I can't really tell if this was a pro-Mulder/Scully episode or a very anti-Mulder/Scully episode. Either way, they pretended to be a married couple and they were hilarious about it.
When I get to the end of the series, if Mulder and Scully eventually do get together, I'll probably look at 'Arcadia' as one of my favourite episodes. If they don't get together, I will probably see it as a big tease and hate it for ever.
Mulder was clearly into this whole charade, and Scully, not so much. His 'Honeybunch' was met with her 'Poopyhead'. And somehow, no one else noticed. However, as if I needed more of a reason to think Scully is amazing, her sarcastic and unfavourable view of those sugary pet names people call each other was excellent here. I think even if she and Mulder were a couple, she'd roll her eyes if he ever called her 'Honeybunch' and meant it.
Anyway, there was an episode in here with a story about the evils of HOAs or something. Granted, this was a more oppressive HOA than most, but I've definitely run across neighbourhoods before that have extremely strict rules about things like mailbox colour and yard decoration. And if I needed more of a reason to think Mulder is amazing, it was his absolute distaste for the ridiculous rules set down by the association. It's not like we didn't already know Mulder hated conformity, but it's definitely fun to watch him here.
I especially enjoyed his deconstruction of those rules by insisting his front yard pool was not a swimming pool, and that the rules said nothing about reflecting pools. Oh, Mulder. Though I suppose this did prove that the creature had just gone off the rails because despite not actually breaking the rules, the creature came after him anyway. Or came after their house, because Scully was really in more danger, and by the time she escape from the closet, of course the thing was gone. So once again, she did not get to witness the actual paranormal activity.
And right before Gogolak breathed his last breath, I realised the monster was connected to him and that his death would very likely result in the monster dying or crumbling to dust as it did. And the other neighbours said, out loud that he deserved it. I mean, it's a little harsh maybe, but he did summon a creature that would 'enforce' the rules and it went a bit berserk.
It reminds me a lot of some Golem stories, in which a mud creature is brought to life to protect people from another enemy, but they then lose control over it and it turns on them. I think in this case it was a lot more bloody, though. In fact, if it weren't for the downright adorable Mulder/Scully scenes, this might have ranked up near episodes like 'Home' in terms of bloodiness and grossness.
Every time I think about this episode I just keep coming back to the long con being pulled by the FBI. I mean, that's some serious undercover. They also managed to put one over on the audience, because after the cold open, we were just thrown into this world where Mulder and Scully were a married couple going by different names. And having never seen the Dick Van Dyke Show, I didn't get the origin of their names, so I just thought maybe it was either an alternate universe or a portrayal of actual characters who weren't Mulder and Scully, but for some reason were being shown as if they were, and we'd get the reveal later.
Either way, watching them 'move in' and get organised and argue about the silly little things like the toilet seat and where to squeeze the toothpaste was amusing, and if they ever do get together, I kind of hope we're reminded of this at some point. "Hey, you remember when we pretended to be married so we could figure out what was going on in that neighbourhood?"
And Scully will hilariously roll her eyes at him, as she did so much in this episode. I can't say it enough. Gillian Anderson is extremely good at facial expressions.
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