files fourth final episode fourth season american science fiction television series files premiered fox network directed written series creator chris_carter featured guest appearances introduced recurring character episode helped explore overarching mythology fictional history x-files earned nielsen household rating watched million people initial broadcast centers fbi special agents fox_mulder david_duchovny dana_scully gillian_anderson work cases linked paranormal called files episode mulder shown evidence alien life actually huge government hoax designed attention secret military programs scully struggles cancer face hostility brother believes longer working filmed series elaborate costly sets inside building real snow ice shooting exterior scenes took place vancouver occurring week duchovny wedding episode described carter existence god received mixed responses critics cliffhanger ending frequently cited main failing plot episode opens police investigating dead body apartment fbi agent fox_mulder david_duchovny dana_scully gillian_anderson confirms unseen body identity leaves subsequently appears fbi panel led section chief reviewing work mulder x-files canada frozen extraterrestrial body discovered expedition team professor team leader sends ice core samples containing presumably alien dna mulder scully samples tested confirms dna non terrestrial origin attacked man steals samples scully learns attacker employee tracks holds gunpoint reveals killed mulder return mountains finds expedition members shot dead sole survivor man named reveals saved alien corpse theft burying men bring corpse united_states mulder perform autopsy corpse believing belongs genuine extraterrestrial mulder leaves meet scully mysterious assassin arrives kills scully introduces mulder claims mulder thinks knows aliens lie tells sister abduction fabricated evidence alien biology merely scientific alien body examined fake claims entire alien hoax government cover activities military industrial complex mulder dismisses claims scully tells told given cancer believe mulder finds dead alien body missing mulder distraught sits apartment watching conference extraterrestrial life television narrative returns present scully reveals panel mulder died previous night apparent self inflicted gunshot wound head production featured episode constructed inside warehouse previously cold storage required use lumber square feet set expensive elaborate built series history set required constant temperature order maintain real snow ice allowed actors breath visibly fog allowed cast place feels real aid acting outdoor scenes filmed vancouver weather conditions making shooting difficult require extra day work episode production took place week david_duchovny wedding fiancée visiting set filming cut episode minutes long resulting scenes mountains removed series creator chris_carter edited entire episode days aired carter described big ideas episode noting main concern debating existence god title episode allusion biblical garden jesus betrayed character named drama teacher gillian_anderson tagline episode believe lie changed usual truth episode marks appearance scully brothers flashback season episode breath section chief makes appearance fourth episode season reception ratings premiered fox network broadcast united_kingdom sky july 13th free air bbc march episode earned nielsen household rating share meaning roughly percent television equipped households percent households watching television tuned episode total million viewers watched episode original airing reviews received mixed positive reviews critics chicago_sun-times reacted positively episode calling stunning season finale paula_vitaris writing cinefantastique rated stars noting information barely complete episode vitaris felt large degree ambiguity episode script left actors performances neutral adding cast struggle material writing zack_handlen rated episode noting ring familiarity handlen felt episode premise ending poorly executed trying balance possible truths maintaining incredibly difficult pull long running adding episode comes fence given scenes shape changing bounty hunters mystical alien let idea play know sic real way robert_shearman lars_pearson book wanting believe critical guide lone gunmen rated episode stars noting attempts passion makes gripping shearman pearson felt episode cliffhanger ending apparent death mulder unbelievable noting character grow disillusioned life thanksgiving marathon containing fan selected episodes presented best mythology episode episode created speculation mulder actually dead article wall_street_journal discussed fan theories mulder madness cartoon ran new_yorker weeks later surrounding mulder death series creator chris_carter noted plot line revolved hoax actually huge revelations amazing thing people believe mulder actually kill belief system stolen listed episode number countdown best season noting core series entire mythology den geek felt episode finest season series noting ended completely pulling carpet fans moore listed character seventh best villain series adding shook knew core ing seed doubt playing mulder mind entire season
Gethsemane (The X-Files)