“We send those men up in to space to unlock the doors of the universe, and we don’t even know what’s behind them.” – Fox Mulder.
SPACE [Standalone] Aired November 12, 1993
Episode: 1×08 / 9 Overall
Director: William Graham • Writer: Chris Carter
When a space shuttle mission is sabotaged, Mulder suspects it may be the work an alien spirit that inhabits the body of a former Gemini astronaut.
Chris Carter’s second MOTW episode is reportedly his least favourite show of the entire series and is widely regarded by fans as one of the worst episodes overall, securing it’s place amongst numerous top ten lists for the series low points. Originally conceived as a ‘bottle’ episode that would take place within one location and make use of real life NASA space footage for the purposes of saving money. Unfortunately for the production company, the construction of the ground control set proved far more costly than anticipated, subsequently the episode ran over budget and became the most expensive of the first season. Critics and fans accused the episode of being a prolonged, tiresome affair with little pay-off and sub-par special effects. A common complaint was also that Mulder and Scully acted more as passive observers than active players in the progression of the plot. While I generally disagree with the former criticisms, the latter is certainly a valid point.
Critics and fans alike were damning of the episodes ambiguity and illogical premise. However I find it difficult to support an argument that a spectral entity from Mars possessing a human astronaut is any less implausible than the science fiction that populated the entirety of the series. If alien abductions are acceptable, why not ghosts from Mars? It’s a fine line to tread when criticising the believability of plot lines in a show that has always been up front about it’s unashamedly outlandish concepts. This is ‘The X-Files’ after all, is anything truly off the table when it comes to science fiction?
While, in my opinion, certainly undeserving of it’s harsher critics, Space is nonetheless an odd entry in the series that feels almost non-canonical for a number of reasons. The ‘bottle’ format means that we see nothing of the FBI offices, including Mulder’s signature basement set and this makes it feel like Mulder and Scully are doing this investigation in their off time. There’s no reporting to superiors, nor writing of reports or even a suggestion that this is an official case that requires a resolution. While the same can be said of the previous episode, Ice, it’s perhaps due to the fact that here Mulder and Scully seem like spectators, or guest characters in their own show. Their actions rarely advance the plot and they spend the majority of the episode passively observing the events as they occur before them. They have almost no effect on the events or supporting characters decisions and it’s possible to argue that were they not present for this story that the course of action would remain virtually unchanged. Scully in particular could have easily been cut from the episode as she serves no real purpose, as such most of Mulder’s dialogue is spent explaining to Scully what just happened in the control room. Mulder, presumably having a greater understanding of the technical jargon due to his personal interest in space travel. It’s nice to see Mulder’s childlike reaction to meeting Col. Belt and witnessing a real life space launch, though for the most part the pair are given very little to do.
The special effects were admittedly below the standard produced even in preceding episodes and for early 90’s technology. They were however, serviceable and the image of the Mars face was suitably disturbing in it’s portrayal of an anguished and maddened expression. The concept of the face pushing through Col. Belt’s own visage was appropriately creepy. While the episode would not be described as fast paced, the progression felt steady enough and the mystery of Col. Belt’s affliction, coupled with the uncertain fate the space craft and it’s occupants was enough to keep me engaged throughout. Mark Snow’s score is a great help in keeping us hooked and in creating a sense of mystery and tension. The X-Files was known for it’s ambiguity and inconclusiveness and the conclusion of ‘Space’ is nothing if not uncertain. The episodes closure is disappointing in that we essentially learn nothing of the entity or it’s motivations beyond individual viewer speculation. Though the argument can be made that we don’t need to know any more than is obvious through the actions of Col. Belt’s character. Namely that there are forces in Space, beyond our world that we do not understand and are perhaps, as a species, ill-equipped to process. As a science fiction show about the mysteries of Space, it’s an enjoyable affair and perhaps a more valid argument or justification for its negative reception is that as an X-Files episode it presents as discordant with the tone of the episodes that both precede and follow it.
★★☆☆☆
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