Review: Zero Sum

Zero Sum

a review by Barb Fletcher

Skinner has sold his soul the the Devil, and now the Devil is calling on him to make good on his marker.

The episode began in the usual way. That is, the event that set the show upon its path occurred.

Then, it started.

When Skinner began his deeds of erasure, I must admit that it set my thoughts back on where he stood. I was made to feel that he had fallen off the fence he had been straddling, and he had landed on the wrong side.

His face as usual, betrayed nothing. At first.

When I saw him observe his own face in the bathroom mirror, I knew better. I saw, as well as he, disgust and self-loathing there.

As he later fed the corpse to the flames, I thought that it paralleled the consignment of his soul to the eternal flames of Hell.

I liked what Skinner did as he was leaving the police station. He had the tissue still in his hands, and, although he was wearing gloves, he was still wiping his fingers with it. Out damned spot?

The strip scene. What can one say? Hubba hubba! Woof woof woof woof! Pant, pant, pant, humina humina humina! Awoooooga!! EEEEEEEEEEEE! Anybody got a cigarette? I thought Walter was a boxer man!

The scene in the underground garage was good. Walter wants so badly to hurt him, yet he cannot.

Cancer Man was his usual unflappable self. When he stamped out his cigarette, it made me think about all of the other lives that he has similarly stamped out.

I particularly enjoyed Walter's reactions when it seemed that his efforts were all for naught. The expressions on his face as he spoke to Mulder on the phone said all. This despite the morning face.

The noose was tightening!

When Mulder caught Skinner in his office, the usually solid A.D. seemed uncertain of himself as he stumbled. A first!

Later when he spoke to Misty, I saw-dare I say it!-the clenched fist that is Walter S. Skinner loosen a little and compassion showed on his face.

I must comment on DD here. I find him usually wooden, and his expression almost always one of two: either a straight face or an 'I know something you don't know' grin. The look on his face when he saw Skinner in the photo impressed me.

At the gun lab, I could have cut the tension with a knife!

The range of emotions seen on Skinner's face also impressed me. He did everything but smile.

I would like to see that someday, although I'm sure the universe as we know it would collapse in upon itself.

Cancer Man is playing Skinner as Itzhak Perlman plays his violin: beautifully and perfectly!

My question is, how far down will Skinner allow Cancer Man to pull him into the pit for the life of Dana Katherine Scully?

Fletch