24th episode season finale science fiction television series files written executive producer chris_carter directed episode continues mythology story arc started pilot episode aired united_states fox network million households turning initial broadcast episode viewed episode season episode received nomination series category broadcast received positive responses critics crew members centers fbi special agents fox_mulder david_duchovny dana_scully gillian_anderson work cases linked paranormal called files episode mulder scully discover evidence secret government experimentation alien dna evidence seen quickly targeted elimination introduced new plot elements continue later seasons featured death recurring character carter described inspiration episode result year long learning experience plot maryland high speed police chase waterfront driver car officers fights surprising ease shot runs leaps ship water police fail locate discover blood green soon approaches fox_mulder case saying major importance revealing truth investigating case mulder dana_scully visit scientist working maryland car driven night meets second time mulder insists continue despite mulder uncertainty looking night confronted kills makes death look like suicide investigating crime scene mulder finds labeled purity control scully takes helps analyze contents mulder heads home finds keys storage facility calls home office mulder answers pretending tells believes water days hurt conversation collapses blood loss tell mulder driven away ambulance poisonous gas body perform needle recovers flees ambulance mulder arrives storage facility finds men suspended tanks sixth tank mulder pursued leaves facility escapes carpenter reveals purity control contains sample bacteria doesn exist nature described extraterrestrial storage facility day scully mulder discovers room completely arrives revealing experimenting humans extraterrestrial ill volunteers experimented begun recovering ordered destroyed helped escape scully learns carpenter entire family killed automobile accident mulder returns home finds killed mulder passes exposure gas escaping wound captured meets scully outside mulder apartment says able deal mulder captors gives scully credentials necessary enter fort scully finds alien contained liquid nitrogen exchange freeway presents shoots seconds later mulder thrown van drives scully tends words dying trust weeks later mulder calls scully inform x-files shut scene conclusion pilot smoking man stores alien massive evidence room pentagon production development chris_carter wrote episode described result year long learning experience carter tried firmly establish mythology series explored different avenues government conspiracy turning flying having writer called defining moment scully agent hear fellow scientist dealing truly extraterrestrial material scene poisonous emitted inspired case occurred california february carter remembered writing script established aspect mythology subsequent seasons writers killed recurring character audiences impression outside fox_mulder dana_scully decision shut x-files separate mulder scully allowing producers work gillian_anderson pregnancy contributed important plot development second season affected rest series fox initially opposed idea fearing closing x-files lead viewers believe cancelled ending episode mirrors pilot including mulder calling scully cigarette smoking man storing evidence pentagon tagline episode trust replacing usual phrase truth referencing words executive producer decided directorial debut episode considered best script far offering combination stark terror filming effects opening car chase shot crew member lone producer directed second unit shot abandoned shipyard known went far saying location perfect shoot reused season episode scene fox_mulder dana_scully visiting doctor big challenge use wanted act crazy time cue filming looking said pretty good job location warehouse mulder finds tanks address producers decided incorporate episode symbol mulder opening box scene mulder entered warehouse searched room number utilizes camera effect shot water created visual effects unit actor raised crane water actually raised bay according timing right failed shot worked different level proved fascinating shot scene shot later filming episode production crew know water test shot scully removing alien doll liquid nitrogen went right hot studio lights model started falling apart leading following flash lighting direction reception episode earned nielsen rating share viewed million households making viewed episode season mystery writers america nominated series category eventual recipient award says gave episode saying perfect ending season good introduction x-files mythology said episode able blend absolutely chilling moments completely silly moments time entertainment_weekly writer concluded death character real crew members reacted positively episode carter said episode brings good memories terrific images brought series year circle successful wanted close x-files shocked lot people commented episode absolutely class acting art direction camera work isn best credit lot talented people episode introduced concepts themes appear mythology episodes years including genetic experiments alien human hybrids toxic alien blood government alien deadly assassins
The Erlenmeyer Flask