X-Files: "Monday"

Time Travel Device: Loop

Time Travel Outcome/Purpose: Mulder & Scully don't die in the bank; the loop ends.

Coolness Factor: X-Files' willingness to tackle the big meaning!

Flaws: “Monday” avoids the flaw that Mike mentions regarding Groundhog Day: "the human mind can only stay stable for so long with no true measurement of time." Pam--the only character to remember the previous loops--becomes progressively unstable as the loops continue and she gives up trying to find a solution.

Paradox: Loop (Does the universe restart each day?).

Trivia: Did you notice the brand of Mulder's wrist watch?

Mike says Sorry! As a procrastinator, one of the worst things that can happen to me is for Blogger to go down for maintenance the night of my deadline! Having to work, I wasn't able to add my review till just now.

Anyway, "Monday" is one of the first X-Files episodes I saw and has the distinction of making me fall in love with the show. This episode, though, does something far more boldly than many X-Files episodes: it leaves no doubt to the viewer that something extraordinary is going on. Many episodes will give you a wink, or make things look plausible, but often in the X-Files, Scully's view of the situation is just as plausible as Mulder's. In later seasons, though, that goes to the wind, and Scully is left looking dumb while we and Mulder know what's really happening.

The time loop is pretty well regulated--the show avoids showing the same thing over and over and shows different views so it doesn't get old. One thing that I appreciated is that Mulder ALREADY had thoughts of deja vu being a time loop... it's not an idea that conveniently came to him while he was in one.

This is also a great one-off episode. Any viewer can come in, watch this episode, and know what happened, even though the point of the show might be lost on them. The standard X-Files watcher can be happy too, as there's plenty of wiggle room in the plot to allow Mulder one of his rants on the unexplained. Fun Stuff!

Kate says the great thing about "Monday" is that the loop doesn't feel repetitious. Loop narratives can get rather dry. "Monday" avoids this; not only do we see/learn more with each loop, but the loops aren’t exactly the same. One time Scully goes to the bank; another time, Mulder starts on a rant about fate versus free-will.

And, of course, there’s the X-Files' humor! (Note: the waterbed appears for the first time in "Dreamland" when Michael McLean, while possessing Mulder, enhances his apartment: Mulder finally gets a bedroom!)

Another great aspect of "Monday" is that the writers directly tackle the issue of free-will versus predestination (an issue that has arisen quite often on this list!). The conclusion seems to be that while minor things can change (as Scully says, "We are free to be the people we are . . ."), only a strong commitment/will to change can alter the big stuff. (We are programmed evolutionarily, biologically, and genetically unless we make the kind of sacrifices that result in a new direction.)

Finally, "Monday" has a neat twist in that it rests on the actions of the guest star rather than on those of the regular stars. I happen to like episodes like this (although they can’t usually occur until the later seasons--until, that is, the viewer really knows the regular stars). Star Trek: Next Generation has an episode, “Below Decks” about a group of young officers. The episode focuses on these entirely new characters, who only occasionally come in contact with the main characters. It’s a neat opportunity for the viewer to see the main characters from the "outside."

This happens in "Monday." Pam sees Mulder and Scully from the outside; as the loops continue, she begins to see them as a unit, partners who can be addressed individually to achieve the same result. This, of course, is something that the viewer already knows about them. But it gives the relationship a fresh start (this was the season right after the first movie when X-Files presumably collected more fans; it's a good season and very viewer-friendly).

All in all, this is one of my favorites, and one reason I wanted us to expand the original list!