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The X-Files (season 8)
Encyclopedia
The eighth season of The X-Files commenced airing in the United States
on November 5, 2000, concluded on May 20, 2001, and consisted of twenty-one episodes. The X-Files
is an American serial
science fiction
-horror-thriller television series
. Season eight took place after Fox Mulder
's alien abduction
in the seventh season
. The story arc
for the search of Mulder continues until the second half of the season, when a new arc about Dana Scully
's pregnancy
is formed. This arc would continue, and end, with the next season
. The season explores various themes such as life, death, and belief.
Season eight was received well by critics but got more mixed reviews by fans and viewers, since David Duchovny
elected not to return as a main character. Duchovny was initially replaced by Robert Patrick
who played new central character John Doggett
. Duchovny appeared for only twelve episodes in season eight, and reduced his time on The X-Files dramatically in season 9
. "This Is Not Happening
" marked the first appearance of Annabeth Gish
as Monica Reyes
, who would become a main character in season 9
as Doggett's new partner in the X-Files office
.
Series creator Chris Carter
believed that the series could continue for another ten years with new leads, and the opening credits were accordingly redesigned in both seasons eight and nine. During the airing of season eight, Carter and The X-Files production team created and aired a spinoff
entitled The Lone Gunmen
.
meets John Doggett
, the leader of an FBI
taskforce organized to conduct a search for Fox Mulder
. Although the search ultimately proves unsuccessful, Doggett is assigned to the X-File
s and works with Scully to look for explanations to several cases. When Scully learns that several women have reportedly been abducted and impregnated with alien babies, she begins to question her own pregnancy
and fears for her unborn child.
Doggett introduces Scully to Monica Reyes
, an FBI specialist in ritualistic crime, shortly before Mulder's deceased body suddenly appears in a forest at night. Following Mulder's funeral, Assistant Director
Walter Skinner
is threatened by Alex Krycek
that he must kill Scully's baby before it is born. Billy Miles, a multiple abductee who disappeared on the same night as Mulder, is returned deceased but his dead body is resurrected and restored to full health. Mulder also returns from death, with Scully supervising his recovery. Fully rejuvenated, Mulder investigates several X-Files, against orders to do so, but soon gets fired, leaving Doggett in charge of the cases. Mulder continues to provide input in an unofficial capacity. With Scully on maternity leave, Doggett is assigned a new partner, an inexperienced agent who is obsessed with the X-Files, but the relationship is only temporary.
Reluctantly accepting Krycek's assistance, Mulder, Doggett and Skinner learn that an alien virus recently created in secret by members of the United States government have replaced several humans, including Miles and several high-ranking FBI personnel, with so-called alien "Super Soldiers". Krycek claims that the soldiers are virtually unstoppable aliens who want to make sure that humans will not survive the colonisation of Earth
. They have learned that Scully's baby is a miraculously special child and are afraid that it may be greater than them. They have only recently learned of the baby's importance, which is why Krycek told Skinner to kill the unborn child earlier. When Miles arrives at the FBI Headquarters, Mulder, Doggett, Skinner and Krycek help Scully to escape with Special Agent Reyes who drives her to a remote farm. Shortly after Skinner kills Krycek, Scully delivers an apparently normal baby while the alien supersoldiers surround her. Without explanation, the aliens leave the area as Mulder arrives. While Doggett and Reyes report to the FBI Headquarters, Mulder takes Scully and their newborn son, William, back to her apartment.
environment and employs the common science fiction concepts of strongly differentiated characters fighting an unequivocally evil enemy (the Colonist
). The first episode of the season, "Within
" explored "loss", "loneliness" and "pain" after the disappearance of Fox Mulder
. "Per Manum" included the basic themes for the series "dark, foreboding terror, overriding sense of paranoia
" and "the fear of the unknown" among others. Death and resurrection emerged as a major sub-theme during the season starting with "The Gift", where John Doggett
was resurrected and later in "Deadalive
" when Mulder was awaken from his deathbed. This sub-theme would continue well into the ninth season
.
The main story theme
from the earlier to this one, would also point to that human
ity is a greater danger to itself. The main theme has focused most of its years on human resurrection and salvation
from ourself (the Syndicate
) and the threat outside (the Aliens). Some other themes are rebirth, life and belief as seen in "This Is Not Happening
" and "Deadalive".
" marked the first major change to the opening credits since the show's first season. The opening sequence now included new images, updated FBI badge photos for David Duchovny
and Gillian Anderson
and the addition of Robert Patrick
to the main cast. Duchovny only features in the opening credits when he appears in an episode. The opening contains images of Scully's pregnancy
and, according to Frank Spotnitz
, showed an "abstract" explanation of Fox Mulder
's absence in this season, with him falling into an eye.
