I'm not disagreeing with anyone as to whether Claire "...is deceased, is
no more, is an ex" -character(to borrow from Monty Python).

Up to this point, we've only seen Christian in flashback, because he
died before the series started. The fact that we see him now has
more roots in the parental tie to Claire. She has now been written
into the prospects for a flop somewhere else(look at what happened
to Duchovny and Anderson post-X-Files); actors with accents wind up playing scientists in bad SCI-FI CHANNEL movies, because idiotic studio
execs think an accent gives credence to stupid plot devices.

Be thankful the writing here has been good for four seasons. I'm just
praying it doesn't deteriorate. In spite of its weaknesses(most good
stories happen in chronological order and viewers find out things through
the characters conversations), these writers know how to develop
characters you feel something about. That's one of the hallmarks of
good writing.

Now don't make me channel Shatner from his SNL appearance. It's a tv
show. I look forward to willingly suspending my disbelief on a weekly
basis, but there are much more important things in this world to be
concerned about. Remember Cindy Sheehan, the woman who tried to
keep the memory of her dead son alive by camping outside Mr. Bush's
Crawford ranch? Her son was a soldier like many of our friends and
family members that are overseas right now. Do you know what she
referenced when she finally called it quits : It was the apathy of an
American public who would rather be involved with reality tv than take
a stand for something as important as the people who put themselves
in harms way for you and me. I'm beginning to think Roger Waters was
right when he penned the song lyric "The species has amused itself to
death."