Mulder is back, but he's feeling a little bit out of the loop until a man is shot on the White House lawn and he smells an X-File. But can he trust anyone anymore, including Scully's new partner, Doggett?

It's good to see the loose ends from the last two episodes being tied up (aside from Billy Miles, who Chris Carter presumably has plans for) and it's also good to see that although Mulder gets his share of the returning limelight here, so does Robert Patrick. If anything it's Scully who is frozen out, but considering how pregnant she now is, that's hardly unreasonable. She can't just dash into danger at the drop of a hat any more.

While I can't say I've really missed Mulder, it's amazing how his presence seems to energize the series in a way it hasn't been this season. There's more action and less angst, which may help, and the beginnings of a conclusion to the mythology behind the show. By the end of this episode the pieces are in place, and the rest of the season looks to be dealing with some of the loose ends that have been hanging for years. Maybe it's the fact that the show once again may not be back for another season, but with any luck it's a sign that Chris Carter is finally willing to let some of his deeply-held secrets see the light.

The arrival of a new informant is a sign that things are heading back to how they used to work, and the twist that he's an alien (although what kind and on whose side?) is a neat twist. That and the fact that it's Doggett who knows him, making him an integral piece of the puzzle. Although I'm still a little puzzled about a few facts, and Mulder's non-acceptance of Doggett is rather harsh, hopefully these concerns will be addressed as we head towards the season finale.

With good supporting roles for Skinner and the Lone Gunmen (who must have somehow slotted some time in around their schedule), there's a real sense of teamwork and 'the gang's all here'. The lack of Cancer Man makes for a pleasingly faceless villain and no need for the usual one minute full, the next empty rooms that are so beloved now. Frohike's welcoming embrace takes us back to season three, and Mulder has some perfectly-delivered lines, such as when he tells his old Gunman friend to take his hands off his ass. If the arc can continue to be this concentrated and the characters used as well as they are here, the rest of the season should be a big hit. And if it does turn out to be David Duchovny's swansong, it looks like he'll be going out in style.

****

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