"Patience" was the first episode of the series without Duchovny. "Salvage" contains a reference to actor Patrick's (Doggett) perhaps most well-known role prior to The X-Files, that of the liquid-metal T-1000
android in Terminator 2: Judgment Day
(1991) – Doggett: "What’re you saying? Ray Pearce has become some kind of metal man? ‘Cause that only happens in the movies, Agent Scully." The title of the episode "This Is Not Happening
" is said four times in the episode, three times at the start of the episode, and the fourth time by Scully.
The seventh season
was a time of closure for The X-Files
. Characters within the show were written out, including The Smoking Man and Mulder's mother, and several plot threads were resolved, including the fate of Fox Mulder's sister Samantha
. After settling his contract dispute, Duchovny quit full-time participation in the show after the seventh season. This contributed to uncertainties over the likelihood of an eighth season. Carter and most fans felt the show was at its natural endpoint with Duchovny's departure, but it was decided Mulder would be abducted at the end of the seventh season, leaving it open for the actor's return in 11 episodes the following year. "Requiem", the season finale
, was written by Carter as a possible series finale. The producers found it difficult to write Duchovny's character out of the script, and explain Mulder's absence in the episodes of the upcoming season.
Hoping to continue the series, Carter introduced a new central character to replace Mulder: John Doggett
. More than 100 actors auditioned for the role, with only about ten considered by the producers. Lou Diamond Phillips
and Hart Bochner
were among the auditionees, and Phillips, Bochner and Bruce Campbell
(who played Wayne Weinsider in a previous episode of The X-Files) were considered for the role, but the producers eventually choose Robert Patrick
. The season also introduced Monica Reyes
(portrayed by Annabeth Gish
), who would become a main character in the following, and ultimately final, season
.
" received the highest Nielsen household rating
of the season. It earned a 10.6 rating, with a 15 share, being viewed by 10.833 million households and gathered around 16.800 viewers in total. The season premiere "Within
" received the second strongest rating, getting a 9.5 in rating, 13 in share, 9.709 million in households and gathered 15.870 million viewers around the United States
. "Per Manum" gathered the most viewers in the season, gathering around 16.900 million. "Salvage" was the least viewed episode of the season and gathered the lowest rating and share. The season average was 8.2 in ratings, 12 in share, 8.332 million in households and 13.573 million viewers, a small rise from the previous season
. The first three episodes of season eight averaged about 12.99 million viewers, while the previous seasons first three episodes averaged about 12.97 million viewers.
"This Is Not Happening" was nominated for an American Society of Cinematographers award
for cinematography. Robert Patrick
won a Saturn Award
in the category "Best Television Actor" in 2001 for his role as John Doggett
, that year Gillian Anderson
was nominated in the category "Best Actress on Television" and the series itself was nominated in the category "Best Network Television Series" in the Saturn Awards, but failed to win. Anderson was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild
award the very same year in the category "Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series". The X-Files won an Emmy Award
in the category "Outstanding Makeup - Series" for "Deadalive
" and Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series Bill Roe.
Collin Polonowonski from DVD Times said that the season included "more hits than misses overall" and was throughout negative about the mythology episodes claiming them to be the "weakest" episodes in the season. Jesse Hassenger from PopMatters
gave a negative review to the season, claiming that Patrick was mis-cast and calling David Duchovny's appearances as Fox Mulder shallow. Entertainment Weekly
reviewer Ken Tucker said that Patrick's portrayal of Doggett was "hardboiled alertness," giving mostly positive reviews about his inclusion. Anita Gates from The New York Times
said that most fans had "accepted" the introduction of the character and further stated that he actually looked "Like a Secret Service Agent." Executive producer
Carter commented on the character, saying "Everybody likes Robert Patrick and the character," but further stating that the fans "miss" Duchovny character "Mulder."
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! style="background-color:#4B0082; color:#FFFFFF;"|Title
! style="background-color:#4B0082; color:#FFFFFF;"|Directed by
! style="background-color:#4B0082; color:#FFFFFF;"|Written by
! style="background-color:#4B0082; color:#FFFFFF;"|Original air date
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code
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(millions)
|-
|}
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on November 5, 2000, concluded on May 20, 2001, and consisted of twenty-one episodes. The X-Files
The X-Files
The X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
is an American serial
Serial (radio and television)
Serials are series of television programs and radio programs that rely on a continuing plot that unfolds in a sequential episode by episode fashion. Serials typically follow main story arcs that span entire television seasons or even the full run of the series, which distinguishes them from...
