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Vienen

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"Vienen"

"Vienen" is the eighteenth episode of the eighth season and the 179th episode overall of the science fiction television series The X-Files. The episode first aired in the United States and Canada on April 29, 2001 on the Fox Network, and subsequently aired in the United Kingdom. It was written by staff member Steven Maeda, and directed by Rod Hardy. The episode helped to explore the series' overarching mythology. The episode received a high Nielsen household and syndication rating when compared to other episodes of the season and received mixed to positive reviews by fans and critics alike, with many critics noting its "classic" X-Files quality. The title translates from Spanish into English as "they come."

The show centers on FBI special agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny), John Doggett (Robert Patrick) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) who work on cases linked to the paranormal, called X-Files. In this episode, Mulder disobeys orders to stay away from the X-Files and finds himself stranded on a quarantined oil rig with Doggett where the crew have been infected by the black oil, an alien virus that he has encountered many times before.

Principal filming for "Vienen" was shot at three different locations: an oil rig, an oil refinery, and the show's set. The episode featured the last appearance of the alien black oil, a plot device that had played a large role in the series, including playing a pivotal role in the 1998 X-Files movie. The oil effects were created by using chocolate syrup and molasses.

Plot

In the Gulf of Mexico, Simon de la Cruz, a worker on an oil rig, fatally stabs another crewmember, Ed Dell. Simon starts destroying the rig's radio equipment but is confronted by another worker, Bo Taylor, whose body begins to glow.

At FBI headquarters, Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) tells John Doggett (Robert Patrick) about the murder, explaining that ninety percent of Simon's body was covered by apparent radiation burns. Even though the rig's owner, Galpex Petroleum, officially attributes the burns to an explosion, Mulder suspects the involvement of black oil. Mulder and Doggett meet Galpex's vice president, Martin Ortega, who reveals that the company has discovered a large oil reserve in the Gulf. Alvin Kersh sends Doggett to the Gulf investigate, but Mulder is already present when he arrives.

The agents meet Taylor, who claims Simon had attempted to blow up the rig. Meanwhile, Dana Scully finds black oil in Simon's skull during an autopsy—the oil is dead, however, as if irradiated.

Eventually finding proof of the black oil, Doggett and Mulder quarantine the rig, but one crewman is missing - Simon's friend Diego Garza. Ortega threatens to bring back the crew unless the agents can prove an infection exists. Doggett and Mulder search for Diego, who is a mestizo, like Simon. Mulder and Doggett later finds out that somebody has set the communications room on fire. As the agents tackle the fire, Diego attacks Doggett, knocking him out. Regaining consciousness, he finds Diego cutting his arm to check for black oil.

Meanwhile, Kersh tells Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) that he is lifting the quarantine of the oil rig. While Scully is against the idea, she has no other choice than to obey. Scully then realizes that the first victim was immune to the black oil, and because of it, he suffered from radiation burns instead of infection. After proving to Simon that he is not infected by the black oil, Doggett leaves to find Mulder, but he is attacked by Taylor. Mulder shows up and overpowers the attacker. The two then barricade themselves into the communication room, and try to relay a message, whilst the rig crew surround them.

Scully gets their message, and tells them that Kersh has broken the quarantine. Mulder then destroys the radio, so that the black oil-infected rig workers won't be able to communicate with the aliens. Suddenly, the rig workers stop their attack, making their way outside instead. Doggett and Mulder then go to the surface of the oil rig, to only jump off when they realize that the crew members are going to destroy the oil rig. Mulder and Doggett are rescued by the helicopters Kersh sent to break the quarantine. Back at the Bureau, Mulder reveals to Doggett that he has been fired from the FBI.[1][2]

Production

Chocolate syrup and molasses were used for the black oil visual effect.

Writing and filming

The episode was written by Steven Maeda and directed by Rod Hardy. Hardy later described the episode as "classic X-Files."[3] Robert Patrick, the actor who portrayed Agent Doggett, compared Mulder to a Greek chorus and noted that the episode was a "way to have Mulder give Doggett his blessing and pass him The X-Files baton."[4] The scene when Mulder and Doggett agree to jump on two was an homage to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.[3][5] The title, "Vienen," is the Spanish third-person plural present indicative form of venir and translates into English as "they come."[6]

Usually, an episode of The X-Files took about 18 days to film. "Vienen," however, took only 11.[3] "Vienen" was shot in three different locations, the first being in a studio in Los Angeles, California, the second being an oil refinery in south central Los Angeles and the third being the actual oil rig in the Pacific Ocean off of Santa Barbara. Filming on the actual rig lasted only for a day. During the filming of this episode, Gillian Anderson was at location in Los Angeles, and received a few scenes in the finished episode. Robert Patrick and David Duchovny were flown back and forth for the three locations. Since Anderson was stranded in Los Angeles, she, Patrick and Duchovny had no scenes with each other, with the exception of the opening teaser.[3]

