As Mulder and Scully attempt to uncover the mystery of Cassandra Spender and the threat of colonization, events begin to head towards an inevitable apocalypse...
One Son continues in the tradition of Two Fathers to explore some of the long-standing questions of the government conspiracy and set out what is going on, whilst moving the story arc forward. And it comes together pretty well. All the usual recurring characters are present, from Skinner to Krycek to Fowley and Spender, but suddenly it's all change. Fowley now seems determined to keep Mulder and Scully out of the loop and throwing in with the enemy, and the enemy starts ot become less clear cut.
We discover that 25 years ago, the Syndicate members were forced to give up one of their children to the alien colonists for alien/human hybrid experiments. These children were given willingly in the hope that this was the only way the next generation would survive the coming invasion. With the first hybrid now alive in the form of Cassandra, it is time for colonization to begin, and nothing may be able to stop it.
This is one of the most effective episodes of The X-Files's story arc, as with new revelations, the actions of the Cigarette Smoking Man take on a new light, and make you wonder if maybe he was right all along. Even Mulder is forced to come to the realization that if anything, he was acting in Humanity's best interests. A great performance from William B Davis reinforces his words as he finally speaks the truth and laments for the future. All credit to the writing here for creating a scene we viewers thought we'd never see.
Meanwhile, the Syndicate are forced to move up the alien plan with dire and shocking consequences. It looks as if Earth is running out of saviours, and the most unlikely may be the ones who can save the planet.
On the downside, Krycek doesn't get enough screen time, and neither does Laurie Holden as Marita Covarrubias whose return should have been for more than her skulking in the dark lookign bedraggled. Krycek at least should have been happy to see her, but with the more earth-shattering events going on, this plotline is lost. There are, however, more great moments between Spender and his father, as the son rails against his father's actions, and enjoys some important conversations with Krycek. The faceless aliens' motives still aren't clear, which is annoying, but you can't have everything. Thiese minor quibbles, plus the now-obligatory 'seasonal shooting of regular character offscreen so they're probably not dead' are the only quibbles with an otherwise top-notch piece of entertainment and excitement. I needed a lie down after.
*****
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