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
-horror-thriller television series
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
. Season eight took place after Fox Mulder
Fox Mulder
FBI Special Agent Fox William Mulder is a fictional character and protagonist in the American Fox television shows The X-Files and The Lone Gunmen, two science fiction shows about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of Alien existence. Mulder's peers consider his theories on...
's alien abduction
Colonist (The X-Files)
The Colonists are an extraterrestrial species in the science fiction television show, The X-Files, as well as the first X-Files feature film. The mystery revolving around their identity and purpose is revealed across the course of the series...
in the seventh season
The X-Files (season 7)
The seventh season of The X-Files commenced airing in the United States on November 7, 1999, concluded on May 21, 2000, and consists of twenty-two episodes. The X-Files is an American serial science fiction-horror-thriller television series. Season seven took place after the destruction of the...
. The story arc
Story arc
A story arc is an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strips, boardgames, video games, and in some cases, films. On a television program, for example, the story would unfold over many episodes. In television, the use of the story...
for the search of Mulder continues until the second half of the season, when a new arc about Dana Scully
Dana Scully
FBI Special Agent Dana Katherine Scully, M.D. is a fictional character and protagonist on the Fox television series The X-Files , played by Gillian Anderson. She also appeared in two theatrical films based on the series...
's pregnancy
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
is formed. This arc would continue, and end, with the next season
The X-Files (season 9)
The ninth season of The X-Files commenced airing in the United States on November 11, 2001, concluded on May 19, 2002, and consists of twenty episodes. The X-Files is an American serial science fiction-horror-thriller television series. Season nine took place after Fox Mulder's leave after the...
. The season explores various themes such as life, death, and belief.
Season eight was received well by critics but got more mixed reviews by fans and viewers, since David Duchovny
David Duchovny
David William Duchovny is an American actor, writer and director. He has won Golden Globe awards for his work as FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder on The X-Files and as Hank Moody on Californication.-Early life:...
elected not to return as a main character. Duchovny was initially replaced by Robert Patrick
Robert Patrick
Robert Hammond Patrick, Jr. is an American actor, known for his leading and supporting roles in a number of films and television shows....
who played new central character John Doggett
John Doggett
FBI Special agent John Jay Doggett is a fictional character in the American Fox television series The X-Files, a science fiction show about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of alien existence...
. Duchovny appeared for only twelve episodes in season eight, and reduced his time on The X-Files dramatically in season 9
The X-Files (season 9)
The ninth season of The X-Files commenced airing in the United States on November 11, 2001, concluded on May 19, 2002, and consists of twenty episodes. The X-Files is an American serial science fiction-horror-thriller television series. Season nine took place after Fox Mulder's leave after the...
. "This Is Not Happening
This Is Not Happening
"This Is Not Happening" is the 175th episode and the fourteenth episode of the eighth season of the science fiction television series The X-Files. The episode first aired in the United States and Canada on February 25, 2001 on the Fox Network, and subsequently aired in the United Kingdom...
" marked the first appearance of Annabeth Gish
Annabeth Gish
Annabeth Gish is an American actress known for starring roles in Shag, Mystic Pizza and Double Jeopardy. She is best known for her roles as Special Agent Monica Reyes on The X-Files, Elizabeth Bartlet Westin on The West Wing and as Eileen Caffee on the Showtime drama Brotherhood.-Personal...
as Monica Reyes
Monica Reyes
Special Agent Monica Reyes is a fictional character in the American FOX television series The X-Files, a science fiction show about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of Alien existence...
, who would become a main character in season 9
The X-Files (season 9)
The ninth season of The X-Files commenced airing in the United States on November 11, 2001, concluded on May 19, 2002, and consists of twenty episodes. The X-Files is an American serial science fiction-horror-thriller television series. Season nine took place after Fox Mulder's leave after the...
as Doggett's new partner in the X-Files office
X-file
On the television series The X-Files, an X-File is a fictional case that has been deemed unsolvable by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The files constitute an unassigned project outside the Bureau mainstream that is more or less concerned with unexplained phenomena. -First X-Files:The very...
.
Series creator Chris Carter
Chris Carter (screenwriter)
Christopher Carl Carter is an American screenwriter, film director and producer. He is the creator of The X-Files and Millennium.- Ten Thirteen Productions :...
believed that the series could continue for another ten years with new leads, and the opening credits were accordingly redesigned in both seasons eight and nine. During the airing of season eight, Carter and The X-Files production team created and aired a spinoff
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
entitled The Lone Gunmen
The Lone Gunmen (TV series)
The Lone Gunmen is a television show created by Chris Carter and broadcast on FOX. It was a spin-off of Carter's popular long-running television series The X-Files and a part of The X-Files franchise, starring several of the show's characters. The Lone Gunmen was first broadcast in March 2001 and,...
