X-Files continued 10-6

Earlier, I posted my my favorite X-Files numbers 25 - 11 with the promise that i would post my top ten in the future. Well, the partial future is here, because i have the next half of my post... with Episodes 10-6!!! I know, i know, PACO IS JUMPING WITH GLEE!!!!!! As a recap:
25. Ice
24. Hollywood AD
23. Humbug
22. Kill Switch
21. Our Town
20. Kaddish
19. Irresistible/Orison
18. Signs and wonders
17. Monday
16. Millennium
15. Paper hearts
14. All Souls
13. Unruhe
12. 1st Person shooter
11. Anasazi/Blessing Way/Paper Clip
now.... the next 5 of this very long POST.

10. Small Potatoes (4x20 – Vince Gillian)

“the birds and bees and the monkey babies, mulder”: Part One
There is never a lack of creativity with story lines with the writers of The X-Files. Some episodes amaze me with different characteristics – this episode makes me laugh all over the place.
“Not unless they have trailer parks in space”: Part Two
I really like the Villains who aren’t villains, just people who are in some way extraordinary, even if they have the guise and live the life of completely ordinary. Eddie VanBlundht, who at first meeting with Mulder, Fox rolls his eyes, is just this wonderfully crafted type of stand alone character. He’s amazing, he’s witty in his dullness and most of all, he’s got “personality”. Darin Morgan, writer of “Clyde Bruckman” and “Humbug” plays Eddie and his talent in pulling off this con-artist’s persona is just as stellar as his writing ability!
“Scully, should we be picking out China patterns or what?”: Part Three
There is a theme with me, if you haven’t noticed – I happen to, like any normal X-File lover, roll around in the glory that is Mulder and Scully’s relationship. Their chemistry is phenomenal and the other types of tension happen to be brought out to light during a candlelit rendezvous with… er.. mulder? Noteworthy scene: Mulder’s apartment scene after the investigation wraps up.

9. Triangle (6x03 – Chris Carter)

“How’d you like to see the stars on the American flag” :Part One
You know that feeling when, at the very beginning of something, you can tell it’s going to be awesome? That’s the beginning of this episode. September 3rd 1939 is being relived in the Bermuda Triangle and the history pours forth X-Files style. Fox Mulder has his chance to stand up to the Nazis and to make sure history’s course stays on track.
“There are spies everywhere.. Trust no one!” Part Two
Speaking to the theme of evil living on in every era, this episode carries out, in a very Wizard of Oz-espe style, that yes, in fact, we hold those we love and trust close – and those we don’t , those who have betrayed us and those who are down right nasty, have been and probably always will be.
“in case we never meet again”: Part 3
Mulder acts on intuition – this episode is no different. With the fate of the future resting on his decision, he decides to trust the OSS Scully – who, of course, doesn’t let him down. This episode is brilliant with few cuts and beautifully executed ship shots. Sometimes I feel claustrophobic watching this. Two more things, Scully is fluent in German in this epi, harking back to season four’s “Unruhe”. Secondly, the Noteworthy scene is the ballroom fight – who doesn’t like to see Nazis getting their ass’ kicked?

8. all things (7x17 – Gillian Anderson)

“time passes in moments”: Part One
Sometimes I run across something that reminds me of me – the themes and macro ideas of this very intimate episode resonates in my soul of souls, the questions asked and the dialogue held have oft been my quandaries and personal conversations.
“When we hold on to shame, guilt and fear – it creates an imbalance, makes us forget who we are”: Part Two
I love, love, love the take on Eastern religions/healers and sickness of this episode – tackling the hard lesson of embracing who and what we are for the sake of striking a balance with the universe, no matter how small we are.
“How many different lives would we be leading if we made different choices”: Part Three
Finally, Scully has to go on this journey alone. We see that in this series from time to time, but it is a rare gem to behold, but she had to embark alone on this spiritual, profound journey alone because we all have to do that. Questioning choices, she wonders if she’s really happy of is she’s just going through the motions. I believe the end of this episode wraps up our questions just fine. Let’s not forget to mention about this episode, the entire 45ish minutes is beautiful; wonderfully shot, manipulating and gorgeous. Noteworthy moment: the temple scene.

