History Recap / TheXFilesS03E17Pusher

* BulletproofVest: Scully & Mulder wear them going into the hospital, but Mulder take his off under Pusher's control, off screen.

* FromCamouflageToCriminal: Modell.

* IJustWantToBeSpecial: Robert Modell's CompellingVoice derives from a brain tumor that's killing him. He refuses to treat it because his powers would dissipate.

* PsychicPowers: Modell's suggestive ability is a form of psychokinesis brought on by the brain tumour which he doesn't want to treat.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: After three seasons of Mulder getting the stink eye from every law enforcement type he tries to help Agent Burst goes to Mulder for help and brings photographic evidence to support his supernatural theory.

* SmallNameBigEgo: Mulder and Scully think Pusher is "a small man", and that he welcomes the idea of going down as an epic killer.

* SuicideByCop: Modell wants to go down as a big badass, and he believes playing Russian roulette with Mulder will definitely count.

* RussianRoulette: In the climax of the episode, Pusher made Mulder play with him and nearly kill Scully.

* SerialKiller: At first he was a hired hitman and then he targeted law enforcement.

* PlotHole: A minor one: Why didn't the FBI send Skinner to the hospital with the SWAT team? He already demonstrated his resistance to Pusher's mind control. But then, of course, we wouldn't have had that awesome showdown between Mulder and Pusher.

* PayPhone: Used very effectively. Modell used them to preserve anonymity.

* AdultFear: Mulder has to turn the gun on Scully, his close friend and partner. And wasn't able to stop pulling the trigger until Scully distracts Modell. Horror sets in when it turns out the shot meant for Scully was the ''one'' loaded chamber. Mulder aims this at Modell and puts him in a coma.

-->'''Mulder:''' He wanted to be a [[UsefulNotes/NavySEALS Navy SEAL]] and then he wanted to be an Army Special Forces Green Beret. Promptly washed out of both, though not for lack of intelligence. He ended up being a supply clerk at Fort Bragg. Served two years, general discharge.

** The Flukeman appears on the cover of a tabloid in the teaser.
** Mulder has purchased a Japanese dictionary after the events of Nisei and 731.
** Modell brings up the fact that Scully had previously shot Mulder, and that she'd been brought in to spy on him, when urging Mulder to shoot her.

->''"I say we don't let him take up another minute of our time."''
->''""''

* SuicideByCop: Modell wants to go down as a big badass. Playing Russian roulette with Mulder definitely counts.

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* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Though not a full-on fight, Scully tries to snap Mulder out of pulling the trigger of the gun by telling him he's "stronger than this" and Mulder uses all his willpower to stop himself, telling Scully to Run and shooting Modell instead.

* Bulletproof Vest: Scully & Mulder wear them going into the hospital, but Mulder take his off under Pusher's control, off screen.

* AdultFear: Mulder has to turn the gun on Scully, his close friend and partner. And wasn't able to stop pulling the trigger until Scully distracts Modell. FridgeHorror sets in when it turns out the shot meant for Scully was the ''one'' loaded chamber. Mulder aims this at Modell and puts him in a coma.

* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Though not a full-on fight, Scully tries to snap Mulder out of pulling the trigger of the gun by telling him he's "stronger than this" [[spoiler:and Mulder uses all his willpower to stop himself, telling Scully to Run and shooting Modell instead]].

* LoopholeAbuse: One possible interpretation of Mulder's actions at the climax. [[spoiler: He does pull the trigger on Scully, as ordered, just not enough to actually fire the gun.]]

* PlotHole: A minor one: Why didn't the FBI send Skinner to the hospital with the SWAT team? He already demonstrated his resistance to Pusher's mind control. [[spoiler:But then, of course, we wouldn't have had that awesome showdown between Mulder and Pusher.]]

* RussianRoulette: In the climax of the episode, Pusher made Mulder play with him [[spoiler: and nearly kill Scully.]]

* TheWorfEffect: DoubleSubverted in Skinner's case: Skinner is the only one who wasn't influenced by Modell's compelling suggestions. However, we all get to know what Modell is up to when he gets Skinner beaten up anyway, and by petite Holly on top of that. In the final showdown, even though Mulder proved great force of will, at the end he couldn't actually resist him either. [[spoiler: They would have lost if Scully hadn't pulled a fire alarm to break the spell of his voice]].

* GunmanWithThreeNames: Robert Patrick Modell

* IJustWantToBeSpecial: Robert Nodell's CompellingVoice derives from a brain tumor that's killing him. He refuses to treat it because his powers would dissipate.

* LoopholeAbuse: One possible interpretation of Mulder's actions at the climax [[spoiler: He does pull the trigger on Scully, as ordered, just not enough to actually fire the gun.]]
* ManipulativeBastard: Pusher

* PhoneTraceRace:

* AdultFear: Mulder has to turn the gun on Scully, his close friend and partner. And wasn't able to stop pulling the trigger until Scully distracts Modell. FridgeHorror sets in when it turns out the shot meant for Scully was the ''one'' loaded chamber.

* AdultFear: Mulder has to turn the gun on Scully, his close friend and partner. And wasn't able to stop pulling the trigger until Scully distracts Modell.

* FridgeHorror: During the RussianRoulette scene, Mulder is forced to turn the gun on Scully. When she distracts Modell with the fire alarm, Mulder takes the opportunity to whip the gun towards Modell and pull the trigger. The very next shot hits Modell and puts him in a coma. Had that not happened, Scully would have been shot at close range, and most likely killed.