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Pusher 3X17
Air date: February 23rd, 1996
Written by: Vince Gilligan
Directed by: Rob Bowman


Title Meaning: Nickname of Robert Modell who "pushes" his will onto other people
Tag Line: The Truth Is Out There

Other Information:
• Notice the O.J. Simpson joke: "So...he's a killer and a golfer."
• Many fans have speculated that the name "Modell" is a sport reference to the highly unpopular owner of the Baltimore Ravens, once known as the Cleveland Browns
Julia Arkos (Holly)
Steve Bacic (Agent Collins)
Roger R. Cross (SWAT Lieutenant)
Ernie Foot (Lobby Guard)
Janyse Jaud (Nurse)
Darren Lucas (Lead SWAT Cop)
Don Mackay (Judge)
D. Neil Mark (Deputy Scott Kerber)
Mitch Pileggi (Walter Skinner)
Vic Polizos (Agent Frank Burst)
J.D. Sheppard (Prosecutor)
Robert Wisden (Robert Modell)

3X17Mulder and Scully are up against Robert Modell (nicknamed "Pusher") who has the dangerous ability to control people's minds with nothing other than his voice.

By causing a police officer to drive in front of an oncoming truck, giving an FBI agent a heart attack over the phone and willing a judge to believing that he is innocent, he is able to escape everyone. He seems even a worthy match for Mulder when he wills him to playing a game of Russian roulette between himself, Pusher and Scully. Can he turn Mulder against his partner?

Rating: 7 out of 10
Vince Gilligan once again shows that he can take a stand alone episode and make it into one that you're sure that CC would have wrote. He really is a master at the relationship between Mulder and Scully and he gives the fans and the shippers everything they want to seen, besides them actually kissing of course! The sexual tension between them is particularly strong which makes this episode much better. Had it just left to the agents investigating the case, it would have been worse of. Plus, Wisden is particularly convincing as Pusher.
Nitpicking
At the start of the episode when the police are driving Modell away, there is a massive line of police cars. What is the point of this particularly when the car that Modell is in is right at the back of the long queue?