7. The Field Where I Died (4x05 – Glen Morgan and James Wong)

“At times I almost dream I, too, have spent a life the sage’s way..”: Part one
Doesn’t the age old question ask if we survive death – and if we do, why and how and where? This episode strikes something deep in my soul and makes me unspeakably sad. I believe this X-File does so much more than investigate the paranormal, it investigates humanity while journeying into the spiritual. Another X-File lover describes this epi as “poignant” and “heart breaking” and “romantic” (http://www.munchkyn.com/xf-rvws/field.html). And I agree on all three counts.
“Souls come back together…different…but always together.” Part two
David Duchovny and Kristen Cloke (the Melissa Reidel-Ephesian) give superb renditions of bereaved and devastated people ripped apart by death – Mulder reminds us that, though separated now, “love, love, ..souls mate.” This X-File is eerily beautiful and painstakingly pitch perfect on many levels. Noteworthy scenes include any scene in the field.

6. The Unnatural (6x20 – David Duchovny)

“I don’t wanna be a famous man… I just wanna be a man”: Part One
This is a heart string plucking episode that makes the all-American girl in me sing from the mountain tops. Jesse L. Martin is fabulous as Negro League Superstar Josh Exley – he carries this X-File on his back with his never ceasing smile and humble persona. He is easily one of my favorite outside actors - he is strong, brave, graceful and what everyone wants in a hero.
“Maybe you should start paying less attention to the heart of the mystery and more attention to the mystery of the heart”: Part two
Mulder is passionate and driven and so devoted to his life’s work that I forget he probably has days off from the FBI. It was nice to see one of Mulder’s Saturdays. I love the sense of wonderment Fox encapsulates during Arthur Dale’s story – it’s all kinds of inspiring – when he stops trying to figure it out and just listens.. and is.
“Life ain’t like baseball, is it, Arthur?”: Part Three
This episode has mass appeal – it’s a sports themed tear jerker, motivation to be true to one’s heart and inspiring to love and love without foul. Even the demise of the hero is amazingly heroic. And as far as I’m concerned David Duchovny has, you guessed it, hit a home run! Noteworthy scene: The final scene makes my heart explode.

My Top Games!

Now here's a list you're gonna love! I'm really into board games starting this year, so I thought I'd put together a list of my ten favorites.



10. Elfenland

Description: "A group of fledgling elves (the players) are charged with visiting as many of the twenty Elfencities as they can over a short period of time. To accomplish the task they will use various forms of transportation such as Pigs, Elfbikes, Magic Clouds, Trollwagons, and Dragons."

My Thoughts: This is like a better version of Ticket to Ride. It has a bit more complexity and a turn progression that I like more.



9. Bohnanza

Description: "As card games go, this one is quite revolutionary. Perhaps its oddest feature is that you cannot rearrange your hand, as you need to play the cards in the order that you draw them. The cards are colorful depictions of beans in various descriptive poses, and the object is to make coins by planting fields (sets) of these beans and then harvesting them. To help players match their cards up, the game features extensive trading and deal making."

My Thoughts: I don't usually like card games that much, but this one is an exception. It's short, and card trading element is very fun.



8. Stone Age

Description: "Players struggle to survive the Stone Age by working as hunters, collectors, farmers, and tool makers. As you gather resources, and raise animals, you work to build the tools needed to build your civilization."

My Thoughts: I've only played this once, but I really liked it. It's a typical worker placement game that seems to be very well implemented.


7. Citadels

Description: "Players seek to build a collection of districts worth from one to eight points. Once someone has built eight districts, the game is over after that round ends and the player with the highest total value wins. However to facilitate the process (and make the game interesting), players sequentially choose a character from a rapidly dwindling pool of eight each turn. The characters give players special abilities for the turn."

My Thoughts: Another card game exception. The key here is the character cards, which are selected secretly each round. This makes for a good deal of poker-like thinking/guessing.


6. Formula D

Description: "Formula D is a fast-paced racing game in which the cars' top speeds are limited by having to end a certain number of turns in each curve of the racetrack. This can be tricky, because although players can regulate their speeds by choosing which gear to be in and each gear allows a certain range of movement, the exact amount is determined randomly."

My Thoughts: You'd think a racing board game would be lame, but it's not! It's exciting, and features lots of fun dice-rolling.


5. Galaxy Trucker

Description: I can't find a good description for this one. Basically, there are two phases to this game. The first consists of players simultaneously grabbing tiles that are used to build a spaceship. The second phase involves sending these ships out into space and hoping they survive.

