My least favorite part of the plot, though, was when it ties in William, or should I say William’s death. I’m not sure what the point of it was supposed to be. Scully has some kind of weird spiritual brush with her son, which she apparently doesn’t remember later. Then he dies, she comforts his grieving mother without knowing that it’s William who’s just died, and then she goes off and learns that she’s healthy as a horse. Um, yay? Am I supposed to be glad for Scully that she got to have a spiritual meeting with her son before he died? Am I supposed to think that the universe is merciful because Scully gets to be there for her son’s death but doesn’t have to actually know he died? The narrative doesn’t seem overly concerned about the fact that WILLIAM JUST DIED, and I can’t figure out why, because it’s a tragedy. And the way he dies at the same time as Scully is magically healed kind of makes it seem like his life was traded off for Mulder and Scully’s chance to go on and be healthy as horses together and have babies that they actually keep. Which seems deeply unfair and just- icky.
The writing style and pace, considered separately from SFP’s content, weren’t bad. I do think JL is a good writer, and her facility with words is apparent in the fic. She knows what she’s doing. But like infinitlight, I found the writing a bit too overdescribed (good word, btw). And I also agree that Scully’s extreme shock at discovering she’s totally healthy is a bit OTT. I think Scully would be shocked for a moment, and then probably go quiet and need some time to absorb, rationalize, and accept. (I bet she’d continue going in for routine check-ups though, just in case.) It seems like the fic was trying really hard to play up the whole, “OMG, it’s a miracle!” angle. Which is an attitude that kind of fits with the hokey mystical x-file, but not with the seriousness of the characters or their situation.
SFP seems like it was aiming to contain some of everything; to be funny and mystical and profound and angsty and sexy and nostalgic and tragic and peaceful and happy and romantic. But instead of a poignant and intense emotional tapestry, it felt like a muddled and overly-busy emotional swamp water.
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My least favorite part of the plot, though, was when it ties in William, or should I say William’s death. I’m not sure what the point of it was supposed to be. Scully has some kind of weird spiritual brush with her son, which she apparently doesn’t remember later. Then he dies, she comforts his grieving mother without knowing that it’s William who’s just died, and then she goes off and learns that she’s healthy as a horse. Um, yay? Am I supposed to be glad for Scully that she got to have a spiritual meeting with her son before he died? Am I supposed to think that the universe is merciful because Scully gets to be there for her son’s death but doesn’t have to actually know he died? The narrative doesn’t seem overly concerned about the fact that WILLIAM JUST DIED, and I can’t figure out why, because it’s a tragedy. And the way he dies at the same time as Scully is magically healed kind of makes it seem like his life was traded off for Mulder and Scully’s chance to go on and be healthy as horses together and have babies that they actually keep. Which seems deeply unfair and just- icky.
The writing style and pace, considered separately from SFP’s content, weren’t bad. I do think JL is a good writer, and her facility with words is apparent in the fic. She knows what she’s doing. But like
SFP seems like it was aiming to contain some of everything; to be funny and mystical and profound and angsty and sexy and nostalgic and tragic and peaceful and happy and romantic. But instead of a poignant and intense emotional tapestry, it felt like a muddled and overly-busy emotional swamp water.