The strategic decision was made back when they agreed to make a kid
But making one strategic decision (to have a child) does not mean the capacity for future strategic decisions stops or is lessened. Scully is just sort of enduring in ITM. Instead of them both being in constant communication, making it so that Scully can 'fight the future' from DC while Mulder is away - making it so that they're both more informed and effective - they're just throwing themselves along on their seperate paths.
she is not at the mercy of Mulder...she is not little Starbuck with Daddy
She's not at the mercy of Mulder, no, but all the things they've both worked so hard for and given so much for have now become his responsibility. She's at the mercy of her circumstances, and in ITM she doesn't do much to change that. She takes the passive role of waiting, yearning, asking futile questions about how long Mulder will be gone.
And if you want to argue that the only way to raise a child is to put everything else, no matter how important, far on the backburner, that's one opinion, but many parents will disagree. Not that I envy Scully her position. It's a tremendously difficult position and by wanting her to fight the future and be a mother I know I'm asking a lot of her. But my Scully never stops fighting, no matter what, and I don't believe ITM puts her in a position where she has to.
Re: Realism MSR
But making one strategic decision (to have a child) does not mean the capacity for future strategic decisions stops or is lessened. Scully is just sort of enduring in ITM. Instead of them both being in constant communication, making it so that Scully can 'fight the future' from DC while Mulder is away - making it so that they're both more informed and effective - they're just throwing themselves along on their seperate paths.
she is not at the mercy of Mulder...she is not little Starbuck with Daddy
She's not at the mercy of Mulder, no, but all the things they've both worked so hard for and given so much for have now become his responsibility. She's at the mercy of her circumstances, and in ITM she doesn't do much to change that. She takes the passive role of waiting, yearning, asking futile questions about how long Mulder will be gone.
And if you want to argue that the only way to raise a child is to put everything else, no matter how important, far on the backburner, that's one opinion, but many parents will disagree. Not that I envy Scully her position. It's a tremendously difficult position and by wanting her to fight the future and be a mother I know I'm asking a lot of her. But my Scully never stops fighting, no matter what, and I don't believe ITM puts her in a position where she has to.