A pair of episodes which can be seen as the opposite side of the coin on which Paper Clip (and to a lesser extent, The Blessing Way) fell, Nisei and 731 takes a look at experiments done in train cars by Japanese doctors, possibly on aliens, possibly to further work on alien-human hybrids (though that wasn't expanded on until later), and features a plot that rivals that of a major action film (think Speed): Mulder is trapped with an assassin in a train car with a locked door that can be opened only by keycode, and the wrong entry could set off a bomb wired to the car. In the end, X (sometimes referred to as Mr. X), Deep Throat's replacement played by Steven Williams, saves the day, but not before what is believed to be an alien locked away on the train car is incinerated when it finally detonates. Straight action doesn't make a great mythology episode, but the level of suspense throughout Nisei and 731 is impressive, and there are a ton of memorable moments, including the reveal that Mulder now carries a second gun in an ankle holster. His explanation? "I got tired of losing my gun."
Primarily covering the sport of MMA from Ontario, Canada, Jay Anderson has been writing for various publications covering sports, technology, and pop culture since 2001. Jay holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Guelph, and a Certificate in Leadership Skills from Humber College.
