X-FILES 8.20 FAQ
What’s it called?
“Essence.”
Is this the season finale?
Sort of. Fox is billing it as part one of a two-part finale.
Is Herc giving four stars to every drama this week?
No, there’s lots of inferior stuff he’s seen but not reviewed (yet).
Will the “X-Files” be back for a ninth season?
Fox doesn’t announce its fall schedule until Thursday, but it seems almost certain that the show will go ahead next season without David Duchovny (and possibly without Chris Carter).
Who’s responsible for tonight’s episode?
Teleplay is credited to series creator Carter.
What does TV Guide say?
“Frances Fisher plays a nurse with dubious motives in Part 1 of a gripping two-part season finale in which alien abductee Billy Miles (Zachary Ansley) resurfaces. Last seen in perfect health following his resurrection from the dead, Billy shows up at a genetics lab that Scully has suspected is involved with alien babies. When an arson fire destroys the facility, Mulder enlists a reluctant Doggett to visit both the site and Scully's former obstetrician (Steven Anderson), a partner in the lab. Later, they encounter Billy, who's clearly not the man he once was.”
What isn’t TV Guide telling us?
This is one of the best episodes of the “X-Files” ever. You may not believe Chris Carter had it in him.
The big news?
Krycek turns up!! And he makes by far the best entrance of the episode!! And, boy, you won’t believe the role he has to play in all this!!
What’s so great about tonight?
Billy Miles returns, but this time as an alien killing machine who can cannot be stopped by a hail of bullets or the impact of a speeding automobile. In rapid succession, Miles kills the founder of a lab which makes alien babies, the obstetrician who treated Scully during her first two trimesters, and the new nurse’s co-conspirator. Before the episode is over, the enormously terminator-like Miles will be coming for Scully and her unborn child.
Who is Billy Miles again?
He was abducted, just like Mulder. Skinner’s discovery that Billy was still alive a few episodes ago led Skinner to have Mulder exhumed – three months after Mulder’s burial. Miles’ body, however, could not avoid being taken over by the alien intelligence that kept him alive.
Who’s the nurse?
Hired by Dana’s mom to look after the very pregnant special agent, the nurse – within minutes of meeting Dana – begins secretly filling Dana’s prescription bottles with mysterious pills.
Was Scully right about the genetics lab’s involvement in alien babies?
Apparently, since Billy Miles catches one of the lab’s founding doctors cradling a live alien baby. Miles tells the doctor he’s there to confirm that the lab’s work has been “fruitful.” “I can see that it has by the abomination you’re holding in your hands,” says Miles. “Your work here is done.”
How are Mulder and Doggett getting on these days?
Markedly better since Mulder saved Doggett’s life last week. After Billy burns down the genetics lab, the civilian Mulder arrives on Doggett’s doorstep on Saturday morning looking for help. Before long they discover the other founder of the smoldering lab was Dana’s old obstetrician.
Does Dana’s old obstetrician keep a bunch of deformed fetuses in jars around the office?
He does. And wait till you see what Miles does to Dana’s old obstetrician.
Reyes turns up?
Yes, in the final minutes, and I, for one, found her presence in the episode more than a little suspicious. (We’ll be seeing her next week too.)
Is Krycek well-utilized this time?
Oh yeah. He provides all sorts of great answers about Scully’s fetus tonight. He calls Unborn Scully things like “a miracle,” “something more human than human,” and “a perfect human child with no human frailties.” There seem to be two sets of opposing aliens at work here (more shades of “The Hidden”) -- and at least one set of aliens fears what will happen if Scully comes to term in a few days.
Herc’s rating for “The X-Files” 8.20?
****
The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:
**** better than most motion pictures
*** actually worth your valuable time
** as horrible as most stuff on TV
* makes you quietly pray for bulletins
You’re not the source of me.