.
Plot overview
Dana ScullyDana Scully
FBI Special Agent Dana Katherine Scully, M.D. is a fictional character and protagonist on the Fox television series The X-Files , played by Gillian Anderson. She also appeared in two theatrical films based on the series...
meets John Doggett
John Doggett
FBI Special agent John Jay Doggett is a fictional character in the American Fox television series The X-Files, a science fiction show about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of alien existence...
, the leader of an FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
taskforce organized to conduct a search for Fox Mulder
Fox Mulder
FBI Special Agent Fox William Mulder is a fictional character and protagonist in the American Fox television shows The X-Files and The Lone Gunmen, two science fiction shows about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of Alien existence. Mulder's peers consider his theories on...
. Although the search ultimately proves unsuccessful, Doggett is assigned to the X-File
X-file
On the television series The X-Files, an X-File is a fictional case that has been deemed unsolvable by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The files constitute an unassigned project outside the Bureau mainstream that is more or less concerned with unexplained phenomena. -First X-Files:The very...
s and works with Scully to look for explanations to several cases. When Scully learns that several women have reportedly been abducted and impregnated with alien babies, she begins to question her own pregnancy
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
and fears for her unborn child.
Doggett introduces Scully to Monica Reyes
Monica Reyes
Special Agent Monica Reyes is a fictional character in the American FOX television series The X-Files, a science fiction show about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of Alien existence...
, an FBI specialist in ritualistic crime, shortly before Mulder's deceased body suddenly appears in a forest at night. Following Mulder's funeral, Assistant Director
Assistant director
The role of an Assistant director include tracking daily progress against the filming production schedule, arranging logistics, preparing daily call sheets, checking cast and crew, maintaining order on the set. They also have to take care of health and safety of the crew...
Walter Skinner
Walter Skinner
FBI Assistant Director Walter Sergei Skinner is a fictional character in the American FOX television shows The X-Files and The Lone Gunmen, two science fiction shows about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of Alien existence...
is threatened by Alex Krycek
Alex Krycek
Alex Krycek is a fictional character in the long-running American science fiction show, The X-Files portrayed by Nicholas Lea. Initially introduced in the second season as a partner for main character Fox Mulder in the absence of his previous partner, Dana Scully, Krycek grew to become one of the...
that he must kill Scully's baby before it is born. Billy Miles, a multiple abductee who disappeared on the same night as Mulder, is returned deceased but his dead body is resurrected and restored to full health. Mulder also returns from death, with Scully supervising his recovery. Fully rejuvenated, Mulder investigates several X-Files, against orders to do so, but soon gets fired, leaving Doggett in charge of the cases. Mulder continues to provide input in an unofficial capacity. With Scully on maternity leave, Doggett is assigned a new partner, an inexperienced agent who is obsessed with the X-Files, but the relationship is only temporary.
Reluctantly accepting Krycek's assistance, Mulder, Doggett and Skinner learn that an alien virus recently created in secret by members of the United States government have replaced several humans, including Miles and several high-ranking FBI personnel, with so-called alien "Super Soldiers". Krycek claims that the soldiers are virtually unstoppable aliens who want to make sure that humans will not survive the colonisation of Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
. They have learned that Scully's baby is a miraculously special child and are afraid that it may be greater than them. They have only recently learned of the baby's importance, which is why Krycek told Skinner to kill the unborn child earlier. When Miles arrives at the FBI Headquarters, Mulder, Doggett, Skinner and Krycek help Scully to escape with Special Agent Reyes who drives her to a remote farm. Shortly after Skinner kills Krycek, Scully delivers an apparently normal baby while the alien supersoldiers surround her. Without explanation, the aliens leave the area as Mulder arrives. While Doggett and Reyes report to the FBI Headquarters, Mulder takes Scully and their newborn son, William, back to her apartment.
Themes
The X-Files season 8 took place in a science fictionScience fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
environment and employs the common science fiction concepts of strongly differentiated characters fighting an unequivocally evil enemy (the Colonist
Colonist (The X-Files)
The Colonists are an extraterrestrial species in the science fiction television show, The X-Files, as well as the first X-Files feature film. The mystery revolving around their identity and purpose is revealed across the course of the series...
). The first episode of the season, "Within
Within (The X-Files)
"Within" is the 162nd episode and the season 8 premiere of the science fiction television series The X-Files. The episode first aired in the United States on November 5, 2000 on the Fox Network, and subsequently aired in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was written by executive producer Chris...
