files twentieth episode second season american science fiction television series files written directed kim_manners morgan previously appeared guest role earlier episode season called host aired united_states march fox network episode monster week story unconnected series wider mythology earned nielsen household rating watched million households initial broadcast episode received generally positive reviews critics appreciated morgan unique writing style centers fbi special agents fox_mulder david_duchovny dana_scully gillian_anderson work cases linked paranormal called files episode mulder scully investigate series murders community circus performers mulder believes murderer mysterious fiji scully argues hoax mere explicitly comedic episode series morgan later wrote scripts series continued comic according critical analysis episode explored themes difference guest stars included real life performers actors nominated cinema audio society award plot town florida night brothers playing home outdoor swimming pool mysterious figure approaches woods surrounding home jumps pool noticing brothers play notice wrong leave pool figure emerges water revealed boys father man sons fun laughs pool man tells children house late time bed boys leave pool father stays swim unknown mysterious figure approaches pool woods attacks kills man pool agents fox_mulder david_duchovny dana_scully gillian_anderson travel investigate year series attacks unknown community circus performers attend funeral man suffered people meet self human interrupted funeral railroad spike chest geek sidekick eat says agents meet performer boy later local sheriff face went hair loss mulder scully stay gulf breeze trailer court reference gulf breeze ufo incident mentioned season episode meet manager alcoholic twin named agents hear story legendary fiji common act 19th century generally turned monkey fish tail attached referred episode title despite scully usual skepticism mulder intrigued look like tracks left mystery attacker night fatally attacked creature agents eventually discover attacker twin able body according attacks people attempts looking new brother replace dying liver failure years alcohol abuse voluntarily locks local jail effort escaping dies night able slip bars cell window flee mulder scully try capture goes inside manages away leaving find lying ground stomach apparently having attacked prepares leave town following morning comments scully modern science genetic self like remind people nature looks mulder asks matter line episode replies probably ate drives away mulder scully turn confused somewhat shocked expressions production written script series earlier second season appeared second episode host helped brother regular writer x-files script following episode blood series creator chris_carter offered permanent place x-files writing team reluctantly accepted morgan said uncomfortable initially stating reasons uncomfortable joining staff comedy writer isn comedy trying episode little bit humor telling anybody suggested write episode performers writing episode watched tape circus subsequently cast rose respectively guest stars regular morgan script turned comedic episode series far departure usual style crew including director kim_manners uncomfortable explicitly comic scenes cut morgan went write comedy infused stories final war outer space david_duchovny later commented loved scripts trying destroy themes book describes important episode exploration start challenges characters viewers assumptions difference teaser appears monster fact suburban father eventual murder victim mulder scully quick suspect freak performers murder self freak celebration difference confronts prejudice future genetic agents conventional appearance considered outsiders quickly correctly judged working fbi according booker freak characters episode concept contrasts perspective celebrates files overall generally synonymous danger evil like despite association difference generally found x-files meets audience need difference diversity sheer number strange different characters need everyday existence mirrored main characters mulder wanting believe paranormal faith highlighted argument add life eliminated genetic according think x-files gender pleasure difference sex looking files relationship mulder scully non sexual quasi marital sharing degree intimacy allows share space avoid sexual gaze look eyes argue ideas bodies status quo challenged episode gaze highlighted partners according williams key scene involves agent scully goes wake scully trailer morning catches glimpse breasts inadvertently turn catches sight uncovered parasitic twin gaze involves difference emphasized fact scully body normally revealed way reception ratings broadcast united_states march fox network original broadcast watched million households according nielsen ratings system received rating share viewers meaning percent households percent people watching television time viewed episode episode nominated television series cinema audio society award outstanding achievement sound mixing series reviews received praise critics review episode todd_vanderwerff gave grade rating noted difference style episode previous stories series saying feel like special murder wrote later clearly entirely links continuity chain mulder scully including morgan scripts vanderwerff called writing deeply deeply funny said weakest script particularly praised ending episode saying writers come haunting perfectly understanding human condition final reveal killer writing zack_handlen called terrific episode written odd called pivotal episode x-files said episode talk theatrical trick careful didn like bad movie worked television pity gave episode grade reviewers website ign named tenth best standalone x-files episode entire series robot named sixth funniest episode series
Humbug (The X-Files)