Season 11 is near its end. How was Familiar?
It’s hard to believe that we have
only two episodes of The X-Files left, possibly for good.
While the second half of the season has been a bit uneven,
quality-wise, the show does feel free of itself and like it’s
having a bit of fun with the classic monster-of-the-week formula
being told within the current political climate. The social
commentary has been pretty constant throughout this season, making
the Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully’s (Gillian Anderson) search
for the truth that much more imperative and timely.
“Familiar” explores the
consequences of witchcraft in a small town, which is something the
show has done many times before, but finds new ways to creep the
audience out. The teaser plays like the opening of Stephen King’s
IT, with a young boy in a yellow rain jacket who meets a grim
demise after seeing a twisted figure whom he believes to be his
friend. The only thing missing is the storm drain.
The figure in question is Mr. Chuckle
Teeth, a character from a popular kids show that plays throughout the
episode. It is not a show I’d let any child watch, but it allows
for some truly excellent scares throughout the episode, making it the
rare episode that at times can make one’s skin crawl. While one
could argue that much of “Familiar” is, well, familiar, it’s
worth noting that it is written by first-timer Benjamin Van Allen and
directed by TV veteran Holly Dale. You could argue, in other words,
that “Familiar” strikes just the right balance of the old and the
new, which is not a slight against either party. In fact, it works in
its favor.
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| If this doesn't freak you out, you're not human. |
A seasoned professional directing a
script from a new writer allows for the elevation of material. The
same could be said for any writer who is matched with a good
director, but here it is especially evident. Dale shoots in a very
stylistic manner, making the episode feel like a true horror movie,
and Van Allen clearly has a lot of fun with his dialogue.
Not everything works well, but
“Familiar” succeeds in being yet another solid entry in a very
good season of The X-Files. While mostly focusing on the
secrets a town keeps to protect itself, it also tries to tackle mob
mentality and the dangers of assuming guilt instead of innocence. I
feel as though there was a first draft of this script that may have
dealt with this issue more head on, but still, it’s interesting to
see Mulder and Scully debate the merits, or lack thereof, of swift
justice.
As a small plus for “Familiar,” the
show has never looked better and the woods never less inviting.
Vancouver truly gets to show off its beauty here, matching perfectly
with the episode’s haunting tone. I’ll be sad when this is over,
as the end is so near just when the show has finally found itself
again. Familiar truly never felt so right, it turns out.
Score
