Living in a box

I have to admit something deeply personal. I love 'Oubliette'. It is far from being a great X File, but it does what the X Files does best, something for which it is given little credit. Like Jenny, in 2Shy, it is about something so human, it goes unseen.
Remember that scene in 'Die Hard’ (1988) with the news anchors discussing hostage situations?
Gail Wallens: Dr. Hasseldorf, what can we expect in the next few hours? 
Dr. Hasseldorf: Well, Gail, by this time the hostages should be going through the early stages of the Helsinki Syndrome. 
Harvey Johnson: As in Helsinki, Sweden. 
Dr. Hasseldorf: Finland.
'Die Hard' is up there in my top three favourite movies. And, having taught psychology, I love the way they take the Mick out of those who think they have all the answers.
But, back on point, 'Oubliette' is about that syndrome, properly known as Stockholm Syndrome, but inversely. Lucy doesn't identify with her abductor, but with the abductee. I think this is why Mulder identifies with her so closely. Because, as I've said before, he is in constant need of reminding of human life. His fascination may stem from his sister's abduction, but it is fixated on the alien rather than the human. Lucy reminds him that it is the victim that should be his concern. It is so satisfying to see him so concerned with the well-being of another human being.
We are, as human beings, so quick to judge. Nothing wrong with that, only natural. But, having judged, we don't take time out to think about what we have decided. Agent Eubanks has judged Lucy and found her guilty. He is not looking at the evidence objectively. Yes, Lucy has Amy's blood on her. But, objectively, how is this possible? He doesn't care. For him it is just a matter of finding someone he can hold responsible for the crime. Actual guilt is irrelevant. I suspect this is a statement on American law enforcement!
We build our institutions as efficient ways of dealing with life. But they are, all of them, devoid of humanity. Their goal is efficiency, not humanity.
The agent is called 'Eubanks'. Maybe I am giving more credit to the writers than they deserve, but the 'Ewbank' cleaner has been cleaning homes since 1880. Lucy is but a bit of fluff that must be cleaned up.
I have major issues with Mulder, but this is one of those episodes that reminds us why we love him. For all his faults, and he has many (legion, even, for the Scripturally aware American), he remains the one who can see things others cannot see. In this episode, he sees the human and defends it, cares for it, and acts upon his insight to save another.
Lucy has to die. It is the Greek tragedy that must be played out. Jenny survived her encounter with Incanto. There cannot be another who looks at death and live. Mulder missed the significance of Jenny. He had to be made aware of the human cost of his crusade. It has to be for not just himself, but everyone. For those who, but for him, would have no one to speak for them.

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