Agent Doggett is partnered with accountant-turned-new partner Agent Harrison, and the pair go to investigate the death of an old man and the disappearance of his son, finding some unusual things.

This is your typical X-File. There's a monster on the loose and it must be tracked down and destroyed. What makes it better than average is that it's Doggett who's after the creature, and he doesn't know or believe in what he's looking for. Doggett's new partner is a wonderful creation, funny and dippy, and provides a welcome more humorous dynamic to the team. Scully is sidelined most of the episode, and Mulder decides to do some investigating of his own, teaming up with Doggett in the end.

It's good to see a relationship of trust gradually building between the old and the new X-Files man, with Robert Patrick getting plenty of strong material here thanks to Frank Spotnitz, one of the few people who seems to know exactly how to pitch him. Mulder is his usual wry self, poking his nose in where it's not wanted and guiding Doggett to the realization that he's now in charge. As a 'handing over the reins' story it works well, with Mulder and Scully remaining background players for much of the time and letting the new guys take over.

The monster itself is typical X-Files, not very well explained but pretty creepy, especially as it's not seen properly much of the time. Thus the story is fairly predictable as well, with the monster being just who you expect. The final sequence in which Doggett much kill it while blinded is particularly strong as he and Mulder must build a trust, with Mulder acting as his eyes. There's also a lovely scene at the very end where Mulder and Scully meet Harrison and are asked about a continuity glitch from the X-Files movie. It's a fun moment and shows the Mulder/Scully partnership as it should be. It'll be a shame to lose it next season.

***

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