" explored "loss", "loneliness" and "pain" after the disappearance of Fox Mulder
Fox Mulder
FBI Special Agent Fox William Mulder is a fictional character and protagonist in the American Fox television shows The X-Files and The Lone Gunmen, two science fiction shows about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of Alien existence. Mulder's peers consider his theories on...
. "Per Manum" included the basic themes for the series "dark, foreboding terror, overriding sense of paranoia
Paranoia
Paranoia [] is a thought process believed to be heavily influenced by anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory beliefs, or beliefs of conspiracy concerning a perceived threat towards oneself...
" and "the fear of the unknown" among others. Death and resurrection emerged as a major sub-theme during the season starting with "The Gift", where John Doggett
John Doggett
FBI Special agent John Jay Doggett is a fictional character in the American Fox television series The X-Files, a science fiction show about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of alien existence...
was resurrected and later in "Deadalive
Deadalive
"Deadalive" or "DeadAlive" ' is the 176th episode of the science fiction television series The X-Files, and the fifteenth episode of the eighth season. The episode first aired in the United States and Canada on April 1, 2001, on Fox, and subsequently aired in the United Kingdom...
" when Mulder was awaken from his deathbed. This sub-theme would continue well into the ninth season
The X-Files (season 9)
The ninth season of The X-Files commenced airing in the United States on November 11, 2001, concluded on May 19, 2002, and consists of twenty episodes. The X-Files is an American serial science fiction-horror-thriller television series. Season nine took place after Fox Mulder's leave after the...
.
The main story theme
Story arc
A story arc is an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strips, boardgames, video games, and in some cases, films. On a television program, for example, the story would unfold over many episodes. In television, the use of the story...
from the earlier to this one, would also point to that human
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
ity is a greater danger to itself. The main theme has focused most of its years on human resurrection and salvation
Salvation
Within religion salvation is the phenomenon of being saved from the undesirable condition of bondage or suffering experienced by the psyche or soul that has arisen as a result of unskillful or immoral actions generically referred to as sins. Salvation may also be called "deliverance" or...
from ourself (the Syndicate
Syndicate (The X-Files)
The Syndicate is a fictional "shadow government" group featured in The X-Files television show and feature film created by Chris Carter. They were also known as The Elders, The Consortium, and The Group...
) and the threat outside (the Aliens). Some other themes are rebirth, life and belief as seen in "This Is Not Happening
This Is Not Happening
"This Is Not Happening" is the 175th episode and the fourteenth episode of the eighth season of the science fiction television series The X-Files. The episode first aired in the United States and Canada on February 25, 2001 on the Fox Network, and subsequently aired in the United Kingdom...
" and "Deadalive".
Development
"WithinWithin (The X-Files)
"Within" is the 162nd episode and the season 8 premiere of the science fiction television series The X-Files. The episode first aired in the United States on November 5, 2000 on the Fox Network, and subsequently aired in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was written by executive producer Chris...
" marked the first major change to the opening credits since the show's first season. The opening sequence now included new images, updated FBI badge photos for David Duchovny
David Duchovny
David William Duchovny is an American actor, writer and director. He has won Golden Globe awards for his work as FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder on The X-Files and as Hank Moody on Californication.-Early life:...
and Gillian Anderson
Gillian Anderson
Gillian Leigh Anderson is an American actress.After beginning her career in theatre, Anderson achieved international recognition for her role as Special Agent Dana Scully on the American television series The X-Files. During the show's nine seasons, Anderson won Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen...
and the addition of Robert Patrick
Robert Patrick
Robert Hammond Patrick, Jr. is an American actor, known for his leading and supporting roles in a number of films and television shows....
to the main cast. Duchovny only features in the opening credits when he appears in an episode. The opening contains images of Scully's pregnancy
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
and, according to Frank Spotnitz
Frank Spotnitz
Frank Spotnitz is an award-winning American television writer and producer, best known for his work on The X-Files television series.-Biography:...
, showed an "abstract" explanation of Fox Mulder
Fox Mulder
FBI Special Agent Fox William Mulder is a fictional character and protagonist in the American Fox television shows The X-Files and The Lone Gunmen, two science fiction shows about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of Alien existence. Mulder's peers consider his theories on...
's absence in this season, with him falling into an eye.
"Patience" was the first episode of the series without Duchovny. "Salvage" contains a reference to actor Patrick's (Doggett) perhaps most well-known role prior to The X-Files, that of the liquid-metal T-1000
T-1000
The T-1000 is a fictional nanomorph mimetic poly-alloy assassin and the main antagonist in Terminator 2: Judgment Day controlled by the series main antagonist Skynet. The T-1000 is portrayed primarily by Robert Patrick; however, being a shape-shifter, the T-1000 is played by other actors in some...
android in Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Terminator 2: Judgment Day is a 1991 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron and written by Cameron and William Wisher Jr.. It stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Robert Patrick, and Edward Furlong...
