“Within” is the eighth season premiere. It is the start of big changes for the series dynamic. The episode introduces John Doggett as the Special Agent in charge of finding Mulder. He will eventually pair up with Scully on the X-Files. Scully has moved from the Skeptic to the Reluctant Believer in the wake of Mulder’s abduction. It is a role that does not quite suit the character. Skinner can no longer deny the existence of aliens, either. His newfound belief has made him more of a hands on ally than before. “Within” sets a more serious tone for the season. There are no humor episodes so as to avoid trivializing Mulder’s absence. As a fan of the older, darker episodes, that is one of the few good points of the season. Discussion of aspects of the season will come as we get to them. For now, we should stick with “Within” in all its glory.
As I said above, it is the introduction of Doggett. Like Scully, he is named after a baseball announcer, Jerry Doggett, who was partners with Vin Scully from 1957-1987. The name is a also a play on words: Doggett is looking for Fox Mulder, so he is a ’dog” on a “fox” hunt. Doggett is played by Robert Patrick, probably most famous as the T-1000 from Terminator 2. Patrick beat out other actors Lou Diamond Phillips, Bruce Campbell, Hart Boechner, and Chris Noth for the role. While I try to avoid speculation on what might have been with these reviews, I recall thinking back in the day when these names were being floated about that Noth would have been the best choice, followed by Phillips. I do not recall feeling one way or the other about Patrick. I suppose that is good for the sake of reviews, since I have no significant prejudice as I would with, say, Bruce Campbell, whom I like, but would be a terrible fit in a tensely dramatic season.
“Within” has some scant scenes with David Duchovny as Mulder. Being aware that Duchovny is not going to play a large role in much of the season takes some of the drama out of the search for him. We know he is not going to show up for a while, so the intensity of his friends’ search for him loses some of its meaning. If I may reference some lesser science fiction, it reminds me of Sabrina Lloyd leaving Sliders. Her character was said to have been kidnapped and imprisoned in a breeding facility--she is being repeatedly sexually assaulted, in other words--with no chance the actress was ever going to return, so her friends’ search for her would never turn out successfully. the dynamic is not exactly the same, but one suspected Duchovny wanted an end to his character as quickly as possible just as Lloyd did. Sometimes it is difficult to get into the fiction when real world issues intervene. At least Duchovny did not alien the creative people enough that his character was ultimately gang-raped to death like a certain ms. Lloyd’s, no?
All but the last of Mulder’s appearances in “Within” are ambiguous as to whether they are real or part of Scully’s dream. She is tormented from the beginning by visions of him suffering brutal surgical experiments like having his soft palate drilled and his chest being sawed open with him anaesthetized. (Okay, is that worse than being gang raped by aliens? You make the call: Lloyd or Duchovny, who ticked off their respective creative staff more?) Scully is distraught over Mulder’s disappearance without hints that there was a romantic connection between them, which I appreciate. He was a close friend to whom she has a deep emotional connection. Shippers can read into it what they will, but this thankfully is not done as a tragic lost love story.
Scully arrives at the X-Files office a short time after Mulder’s disappearance to find agents going over the place with a fine toothed comb. They are part of a task force created by Kersh, whom you may remember was the assistant director the agents reported to when they were taken off the x-Files in the first half of the sixth season. I did not care much for the character back then, but he does fit in with what the show is looking for now--someone who is not exactly enthusiastic about ever finding Mulder, much less entertaining the possibility he was taken by aliens. Kersh has appointed Doggett to head the task force. Doggett is a former marine and NYPD detective. He is well respected and ambitious. Professionally speaking, he is the exact opposite of Mulder within the Bureau.
Scully and Skinner are naturally prime suspects since they are the ones who saw Mulder last. But obviously there must be more tension established than that, so Doggett hides his identity from scully when they first meet, then lies to her about knowing Mulder in order to get her honest opinion on his whereabouts. The odd partt is that he later complains she shows him no respect while he is just trying to help Mulder. One practically wants to yell at thee screen, ‘Well, then do not lie to her1 If anyone can help you find mulder, it is her.” The incident is an unnecessary creation of tension. Suspicion that she may have been involved with Mulder’s disappearance--not unreasonable from Doggett’s perspective--would be enough.
Doggett discovers Mulder has been keeping a secret from Scully and Skinner about the aftermath of his medical status after his brain anomaly last season. He had been secretly traveling about to a medical facility on a regular basis prior to his abduction. Post-abduction, someone purchased a tombstone for him in Raleigh, North Carolina, as well as stolen his and Scully’s computer, and a file from the FBI--that of Gibson Praise. all of this in an effort to either done by Mulder to fake his abduction as proof of alien existence as Doggett suspects, or aliens cleaning up all traces of their activities as Scully thinks.
The return of Gibson praise is another hugely odd point. He was supposed to be a child prodigy who may have been part alien. He eventually disappeared along with an alien somewhere in Arizona. Then his story was completely dropped for two years until now. If the kid is such a key element to solving the mysteries of the universe, how come no one cared to find him, particularly considering once Doggett is aware someone stole his case file, praise is found within a few hours by both Doggett’s team and Scully separately? If it is that easy to find the kid, how come no one did over the last couple years? Bringing Praise back into the story creates a tie to the series’ past, but also creates some huge logical problems. He is a hugely important missing person, but apparently was not hard to find. Very strange. In the end, Doggett finds Praise in the desert after having been kidnapped by Mulder. To be continued…
The excitement level for “Within” is very subdued for a season premiere. We have to absorb an awful lot of changes to the dynamic which really are not done that well. The inherent, logical tension between Scully and Doggett is ratcheted up unnecessarily by his initial dishonesty. Why bring back Kersh? A new, shadowy character would have been a better choice. The whole Gibson praise reappearance is out of the blue and brings up questions of why no one has cared about him up until now, especially when he is so easy to find. Truth be told, “Within” feels like the creative staff was not expecting to have to make an eighth season, so they cobbled together an episode in a hurry by using old, familiar elements even if they really do not fit. Nostalgia is fine, but I would prefer it be done with more skill. “Within” is not a horrible start, but it does not hold much promise, either.
Rating: *** (out of 5)
“Within” is the eighth season premiere. It is the start of big changes for the series dynamic. The episode introduces John Doggett as the Special Agent in charge of finding Mulder. He will eventually pair up with Scully on the X-Files. Scully has moved from the Skeptic to the Reluctant Believer in the wake of Mulder’s abduction. It is a role that does not quite suit the character. Skinner can no longer deny the existence of aliens, either. His newfound belief has made him more of a hands on ally than before. “Within” sets a more serious tone for the season. There are no humor episodes so as to avoid trivializing Mulder’s absence. As a fan of the older, darker episodes, that is one of the few good points of the season. Discussion of aspects of the season will come as we get to them. For now, we should stick with “Within” in all its glory. 