My Thoughts: This is another game I've only played a few times but really like. It's a fun combination of intense thinking and total chaos. You plan so hard in the first phase and then just sit back and watch your creation be blown apart.


4. Pandemic

Description: "You are specialists at the CDC/Atlanta where you watch several virulent diseases break out simultaneously all over the world. The team mission is to prevent a world-wide pandemic outbreak, treating hotspots while researching cures for each of the four plagues before they get out of hand."

My Thoughts: This game has a great feel that matches the theme. It always seems like you're on the brink of losing.


3. Ghost Stories

Description: "Ghost Stories is a cooperative game in which the players try to defeat the spirit of Wu-Feng, the lord of hell, and his legions of ghosts before they haunt a town and recover the ashes that will allow him to return to life. Each Player represents a taoist monk ghost hunter who is working together with the others to fight off waves of spirits and other beings mostly inspired by eastern mythology."

My Thoughts: A common trait of a lot of these games is that the player has a limited amount of information and a limited number of actions to accomplish goals. To me, using actions efficiently based on the available information is really fun!



2. Puerto Rico

Description: "The players are plantation owners in Puerto Rico in the days when ships had sails. Growing up to five different kind of crops: Corn, Indigo, Coffee, Sugar and Tobacco, they must try to run their business more efficiently than their close competitors; growing crops and storing them efficiently, developing San Juan with useful buildings, deploying their colonists to best effect, selling crops at the right time, and most importantly, shipping their goods back to Europe for maximum benefit."

My Thoughts: I love a game that gives the player lots of options. Puerto Rico offers an almost limitless number of winning combinations.


1. Agricola

Description: "In Agricola, you're a farmer in a wooden shack with your spouse and little else. On a turn, you get to take only two actions, one for you and one for the spouse, from all the possibilities you'll find on a farm: collecting clay, wood, or stone; building fences; and so on. You might think about having kids in order to get more work accomplished, but first you need to expand your house. And what are you going to feed all the little rugrats?"

My Thoughts: Oh boy! What a good game. So much to do, so little time. This game lets players build their own farms. That's so fun! Don't you love it? Also, there's so much hard thinking. Don't you guys love thinking and farms?

So, there it is. Now come over to my house and play these with me.

Top 25 Albums of the D'Cade: 25-11

Alright, here's the first part of my list. Generally, my feeling is that music is good when it just is, and that to provide a set of conditions that account for its goodness is to invalidate the brute fact of its beauty. As a result, I hate writing descriptions for these lists. That said, I recognize that without the descriptions they are kind of boring. My compromise is that I'll just hit you with 25-11, and I'll try to provide some descriptions for 10-1.

Also, it should be clear that I do not claim that these are the best albums, just my favorite.



25. Damien Jurado - Ghost of David



24. Rogue Wave - Out of the Shadow



23. Modest Mouse - The Moon and Antarctica



22. Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs



21. Destroyer - Rubies



20. Of Montreal - Satanic Panic in the Attic



19. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Master and Everyone



18. Solvent - Apples and Synthesizers



17. Sigur Ros - ()



16. Sun Kil Moon - Ghosts of the Great Highway



15. Arcade Fire - Funeral



14. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion



13. The Innocence Mission - Befriended



12. Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans



11. Gui Boratto - Chromophobia


10-1 will follow shortly.

“The world didn't end.”

"No, it didn't."

After much debating and thought, I have finished composing my list of my top 25 x files episodes. Here are 25-11.

25. Requiem - I remember watching this episode when it aired, and trying in vain to tell all of my friends about it. I was in 8th grade and it was finals week. hah. I still think this should have been the series finale.

24. The Field Where I Died -

Mulder - “Dana, if, um, early in the four years we've been working together an event occurred that suggested or somebody told you that we've been friends together in other lifetimes always - would it have changed some of the ways we've looked at one another?”

Scully - “Even if I knew for certain, I wouldn't change a thing. Well, maybe that flukeman thing. I could've lived without that just fine.”

23. Tempus Fugit / Max – I don’t know why this isn’t higher on my list. Some of my favorite dialog between scully and mulder are in this episode:

SCULLY: Mulder... you have never remembered my birthday in the four years I've known you.

MULDER: That's the way I like to celebrate them...It's every four years, it's like dog years that way.

SCULLY: Dog years? Thank you.

MULDER: You're welcome. Oh, I got something for you.

SCULLY: Oh, you've got to be kidding me.

