From the religious angle to child services to the protagonists and other characters possessing the ability to teleport*, this episode is a treasure trove of terrible. The list goes on and on.
* and so many more angles - this episode is truly multi-faceted.
On the plus side, the cinematography for this episode stands out. The camera work, framing, editing, and lighting in many passages is nicer than usual. Shame the effort was wasted on this episode. Also, the ending was rushed and stupid. There is an embarrassing, cringeworthy and preachy religious epilogue involving Scully going to confession and making a statement about all of humanity. This shouldn't have been aired. What a disappointment.
Scully's character behaves like a moronic idiot during this episode. This is an issue, as Scully is supposed to be intelligent, a skeptic, a doctor, and a scientist. In this episode, out of the blue, the character is suddenly a Catholic fanatic. This doesn't jive. When you create a world, you can do anything you like... but once established, you have to follow the rules. I'll have to research this, but the only religious references Scully has made is that she doesn't have faith - She wears the necklace only because her Mother gave it to her. Now it's the opposite. How disappointing. The character of Scully being a devout Catholic doesn't jive with prior (or future) episodes or her character. Bad. B. A. D. The most mysterious part of this episode is that Scully's character has been replaced by a pod person.
Note: The next episode features a completely different Scully. In the opening of S3:E12 War of the Coprophages, she gives a small pro-science (AKA pro-reality and logic) monologue that has no room for anything that isn't fact (e.g., religion). Oh, and while she's talking on the phone (an ancient communication device), she's cleaning a dismantled gun.
This is far from the worst episode, although it's near the bottom. That typed, it's one of my least favorite episodes.
Aside: It was nice to see Michael Berryman, especially playing a positive character.
I don't think I've ever had such a different reaction to an episode after a repeat watch. When I first saw this, I liked it a lot. However, after my latest viewing, it's just okay. Mulder is a real jerk in this story. Scully's confession at the church is touching and I was impressed by how openly she communicates her faith in God.
Secondary characters in this episode: None
Oh how the tables have turned in this episode with Mulder being the sceptic for once. See how frustrating that is, Scully?
Shout by ElliotVIP 6BlockedParent2019-01-30T10:36:09Z
I was never a fan of Scully, the smart scientist and ardent sceptic, also supposedly being a devoutly religious person, so this episode really doesn't sit well with me. The plot isn't particularly strong and the ending is rather ridiculous - the demonic character jumps in the industrial paper shredder with the boy tightly gripped, yet somehow the kid manages to break free and catch on to the side of the shredder to survive. Certainly one of the weaker efforts.