I liked this analysis of "Atlas" (why Atlas?) I think better than I liked the story itself. A few strong points are made--the rootless existence they have consigned themselves to, the determination of Scully to allow her son a separate life balanced off against Mulder's wish to claim him. I suppose Scully is Atlas. She's the tough one.

The bit that appealed to me most was the mysterious woman tinkering with the AC and offering cigarettes. That scene was quite well-done. I wanted to know more! Was she like the evanescent nurse in "One Breath?" If so, telling Scully to take time for herself seemed a weak intervention.

My real problem is a matter of taste. I simply don't enjoy the fanciness of the style. A line like "it passes like second-hand smoke, an unreal dreamscape buzzing at the nape of her neck" to describe a haircut seems to be trying too hard. And why "second-hand" anyway? Smoke is smoke. Unless you're trapped in a burning room.