" I lost him." -Skinner
"We will find him.... I have to." -Scully
-"Requiem"
final scene of seventh season finale

  Of course, we all know what Scully said after this exchange. The words heard 'round the globe by Philes.... closely followed by gasps, hysterical laughs, screams, and/or unconsciousness. But, let's talk about *that* later. Let's start at the beginning.

The audit

I found these scenes absolutely hilarious. The attempts by Mulder and Scully to explain, much less justify, some of their expenses was delightful to watch. Plus, the auditor was perfect: a humorless, ultra-pragmatist. His suggestions for how Mulder could lower expenses by researching on the internet and "reducing his vision" were appropriately inappropriate. (Note: We're in the process of having to "justify our being" at my school right now. So,  this really hit a nerve with me.) I am so glad Mulder "reduced his vision!" Then, both decide to go "waste some money" in Oregon. Did they fly first class this time?

The case... or revisiting the past

I loved seeing Billy, his Dad, and Teresa again. And that painted red X on the road was wonderful to see again. Thank God they  didn't repave!  I remember watching the Pilot the first time it was aired in Sept. 1993 and thinking what an amazing story this was. Chris Carter did a great job going back to this case to explain what was happening:
-Cancer Man is trying to rebuild the consortium, making himself the leader (And just why is he dying? Is it as a result of that operation in "Amor Fati?" Perhaps he is not "chosen" and therefore is dying because the part of Mulder doesn't work in him... Perhaps he wanted to trade the alien ship for a cure from the aliens....)
-Alex Krycek is back with just as questionable motivation (and past) as ever; this time, Marita is with him (It's clear they hate each other but work together because they have similar goals. They HAVE to be partners in crime.)
-Billy, Teresa, and the others were all being re-abducted in preparation for...? We're led to believe this may be a first part of colonization.
-Billy's father is just as resistant as before, but there's a twist: he's quickly replaced by the Alien Bounty Hunter who uses this new position to thwart everyone at every turn.
 

New twists (or Carter's version of  "Vertigo")

Scully began having dizzy spells almost as soon as they stepped off the plane. Was it the close proximity of the aliens? Or something else....? Plus that shaking in mid-air thing was really scary. Max Fenig did that in  "Fallen Angel." And it reminded me of what  happened to the teenagers in the cave in "Rush" earlier this season. But, that can't be connected because those kids were able to rush about and had incredible strength as a result of speeding up in the cave. Scully said *they* (the aliens) didn't want her because they rejected her; threw her back, as it were. This would make sense as I believe she wasn't abducted by aliens way back in season two. No, she was abducted by the government/consortium for tests to find a way to stop the aliens (alien/human hybridization).

But, Mulder? When was he abducted by aliens?  Scully said that what occurred to him in "Biogenesis," "Sixth Extinction," and "Amor Fati" (hearing others' thoughts to the point of driving him mad, or,  in medical terms, electro-encephalitic trauma) is why the aliens wanted him. Was it the black oil (from "Tunguska/Terma")?  Was he abducted as a child, perhaps? Or was this from that missing nine minutes in "The Pilot?" Would Chris go back that far? Here's another wild thought: maybe Scully was "undesirable" because she had been abducted and subjected to the consortium's experiments. Or maybe it was because of that *other thing* (I'm getting to it...)

The (new) Unholy Trinity

Cancer Man, Alex Krycek, and Marita Covarrubias

Now there's a team you can trust!
Cancer Man is dying so he recalls Alex from a Tunisian jail to help him rebuild the consortium. Tunisia... again? Is that ground zero? And why was Krycek in jail? We're never told.
Krycek sets out to Oregon, but only half-heartedly tries to locate the UFO. He seems much more interested in Mulder and Scully. Then, he and Marita talk Mulder into going to find the UFO (for them) to stop Cancer Man. Those two are amazingly amoral: send Mulder to his own abduction, bump off Cancer Man, and........ rebuild the consortium for themselves?????? I fully believe Alex knew Mulder would be abducted: out of the way so he could do whatever he wants. But, I don't think he counted on *the other thing.*
(Just  be patient a wee bit longer....)

