Apocrypha is a great follow-up to Piper Maru. Skinner has been shot by Luis Cardinal and is now in the hospital. I think Mitch Pileggi does some excellent acting in his scenes of being injured in the hospital. It doesn't appear fake at all. This episode brings the digital tape back into play from the season opening episodes 'The Blessing Way' and 'Paper Clip'. But it still plays a minor role to the new development of the Black Oil. Apocrypha has a few scenes with the Syndicate, which I absolutely love. The Well-Manicured Man and the First Elder are great to see, especially when they are upset with the Cigarette Smoking Man and his handling of the situation. One thing that bugs me about this two-part myth/arc is that if Luis Cardinal is the killer of Scully's sister, why are they having him go around shooting Skinner and showing his mug everywhere? It's partially explained in one of the Syndicate scenes that it's CSM's error, but it still doesn't make any sense on his part. I like the mention of the UFO's nickname, the Foo Fighter, by the Well-Manicured Man. It's an interesting coincidence that the lead singer of the band of the same name makes a cameo in the next episode, Pusher. Finally, this episode has an appearance by the Lone Gunmen, always a treat in my view. Although Mulder upstages them with a pencil.
8 Reviews
We bury the dead alive
SleepTight66611 October 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Yet another excellent Mythology episode following the excellent 'Piper Maru'. This one was less action-filled, and with more dialog and character development.
My favorite storyline was Scully's, she finally got some kind of closure to her sister's death as the killer was caught and then murdered in prison. I love Scully's last conversation with Mulder at Melissa's gravestone. 'We bury the dead alive'.
The mythology part was a little vague to me though. CSM is obviously lying to all those other men, so why do they keep trusting him? He is nothing but a danger to them if you look at it that way. I did love what they did with Krycek, It's a shame he did not appear as a regular because damn. I just love his character. In this episode he was possessed, burned a bunch of people, and then had the black oil coming out of his mouth and nose and eyes. It was awesome!
Gonna give this episode FOUR stars. Season 3 was really on a roll by now.
My favorite storyline was Scully's, she finally got some kind of closure to her sister's death as the killer was caught and then murdered in prison. I love Scully's last conversation with Mulder at Melissa's gravestone. 'We bury the dead alive'.
The mythology part was a little vague to me though. CSM is obviously lying to all those other men, so why do they keep trusting him? He is nothing but a danger to them if you look at it that way. I did love what they did with Krycek, It's a shame he did not appear as a regular because damn. I just love his character. In this episode he was possessed, burned a bunch of people, and then had the black oil coming out of his mouth and nose and eyes. It was awesome!
Gonna give this episode FOUR stars. Season 3 was really on a roll by now.
You can trust all of us.
Sanpaco1323 April 2008
Warning: Spoilers
I remember the first time I watched this episode the teaser threw me off with the man telling the story to "Mr. Mulder" but obviously not Agent Mulder. I love how they did the voice over of the guy playing the young Cigarette Man. He does a great job of making his mannerisms just like William B. Davis' as he delivers the famous line "you can trust all of us". The guy playing the younger First Elder also does a very good job portraying the same man just younger. This is classic. The episode picks up where Piper Maru left off. Scully is at the hospital taking care of things for Skinner who has been shot and Mulder is en route to get the digital tape from Anasazi with the oil infected Krycek. From car chases to ice skating gunmen this episode has some great elements that are very integral to the mythology of the series and the continuity of the characters. Probably my favorite part has to be Scully catching the man who shot her sister. She has a confrontation with him that is very similar to the confrontation between Mulder and Krycek in Anasazi again (this seems to be a sequel to that little trilogy). In that episode Mulder is shouting that Krycek killed his father and in this episode Scully is shouting that Krycek's partner shot her sister. This episode really does have it all. Even a late night meeting between Mulder and the Well Manicured Man. I love how Mulder finds the phone number for the Syndicate's HQ with the pencil as The Lone Gunmen are excitedly talking about all the advanced technology they will likely have to use to find out what the importance is of the writing on the package. That's a finely calibrated piece of investigative equipment. Mulder sure loves pencils. The final segment of the episode is probably the most memorable for me. Searching the silos for the UFOs and Krycek eye-puking oil into bunker 1013. And just for that I give this episode a 9 out of 10.
It seems we have an information leak, gentlemen.
hoornstram12 December 2016
Ah yes, the Syndicate. Who are these guys? Do they wake up in the morning, shut off their alarm clocks, eat their breakfast of dry toast, and put on their best suit before going to work in their dark smoke-filled room sitting in leather chairs and sipping coffee while deciding the fate of mankind? I want a job like that. Do they ride the subway or drive cars? Which of those guys makes the coffee? And does he get paid less money than the others? Who pays the rent for that room? Do they have office parties at Christmas, and if so, which one is most likely to wear the lampshade on his head first? What kind of money do they make and who signs their paychecks? How does a person apply for that job? Who are you crazy mysterious guys?
An awesome episode.
Sleepin_Dragon28 August 2021
Scully is taking a personal interest in this case, ensuring Skinner is safe, and on the hunt for whoever it is that killed her sister.
The previous episode was great, this is even better, and an important piece of the puzzle of the future years. What exactly is smoking man up to, and who on Earth makes up that strange consortium.
Both main players have awesome story development here, we learn more about Mulder's father, and more about Scully.
It's fast paced, it's gritty, dramatic, intriguing, exciting, there is so much content here, both for long standing fans, and for novices such as myself. It very much feels like we're also bang in the middle of a purple patch, the recent run of episodes have all been of an impeccable standard, this is perhaps the best of them.
I'm always happy to see Krycek, he's a fascinating character, and Lea is very easy on the eye too.
