Fic Recs: 2x07 "3"
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xfilesficrecsAfter this latest viewing, I find myself standing squarely in the middle range of critical opinion. It was good to see the emotional fallout from Scully's kidnapping addressed, even if it was only briefly, and in the middle of a mediocre vampire pastiche. And, the episode looked fantastic from beginning to end, creepy and claustrophobic, smoky and edged in vibrant color during the killing sprees and vampire scenes. This episode is not as bad as most people make it out to be, but it's not excellent either.
Regardless of what they thought about the episode itself, everyone agreed on one thing: "The Unheard Music" by X from their album Los Angeles was an inspired choice for the scene at Club Tepes.
Friends warehouse pain, attack their own kind
A thousand kids, bury their parents
Fanfic recs:
This was a tough one. There are not many writers out there who wanted fix-it fic for this episode, and probably not many readers either. I guess for many viewers the sex scene was a turn-off. What disturbed me was the way the writers set a trap for Kristen, so that setting herself on fire was her best and maybe only option, just so Mulder could feel more failure and guilt.
There is one story which takes Kristen Kilar and gives her a different choice than self-immolation. I'd rec it for that alone, but it was written by ML so it is good, too. Really good. The story is from Mulder's POV, and follows his path from "3" through the end of "One Breath." The difference is that he does save Kristen's life, and brings her back with him to Washington D.C. Don't worry, they don't end up together—ML is a huge Mulder/Scully shipper, plus the story is really more about Mulder—but Kristen Kilar at least gets a better ending, and a life that she chooses for herself. If you want to read it, you'll need to click on the link which is to her Author Page, then scroll to the story link. Gossamer doesn't allow direct links to fic, and this early story isn't even on ML's website.
The Darkness Within Him by ML
Rated R | 48K | Category SA | Archived 01-02-27
Spoilers: 3
Keywords: Mulder/other UST.
Summary: The darkness in him was drawn to the darkness in her.
This next rec is set early season two, just after their 30 day quarantine. It is a case file about vampires. "3" definitely influences the plot line, which makes it close enough to a post-ep. Bugs writes a darker version of MSR, so if you're looking for something romantic and consoling, this is probably not for you. I loved "Under the Rose." I just read the first chapter, and damn it, I'm already getting sucked in. I don't have time to reread this fic now.
Under the Rose by bugs
Rated NC-17 | 98K | Category XA | Archived 01-04-30
Spoilers: She doesn't list any but you should figure on spoilers through "Firewalker."
Keywords: None listed. How about angst, sex, blood, and death?
Summary: The Christmas holidays are always so stressful. 1994 is even more so for Dana Scully, bringing painful memories, a perplexing Mulder, and vampires.
Lastly, I want to recommend Plaidadder's excellent TXF meta series again. She's insightful, entertaining, and blessedly jargon-free. Her analysis of "3" brings up a huge issue I hadn't considered before: AIDs in the nineties.
Risky Business: "3" and the Age of AIDS (1243 words) by PlaidAdder
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The X-Files
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Fox Mulder & Dana Scully
Characters: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully
Additional Tags: Meta, Nonfiction
Series: Part 38 of X-Files Meta
Summary: The first two seasons of The X-Files were made and broadcast during one of the worst periods of the AIDS crisis. There’s a lot of shit that explains, when you think about it. Certainly it explains a lot of what’s going on in “3.” Well, to the extent that “3″ can ever really be explained.
Regardless of what they thought about the episode itself, everyone agreed on one thing: "The Unheard Music" by X from their album Los Angeles was an inspired choice for the scene at Club Tepes.
Friends warehouse pain, attack their own kind
A thousand kids, bury their parents
Fanfic recs:
This was a tough one. There are not many writers out there who wanted fix-it fic for this episode, and probably not many readers either. I guess for many viewers the sex scene was a turn-off. What disturbed me was the way the writers set a trap for Kristen, so that setting herself on fire was her best and maybe only option, just so Mulder could feel more failure and guilt.
There is one story which takes Kristen Kilar and gives her a different choice than self-immolation. I'd rec it for that alone, but it was written by ML so it is good, too. Really good. The story is from Mulder's POV, and follows his path from "3" through the end of "One Breath." The difference is that he does save Kristen's life, and brings her back with him to Washington D.C. Don't worry, they don't end up together—ML is a huge Mulder/Scully shipper, plus the story is really more about Mulder—but Kristen Kilar at least gets a better ending, and a life that she chooses for herself. If you want to read it, you'll need to click on the link which is to her Author Page, then scroll to the story link. Gossamer doesn't allow direct links to fic, and this early story isn't even on ML's website.
The Darkness Within Him by ML
Rated R | 48K | Category SA | Archived 01-02-27
Spoilers: 3
Keywords: Mulder/other UST.
Summary: The darkness in him was drawn to the darkness in her.
This next rec is set early season two, just after their 30 day quarantine. It is a case file about vampires. "3" definitely influences the plot line, which makes it close enough to a post-ep. Bugs writes a darker version of MSR, so if you're looking for something romantic and consoling, this is probably not for you. I loved "Under the Rose." I just read the first chapter, and damn it, I'm already getting sucked in. I don't have time to reread this fic now.
Under the Rose by bugs
Rated NC-17 | 98K | Category XA | Archived 01-04-30
Spoilers: She doesn't list any but you should figure on spoilers through "Firewalker."
Keywords: None listed. How about angst, sex, blood, and death?
Summary: The Christmas holidays are always so stressful. 1994 is even more so for Dana Scully, bringing painful memories, a perplexing Mulder, and vampires.
Lastly, I want to recommend Plaidadder's excellent TXF meta series again. She's insightful, entertaining, and blessedly jargon-free. Her analysis of "3" brings up a huge issue I hadn't considered before: AIDs in the nineties.
Risky Business: "3" and the Age of AIDS (1243 words) by PlaidAdder
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The X-Files
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Fox Mulder & Dana Scully
Characters: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully
Additional Tags: Meta, Nonfiction
Series: Part 38 of X-Files Meta
Summary: The first two seasons of The X-Files were made and broadcast during one of the worst periods of the AIDS crisis. There’s a lot of shit that explains, when you think about it. Certainly it explains a lot of what’s going on in “3.” Well, to the extent that “3″ can ever really be explained.
(no subject)
Date: 2017-07-26 06:54 am (UTC)