This 'Ship is going somewhere.... in a hurry

That "bed scene" at the lodge in Oregon was absolutely wonderful: wonderfully written, wonderfully filmed, and wonderfully acted. It was so intimate, so new (we've NEVER seen M and S lying in bed together before), and yet so natural. It just seemed normal for them to be holding each other, spooning (granted Mulder was on top of the covers), and whispering to each other about intensely personal issues. Mulder whispering in Scully's ear that "there's so much more you need to do with your life... so much more that this..." Wowza! That scene blew me away.
Then....

Scully is shaken (not stirred) by the alien force field in the woods and thrown back. She thinks it's just part of the dizziness. Mulder cradles her in his arms and reassures her with sweet words and gentle caresses. Double Wowza!
Then....

In the hall outside Skinner's office, Mulder tells Scully he's afraid of losing her if she were to go back to Oregon. It's becoming plainly obvious *something* has changed in their relatonship because Scully does not argue with him. We don't get her usual, "I'm fine, Mulder," or "Let me do my job, Mulder." Instead we get a(nother) beautiful hug and Scully telling him she wouldn't let him go alone. ........... (I was speechless at that  point. Not even a wowza!)

[I think we can all agree that  SOMETHING happened between the "Millennium" kiss and "Requiem."  And it is my humble opinion the big SOMETHING happened during "all things." I think that was the turning point of the relationship. Since then, well, (clearing throat)...]
 

The Taking of Fox Mulder

Were they waiting for Mulder? I rewatched "Pilot," courtesy of the new DVDs, and was struck by the mention of a force summoning the kids to the forest. In "Requiem," they're not summoned but rather forceably taken there, all of them except Mulder. Mulder's led there by Krycek, then his own innate curiosity gets him in trouble. He's accepted into the force field and then chooses to join the other abductees.  Or, at least, we're led to believe he chose to go. It seems there is no way out of that force field; you're either accepted (read:  abducted) or you're tossed back, as Scully was. He had a look of resignation on his face, as if he had accepted his fate to be abducted. He certainly wasn't happy about it. He was just there. With the Alien Bounty Hunter.

Just which aliens were these?  The ones with whom the consortium had the deal? Or the rebels? My best guess is the former, the non-rebel aliens. Cancer Man says they have the answer to all things. But, they are not God. He claims there is no God, only aliens. What if these aliens are actually evil, come to take over Earth (again)? Perhaps the rebels are angels of God sent to save Earth. Will the rebels then play a role in the return of Fox Mulder? (I may have to revisit this idea over the summer in another lecture, hmm...)

Show of hands please: how many noticed that Mulder was wearing Scully's cross when he was abducted? Yep! I didn't notice myself until someone pointed it out at a chat. And you have to nearly go 'cross'--eyed to see it. But, it is there. Notice that Scully is not wearing it when she's in the hospital at the end. Just a nit-picky thing? Perhaps. What does it mean?  It HAS to mean something. No, I don't think Mulder suddenly found that ol' religion. I think it was a reminder from Scully to come back to her. And, he HAS to come back to her because....

(Alright... let's talk about *IT* now...)

The inexplicable, unbelievable (not to mention unthinkable, previously impossible)..... Pregnancy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was definitely unspoiled for this (I'd read about the abduction in the articles about David's return for season 8). That final scene with Skinner tearfully (tearfully!) telling Scully he'd "lost" Mulder was amazing enough even without that last line. Skinner pledged he couldn't deny what he'd seen when asked by the FBI higher-ups. (What will they do to him for this?)

Scully accepted his apology and pledged that they would find Mulder, adding that she had to find him. Then, she dropped her bombshell-- though she found it hard to explain or believe, she's PREGNANT!

Now, fellow philes, we're left with some key questions here:

1) HOW did she get pregnant?
    Well, okay, we know *how*  (at least, how this usually happens). But, Scully, was supposed to be
barren, to use her own words.  Where did she get the ova? Was she healed? How? The chip? Or something else? (Wow! Is Mulder that powerful?!!)

