The X-Files
Australian Conne-X-ion
Episode Guide:
"Dreamland II"
The X-Files Australian Conne-X-ion Main Page
Back to Season 6 Page Episode Guide Main Page
Episode 6X05
Title: Dreamland II
First screened in Australia: March 10, 1999
First screened in the USA: December 6, 1999
Credits:
Director: Michael Watkins
Writer: Vince Gilligan, Frank Spotnitz & John Shiban
Starring:
Guest Stars:
- Michael McKean as Morris Fletcher
- Michael Buchman Silver as Howard Grodin
- Scott Allan Campbell as Jeff Smoodge
- Tyler Binkley as Terry Fletcher
- Dara Hollingworth as Christine Fletcher
- Nora Dunn as Joanne Fletcher
- John Mahon as General Wegman
- Julia Vera as Mrs. Lana Chee
- Tom Braidwood as Frohike
- Dean Haglund as Langly
- Bruce Harwood as Byers
- Chris Ufland as Sam
- Mike Rad as Randy
- Lisa Joann Thompson as Kelly
- Nick Lashaway as Young Mulder
- Ashlyn Rose as Young Samantha
- Chris Owens as Young Cigarette Smoking Man
Plot:
Scully begins to suspect that her partner's strange behaviour is more than it appears to be, while Mulder fights to return his life to normal before it's too late
Fox Press release
My Rating: 7/10
It seems to me that the writers had enough material for about one and half episodes and stretched it just a little bit too far. The humour was there again but IMHO not quite as sharp as the previous episode; a lot of it (Mulder with Joanne, Morris with Scully) a rehash. Some people have complained about a "Small Potatoes" similarity but I don't see that - not in this episode anyway. Scully was with someone who appeared as Mulder but this time she knew he was a fake. The ensuing handcuffs bedroom scene was a riot ... the bedroom itself a "cute" idea after all these years.
Although The Lone Gunmen scene seemed tacked on -- "Let's add a LG scene, fellas" -- it was pretty funny. Saddam Hussein being an actor (John Gillnitz who is an amalgam of the eps three writers: John Shiban, Vince Gilligan and Frank Spotnitz), plus the Monica Lewinksky joke and the fact that a lot of the LG "news" is from MIB leaks and a lot of it false.
The General Wegman/Mulder scene was a nice touch -- the leader of Area 51 asking Mulder for the truth about aliens :- ) -- but the whole Little Ale'inn (which is a real place BTW) just seemed a little too contrived.
At that point I would have given the ep four stars but ... The ending was just a total cop-out and it didn't make sense. The time warp snapping back was an easy way to reverse things ... and I can accept that, but what I can't accept is the fact that the characters lost all memories of what happened. If things outside the time warp that were affected remained (the melded coins and the redecorated Apartment 42) then why didn't Kersh remember what happened (Mulder the golden boy and Scully suspended)?
Solution ... don't watch the last five minutes!
Notable Quotable:
Scully: I didn't even know you had a bedroom.
Morris as Mulder: Oh, yeah. Yeah, got to have someplace to lounge around and read the Sunday New York times, you know.
Scully: "Do you know what would really be fun?"
Morris as Mulder: "What?"
(She dangles her handcuffs in front of him.)
Morris as Mulder: "Oh, yeah. Me first?"
Scully: "You first."
Morris as Mulder: "Baby..."
Scully: (aiming her gun a little lower) ""Baby" me and you'll be peeing through a catheter. Your name is Morris Fletcher. It was Mulder who was arrested in the desert. He was telling the truth about you. Now, how do we get things back to normal?"
Morris as Mulder: (giving up) "How should I know? I wouldn't do it even if I could. You saw my wife. Do you think I want to go back to that? Two kids who'd probably kill me in my sleep for the insurance money. A $400,000 mortgage on a house that just appraised at $226,000. And my job... Yee-gods. You think being a man in black is all voodoo mind control? You should see the paperwork."
Morris as Mulder: (To General Wegman) "What, are you, like, disgruntled?"
Morris as Mulder: Oh, I love you guys. I really do. I mean, you're the "Lone Gunmen," aren't you? You guys are my heroes. I mean, look at this crap you print.
Byers: (defensive) We uncover the truth.
Morris as Mulder: Oh, the truth. Well, see that's what's so great about you monkeys. Not only do you believe this horse pucky that we create you broadcast it as well. I mean, look at this. (Shows LGM headline "Saddam testing Mandroid Army in Iraqi Desert".) There is no Saddam Hussein. This guy's name is John Gillnitz. We found him doing dinner theater in Tulsa. Did a mean King and I. Plays good ethnics.
General Wegman: ... I've seen your file. You've chased flying saucers for years. (Really asking him) Do aliens really exist, Agent Mulder?
Scully: Agent Mulder has become AD Kersh's new golden boy ... The son of a bitch confesses to Kersh even more than I do to my priest.
Scully: I'd kiss you if you weren't so damn ugly.
(Mulder smiles at her and nods.)
(Morris honks the horn at them.)
Morris as Mulder: (yelling out the window) Take a picture-- it'll last longer.
(Mulder and Scully pause a moment as they look over at the car.)
Mulder as Morris: (through clenched teeth) If I... shoot him is that murder or suicide?
Scully: Neither, if I do it first.
Where Have I Seen That Face Before?
John Mahon (General Wegman) has appeared in movies such as "Armageddon", "LA Confidential", "The American President" and "Bad Influence" with David Duchovny. On TV he's guest starred in shows such as "Brooklyn South" which was a haunt for lots of X-Files guest stars.
Nora Dunn (Joanne Fletcher) has had roles in movies such as "Air Bud: Golden Receiver" (with Jeff Gulka -- Gibson Praise), "Bulworth", "I Love Trouble", "Miami Blues" and "Working Girl" with David Duchovny.
The Pain Factor
Mulder and Scully esape another episode unscatched although Mulder was trapped inside another person!
