Mulder and Scully hunt after a serial murderer who targets psychics and come into contact with a man who can see how people will die. Peter Boyle is the real star of this episode, playing the Willy Loman of fortune telling, a depressed, troubled, and lonely insurance salesman who Mulder is sure can help them locate the killer. Much like with Beyond the Sea, a talented character actor makes the episode what it is, though this time with a better story undergirding the whole thing. Boyle's understated comedic timing makes every scene he's in fun to watch.
The episode opens with a fraudulent psychic called in to help the police by prancing around a murder scene making vague predictions that of course bring them no closer to catching the bad guy. This, I think, is to provide a very strong contrast to the real thing, Clyde Bruckman. What would it do to a human being to see death every time he touches another person's hand or picks up an object? Bruckman denies he even has psychic abilities at first, though he's also seemingly compelled to say them out loud. He can tell Mulder where and when to find the next murder victim, but can't give him any information about the murderer. He can see the future, but plainly tells the two agents that more people will die and nothing he does can prevent their deaths. Mulder mentions that most people would love to have abilities like him, but he wishes he were dead. Most everything about him and his powers is a contradiction.
I enjoy how this episode introduces elements of the weird to tangle up our understanding of this paranormal case. It's smartly written. The ending isn't necessarily rushed, but it is a little strange. Why does Bruckman do what he does, is he bound by fate to not use his agency? Is he just mad from a lifetime of seeing futures he can't really help people escape, all from a power that's beyond any human's ability to comprehend? Ahh, maybe it's just broadcast television shows can be ridiculous sometimes. The good but not great ending keeps this episode from being truly perfect.
I do, however, like that the ending reinforces the weirdness and challenges the assumptions you have. And ultimately this odd man escapes the fate you've already assumed will happen to find one that seemed obvious all along.
The episode opens with a fraudulent psychic called in to help the police by prancing around a murder scene making vague predictions that of course bring them no closer to catching the bad guy. This, I think, is to provide a very strong contrast to the real thing, Clyde Bruckman. What would it do to a human being to see death every time he touches another person's hand or picks up an object? Bruckman denies he even has psychic abilities at first, though he's also seemingly compelled to say them out loud. He can tell Mulder where and when to find the next murder victim, but can't give him any information about the murderer. He can see the future, but plainly tells the two agents that more people will die and nothing he does can prevent their deaths. Mulder mentions that most people would love to have abilities like him, but he wishes he were dead. Most everything about him and his powers is a contradiction.
I enjoy how this episode introduces elements of the weird to tangle up our understanding of this paranormal case. It's smartly written. The ending isn't necessarily rushed, but it is a little strange. Why does Bruckman do what he does, is he bound by fate to not use his agency? Is he just mad from a lifetime of seeing futures he can't really help people escape, all from a power that's beyond any human's ability to comprehend? Ahh, maybe it's just broadcast television shows can be ridiculous sometimes. The good but not great ending keeps this episode from being truly perfect.
I do, however, like that the ending reinforces the weirdness and challenges the assumptions you have. And ultimately this odd man escapes the fate you've already assumed will happen to find one that seemed obvious all along.