The Netflix synopsis for this episode and the Netflix synopsis for the episode of “Star Trek” where Scotty gets possessed by Jack the Ripper are surprisingly similar.
Discussion (22) ¬
[ Comments RSS ]
Monster of the Week
The Complete Cartoon X-Files
The dead hooker is Stargate SG-1’s Amanda Tapping.
The word ‘hooker’ is really dehumanizing. I have known sex workers and most of them are good people just doing what they have to to survive. I really hate how people treat them like some subhuman joke.
…Speaking professionally: I envy you your comments section, Shaenon. I mean, normally you can’t throw a rock without hitting umpteen passive-aggressive anonymous trolls. This may very well be the first one I’ve seen on your site.
What makes you think the comment’s from a troll? Is it just the anonymous part?
I’ve never watched the X-Files before, and even when I started reading these strips I wasn’t too interested, but I think that this strip and the one that was sold to the brother of the screenwriter kinda make me want to watch them on Netflix to see how they stack up to these recaps.
No username, no website, betting no email: the post accuses Shaenon of being dehumanizing and treating people like subhumans because she used the word ‘hooker,’ only it did so in a manner that’s classically passively-aggressive (“Hey, I was just giving my opinion”).
I feel comfortable in tagging this person as a troll. I mean, if one of US had a problem with Shaenon using ‘hooker’ in a comic we’d, you know, just *say* so.
It’s fine. People are free to criticize.
I didn’t get into the details of the Shadow Government Escort Service going on in this episode, but it’s a whole weird thing on its own.
I also respect sex workers. I didn’t think of “hooker” as pejorative, but if sex workers feel it is, I’m happy not to use it.
I’ve learned a lot from the comments to Shaenon’s comics, and I appreciate people reminding us that there are “evolving standards of decency.”
Actually, I think calling them “sex workers” is more dehumanizing than calling them “hookers”. A hooker sounds alive, like a person … a “sex worker” sounds like something you might actually be able to order at Cost Co. Over time we change some of our language in an attempt to be more civil, but as a result we end up doing the opposite.
You would think after all these years we would learn that in most cases the best answer is to just take our hands off and let the system run itself, eh?
Oh, and uh … hi! waves:: Been reading since just after Shaenon started on season 2, just finally getting around to posting. I am actually one of those few that never saw the series, but always wanted to get around to it eventually. Finally am, thanks in a big part to the interest reading this webcomic has stirred up. ::tips hat to Shaenon::
Started a couple weeks ago, moving slowly, currently up to s3e11, so almost caught up to the strip and going to have to decide if I want to keep going and watch ahead, or cut it back to one a week and keep in sync. 😀
You should totally do that episode of Star Trek as a bonus strip. Hmmm… has anyone done a Star Trek TOS recap webcomic yet…? *Google*
New project for after Darths & Droids?
Is Lord Kinbote going to get a mention in all the rest of the strips? Because that would be awesome.
p.s. I’ve watched “From Outer Space” twice since last week. Thanks, Monster of the Week!
Back to the matter at hand: “I think she was Mulder’s mom” made me actually laugh out loud.
That was good — and I also appreciated the bit about ‘are you luck that Mulder was stuck in traffic’!
Some friends and I watched this episode earlier this week, and our main concern was that Skinner’s motivations didn’t really seem to make any sense.
Well, actually we were mostly sad that Skinner didn’t punch anyone in this episode, but other than that.
How … how did you get the X-Files on Netflix?
We just went on Netflix and there it was.
Yup. Kolchak: The Night Stalker, too.
Darren McGavin actually showed up on a couple episodes as a former agent and x-files investigator, blowing the possibility of a true x-files/Kolchak crossover, alas.
The X-Files is on Netflix here: http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The_X-Files/70136138 , is on Amazon Instant here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Blessing-Way/dp/B001C9RL5K/ , and is on Hulu here: http://www.hulu.com/the-x-files
This is one of those episodes I think I’ve only seen once or twice and really don’t remember. I’d much rather have Skinner’s Fist than weepy, self-doubting Skinner. Just another one of your strips that’s much better (and makes better sense) than the episode.
PS: They SO should have made the ghost lady Mulder’s Mom. And isn’t it curious how we never see Skinner’s “stand by you at a ghost hooker trial” wife EVER again…Oh X-Files and your beautiful continuity problems.
Supposedly this episode got written because Mitch Pillegi was upset about the number of times he got his ass kicked this season. I guess he saw being framed for murdering prostitutes as a step up.
The people I watched this episode with had a debate as to whether we were supposed to believe that Skinner’s wife was still alive at the end of the episode.