Mulder and Scully return to Oregon when the abductions they investigated seven years earlier start all over again.
It seems the best way to get Chris Carter to make some kind of major revelation in The X-Files is to not tell him if his show’s being picked up. Then he’ll have to tie up some loose ends and bring the series to some kind of close in case it doesn’t come back. Having said that, I would have been rather annoyed if the story had been left where it is, even though to some degree this does feel like an ending.
Firstly, things are shown or stated outright. Secondly, there are loads of fan-pleasing moments. Thirdly, Mulder gets what he’s always wanted and so does Scully, Skinner gets to see a UFO, Cigarette Smoking Man gets his just desserts and the whole recurring cast get together in one place for the first time. Except Cancer Man.
Now, I have problems with some of this, and I’m grateful for other aspects. Scully’s announcement that closes the season, while being totally unexpected, is pointless. It serves no dramatic function, it’s impossible to explain, thereby making her an x-file for at least the third time, and I guarantee Chris Carter put it in without working out how he could write his way back out of it. Mulder’s ultimate fate, however, I would have been totally happy with. It’s in keeping with his character, it’s something he’s always wanted and it brings his quest to an end, even if his lack of consideration of Skinner who might want to know what’s happened to him is rather off. It still leaves a hell of a lot of questions unanswered, but that’s no surprise. It’s a shame that the main plot (and good to see some familiar faces) leads solely to this rather underdeveloped finish.
As to the rest, it’s great to have Krycek back, although there’s no explanation as to how he finished up in prison and Marita is a welcome return too. The fact that Cancer Man seems to be the last person interested in reviving the conspiracy is a nice touch, and his death (hopefully permanently, as Krycek is a far more interesting regular villain) wraps things up well, while leaving room for a continuation with Krycek. Skinner’s epiphany is nicely handled, and his desire to tell of what he’s seen will make him temporary Mulder next season, which could work wonders for his character. Again, his problem with Krycek seems to have been forgotten, but there’s not enough time for everything.
Finally, Scully admits she loves Mulder. Did we have to have this fan-pleasing moment? After a season of ignoring that aspect, it’s a shame to bring it up again. Their close friendship was far better to keep.
So there you have it: plenty of very good stuff, but not enough time to really finish things off. So, lucky it’s back next season, eh? I’m hoping the temporary loss of Duchovny may yet breathe new life into the series, but only time will tell.
****
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