Chris Snellgrove | publishing
Have you ever watched a pretty mediocre TV, with only a killer guest star saved it? Sometimes even the professionals in the TV industry will be the first to admit that their script is very bland, and the only thing that brings the story together is the excellent performance of the guest actors that week. For example, the director who worked in the episode “Roland” agreed that Željko Ivanek’s performance helped save the very meaningless thing that was originally an episode X File.
ŽeljkoIvanek saves X-Files episode “Roland”
If you haven’t seen it, or just need a review, “Roland” is a plot, the titular character of a mentally retarded person who is manipulated by his cryogenic twin brother for acts of murder. Even by the standards of this weird performance, this storyline is the soap opera “Slock” of the 90s. Many people working in this episode think Roland star Željko Ivanek really saved this X File The plot, starting with director David Nutter, said: “When I knew I had him, I thought to push this as much as possible to help with vulnerability in the script.”
One of David Nutter’s biggest criticisms of the episode’s script is that its villain is “a bit abstract.” That’s because the big bad guy is a guy in a low temperature stagnation that we can’t even see until after the episode is over, and it’s just a clear threat like the smoker lurking in the corner. However, once he realized what a wide range of performance seals ŽeljkoIvanek, X File The director emphasized Roland’s role more, leading to an episode where he thought “a very powerful character.”
Chris Carter generally agreed with the assessment, noting that “for me, [Željko Ivanek’s portrayal] Make the plot turn X File Fans will never forget it. He gave special praise for “David Nutter and the writers fell and made this episode really work.” In fact, Carter loved Roland so much that he allowed an unspoken musical rule on the show to be completely broken.
according to X File Composer Mark Snow, David Nutter, “said a weird little theme on the piano is great for the character”, but Snow is very aware that Chris Carter “really doesn’t like melody music” so he knows he has to get the song “Justice.” The result is “This simple, very childish, slightly lonely, sad work”… immediately stands out on the show’s more weird and atmospheric tracks. Fortunately, Carter loves the song, which perfectly encapsulates the inner struggles of the title character.
In retrospect, it’s easy to see how the creatives behind “Roland” really put all the chips on Željko Ivanek’s performance. He gets screen time meat, custom songs and an unforgettable final arc. This made him an outstanding role in one season, including the Only Gunner and early fans’ favorites like Walter Skinner.
Ultimately, David Nutter’s instinct is correct: ŽeljkoIvanek’s powerful performance is indeed a pretty mediocre highlight X File episode. Fortunately for the cast and crew, it was a show built around big names, with Ivanik’s Roland character as striking as David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson’s former FBI agents for his limited time on screen. This makes the episode worth watching once or twice before putting it back on the ice (preferably freezing in low temperatures).
