"Disco Inferno"
Airdate: January 14, 2000

Dr. Morris (Dennis Haysbert) and Michael (Eric Close) investigate several cases of human spontaneous combustion that all have links to a mysterious new religion. Meanwhile as a favor to Lisa (Margaret Colin), Roger (Gerrit Graham) offers to teach Heather (Heather Matarazzo) to drive.

Easily one of the most amusing episodes to date, "Disco Inferno" was equal parts Moonlighting and The X Files. In some odd way it reminded me of Chris Carter's outright plea for an Emmy, the appalling "Post-Modern Prometheus." Only "Disco Inferno" was good.

Michael, whose insurance investigator brain was scooped out of his old body and inserted into a superhuman one, professes to no longer believe that anything is impossible, thereby allowing him to function as both David and Mulder in this seemingly paranormal case. The staid and studious Dr. Morris, on the other hand, played the Scully/Maddie role by adhering to known science and then allowing himself to be annoyed into investing more time in the case than he originally wanted.

In most episodes it is the good doctor who pulls the marionette strings, forcing Michael to dance to whatever tune he chooses, but in "Disco Inferno" the shoe is on the other foot. Having perhaps gained greater insight into Dr. Morris' personality for the past few months, his science fair project uses his God-given talents as a salesman to manipulate events to his own satisfaction. And yes, it's a sweet bit of revenge.

Never before has Michael been allowed to be so quirky. His amusing reaction to suddenly having enhanced hearing is a treat. It signals a taste of freedom, a window into the world he is being hidden away from, and he enjoys every moment of it, for this is a man with an active and curious mind which has been all but neglected during his time as lab rat. Sure his body -- and what a body it is -- has been given a workout, but the muscle between his ears has been stagnant. It's no wonder that at the first hint of a mystery to be solved he's jumping at the chance to help.

I see this episode as indicative of one of the underlying themes of the show; a quick mind is an even more effective weapon than mere brawn. Michael has the best body -- can I get an amen, sisters? -- probably on the planet, but time and again, it has been his brain, his knowledge of people and their motivations, that ultimately saves the day.

The flip side of the coin seemed to be purely fluff. But what entertaining fluff it was.

I am consistently amazed at how realistically Lisa and Heather interact. It's not a case of the smart-TV-kid and the dumb-TV-mom, but neither is it some schmaltzy overly-sentimental relationship. There are highs and there are lows and both can be pretty damn amusing. Add Uncle Roger to the mix and it only gets better.

My only complaint about this and the last few episodes is hard for me to voice. Being completely disgusted with large portions of the Shipper Movement among The X-Files fandom I am hesitant to ask for more scenes between Lisa and Michael just so I can experience their electrically charged chemistry.

I cringe even as I ask this. Please, Mr. Caron, can we have another kiss? I'd settle for just another meeting though. Please?

-- Linda M. Najera

Now and Again airs at 9pm EST, Fridays on CBS.

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