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The X-Files Season 9 Episode 18

Sunshine Days

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8.1

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AIRED: 5/12/02

Doggett and Reyes investigate a murder outside the house that the original Brady Bunch series was filmed in. The house is owned by a man named Oliver who is obsessed with the show and has rigged the house into a series of traps and changing appearances to look like the Brady house. However the agents soon find out that Oliver could be the proof needed that the X Files has been searching for over the past 9 years.moreless

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (9)

Sunshine Days

10

By TrueTvWatcher, Sep 26, 2012

Sunshine Days was a perfect episode of The X-Files and I really enjoyed watching because the episode had a great story, felt a little campy but not too much, and had some great "whoa that just happened" moments. I liked the characters and watching the agents investigate this case was particularly fun to watch. It was cool in the end how Oliver made Skinner float. I liked how every thing played out and was glad to see a great, feel good, funny episode such as this before the series finale. I look forward to the last two episodes!!!!!!!!!moreless
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Probably my favorite Reyes and Doggett episode.

9.0

By Hexsins, Jul 23, 2010

I thought this episode was one of the more enjoyable plots of The X-Files. What I liked about it was the emotion Scully showed in the possibility of finally obtaining some evidence of the paranormal, and in finding such evidence, guaranteeing that The X-Files never gets shut down -- a wonderful metafictional reference to the creators wish that the show itself could carry on forever.

If only it were so.

Anyway, onto Monica and Doggett. I've enjoyed Doggett's presence on the show for the most part, but never really felt that Monica was fleshed out enough. This is one of the few episodes where I felt like I could possibly start liking her -- almost. Still, the problem with Reyes is twofold: Gish is rather goofy and wooden when acting "Spooky," and the character itself just doesn't add much to the show: "I have feelings about things." That kind of vague psychic ability just doesn't lend itself much to great dialogue or interesting investigation. This, in my opinion, was the single greatest miscalculation Carter and company made in the wake of Mulder's absence. The witty banter of the Mulder/Scully era could just simply not be replicated with Doggett and Reyes. A shame.

But for Sunshine Says, the writers finally loosen these characters up a bit and let them act like two detectives that have some experience on X-Files. They even banter fairly well here, even Gish.moreless
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I liked this episode, It was great! I thought it was well written and fun to watch.

8.7

By Ryan5293, Jun 21, 2010

This was the first episode of season nine I watched and as soon as I saw it I warmed up to Reyes and I liked the way her and Doggett worked together. Maybe they should make a spin off with them. All in all I think Season nine is a good season. This episode was a fine examlple of that. Also I thought it was funny and it was serious and dramatic. I almost wanted to cry at the end in a good way. And I like the way he found the man he lost that was like his father that made me very happy. A fantastic episode!moreless
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I don't know of any other show that could combine the Brady Bunch with murder and an X File

8.5

By qstevie, Jun 21, 2010

It's a very odd episode, but then it is Vince Gilligan. It might be the proof the world needs of the paranormal, but of course it can't be. A man can make his surroundings change, and he chooses the Brady Bunch as his perfect family. Unfortunately, people who come into his world and challenge it end up shooting up through the roof and landing very uncomfortably (i.e. dead).

The guy is actually very moving (brilliant acting) and his reasons are quite sad and almost banal. The ending is great, with him finding a 'father'. I don't know why his unconscious murders weren't followed up though. Or at least manslaughters. There doesn't seem to be any doubt that he caused those people to die whether he wanted to or not. But nothing really happens about that. The characters seem so caught up with his amazing ability that they seem to forgive the dead people!

The episode also does what the X Files has always been able to do, and which is incredibly difficult: mixing humour with grossness with pathos. It should be just a funny episode, but it becomes this very disturbing story that at the end finds a way to be very human and real.

There are some wonderful scenes - Mitch Pileggi being 'levitated', the changing interior etc. A really good watch - though coming just before the end of the whole series it seems a little misplaced.moreless
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Weird episode.