(1991) – Doggett: "What’re you saying? Ray Pearce has become some kind of metal man? ‘Cause that only happens in the movies, Agent Scully." The title of the episode "This Is Not Happening
This Is Not Happening
"This Is Not Happening" is the 175th episode and the fourteenth episode of the eighth season of the science fiction television series The X-Files. The episode first aired in the United States and Canada on February 25, 2001 on the Fox Network, and subsequently aired in the United Kingdom...
" is said four times in the episode, three times at the start of the episode, and the fourth time by Scully.
Casting
The X-Files (season 7)
The seventh season of The X-Files commenced airing in the United States on November 7, 1999, concluded on May 21, 2000, and consists of twenty-two episodes. The X-Files is an American serial science fiction-horror-thriller television series. Season seven took place after the destruction of the...
was a time of closure for The X-Files
The X-Files
The X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
. Characters within the show were written out, including The Smoking Man and Mulder's mother, and several plot threads were resolved, including the fate of Fox Mulder's sister Samantha
Samantha Mulder
Samantha Ann Mulder is a fictional character in the television series The X-Files. She is the sister of FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder and the daughter of Teena and Bill Mulder. As a child, Samantha was abducted, ostensibly by aliens, and was never recovered...
. After settling his contract dispute, Duchovny quit full-time participation in the show after the seventh season. This contributed to uncertainties over the likelihood of an eighth season. Carter and most fans felt the show was at its natural endpoint with Duchovny's departure, but it was decided Mulder would be abducted at the end of the seventh season, leaving it open for the actor's return in 11 episodes the following year. "Requiem", the season finale
Season finale
A season finale is the final episode of a season of a television program...
, was written by Carter as a possible series finale. The producers found it difficult to write Duchovny's character out of the script, and explain Mulder's absence in the episodes of the upcoming season.
Hoping to continue the series, Carter introduced a new central character to replace Mulder: John Doggett
John Doggett
FBI Special agent John Jay Doggett is a fictional character in the American Fox television series The X-Files, a science fiction show about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of alien existence...
. More than 100 actors auditioned for the role, with only about ten considered by the producers. Lou Diamond Phillips
Lou Diamond Phillips
Lou Diamond Phillips is an American film, television, and stage actor and director. His breakthrough came when he starred in the film La Bamba. He earned a supporting actor Golden Globe Award nomination for his role in Stand and Deliver and a Tony Award nomination for his role in The King and I...
and Hart Bochner
Hart Bochner
Hart Matthew Bochner is a Canadian film actor, screenwriter, director, and producer.-Life and career:Bochner was born in Toronto, Ontario, the son of Ruth , a concert pianist, and actor Lloyd Bochner...
were among the auditionees, and Phillips, Bochner and Bruce Campbell
Bruce Campbell
Bruce Lorne Campbell is an American film and television actor. As a cult movie actor, Campbell starred as Ashley J. "Ash" Williams in Sam Raimi's Evil Dead series of films and he has starred in many low-budget cult films such as Crimewave, Maniac Cop, Bubba Ho-tep, Escape From L.A. and Sundown:...
(who played Wayne Weinsider in a previous episode of The X-Files) were considered for the role, but the producers eventually choose Robert Patrick
Robert Patrick
Robert Hammond Patrick, Jr. is an American actor, known for his leading and supporting roles in a number of films and television shows....
. The season also introduced Monica Reyes
Monica Reyes
Special Agent Monica Reyes is a fictional character in the American FOX television series The X-Files, a science fiction show about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of Alien existence...
(portrayed by Annabeth Gish
Annabeth Gish
Annabeth Gish is an American actress known for starring roles in Shag, Mystic Pizza and Double Jeopardy. She is best known for her roles as Special Agent Monica Reyes on The X-Files, Elizabeth Bartlet Westin on The West Wing and as Eileen Caffee on the Showtime drama Brotherhood.-Personal...
), who would become a main character in the following, and ultimately final, season
The X-Files (season 9)
The ninth season of The X-Files commenced airing in the United States on November 11, 2001, concluded on May 19, 2002, and consists of twenty episodes. The X-Files is an American serial science fiction-horror-thriller television series. Season nine took place after Fox Mulder's leave after the...
.
Reception
"This Is Not HappeningThis Is Not Happening
"This Is Not Happening" is the 175th episode and the fourteenth episode of the eighth season of the science fiction television series The X-Files. The episode first aired in the United States and Canada on February 25, 2001 on the Fox Network, and subsequently aired in the United Kingdom...
