If you would like to read my review of the last episode, click here.
Synopsis: Mulder and Scully rush to find an on-the-run William while the Cigarette Smoking Man pushes forward with his ultimate plan. (IMDB)
Writer: Chris Carter
Director: Chris Carter
Rating: TV-14
Running Time: 45mins
Airs: Wednesdays at 8pm on CTV (Canada)/Fox (United States)
So now the season is over. While is is unclear if the series will end here, this episode does a decent job at wrapping up this season’s storylines, it did a poor job as a potential series ending episode. Despite a few entertaining bits, it was disappointing for the most part as it focused on Mulder and Scully’s quest to find the teen who we know to be William instead of the pandemic from last season’s finale that was backpedaled in the season premiere or the mythology.
This episode started off with a narration by William about his life, hinting at what was to come with the aforementioned pandemic that never came and how he did not want to be a part of it. It also foreshadowed what would happen later in the episode with a confrontation between Mulder and CSM.
Most of the episode focused on Mulder trying to find William. Meanwhile, Kersh was upset with Mulder about sharing one of his conspiracy theories with Tad O’Malley and wanted Skinner to find Mulder and Scully so he can put an end to the X Files. CSM also wanted Skinner to find William. Scully then asked him for help and in doing so, revealed that she talked to Tad O’Malley about the upcoming pandemic and not Mulder. Either way, this didn’t go anywhere.
Going back earlier, Reyes gave Mulder and Scully a tip about William being on a plane landing in Maryland. Mulder went to investigate and William wasn’t there but rather Mr. Y and his cronies. Instead of explaining what made William so special, Mulder shot him in the head.
After William got away from a group of soldiers that were chasing him, Mulder’s quest to find William took him to Tennessee where he tracked him to a big rig that he hitched a ride on. Unbeknownst to him, someone planted a tracker on his car. By the time Mulder found the truck, William had already got away and moved on to another car to go to a friend’s house. Mulder found the friend’s house and they told him where he was staying.
Meanwhile, Price and her cronies found what was left of the second car he hitched a ride in. Mulder tracked William down and offered to help and protect him but William didn’t think he could. Price and her cronies eventually caught up, however, William just made all them explode before running away himself. Mulder told Scully what happened so she wanted to join him with Skinner driving.
On the way to Mulder, Skinner told Scully about CSM being William’s father. They tracked him to a harbor and so did CSM and Reyes. While Scully went straight for Mulder and William, Skinner engaged CSM and Reyes who were waiting in their car. Skinner opened fire but and then was chased by the car before eventually getting pinned between two cars. Whether or not he survived is unclear. Scully found Mulder who was really William asking her to let him go.
More chasing ensued until CSM had Mulder at gunpoint and then shot him in the head and fell in the water. No, Mulder didn’t die because it was William posing as Mulder. The real Mulder then came and shot CSM several times before he fell in the water. Mulder didn’t get much of a chance to mourn William after Scully told him the truth about William. Scully reassured him that he was a father. Things got emotional between them as they embraced.
The last shot of the episode was of William emerging from the water very much alive.
Overall, this was a disappointing season and an even more disappointing series finale (if they were to decide not to continue). The quest to find William was the best part of this new season but it always felt like we were always at arm’s length with him, especially here. What could have been more of a reunion was spent chasing for 3/4 of the episode. The mythology of the season didn’t go anywhere and was just as disposable as Mr. Y and Price. The pandemic was there in the background, however, the season didn’t do anything with it, having it relegated as just a dream. In terms of a series finale, there was little closure here. Sure, it ended with Mulder and Scully together, as it should, though there were plenty of unanswered questions. These character deserved more than they got here.
Score: 6/10
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The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.