IrishSceptic
Podcast Visionary
Recently I decided to rewatch the entire series of the X-Files in preparation for the upcoming rebooted series. I was too young to see it entirely on original run but always remember how scary and intriguing it was.
For those unfamiliar with the X-Files it involves two FBI agents investigating the Paranormal and the Unexplained. Agent Fox Mulder is a gifted Psychological profiler who studied at Oxford but whose career has been stunted by his obsession over his sister going missing under mysterious circumstances. He is convinced it was a UFO and so uses his investigative skills to find evidence to back this up. The FBI tolerates him because he is so gifted and they use him for regular work in catching serial killers etc. They set up 'The X-Files' in order to collate this work.
Enter Agent Dana Scully, a medical Doctor who took up a career with the FBI . She is equally brilliant and the FBI partners her with Agent Mulder in order to scrutinise his kooky work and establish whether or not it is a total waste of time and taxpayer dollars. She is intensely sceptical and must have evidence to back up any claim, and repeatedly refuses to read between the lines. Her character is also interesting as she has a conflict over faith and her unfulfilled desire for motherhood that has been foregone for career success.
At times during my experience with Sarnos work I have veered from one of these archetypes to the other, taking Mulders stance because I felt vast relief from pain and at other times reverting to Scullys stance... ''show me data!!'' As the show progresses Scully alters her beliefs in the face of overwhelming personal experience but can't show actual evidence of the vast government conspiracy involving aliens/ufos/etc.
I think the two characters act as helpful lense through which to view TMS.
A frustration familiar to all who know about TMS, constantly reviewing(especially for me) whether or not you've lost the plot.
There are a few episodes that reference TMS type phenomena directly/indirectly but the most interesting is the episode 'Rainman' from Season 6 Episode 8. Plot from Wikipedia
On Valentine's Day in Kroner, Kansas, Sheila Fontaine and Daryl Mootz get into an argument. Fontaine had put their engagement news in the paper, but Mootz had wanted to keep it a secret for as long as the drought makes business poor. After the argument, Mootz goes for a drunken drive but crashes after heart-shaped hailstones wreck his car.
Six months later, Mulder and Scully arrive in Kroner by request of the mayor. For several months a terrible drought has plagued the region. However, Mootz, now styling himself as "The Rain King", seems to have the power to control the weather. For a hefty sum, he is able to make it rain. Mulder and Scully obtain a client list and head to the local television station to talk to the weatherman, Holman Hardt. Hardt admits that while Mootz's talents are odd, he appears to truly have the power to control the weather. Mulder and Scully, both skeptical, attend one of Mootz's rituals. Despite their preconceived notions, Mulder and Scully witness Mootz bring rain to a dry farm.
Mulder and Scully check into a motel, where a cow crashes through the roof of Mulder's room. After the incident, a tearful Sheila confesses that the cow might have been her fault. She admits that she's experienced a strange history of weather-related phenomena, and believes that she can unconsciously control the weather. Mulder assures her otherwise. During the conversation, Hardt over-hears that Mootz was drunk the night of the accident, and is relieved. Immediately, Mootz's rain powers seem to disappear.
It is revealed that Holman Hardt is actually the one controlling the weather. All of the bizarre weather was the side-effect of his long-silent love for Sheila. He felt guilty that his weather-related problem caused Mootz to crash his car, so he would cause it to rain for Mootz. Once he realized Mootz had been drunk the night of the accident, however, he stopped. Unfortunately, Mulder begins to unintentionally attract Sheila, resulting in a massive thunderstorm that materializes due to the meteorologist's emotions. At the town's high school reunion, however, Hardt admits his love for Sheila, who accepts him. The storm stops, and Hardt and Sheila live happily ever after.
So this Weather guys Unconscious rage was able to produce Meteorological effects. his inner storm was manifest in reality.....badabing boom! TMS
Sorry if this is long but it really hit me as a great explainer.
