Conduit. The Jersey Devil. Shadows. When I got home from work, on an impulse, I threw in a disc, and hit play. Then again. And again. Ok, I don't know about finishing a whole season in a week, but I suppose I may have been somewhat inspired by... ahem... something I read last night.

Damn, that is quality television programming. Methinks it does require being in a certain mood to truly appreciate the full depth of the show. It's like you have to let your mind drift off into a sort of hypntized alertness. Almost a dream state, but awake. Of course, when there are no commercials to sap off the mental trance, it gets even more intense. :)

I could see why advertisers might love to put their products on that show. It's like when you get into it, you just start drinking in the ambience... the story... the characters... let your imagination launch out of all the unsaid, unshown implications, and the subconscious comes alive. You open your mouth wider, and wider, taking bigger and bigger gulps. Cut to commercial, and you're so stunned, you'll barely even blink as the slick ads insert their logos into your brain. But not this time. :)

BTW, everything above could also apply to Millenium. I wonder when they'll be releasing THAT on DVD. Heehee.

Oh, and in the bit players arena: Watching The Jersey Devil, what name should I spot as the very first guest star in opening credits than Clair Stansfield! I kept looking to see when she'd appear, and was just about ready to call it a lost cause when there in the abandoned building, Mulder was cornered. Sure enough! Face covered in mud and makeup, the barbaric Neanderthal creature of the forest, but definitely her. Unbelievable. She's even on the main title screen of the episode, and I didn't even recognize her before starting the eposide. Now, it's obvious as penguin pee.

(Ok, I suppose I should explain this to the non-Xenites in the audience. Clair Stansfield plays the recurring character Alti on XWP. An evil, evil shamaness who embraces the powers of death and destruction. Not someone you'd want to mess with.)

Oh, and while I was watching, I also noticed something else. I'm almost certain I saw Michelle Forbes in an uncredited three-line role in the very same episode. Ok, the scene that begins EXACTLY 6 minutes into the episode (absolute time, from the beginning), look at the coroner. It's her, I tell you! In fact, looking at it again, I am certain. Look at the shot at 6:53. Unmistakable. What's amazing is that she is neither listed in the opening nor closing credits. Guess they don't credit roles that small. Still, given that it's a speaking part, this seems odd.

(Ok, just in case anyone in this audience doesn't know who Michell Forbes is (as if!), but if you don't know, I would have to question your worthiness as a trekkie. Michell Forbes played the role of Ensign Ro Laren on TNG. She was offered a starring role playing the part on DS9, but declined, which was why they had to fill the gap with Nana Visitor as Major Kira Nerys at the last minute.)

And then Shadows. Now there was a cool episode, too!

I think I'll watch Ghost in the Machine before making my journy into never never land, momentarily. Oh yeah.