Sunday Mornings with Mulder and Scully – D.P.O

In 1995, I was in my Stephen King era. I had read every one of his books except for three. Dolores Claiborne and Gerald’s Game, both released in 1992, and Rose Madder released in 1995. It turned out that these three novels were Dark Tower adjacent, which means that there is a scene in each during which the main character sees into another time or universe. If you’re not familiar, the seven Dark Tower novels take place in another universe and run the gamut between western, horror, and sci-fi which is why it has been so hard to adapt into a series or movie. The Stand is also adjacent to these novels, as well as The Eyes of the Dragon, The Talisman, and Black House.

Why do I bring this up on an X-Files blog, you ask? Well, fifteen-year-old me preferred to bury myself in books and television rather than be one of those teens out causing trouble. I also watched One Life to Live obsessively that summer after having watched it each summer since 1990 when a babysitter let me watch with her. Introverted didn’t even begin to describe who I was then. The summer of 1995 was when I caught myself up on what King books I hadn’t read. Each revolved around an imperfect marriage or an imperfect relationship between a kid and their parent. Introverted me found imperfect characters and relationships compelling.

Which brings me to X-Files season three episode D.P.O. The episode centers around a teenage boy who can wield lightning. Five of the local townspeople have died by lightning strike so Mulder takes the case and brings Scully with him. It’s the first X-File they worked after both agents lost family members at the hands of evil agents. Since this episode is not a mythology episode, the grief from previous events is not mentioned.

The teen, named Oswald and played by Giovanni Ribisi, is troubled to say the least and has quite a crush on his boss’s wife played by Karen Witter Lorre of One Life to Live fame. When his boss has a sudden heart attack, his wife believes that Oswald caused it with his powers. Police don’t believe her, and the kid is released. Oswald believes his friend, Zero (a young Jack Black) ratted him out to police so he goes after his friend. 

Scully finds out that there is an electrolyte imbalance called hypokalemia after she goes through Oswald’s medical records. When she and Mulder find out the police released the kid, they go to the hospital to protect the boss and wife. By this point, Zero has been killed. At the hospital, Sharon (boss’s wife) agrees to leave with him to keep him from striking the hospital but not before the Sheriff stops them. Oswald wields lightning again, striking himself and the sheriff. He ends up in a padded cell in a psych ward and the authorities have no idea how to prosecute the case.

Each time I revisit this episode, I’m sent back to 1995. Karen Witter Lorre was in 45 episodes of One Life to Live between 1990 and 1992. Seeing her familiar face appear in this episode a couple years later made me remember her character fondly, or maybe it was just how the actress played her. Strong. Blunt. Unafraid. At least she was consistent. She also starred in Sliders and in 80s B horror movies Buried and Out of the Dark.

Her character’s relationship with her husband’s subordinate did not seem at all healthy, which is why I think of those Stephen King books that I read that summer. The kid’s ability to wield lightning also was something I could see happening in King book, especially one adjacent to the Dark Tower series which often contained magical elements.

Giovanni Ribisi has had a long career across film and television. His tense expressions are always what I remember about his performances. He’s what I refer to as a facial actor, meaning his features are very expressive when he’s angry or upset. This is a compliment, I guess, but he isn’t an actor I seek out when looking for something to watch.

And then there’s Jack Black. I always forget he is in this episode, and I always found him to be too silly for my tastes in other projects. I was never much of a fan until he appeared in Tropic Thunder in 2008, and even then, I thought it was a one off. Fast forward to today when his filmography includes The Holiday, Jumanji, Goosebumps, and The House With a Clock in Its Walls. Lest we forget School of Rock, and these are all movies I love.

This is one of those episodes that I have a love/hate relationship with. On one hand, it’s brilliantly acted by the cast. The use of the lightning machine on set is great too. But, I find Oswald’s villainy to be a bit short sided. I would have liked to see it flushed out a bit more beyond the troubled teen trope. And I can’t stand the use of the song Live Fast, Diarrhea by the Vandals. It’s the kind of metal that shakes your teeth loose. It is so off-putting, and perhaps that was the point. The song, like Oswald, is so filled with anger that it gives me a headache.

This isn’t the only episode this season to feature stressed out teens, so this season is going to be a fun ride.

Until next week, don’t live fast. You don’t need diarrhea.