I really liked Agua Mala. Take that disbelieving look off your face and let me finish the sentence. I really liked Agua Mala in the same way I really like all those low-budget, thinly plotted, badly characterised sci-fi / horror mini-series. It even had its own suspect rubber monster! But while this would have been enjoyable hokum as a cheap mini-series, in a series which can produce high-quality drama it was a bit of a flop. If Agua Mala was an attempt to recapture the glorious (?!) highs of Teso dos Bichos, it was a huge success.J

It was nice to see Darren McGavin back as Arthur Dales, especially as no unnecessary references were made to his appearance in Travelers. And I liked the comical sight of Mulder and Scully being mistaken for looters with their hands in the air and their torches in their mouths. But the monster was pretty lame, and I don't think the scene of the jellified person on the toilet was supposed to be funny, although it made me laugh, especially when the tentacles grabbed the Deputy.

Dales' remark to Scully, "Don't sneer at the mysteries of the deep, young lady. The bottom of the sea is as deep and dark as the imagination" was almost a nice piece of dialogue but was slightly too close to the type of thing that's said in cheesy mini-series for comfort. Besides, it was unfair. Scully wasn't sneering at the sea, she was smiling sardonically at Dales' comment about coming to Florida for the weather. I'm sure I remember her saying once that her father taught her to respect the ocean.

Scully finally got to do what all good TV doctors should do at some point in their careers - a tracheotomy with a biro! It was cliched, but nice to see Scully being a doctor and it was realistic to have Mulder wince as she made the incision. Just a question: why is it always a tracheotomy that people need on television? It's lucky they never seem to need heart surgery, although Scully performing a triple bypass with nothing but a coat-hanger, a tin-opener and a box of man-size tissues could be quite good. Yes, I'm rambling. That's probably because I don't have much to say.J

I was reminded of Ice when the infected Mulder was quarantined against Scully's wishes, which was a shame as Ice was a far superior episode. The debate right at the end over who saved who was quite nice because it emphasised that Scully and Mulder are a partnership and neither would be as strong without the other, but it was ruined by the ridiculously cliched last lines:

Dales: Anyone for water?

M+S: No!

Mulder: She's not the type that's easily persuaded.

Dales: Is that so?

Scully: What he means is I don't hear a story about a sea monster and automatically assume it's the Lord's gospel truth.

Mulder: She has a knack for getting to the bottom of things.

Scully: (Finding empty bottles in the bin) Apparently so does Mr. Dales.

Scully: Stand back or make yourself useful but stay out of my way.

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