again, this episode is a step below Providence because it makes the Lone Gunmen to be completely inept. The place the cell phone in the baby's car seat but the lady is gone by the time Scully gets there. Then, they put a tracker on Josepho's truck, but lose the signal in the hilly terrain. For some unknown reason, Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz wanted to make the Gunmen look absolutely useless.

The Toothpick Man appears again in this episode, is given some lines, and is revealed as a Super Soldier. He appears to hold a high position with no title. I wonder if he was intended to be the new "Cigarette Smoking Man(CSM)" before it was decided to end the series after this season, because he appears to be set up in the same manner as the "CSM" character.

Providence is still a decent mythology episode, but dragging Super Soldiers into the storyline again and ridiculing the Lone Gunmen just hurts the episode in my book and makes it not as good as Provenance.