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Date Posted: 16:33:07 01/29/01 Mon
Author: Sig
Subject: Signs & Wonders

Well, definately not an episode for anyone with a snake phobia.
This ep certainly highlights the danger of religion, and not just religous extremism. I don't mean any offense here, but I think religion can be as lethal as a loaded gun if it is in the wrong hands and aimed at people who are vulnerable. I'm an aetheist so these themes don't particularly resonate for me except in their ability to make the drama more pointed. Reverend O'Connor's preaching was at least honest & passionate. The diluted sermons of Reverend Mackey were so banal & his congregation so wooly-minded that they were easy pickings for the devils flock. This is something that I have noticed about mainstream Christianity in the UK, it is so concerned with offending ANYone that it lacks passion & conviction. So I agree with Mulder's observation that O'Connors methods were very seductive in their black & white reading of the bible. If Christianity was preached in the same manner as Rev. O'Connor, then maybe you'd get more Nine Inch Nails & Marilyn Manson fans in church instead of trying to convince them that there is such a thing as credible Christian rock/dance music. I'm not saying that sermons should be turned into a circus, but surely one thing they must not lack is passion. Kim Manner's did an impeccable job of conveying this heart felt conviction in the 'lukewarm' sermon by marrying Michael Childer's superb acting with the use of a forty-five degree shutter & slow-motion.
Another scene where KM struck the perfect balance was Gracie's exorcism. It was intense, hot, sweaty & visceral. But there should have been a moment where we saw Gracie trying to deal with this extremely traumatic experience; narrative economy can't be given priority over everything.
Mulder & Scully were a lot more 'on the job' in this ep, but still seemed to be just observers. Even when they arrested Enoch it was almost like a blind gesture to solving the case, they always remained relatively clueless until the end. This scene, where Mulder stopped Enoch from killing Mackey, reminded me of the climax to 'The Omen'. I also think it was a good move to leave Scully's beliefs out, because not only have we seen it before, but the ep would have been too crowded.

XXX Sig :)

BTW, was Mulder's remark to Enoch, in the interview room, an oblique reference to Donnie Pfaster - "I'd say it's good news for you that she's not here right now, considering what you tried to do to her."

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