Also please watch the X-files from start to finish. I hate TV generally but loved it, really deep and excellent acting from all..even if it gets really far fetched
For those unfamiliar with the X-Files it involves two FBI agents investigating the Paranormal and the Unexplained. Agent Fox Mulder is a gifted Psychological profiler who studied at Oxford but whose career has been stunted by his obsession over his sister going missing under mysterious circumstances. He is convinced it was a UFO and so uses his investigative skills to find evidence to back this up. The FBI tolerates him because he is so gifted and they use him for regular work in catching serial killers etc. They set up 'The X-Files' in order to collate this work.
Enter Agent Dana Scully, a medical Doctor who took up a career with the FBI . She is equally brilliant and the FBI partners her with Agent Mulder in order to scrutinise his kooky work and establish whether or not it is a total waste of time and taxpayer dollars. She is intensely sceptical and must have evidence to back up any claim, and repeatedly refuses to read between the lines. Her character is also interesting as she has a conflict over faith and her unfulfilled desire for motherhood that has been foregone for career success.
At times during my experience with Sarnos work I have veered from one of these archetypes to the other, taking Mulders stance because I felt vast relief from pain and at other times reverting to Scullys stance... ''show me data!!'' As the show progresses Scully alters her beliefs in the face of overwhelming personal experience but can't show actual evidence of the vast government conspiracy involving aliens/ufos/etc.
I think the two characters act as helpful lense through which to view TMS.
A frustration familiar to all who know about TMS, constantly reviewing(especially for me) whether or not you've lost the plot.
There are a few episodes that reference TMS type phenomena directly/indirectly but the most interesting is the episode 'Rainman' from Season 6 Episode 8. Plot from Wikipedia
On Valentine's Day in Kroner, Kansas, Sheila Fontaine and Daryl Mootz get into an argument. Fontaine had put their engagement news in the paper, but Mootz had wanted to keep it a secret for as long as the drought makes business poor. After the argument, Mootz goes for a drunken drive but crashes after heart-shaped hailstones wreck his car.
Six months later, Mulder and Scully arrive in Kroner by request of the mayor. For several months a terrible drought has plagued the region. However, Mootz, now styling himself as "The Rain King", seems to have the power to control the weather. For a hefty sum, he is able to make it rain. Mulder and Scully obtain a client list and head to the local television station to talk to the weatherman, Holman Hardt. Hardt admits that while Mootz's talents are odd, he appears to truly have the power to control the weather. Mulder and Scully, both skeptical, attend one of Mootz's rituals. Despite their preconceived notions, Mulder and Scully witness Mootz bring rain to a dry farm.
Mulder and Scully check into a motel, where a cow crashes through the roof of Mulder's room. After the incident, a tearful Sheila confesses that the cow might have been her fault. She admits that she's experienced a strange history of weather-related phenomena, and believes that she can unconsciously control the weather. Mulder assures her otherwise. During the conversation, Hardt over-hears that Mootz was drunk the night of the accident, and is relieved. Immediately, Mootz's rain powers seem to disappear.
It is revealed that Holman Hardt is actually the one controlling the weather. All of the bizarre weather was the side-effect of his long-silent love for Sheila. He felt guilty that his weather-related problem caused Mootz to crash his car, so he would cause it to rain for Mootz. Once he realized Mootz had been drunk the night of the accident, however, he stopped. Unfortunately, Mulder begins to unintentionally attract Sheila, resulting in a massive thunderstorm that materializes due to the meteorologist's emotions. At the town's high school reunion, however, Hardt admits his love for Sheila, who accepts him. The storm stops, and Hardt and Sheila live happily ever after.
So this Weather guys Unconscious rage was able to produce Meteorological effects. his inner storm was manifest in reality.....badabing boom! TMS
Sorry if this is long but it really hit me as a great explainer.
Also please watch the X-files from start to finish. I hate TV generally but loved it, really deep and excellent acting from all..even if it gets really far fetched
One of my favorite episodes.
