I am a sucker for horror in quiet suburbia stories. The X-Files often does them well, and “Chimera” is no exception. There is still a different feel to ‘chimera” than many other such episodes. Perhaps it is because writer David Amann is not one of the more frequent contributors to the series. Perhaps it is because Gillian Anderson only appears briefly because she was working writing and directing on tomorrow’s episode. Perhaps it is because the episode frequently violates the imply, do not show rule about the monster of the week. Whatever makes “Chimera” feel unlike most installments of The X-Files, it is not a significant detraction.
Mulder leaves Scully in charge of a tedious stake out in order to investigate the disappearance of a federal judge’s wife in Vermont. Skinner chooses Mulder for the job because the appearance of a raven was the precursor to the incident. The local sheriff insists Mulder stay with him and his wife rather than a motel for the duration. Mulder’s enjoyment of the creature comforts of a well kept house is one of the running gags, particularly in contrast to several phone calls between the agents in which scully whines about her suffering during the stake out.
The sheriff has an ulterior motive. He has been having two affairs, one with the missing federal judge’s wife. He wants to make certain Mulder does not find evidence pointing to him. In truth, the sheriff is guilty only of having affairs. Both the judge’s wife and the second little chickadee on the side were killed by his wife who turns into some sort of evil creature to kill the adulterers. The creature is in stark contrast to her usual Martha Stewart nature.
As the creature, she attacks Mulder and nearly drowns him before seeing her reflection in the bathwater she is submerging him in convinces her of what she really is. She is later locked up in a mental hospital under the diagnosis of multiple personality disorder. But she still has the power to become a separate creature.
“Chimera” jumps out at me as the first time since Flukeman way back in the second season the monster is such a prominent character. We get a good look at it several times before the final confrontation. Said confrontation is a full on brawl with Mulder. These encounters make “Chimera” feel more like a standard horror film than the usual What did we just see? X-File. Ironically, “The Host” was also a Mulder goes solo adventure in which he hunted the Flukeman with Scully making scant appearances. Anderson was pregnant at the time, not about to subject us to a dud of an existential episode like tomorrow.
One note of oddity: ravens are a central part of the story. They appear just before the creature every time. But the birds used are clearly not ravens. They are far too small. The birds are actually crows. Crows are in the same family, but are not ravens. Why crows are used is a mystery. Maybe they are easier to train. Or someone at The X-Files is a fan of Heckle & Jeckle. who knows?
“Chimera” is a good episode in spite of the slight ornithological issue. It is a throwback to the best days of the series when even the filler monster of the week episodes were on par with the mythology stories. Such is rare in this later seasons. Therefore, they must be savored when they come along.
Rating: *** (out of 5)
I am a sucker for horror in quiet suburbia stories. The X-Files often does them well, and “Chimera” is no exception. There is still a different feel to ‘chimera” than many other such episodes. Perhaps it is because writer David Amann is not one of the more frequent contributors to the series. Perhaps it is because Gillian Anderson only appears briefly because she was working writing and directing on tomorrow’s episode. Perhaps it is because the episode frequently violates the imply, do not show rule about the monster of the week. Whatever makes “Chimera” feel unlike most installments of The X-Files, it is not a significant detraction.
