An analysis
Milagro is easily one of the best episodes in the X-Files series. The mood, the cinematography, the music score, the characterization, John Hawkes' performance. There are many other reasons, of course. Milagro particularly resonates for me, because writers tend to like stories about other writers. Even better, we're invited to learn more about the dutiful Scully outside of her work.
While some viewers might interpret this episode as a disservice to Scully, depicting her as a lonely old maid with nothing in her life to look forward to except examining the next cadaver and doing her best to debunk Mulder... if anything, it does the opposite. Scully is usually fully immersed in Mulder's passionate pursuit of "The Truth" and is only defined in stark contrast to Mulder instinctively proving her wrong in every episode.
Yet, through Padgett, we begin to see Scully in a different light. That's she seductive, beautiful, attractive, complex... and even spiritual. We learn that she runs, visits church, and also attracts handsome young suitors. Phillip Padgett has taken an unusual romantic interest in Scully, making her the heroine in his novel and himself the mysterious romantic lead who beds her. What makes this all the more strange, is whatever Padgett writes, comes true. Scully is as drawn to him as he is to her. She has a history of attraction to dangerous men, like Jerse in the Never Again episode of Season 4. This reveals much about Scully's interest in men and even why she hangs around with Mulder and panders to his various whims. Compared to Mulder, Jerse and Padgett are lightweights when it comes to danger. Ostensibly, Mulder is the most dangerous man in Scully's life and that's why she likes him. She does have a dark side, it keeps things interesting for her, and this time Padgett manages to bring it out, proving once again that the emotionally restrained Scully is willing to take risks both professionally and romantically.
Padgett eventually delivers an unusual gift, setting his story in motion, a catalyst that eventually brings them face to face. He reveals himself to Scully, bringing to light that he has been stalking her for more than a year, moving into Mulder's building to get close enough to observe her daily activities. This would probably unnerve someone else. But Scully, a seductive woman in her own right (sometimes taken TOO seriously by her peers), becomes enthralled by Padgett's words and perception of her, and is nearly seduced before Mulder, acting on territorial impulses barges in and arrests Padgett for the psychic murders. We learn the psychic murders match the ones in Padgett's book, down to the most minute detail.
Mulder, whose singular focus in life is the X-Files realizes Scully might have a mutual romantic interest in Padgett, and his jealousy throughout the episode is palpable. This is well played by Duchovny, who lets it simmer just below the surface. After a tense encounter in the hallway just outside of their apartments, Mulder takes an unreasonable dislike of Padgett. We know Mulder has encountered murderers or strange paranormal phenomena in the past, and that Padgett might be telling the truth. But he is close-minded when it comes to Padgett, focusing his efforts on proving Padgett is a murderer. Mulder wants him to lock him up, if not only to stop the murders, but to prevent Padgett from seducing Scully again. Mulder even accuses Scully of being intimate with Padgett, by intimating that what Padgett wrote in his book about Scully is true, which Scully uncomfortably denies. After several attempts to bully Padgett, another revelation from the writer sets another deadly outcome in motion.
John Hawkes is perfection. He plays Padgett with just the "write" notes. Thoughtful, observant, mysterious, and seductive. We finally see Mulder in a different light as well. Lacking introspection (should he have considered that maybe he was just jealous?) Oblivious of his own feelings. A man noticing that his friend and colleague is a beautiful woman, whom I suspect, he often takes for granted if we are to believe the Never Again episode, which also focuses on the dynamics of Mulder's and Scully's relationship. Scully is also oblivious of her own feelings, which Padgett astutely observes. That maybe Scully is just needling Mulder to get his attention. Mulder and Scully have opted for emotional restraint, burying their feelings for each other in ways that eventually bubble to the surface as jealousy. Anderson simmers as Scully, managing to come across as aloof but vulnerable and curious at the same time. A femme fatale playing with fire to get Mulder's attention, much like the so-called tattoo in Never Again. She can sulk. Feel jealous (remember Diane Fowley), crave Mulder's attention. It doesn't diminish Scully in anyway, to make her human. Better that, than some "Mary sue."
The story takes place indoors, or at a murky jail house or cemetery. The cinematography and music score is moody and effective.
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