Fabulous, 10/10.
The previous episode was great, this is even better, and an important piece of the puzzle of the future years. What exactly is smoking man up to, and who on Earth makes up that strange consortium.
Both main players have awesome story development here, we learn more about Mulder's father, and more about Scully.
It's fast paced, it's gritty, dramatic, intriguing, exciting, there is so much content here, both for long standing fans, and for novices such as myself. It very much feels like we're also bang in the middle of a purple patch, the recent run of episodes have all been of an impeccable standard, this is perhaps the best of them.
I'm always happy to see Krycek, he's a fascinating character, and Lea is very easy on the eye too.
Fabulous, 10/10.
"Some are sacrificed so that others may live."
classicsoncall11 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Mulder never ceases to amaze me, but it's not always very credible. Like in this episode - without too much time having passed from the prior episode, he makes a prodigious mental leap of faith that the Black Oil entity is now in Krycek (Nicholas Lea). How did he even become aware of the Black Oil? Last we saw, Krycek was driving with Mulder holding him hostage for the digital tape and they crash while pursued by goons sent by the Smoking Man (William B. Davis). I didn't note any connecting thread that might have suggested Mulder knew the Black Oil was a player in control of Krycek.
What I did like here was the 1953 flashback with Captain Sanford relating the mutiny aboard his submarine, orchestrated by Johanssen. It included Mulder's father as a young FBI agent along with Smoking Man (William B. Davis) characteristically stating that "You can trust all of us". The roots of Smoking Man's deception go so far back you have to wonder what kind of kid he was growing up.
Mulder makes his way to the site of a salvaged UFO as this story winds down, and just as he's on the verge of making a huge discovery, Smoking Man butts in to set up another roadblock. You know, with a hundred ninety nine missile silos on site, and all of them cemented over as part of a prior era's nuclear deal, you have to wonder how Scully and Mulder found the right one on the first try! They didn't even break a sweat.
This one comes to an end with one of the more ominous closing scenes in the series thus far. Apparently the Black Oil having achieved whatever it's mission was supposed to be, it disengages from Krycek in a terrifying scene in which he oozes the stuff out of his eyes, nose and throat. What's even more chilling is that his anguished pleas for help emanate from behind the door of his new home in Vault #1013. I doubt if it's anything he ever signed up for.
What I did like here was the 1953 flashback with Captain Sanford relating the mutiny aboard his submarine, orchestrated by Johanssen. It included Mulder's father as a young FBI agent along with Smoking Man (William B. Davis) characteristically stating that "You can trust all of us". The roots of Smoking Man's deception go so far back you have to wonder what kind of kid he was growing up.
Mulder makes his way to the site of a salvaged UFO as this story winds down, and just as he's on the verge of making a huge discovery, Smoking Man butts in to set up another roadblock. You know, with a hundred ninety nine missile silos on site, and all of them cemented over as part of a prior era's nuclear deal, you have to wonder how Scully and Mulder found the right one on the first try! They didn't even break a sweat.
This one comes to an end with one of the more ominous closing scenes in the series thus far. Apparently the Black Oil having achieved whatever it's mission was supposed to be, it disengages from Krycek in a terrifying scene in which he oozes the stuff out of his eyes, nose and throat. What's even more chilling is that his anguished pleas for help emanate from behind the door of his new home in Vault #1013. I doubt if it's anything he ever signed up for.
You saw nothing.
devonbrown-906492 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Alien life forms in the form of slime that can possess human body's. Is looking for it UFO that has been moved multiple times and will do anything to get close to it. Smoking man is under pressure by his colleagues to continue to provide security and anonymity for their project. Smoking man is having little luck, as the aliens activities are hot on Mulders radar. He & scully also conveniently find the assassins that did smoking man's dirty work with mulders father and scully sister.
In the end Scully has found justice for her sister and the killer has met his maker to stop further information leaks. Krychek has got what he deserve eternal imprisonment like the slime he his. Bringing the assassins role in the drama to a end. Although krychek is left alive after the ordeal. Who knows we may see him again.
Overall this was a great continuation episode that answered a lot of questions whilst leaving more questions in true x files fashion.
In the end Scully has found justice for her sister and the killer has met his maker to stop further information leaks. Krychek has got what he deserve eternal imprisonment like the slime he his. Bringing the assassins role in the drama to a end. Although krychek is left alive after the ordeal. Who knows we may see him again.
Overall this was a great continuation episode that answered a lot of questions whilst leaving more questions in true x files fashion.
Not One of.My Favorites, But...
mleveringham23 August 2023
I'm a notable fan of the X-files. However, NOT of the mythology episodes. Even back in the day, these episodes just got tired fast. It actually made the character of Mulder seem childish, which fortunately was addressed in the 2016/18 reboots; when the series got to make fun of itself.
Of course, they couldn't all be monster of the week episodes either, otherwise it might as well have been the Twilight Zone.
Anyway, this 2nd of a two-part episode is a bit more tolerable, because of the greater portion of history in the mix. However, the evil or "alien oil" thing, was more funny (then and now) to me, than even remotely scarey.
So, if you're into the alien mythology episodes this 2 part installment, might be right down your memory lane, and with a but more of a fun historical reference as well.
Of course, they couldn't all be monster of the week episodes either, otherwise it might as well have been the Twilight Zone.
Anyway, this 2nd of a two-part episode is a bit more tolerable, because of the greater portion of history in the mix. However, the evil or "alien oil" thing, was more funny (then and now) to me, than even remotely scarey.
So, if you're into the alien mythology episodes this 2 part installment, might be right down your memory lane, and with a but more of a fun historical reference as well.
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