Arcadia (The X-Files)
The show centers on FBI special agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) who work on cases linked to the paranormal, called X-Files.
Arkin, a first-year staff writer for the show, was inspired to write the episode based on an incident in his life that involved a planned community.
At the Falls of Arcadia, a fictional planned community in San Diego County, California, disgruntled homeowner Dave Kline arrives at home to find a package from an unknown person.
Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) investigate the Klines' disappearance, going undercover as new homeowners under the aliases Rob and Laura Petrie.
When Big Mike, another neighbor, wants to let the "Petries" in on the "consequences" of breaking the CC&Rs, homeowner association president Gene Gogolak describes him as "a weak link" to be dealt with.
Mulder decides to test his theories that noncompliance with the CC&Rs is the motive by sticking a plastic flamingo in the yard and damaging the mailbox, among other antics.
Scully shares her lab results: the "blood" on the ceiling fan and on the dog is actually grime, as the neighborhood is built on top of an old landfill.
Mulder believes the Klines were buried in their front yard, so the next day he gets a backhoe to dig it up, telling the neighbors he's putting in a reflecting pool, which is not against the CC&Rs.
Because Arkin had neglected to read the community's "three hundred page" long covenants, conditions, and restrictions, he was later shocked to discover that the complex had fined him one thousand dollars for moving in after the approved hours.
The incident stuck in Arkin's mind, and when he was tasked with writing a story for The X-Files, he immediately jumped to the "frightening" reality of planned communities.
[2] The story went through many variations, and when Arkin wrote his first draft, the main antagonist was simply a man who served as a metaphorical "bogeyman.
"[2] After series creator Chris Carter suggested that Arkin replace the human with an actual monster, he quickly re-wrote his story to include elements of the Tulpa myth.
[2] Abraham Benrubi, noted at the time for his work as Jerry Markovic on the NBC hospital drama ER, was cast by Rick Millikan to play Big Mike.
"[2][3] Cheri Montesanto-Medcalf, the make-up department head for The X-Files, was responsible for making Benrubi appear mauled and bloody.
"[2] Makeup supervisor John Vulich eventually designed a monster outfit that was, effectively, a "foam rubber suit" made out of urethane.
Rob Bricken from Topless Robot named "Arcadia" the tenth funniest X-Files episode and noted the two levels of humor in the episode—the "blatantly hilarious" pairing of Mulder and Scully as husband and wife, and the "perfect parody" of the planned community way of life.
[10] Tom Kessenich, in his book Examination: An Unauthorized Look at Seasons 6–9 of the X-Files gave the episode a more mixed review, writing "after watching 'Arcadia', I feel like I just had a couple slices of pizza for dinner on Thanksgiving.
[12] Vitaris, despite praising David Duchovny's performance during the scenes wherein he "rebels against the rules", called the episode's main villains "stereotypes of self-indulgent, insulated suburbanites.