" received the highest Nielsen household rating
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
of the season. It earned a 10.6 rating, with a 15 share, being viewed by 10.833 million households and gathered around 16.800 viewers in total. The season premiere "Within
Within (The X-Files)
"Within" is the 162nd episode and the season 8 premiere of the science fiction television series The X-Files. The episode first aired in the United States on November 5, 2000 on the Fox Network, and subsequently aired in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was written by executive producer Chris...
" received the second strongest rating, getting a 9.5 in rating, 13 in share, 9.709 million in households and gathered 15.870 million viewers around the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. "Per Manum" gathered the most viewers in the season, gathering around 16.900 million. "Salvage" was the least viewed episode of the season and gathered the lowest rating and share. The season average was 8.2 in ratings, 12 in share, 8.332 million in households and 13.573 million viewers, a small rise from the previous season
The X-Files (season 9)
The ninth season of The X-Files commenced airing in the United States on November 11, 2001, concluded on May 19, 2002, and consists of twenty episodes. The X-Files is an American serial science fiction-horror-thriller television series. Season nine took place after Fox Mulder's leave after the...
. The first three episodes of season eight averaged about 12.99 million viewers, while the previous seasons first three episodes averaged about 12.97 million viewers.
"This Is Not Happening" was nominated for an American Society of Cinematographers award
American Society of Cinematographers
The American Society of Cinematographers is an educational, cultural, and professional organization. It is not a labor union, and it is not a guild. Membership is by invitation and is extended only to directors of photography and special effects experts with distinguished credits in the film...
for cinematography. Robert Patrick
Robert Patrick
Robert Hammond Patrick, Jr. is an American actor, known for his leading and supporting roles in a number of films and television shows....
won a Saturn Award
Saturn Award
The Saturn Award is an award presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films to honor the top works in science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, television, and home video. The Saturn Awards were devised by Dr. Donald A. Reed in 1972, who felt that films within...
in the category "Best Television Actor" in 2001 for his role as John Doggett
John Doggett
FBI Special agent John Jay Doggett is a fictional character in the American Fox television series The X-Files, a science fiction show about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of alien existence...
, that year Gillian Anderson
Gillian Anderson
Gillian Leigh Anderson is an American actress.After beginning her career in theatre, Anderson achieved international recognition for her role as Special Agent Dana Scully on the American television series The X-Files. During the show's nine seasons, Anderson won Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen...
was nominated in the category "Best Actress on Television" and the series itself was nominated in the category "Best Network Television Series" in the Saturn Awards, but failed to win. Anderson was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
award the very same year in the category "Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series". The X-Files won an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
in the category "Outstanding Makeup - Series" for "Deadalive
Deadalive
"Deadalive" or "DeadAlive" ' is the 176th episode of the science fiction television series The X-Files, and the fifteenth episode of the eighth season. The episode first aired in the United States and Canada on April 1, 2001, on Fox, and subsequently aired in the United Kingdom...
" and Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series Bill Roe.
Collin Polonowonski from DVD Times said that the season included "more hits than misses overall" and was throughout negative about the mythology episodes claiming them to be the "weakest" episodes in the season. Jesse Hassenger from PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
gave a negative review to the season, claiming that Patrick was mis-cast and calling David Duchovny's appearances as Fox Mulder shallow. Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
reviewer Ken Tucker said that Patrick's portrayal of Doggett was "hardboiled alertness," giving mostly positive reviews about his inclusion. Anita Gates from The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
said that most fans had "accepted" the introduction of the character and further stated that he actually looked "Like a Secret Service Agent." Executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
Carter commented on the character, saying "Everybody likes Robert Patrick and the character," but further stating that the fans "miss" Duchovny character "Mulder."
Main cast
- Gillian AndersonGillian AndersonGillian Leigh Anderson is an American actress.After beginning her career in theatre, Anderson achieved international recognition for her role as Special Agent Dana Scully on the American television series The X-Files. During the show's nine seasons, Anderson won Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen...
as Special Agent Dana ScullyDana ScullyFBI Special Agent Dana Katherine Scully, M.D. is a fictional character and protagonist on the Fox television series The X-Files , played by Gillian Anderson. She also appeared in two theatrical films based on the series... - Robert PatrickRobert PatrickRobert Hammond Patrick, Jr. is an American actor, known for his leading and supporting roles in a number of films and television shows....
as Special Agent John DoggettJohn DoggettFBI Special agent John Jay Doggett is a fictional character in the American Fox television series The X-Files, a science fiction show about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of alien existence...
