The X-Files 1.07 - Ghost In The Machine
Things aren't getting any better in season one. Is this really the show that gripped the world? We seem to be on a poor run of formulaic painting-by-numbers episodes, where you can see the plot beats coming a mile off and the only intriguing things are what's going on around the edges. Take this weeks dull story for example. The bits and pieces about Mulder's history with his old partner are far more interesting than a dodgy old PC with delusions of grandeur. It's a shame that Jerry turns out to be a bit of a tosser, but it at least clues us in on why Mulder (originally) decided that he worked best alone. It's not even as if there was any mystery about who was responsible for the murders - the viewer is in on it from the beginning so there is no suspense.
Elsewhere Deep Throat pops up again from the first time since episode two for...well I'm not entirely sure why he was there. His role could have been filled by anybody. He makes some vague statements about the "shadow government" controlling things but it's all a bit pointless in terms of this actual storyline, almost as if the creative team felt they had to shoehorn him in somewhere. The twisted machine just isn't very scary or threatening and the only real sense of peril is when Scully is blown down the conveniently large air ducts and there is a bit of tension with the whirling fan - when she also manages to pull off looking very attractive while having a huge wind machine blown in her face. No small feat.
The Central Operating System (C.O.S.) is an obvious analogy to HAL 9000 from "2001 - A Space Odyssey" (it even asks "What are you doing, Brad?" when he inserts the floppy disk that causes it's meltdown). That idea of an artificial intelligence having a violent will of it's own has been seen in countless TV shows and films both before and since 1968. everything from "The Invisible Boy", "Colossus: The Forbin Project", "Dark Star", "Demon Seed" and "I, Robot" to episodes of "The Bionic Woman", all the various incarnations of Star Trek" and of course "Doctor Who". Even comics have got in on the act, especially those in the UK. 2000 AD's short-lived stablemate "Starlord" even featured a story in issue 11 (brilliantly drawn by Casanovas) where a computer controlling ever aspect of a house fell in love with it's owner and refused to ever let him leave.
The most famous computer in British comics though is Max, from the long running story "The Thirteenth Floor" which started off in "Scream" before moving to the revival of "Eagle". Custodian of the "Maxwell Tower" housing block, Max had the ability to create an artificial floor where he could punish, torture or even kill those who threatened his tenants. Jose Ortiz, always one of my favourite European artists, drew almost all the episodes through the many years the strip ran for.
Can you tell I was more interested in thinking about Max than the C.O.S. ? That's how memorable this episode was.
Other thoughts and facts:
- Who has a telephone (not to mention electronic door locks) in their bathroom? Time is money I guess. Plus - why do you need ID to get *out* ?
- The FBI still has a lunch trolley? Is this the 1970s?
- I may be wrong, but I think this episode gives us the first chalk outline of the series.
- Ah, that now so old fashioned dial up modem sound. Youngsters today don't know how lucky they are with their super-fast broadband. I remember having to connect to the internet, go off and make a cup of tea and come back and maybe, just maybe, the page I wanted would have come up...
- If the FBI doesn't have wipe-clean monitors, those pen marks Scully draws all over her screen will be hell to wash off.
- I don't think even Brad's description of a "scruffy mind" would place a PC and associated electronic equipment so close to a large about of water as he seems to do in his apartment. It does look cool though.
- How did the electronic features of the building (lights, lifts, etc) still work after the computer controlling it all was destroyed?
Oh and that "twist" at the end? I would have been more surprised if they *hadn't* gone down the obvious route.
Fingers crossed that the homicidal toaster is never seen again.
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