MULDER: It's just something that reminded me of you.

SCULLY: What, an alien implant?

MULDER: Two, actually. I made them into earrings.

22. All Souls - “Science only teaches us how, not why.”

21. Unruhe – There’s one reason I love this episode: HOWLERZ!! Hah I loved how mad scully gets when investigating Jerry… also I love Jerry’s crazy eyes.

20. Pusher/ Kitsunegari – Robert Modell is one of my favorite villains in the series. I would not want to get caught in a game of Russian Roulette with that guy.

19. Chinga – This Stephen King-written episode is probably one of my most watched episodes. I hate dolls, and the hokey pokey because of this. I remember being so scared when I watched it when I was younger.

18. Hollywood A.D. – Sometimes I just love the lighthearted episodes.

MULDER: (on phone) How about Richard Gere?

WAYNE FEDERMAN: (on phone) Ho! Yeah, okay. Uh, seriously. What if I said to you the name "Garry Shandling"?

MULDER: (on phone) Wayne, you're breaking up. It sounded like you said "Garry Shandling."

17. Irresistible/Orison - I love how affected by these cases Scully is. I think Donnie Pfaster is one of the creepiest villains on the x files. There's a great shot of him in his room with all the flowers from funerals. I love when scully is on the phone with mulder, and she says "anyway, you could use my help out there." and then he says "always"

16. Oubliette – I’ve always thought that some of the best x files are the ones where the case is very personal to mulder and scully. This one is a great Mulder episode. Also I think Lucy Householder is one of the best guest actors on the Show.

15. Triangle – “You saved the world Scully.” “Yeah, you're right. I did.” This is a just a very highly entertaining episode to me. Besides all of the great acting and wonderful plot, the technical side of this episode amazes me. I also love the Wizard of Oz reference near the end when Mulder wakes up.

14. Paper Hearts - Another very personal one to Mulder. I really loved the character John Lee Roche.

13. Millenium - “The world didn't end.” “No, it didn't.” I remember the first time I saw this episode. I had been watching the show every week for about 4 years. Finally they kissed. And the world didn’t end. Apart from the ending, I love pretty much everything about this episode. A gunfight with zombies in the basement can’t be bad? Can it?

12. Our Town – This is just an episode that has always entertained me, ever since I watched it as a kid.

11. The Anasazi/The Blessing Way/Paper Clip – I love everything about this trilogy. It answers a few questions in the series, but then just opens up even more. The CSM is great in these, I especially love his “BURN IT” line at the end of the Anasazi when Mulder is trapped in the boxcar. Another thing that I always love is the Native American culture in these episodes. I think that these are probably my favorite season enders and starters. Although Talitha Cumi and Herrenvolk, and The End and the Beginning are all good. However, I don’t care as much for Biogenesis and The Sixth Ex (stink) tions.

That’s it for now. 10-1 are going to be coming soon.

I want to believe... that this post will rule the school

For my first post of the year, I'm breaking it down for you Mulder style.
I have been toiling over my top 25 Favorite X-Files Episodes - and I'm happy to report that my 25 are written down and ready to be posted.
However, the reader should know: I am only posting numbers 25-11 now - and my top ten (although already chosen) will come along later with detailed descriptions as to WHY they are in the coveted top ten spots.

One more thing needs to be stated: these top spots are my favorites. I'm sure in your heart of hearts there are better ones and you will want to sing your own x-files song, and you should, but don't defile mine.

Without further ado, allow me to present this list:

Top X-Files:::: Alien chasing, monster racing, crime fighting team:::: ((according to me))

25. Ice (1x07 - Glen Morgan and James Wong)
This episode is excellent for many reasons, mind altering parasites, deep deep cold and sassy smarties all locked up together - however, my tip top reason for choosing this to start out my list is: this was the first major show of apparent walking out on a limb trust between these two wonderful agents. Scully trusted Mulder and a beautiful relationship ensued.

24. Hollywood AD (7x19 - David Duchovny)
An X-file within a movie within an X-file -- pretty clever, David, pretty clever. Favorite scenes include Garry Shanding asking Fox Mulder "which way he dresses in the morning", Scully telling Mulder they have the Bureau credit card for a night of Hollywood fun, and of course, the zombies....

23. Humbug (2x20 - Darin Morgan)
Freaks, geeks and a pretty red head eating a cricket - I love the side show aspect and how theirs is the normal among their own. I mean, the dog faced boy is the sheriff - really.

