5x4: Detour

[wendelah1]

It's our final day. Was it a fun change of pace or an unwelcome diversion?

This is another MOTW episode I enjoy more for the relationship bits than for the X-File. The scene where Scully sings "Joy to the World" to Mulder actually made me tear up, in part because she'll sing it again much later in the series in a much different context. Other than that scene and the one in the car where they talk about building the tower of office furniture, the writing falls a little flat for me. I don't see the slightest resemblance to "Deliverance," which writer Frank Spotnitz claimed was his inspiration.



Writer: Frank Spotnitz
Director: Brett Dowler
Original air date: November 23, 1997

Synopsis: Mulder and Scully are carpooling with fellow FBI agents, Michael Kinsley and Carla Stonecypher, to an FBI team-building seminar in Florida. When they are stopped by a roadblock, Mulder gets out of the car to stretch his legs. Before Scully can ask, "Mulder, where are you going?", he has ditched the seminar and headed into the woods to assist with a missing persons investigation which Mulder is convinced is an X-File.

Most Memorable Quote:
Scully: Mulder, you need to keep warm. Your body's still in shock.
Mulder: I was told once that the best way to regenerate body heat is to crawl naked into a sleeping bag with somebody else who was already naked. (scoots closer to her)
Scully: (grinning) Maybe if it rains sleeping bags, you'll get lucky.

Links:
Transcript
Autumn Tysko
Drew Vogel

Fanfiction:
We get to season five and suddenly there's fanfic.
Communication by Wintersong.
Summary: So, what if Mulder and Scully really did get to build a tower of office furniture someday? What would we see?
Energy and Light by Oracle (on her Gossamer page) Wendy's note: not specifically a post-ep but it's season five, the fic takes place in a forest and it fits the mood. Plus I'm the mod.
Summary: Four girls have vanished, each one on a different night. Each one by the light of a full moon. Is it just a coincidence?
Still Life with Implant by denynothing1 aka Barbara D.
Summary: Adjusting to life in remission.
This Her Fever by Aloysia Virgata. Wendy's note: I'd never read this because the summary made it sound like cancer fic, which I mostly avoid for personal reasons. But it's not about Scully having cancer, it's Scully-in-remission fic and canon-compliant, too.
SUMMARY: It is, she thinks, a fitting coda to her life that Mulder and Father McCue should cross paths in this room, both trying to offer her salvation.

Comments

[rainatlas.livejournal.com]

I've loved every single thing I've read from Syntax 6 - and that's all of her work that I could find, minus one story that I will save for a special/rainy day. It's like saving the best bites of food on your plate for last, or not being able to eat that fancy chocolate for fear that a more appropriate occasion for indulgence will present itself. Am I weird? Do other people do this?

Now, I think I've read some of Kel but need some guidance. What do I read first?! There's 54 listings at gossamer and I don't know where to start! Help!

[wendelah1]

Just in case you don't have it: Syntax6 has a website: http://www.omniscribe.com/ She also wrote under a couple of socks. Hannah Mason is one that I recall. Those stories might be at the website; if not, try Gossamer.

For Kel, my personal favorites are Basketball Therapy, Angular Momentum (I commissioned fanart for it, I loved it so much), The Beginner's Guide to Tight-rope Walking, Hollow Day, and co-written with Michelle Kiefer, Bone of Contention. Her stories are well-written, well-plotted, have great characterization and wit. Her Mulder and Scully are just as smart, sarcastic and witty as they are on the show.

[rainatlas.livejournal.com]

Perfect! Thank you for your guidance!

[tri-sbr.livejournal.com]

"Am I weird? Do other people do this?"

If you are weird for this, then I am too. I *still* have not read Machines of Freedom because Wendy says I will like it (and, I'll be honest, it has lots of follow-up stories and snippets and I don't want to spoil it by accidentally reading them out of order, so I just haven't started it - if there was a collector's edition, that would be superb).

Also, I was ecstatic when I found one of syntax6's stories that I had somehow missed - it was Embers; but I didn't hold out very long before succumbing and reading it. I would be curious as to which one you are saving for later.

For Kel, I would agree with Wendy's favorites and add that I also really enjoyed A Neurotic Need for Validation, Recycled Virgins, To Have it All, Ricochet, Failure to Die, and Waiting for Agent Right.

Kel has lots of stories, but some of them are kind of odd little things. Given what you said about saving stories, I would get everything of hers from Gossamer and then read the ones that we didn't mention first. That way you (probably) won't be disappointed with any of the ones you save for last. Or does that sound like insanity? :)

[rainatlas.livejournal.com]

Ha! I am very much compelled to take your reading advice. ;)

Embers wasn't linked on syntax6's website, but I found it anyway. So mysterious! Thanks for the tip!

As for Machines of Freedom, I read it recently and had no idea what I was getting myself into or else I would probably still be in the same boat as you. I still haven't finished everything in the "Caseyverse" but HIGHLY recommend you do read MoF. Ditto on needing a collector's edition - I too am afraid to read the rest for fear of being spoiled.

Looks like my summer reading list is bulking up...