2) The paternity issue: Who is the  father?
    Well, it sure as he!! better  be Mulder (sorry to curse, but I feel very strongly about this). This ain't no alien/human hybrid. NAY! That was Emily and Scully wasn't pregnant for that. No, this is a good, old fashioned pregnancy. And... I don't think Scully would be as happy if she did not believe the baby is Mulder's.
So when did *IT* happen? I'm inclined to believe *it* happened in "all things." Remember that teaser?! Yep... the horizontal mambo was done and a little Fox/Dana was created. And from Chris Carter-- all-knowing, all-seeing, surfer dude, supreme writer/creator--- "He did promise that the season (series?) finale will be very important to the mythology, and hinted at (in the episodic-teasing manner) that it might involve the missing scene from all things (which he co-wrote the ending for) in some manner. When an audience member asked what went on between the couch and the bedroom, he said, "That`s a very important question to ask," and that it might become clear in the finale. " (UC-Santa Barbara interview, 4/00, from Fandom)

3) Just  where will season eight pick up?
    Well, we now know that  David Duchovny will be back for half the episodes (acc. to the official site). He may not be back until around Feb. sweeps (for the last half of  the season) as several articles have reported that timeline. (Or his appearances may  be sprinkled throughout  the season as others have suggested.)  Will Mulder be gone for a time and then found? Or will he just reappear (in a coma in a DC hospital!)? We've been told Scully  will go on with a new partner. But, what of Walter Skinner? I think he's going to be super protective of Scully, perhaps to the point that she's going to resent it. We could get an interesting holiday-festive episode, with Scully having to drop the big news on her family. I want Maggie Scully to return and just imagine Bill Jr.'s reaction! Oh----- Hey! It just occcurred to me that THEY could have Mulder reappear on the spinoff Lone Gunmen series that's set to air at mid-season (around Feb.) Now wouldn't that be a ratings bonanza for a brand-spanking new series?! Plus, assured publicity and advertising for the new series, too! (Let's not repeat the Harsh Realm debacle, guys.) At any rate, season 8 sure is looking good to me!

So..... is it  next  season already??!!!!!!!!!!!

"We open doors,
with the X-Files,
which lead to other doors...
I've seen things that I cannot deny."
-Scully, "Requiem"

extra credit links (to help us get through the loooonnnng summer)
>>Mytharc
    -The X-Files Timeline
    -Fandom X-Files Mytharc Guide
   -The X-Files Official Site

>>Pregnancy Links
   -About .com: Pregnancy Week-by-Week
  -Ask NOAH about Preegnancy

>>Travel
   -Bellflower, CA: Yahoo! Get Local
 (Bellflower is Chris Carter's  hometown and namesake for Bellefleur,OR)
   -Oregon's  Coastal X-Files
    (Bellefleur, OR is fictional, but take a look at  this cool site with info about paranormal activities in coastal Oregon.)

>>Alien Abductions
    -UFO Abduction Insurance
    (You HAVE to see this site. Looks like Scully and the baby will be set!)
   -Nova Online: Kidnapped by UFOs?
   -Alien Abductions Incorporated
   (If they haven't taken you yet and you REALLY wanna go, here's the site for you!)

 

Poems by  Susan

so much more (Mulder's POV) ~~~~~~~ i want  so much more for you than this  i want  you to have the kind of life you deserve a life  without secrets without danger without pain i want  you to be free to make your own choices to have the family you want to have love without sacrifice  i want you to be able to enjoy what you have without fear of losing it i want you to be happy so let me go do this and  let me do it  alone so you can  have so much more

need (Scully's POV) ~~~~~~ i have to find you i have to bring you back i need you i need to feel your arms around me i need to tell you about our miracle i don't know what to  do or where to begin but somehow  some way i have to find a way  to bring you back i need you and so does  your child

 
 
 

(click on thumbnails to view larger image)
Requiem pics from Nynaeve's Temple of X

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