22. Kill Switch (5x11 - William Gibson and Tom Maddox)
Oh man - this episode made me all kinds of crazy when I first saw it. It's creepy and disturbing, but oh so good - complete with sexy nurses and a kick ass Scully. Oh, the detailed touches with Twilight Time add that extra ounce of thoughtfulness that X-File lovers come to expect.

21. Our Town (2x24 - Frank Spotnitz)
I'm a sucker for conspiracies and people abusing their power story lines (duh!??!), and these items about 'big food' (so to speak) is right up my alley. Puh-leaz. Voo-Doo always strengthens a story line, too.

20. Kaddish (4x15 - Howard Gordan)
Maybe deep down, really far deep down, I'm a gushy romantic laced with a tad bit of wacky. But I think it's sweet Arielle would craft a golem just to wear the wedding ring her daddy made in a concentration camp. Call me a weird-o

19. Irresistible (2x13 - Chris Carter) and Orison (7x07 - Chip Johannesson)
Donny Pfaster is a scary son of a bitch. I mean, scary. Besides that, I love when a television series can have on-going story lines, but the episodes they appear in can be strong enough to gravitate alone. This two-fer does just that. (Actually, most X-Files do just that, but I just love this one) Not to mention, every minute of Orison, from start to finish just creeps me the hell out. And X-Files should be about creepy, at least most of the time.

18. Signs and Wonders (7x09 - Jeffrey Bell)
Structured religion, even if that structure is a little insane, can be a serious tool for destruction - this episodes shows both sides and definitely leads one astray with the ever lasting question "who done it". Plus, giving birth to snakes???? SICK

17. Monday (6x14 - Vince Gilligan and John Shiban)
This very taxing take on Groundhog's Day allows the viewer to ponder between fate and predestined actions. It's good. A good food for the brain - also, Pam played by Carrie Hamilton, makes me believe she has suffered and suffered and suffered the same day for too many to count. She's an amazing actress.

16. Millennium (7x04 - Vince Gilligan and Frank Spotnitz)
Probably the best of the best of this episode gets lost with the KISS. BUT OH MY GOD, THAT KISS MAKES ME TINGLE EVERYWHERE.... Moving on - apocalypse theories are strong and i'm sure Millennium fans were happy to have closure.

15. Paper Hearts (4x10 - Vince Gilligan)
Mulder shows weakness here, in the middle of this epi - i like that, but what i like better is his ability to get back on track. Tom Noonan is a good villian, his blank stares and the whole killing little girls, those things can get ya' big creeper points. Noteworthy moment, when Mulder swishes a jump shot (what a stud).

14. All Souls (5x17 - story by Dan Angel,Billy Brown teleplay by Frank Spotnitz and John Shiban)
I do have a weakness for the religious episodes. I love the way the church can flip flop the two agents' point of views, I love, as in Signs and Wonders and also Revelations, that the people who one would think committed these treacheries are most definitely not the people who did. Call me predictable, but i like what i like.

13. Unruhe (4x04- Vince Gilligan)
Mulder is so smooth under pressure. He saves Scully so many times, but yet, my heart never tires. Scully is impressive in this one - I have seen this episode so many times, and re-learning that Scully is nearly fluent in German still makes me wanna go gay for her. She's so deep and round as a character. This show, and this episode, never let's a person down.

12. First Person Shooter (7x13 - William Gibson and Tom Maddox)
Sometimes when I watch an x-file, I just wanna revel in their relationship. I love it. I love to have fun with these two and jump up and down when they succeed. Seeing Scully destroy that vixen let's me know that it's not always about beauty, it's about beauty and who has the biggest guns.

11. Anasazi/Blessing Way/Paper Clip (2x25, 3x01, 3x02 - Chris Carter and David Duchovny)
I don't have many cut and dry mythology arch episodes, but this one (a combination of three) blows my mind. Blows it clear out of this earthly sphere. Native American folklore, extra terrestrial conspiracies, government denies knowledge - this is what makes a great x-file. So early in the series, Chris Carter is laying it all on the table- blowing through the stops and making us fall in love with even the most despicable of cigarette smoking villains.

10-1 coming soon. don't lose hope.

prepare ye the way of my lists.

i'm just letting everyone know --

i'm starting my lists.

i actually started one last week. and this year, i've changed.
here's a self portrait.