9.9

By farscapefanuk, Jun 21, 2010

This episode was really weird. This man somehow has the ability to make stuff happen. Like getting the Brady Bunch around his house. Doggett and Reyes try to get to the bottom of the case but soon realise that the man can do these things. Thye show Skinner what he can do and he is amazed. They think that this man could cause the X Files to remain open forever but he begins to get sick after a while and is unable to use his ability. Everyone is fustrated because yet again they have not prood. Really like dthis episode 200 episodes who would have thought? Its a shame it ended but this episode was a great send off before the big season final 'The Truth'.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Robert Patrick	Special Agent John Doggett
Gillian Anderson	Special Agent Dana Scully
Mitch Pileggi	Assistant Director Walter Skinner
Annabeth Gish	Special Agent Monica Reyes

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Damon Kaylor	Orderly	Guest Star
Danielle Savre	Marcia Brady	Guest Star
Nick Campisano	Greg Brady	Guest Star
Arlene Pileggi	Arlene	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (4)
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- When Doggett is transported up to the roof and finds himself upside down walking along the rafters, how come his tie remains in the position you'd expect if someone were standing upright? Surely it should have been dangling down - he was the one being affected, not his clothes. But gravity doesn't seem to follow the normal rules here.
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- Goof: When Oliver changes the house to the landscape, Doggett and Reyes stand up from the table and walk around. While doing so, they cast shadows both above and beneath the table (impossible in itself), while the table casts no shadows at all.
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- How could Agent Scully get an electric shock while doing the autopsy while she's wearing latex gloves which are strong insulators?
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- Goof: Agent Reyes states the real Brady Bunch house is on a studio backlot. The house is a real house located at 11222 Dilling Street, Studio City, California. It is owned by the McCallister family, who built a fence around the front yard a few years ago, because the fans trespassing to peek into the Bradys' living room -- which existed only on a Paramount sound stage.
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QUOTES (10)
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- Scully: (To Doggett) Cousin Oliver -- the jinx. None of the other kids liked him. (Doggett stares at Scully, bewildered) I... may have seen an episode or two.
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- Dr. Rietz: Oliver? You have to understand. My life's work... the vindication of it, it's so important to me. I let it blind me. I treated you like ... a lab rat, and not a man. And 30 years ago, I left, with barely a goodbye. I am sorry for that. You can't use your power. Not ever again. I forbid it.
  Oliver: I can't be alone.
  Dr. Rietz: You won't be. You've got me. Can you forgive me, Oliver?
  Oliver: Anthony. (Dr. Rietz laughs with happiness)
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- Doggett: So close, Dana. I'm sorry you don't get your proof.
  Scully: Me, too. Well, maybe I've had it these past nine years. If not proof of the paranormal, then... of more important things.
  Doggett: Here's hoping the TV stays off and he learns how to love the real world.
  Reyes: I think you are getting the hang of this job.
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- Doggett: Judge, I wanna toss the house of a man who makes people magically zoom into the sky. Has something to do with electricity and poltergeists and whatnot. Yeah, that'll fly.
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- Michael: This guy's stonewalling. Kick the door in!
  Doggett: Shut up.
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- Agent Doggett: Cousin Oliver? Who the hell is that?
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- Agent Doggett: I think I'm finally getting the hang of this job.
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- Agent Reyes: Are you saying he's alive?
  Scully: No, he's dead as a hammer.
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- Agent Reyes: I was wondering why a man with no criminal record would change his name. And then I thought about the name itself Oliver Martin. It sounded familiar so I ran it.
  Agent Doggett: Through what? NCIC?
  Agent Reyes: No, a Brady Bunch web site. It popped right up.
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- Doggett: Oh, Crap.
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NOTES (2)
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- The date mentioned on the videotape is April 4th, 1970. April 4th is the birthday of writer Vince Gilligan's girlfriend, Holly.
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- The house isn't really the house the Brady Bunch was filmed in. Agent Reyes made a big point of mentioning that. The real Brady Bunch house was on a hollywood backlot. This house was a figment of the guy's imagination.
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ALLUSIONS (2)
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- Title: Sunshine Days
  
  The title is a reference to a song that the Brady children sang in an episode of The Brady Bunch when they formed a band, called "It's A Sunshine Day".
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- Character: Oliver Martin
  
  The entire episode references The Brady Bunch. The character of Oliver Martin is also likely inspired by "Cousin Oliver", a character who joined that show in the failing final season in what is considered the shark-jumping episode.
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