A big problem with some of the monster of the week episodes is that the audience knows exactly what's going on at the beginning of the episode. Mulder and Scully debate the supernatural and do the usual procedural stuff. More often than not, Mulder is correct, but the audience already knows that, leaving few surprises or anything to hang on to other than the acting.
"Lazarus" is one of the those episodes. From the beginning, we know Agent Jack Willis has been replaced by the brutal murderer, Warren Dupre. The episode drags on and on as Scully is kidnapped by Dupre/Willis, and Dupre's wife, Lula Phillips betrays Wills. Eventually, Willis's personality comes through and Scully is saved, but Willis is killed.
Another weird thing that crops in this episode and much later in the series is Scully's attraction those in a higher position of power than her. I'm not sure if anyone else finds it odd, but the fact never sat right with me.
Now that I've gotten through most of the first season, my opinion of the first season has changed. I had thought the first season good for the most part, but most of these episodes are sub-par.
Score: 8.3/10