Effects

The episode used various special effects, most notably the black oil. Molasses and chocolate syrup were used for the visual effects of the black oil. The scene with the black oil coming out of the eyes, ears and mouth was mostly done on a visual effects stage. Due to the uncontrollable nature of the substance, it took nine takes to get the syrup to spill on the right places. Hardy was especially impressed with the computer-generated graphics and described them as "terrific" and "very realistic."[3] The scene where the oil rig bursts into flame was created in the studio on the mock-rig set. The art department was tasked with creating the illusion of fire burning steel because the actual set was made of wood.[3]

Reception

"Vienen" earned a Nielsen household rating of 7.4, meaning that it was seen by 7.4% of the nation's estimated households and was viewed by 7.56 million households.[7][nb 1] The episode subsequently made its debut in Ireland and the United Kingdom on June 7 on Sky 1, and was the sixth most watched television show that week, with 0.52 million viewers.[8]

The episode received mixed to positive reviews from critics. Michael Liedtke and George Avalos of the Contra Costa Times were pleased with the episode and wrote, "The latest episode also contained many of the elements of a classic mythology episode. The stakes were huge and the heroes faced the greatest of hazards. The use of the oil rig created a sense of isolation for Mulder and Doggett, and the paranoia levels were sky-high. We still can't figure out why we haven't seen more episodes along the lines of " Vienen " during the past three seasons."[5] Television Without Pity awarded the episode a B–.[1] John Keegan from Critical Myth gave the episode 7 out of 10, and wrote, "Overall, this episode had a great deal of potential, but it was bogged down by inconsistent characterization and the need to make it look as though Mulder was the big tough guy we all know he is not."[9] Tom Kessenich, in his book Examinations wrote very positively of the episode. He noted that "after watching 'Vienen', I can honestly say that for once of the few times this season, it felt good to be an X-Files fan again".[10] Furthermore, Kessenich praised the significant development in Mulder and Scully's relationship as well as the return of the "fourth season version" of the black oil, a reference to the fact that the 1998 movie dramatically altered the nature of the substance, causing infected hosts to gestate aliens inside of them rather than merely being taken over.[10]

Not all reviews were positive. Robert Shearman and Lars Pearson, in their book Wanting to Believe: A Critical Guide to The X-Files, Millennium & The Lone Gunmen, rated the episode two stars out of five and noted that Mulder and Doggett are "good at running away, which doesn't give either of them much dignity."[11] Paula Vitaris from Cinefantastique gave the episode a negative review and awarded it one-and-a-half stars out of four.[12] She noted that, "as action-adventure, 'Veinen' is so-so. Except for the big 'money shot' explosion at the end, it doesn't exploit the possibilities of the physical location."[12]

Notes

  1. ^ At the time of airing, the estimated number of households was 102.2 million.[7] Thus, 7.4 percent of 102.2 million is 7.56 million households.

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b "Fired!". Televison Without Pity. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  2. ^ "Vienen". BBC Cult. BBC. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Hardy, Rod (2005). Audio Commentary for "Vienen" (DVD). 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.
  4. ^ Hurwitz and Knowles, p. 192
  5. ^ a b Liedtke, Michael (2001). "Skeptical Doggett Glimpses Black Oil". Contra Costa Times: D04. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  6. ^ "Venir - Model Irregular Verb Conjugation". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  7. ^ a b Associated Press (2001). "'Survivor,' 'E.R.' are winners". The Orlando Sentinel: E9. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  8. ^ "BARB's multichannel top 10 programmes". barb.co.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2012. Note: Information is in the section titled "w/e June 4-10, 2001", listed under Sky 1
  9. ^ Keegan, John. "Vienen". Critical Myth. Retrieved November 25, 2009.
  10. ^ a b Kessenich, p. 173
  11. ^ Shearman and Pearson, p. 245
  12. ^ a b Vitaris, Paula (April 2002). "The X-Files Season Eight Episode Guide". Cinefantastique. 34 (2): 42-49. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)

References

  • Hurwitz, Matt; Knowles, Chris (2008). The Complete X-Files. Insight Editions. ISBN 1933784806.
  • Kessenich, Tom (2002). Examination: An Unauthorized Look at Seasons 6–9 of the X-Files. Trafford Publishing. ISBN 1553698126.
  • Shearman, Robert; Pearson, Lars (2009). Wanting to Believe: A Critical Guide to The X-Files, Millennium & The Lone Gunmen. Mad Norwegian Press. ISBN 097594469X.
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