2X14 - Die Hand Die Verletzt

Summary

Ick. I've always thought that there was much about this creepy ep that I should/could have liked, but it just ended up being unsatisfying. Somehow, the occult theme in this one wasn't all that interesting, despite the raining toads, huge snakes, and disconnected beating hearts. I kept wanting to know why this was going on, whatever was it that compelled these seemingly ordinary people to have committed their lives to the so-called black arts? (Or maybe that's totally realistic — that ordinary semi-professional folks in small towns would find such a pursuit an interesting way to spend their off-hours?) I've read that this script came out of a suggestion that someone write a story about a man who gets swallowed by a snake. I'd have to say perhaps we need a bit more to go on to create a memorable story that goes beyond gross special effects.

It's raining toads in New Hampshire

So local law enforcement are so freaked out about this case that they call out the Fibbies before they even scan the crime scene for evidence? And I don’t know about you, but if toads started falling on my head/umbrella, I’d be a lot more astonished than M&S were here.

There are folks out there who sing high praises for this episode but I don’t really get why. I have to admit that the entire “send up of religion” theme sort of went over my head. Supposedly this was about people who profess to believe, being lax in the practice of their beliefs, getting their just desserts. And in this case, since we are talking about the dark forces, the just desserts are served up in a nasty fashion courtesy of Mrs. Paddock. But why kill poor Shannon? (Who died incredibly quickly, let me add.) Because this is Satan and that’s just how Satan works? Call me up unnecessarily and I’ll kill you? Or does this go back to the PTA not having paid their dues in ages and so now The Big Guy has come to take his own “offerings”? Okay, I’ll admit I’m so not into religion-based eps that I don’t even quite understand the send-ups. (Or maybe I do, and this is all there is to it.)

Some odd items that caught my eye as I watched this hour... Mulder chases Shannon down the hall and makes one of his stupendous leaps by saying, “You’re remembering!” Wha-? And wouldn’t you know – she does remember. Sort of. Maybe. Not really sure.

Mrs. Paddock makes noises as she does her “work” that would be awfully hard to explain to someone passing by outside her office door.

When I saw Scully working away searching for information on Mrs. Paddock during the power outage, I thought, isn’t it wonderful that in the days of dial-up internet, you can go online without power?

I had forgotten that Mulder and Scully had taken a shower together before that dreadful One Son episode...

Best or Worst Moment

This was sorta stupid — talk about stepping out of the frying pan and into the fire. These misguided devil-worshipping folks think that they should sacrifice a couple of FBI agents in order to swing around the balance of power??

Original Rating: * *
Revised Rating: * *