Donnie Pfaster is a sick, sick motherfucker. But he's not paranormal in the usual sense. In fact, Mulder doesn't even suggest aliens or his usual jive. He gets right down to business, accurately divining that the criminal is a fetishist.
The episode has little plot other than Pfaster being a freak with women's hair, Scully's internal fears bubbling to the top and her kidnapping late in the episode. In the end, Scully manages to stay alive and Pfaster is caught, the expected outcome, but nerve-wracking nonetheless.
"Irresistible" is a Scully episode, and it is very effective. Her fear overwhelms her as she imagines Pfaster as a demon, his imposing figure transfiguring momentarily to reflect just how she feels. Her normally cool exterior is blistered throughout the episode until her kidnapping when all her fears, all her dread explode. In my review of "Firewalker," Scully's first episode back since her disappearance, I complained that we didn't see much residual effect, at least outwardly, of Scully's experience with Duane Barry. And in many ways, this was Scully's chance to express all her feelings not only about Pfaster, but also Barry.
Score: 9.2/10