Recurring cast
- David DuchovnyDavid DuchovnyDavid William Duchovny is an American actor, writer and director. He has won Golden Globe awards for his work as FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder on The X-Files and as Hank Moody on Californication.-Early life:...
as Fox MulderFox MulderFBI Special Agent Fox William Mulder is a fictional character and protagonist in the American Fox television shows The X-Files and The Lone Gunmen, two science fiction shows about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of Alien existence. Mulder's peers consider his theories on...
(13 episodes) - Mitch PileggiMitch PileggiMitchell Craig "Mitch" Pileggi is an American actor. Pileggi is known for playing FBI assistant director Walter Skinner on the long-running popular series The X-Files. He also had a recurring role on Stargate Atlantis as Col. Steven Caldwell...
as Walter SkinnerWalter SkinnerFBI Assistant Director Walter Sergei Skinner is a fictional character in the American FOX television shows The X-Files and The Lone Gunmen, two science fiction shows about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of Alien existence...
(12 episodes) - James Pickens, Jr.James Pickens, Jr.James Pickens, Jr. is an American actor. He is best known for his starring role as Dr. Richard Webber on the ABC drama television series Grey's Anatomy, and for his supporting role as Deputy Director Alvin Kersh on later seasons of the Fox Network science fiction series The X-Files.- Early life...
as Alvin KershAlvin KershAlvin D. Kersh is a fictional character in the American Fox television series The X-Files, a science fiction series about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of extraterrestrial existence...
(7 episodes) - Tom BraidwoodTom BraidwoodFor the Scottish teacher, see Thomas Braidwood. For the Canadian judge, see Braidwood Inquiry.Tom Braidwood is a Canadian actor and director known for the role of Melvin Frohike, one of the conspiracy theorists known as the Lone Gunmen on the American television series The X-Files...
as Melvin FrohikeMelvin FrohikeMelvin Frohike is a fictional character in the television shows The X-Files and The Lone Gunmen, played by Tom Braidwood.Frohike was born circa 1953 in Pontiac, Michigan. Prior to joining The Lone Gunmen, he was an acclaimed tango dancer in Miami...
(6 episodes) - Bruce HarwoodBruce HarwoodBruce Harwood is a Canadian actor best known for his role of John Fitzgerald Byers, one of the Lone Gunmen on the television series The X-Files. Harwood also trained for several years to be a professional figure skater before he started his acting career. His ice skating skills are on display in a...
as John Fitzgerald ByersJohn Fitzgerald ByersJohn Fitzgerald Byers is a fictional character in the television shows The X-Files and The Lone Gunmen, played by Bruce Harwood.John Fitzgerald Byers was born on November 22, 1963, the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated, in Sterling, Virginia, and was named after the fallen president – his...
(6 episodes) - Dean HaglundDean HaglundDean Haglund is a Canadian actor known for the role of Richard "Ringo" Langly, one of the Lone Gunmen on The X-Files. Haglund is also a stand-up comedian, specializing in improvisational comedy In addition to The X-Files, he played the voice of Sid in Tom Sawyer, Haglund also portrayed Langly in...
as Richard LanglyRichard LanglyRichard “Ringo” Langly is a fictional character in the television shows The X-Files and The Lone Gunmen. He was played by Dean Haglund. Langly was born circa 1968/1969 and grew up on a farm in Saltville, Nebraska...
(6 episodes) - Annabeth GishAnnabeth GishAnnabeth Gish is an American actress known for starring roles in Shag, Mystic Pizza and Double Jeopardy. She is best known for her roles as Special Agent Monica Reyes on The X-Files, Elizabeth Bartlet Westin on The West Wing and as Eileen Caffee on the Showtime drama Brotherhood.-Personal...
as Monica ReyesMonica ReyesSpecial Agent Monica Reyes is a fictional character in the American FOX television series The X-Files, a science fiction show about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of Alien existence...
(4 episodes) - Nicholas LeaNicholas LeaNicholas Lea is a Canadian actor best known for his portrayal of Alex Krycek on The X-Files and on Kyle XY playing Tom Foss.-Biography:...
as Alex KrycekAlex KrycekAlex Krycek is a fictional character in the long-running American science fiction show, The X-Files portrayed by Nicholas Lea. Initially introduced in the second season as a partner for main character Fox Mulder in the absence of his previous partner, Dana Scully, Krycek grew to become one of the...
(3 episodes) - Adam BaldwinAdam BaldwinAdam Baldwin is an American actor, known for his roles as Animal Mother in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket, Ricky Linderman in My Bodyguard, Knowle Rohrer in The X-Files, and Marcus Hamilton in Joss Whedon's Angel...
as Knowle Rohrer (3 episodes)
Episodes
Episodes marked with an asterisk (*) are part of the series' mytharc. Episodes with a double asterisk (**) are part of the series' Alien Mythology.|-
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