twelfth episode fourth season american science fiction television series files premiered fox network january written frank_spotnitz directed kim_manners featured guest appearance episode monster week story unconnected series wider mythology fox lead program following super bowl watched episode series receiving nielsen household rating watched million people initial broadcast episode received positive reviews critics commenting positively character performance centers fbi special agents fox_mulder david_duchovny dana_scully gillian_anderson work cases linked paranormal called files mulder believer paranormal skeptical scully assigned debunk work episode mulder scully investigate supposed death regeneration emergency medical technician named cancer severed body parts story milestone series introducing detection agent scully cancer play larger role season season addition episode analyzed themes physical drives psychological production episode required physically stunts coupled special effects order bring episode life plot pittsburgh ambulance truck later body leaves cold chamber knocks attendant steals clothes escapes fox_mulder david_duchovny dana_scully gillian_anderson visit find head medical waste scully attempts examination head eyes mouth suddenly open begins procedure mulder goes apartment finds attendant discarded clothes mulder leaves head rises filled mulder interviews partner ability detect cancer interior slice head examined agents discover frontal lobe displayed signs cancer mulder subject slice photography test final image shows discharge takes appearance human shoulders records scully learns alter ego named agents visit elderly mother claims albert died car accident years previously tracks hospital confronts apology gives lethal injection potassium pursued captured security guard car escapes tearing thumb agents search car morning finding disposed cooler trunk mulder believes nature makes embodiment radical leap evolution learning car registered agents police search home recounts son endured bullying child different says reasons killed anybody bar patron kills obtain lung later storage unit shed body create duplicate agents come storage unit duplicate attempts flee car explodes fired seemingly kills scully suggests death staged find body inside mulder convinced body parts entire body believes large behest removes body ambulance agents house encounter arrive scully accompanies hospital mulder conducts search neighborhood arriving hospital scully realizes away roof ambulance locks inside ambulance telling need leads scully realize cancer struggle scully kills pressing charged head scully remains stunned revelation illness later apartment wakes confirming disease production writing written frank_spotnitz directed kim_manners scripts written later referred creations writers names according script particularly loved time later noted episode favorite monster shows originally episode supposed come episode explained series creator chris_carter wanted grab viewers seen super bowl knew best way creepy stand monster story air date flipped order ensure episode featured stars traditional roles aired super bowl anderson said played differently featured scully acting notably character aware scully cancer time scully discovers end episode notable episode series confirm agent scully cancer reportedly chris_carter informed gillian_anderson character diagnosed cancer delighted able play character different way considers episode great files story important established story arc featuring scully cancer audience receives early indication scully cancer episode aired earlier season written kidnaps episode says scully unrest points bridge nose exactly cancer additionally scene episode scully wakes fit episode breath episode agent scully returned abduction sign regeneration heard radio partner return work later asks ambulance team refer new guy casting filming actor later went play noted role cast play role director kim_manners urged play role emotional conviction manners later explained found absurd base reality human emotion audience going buy actually exists know spend hours makeup order right effect eyes colored specially contact lenses scenes physically autopsy scene involved positioning hole table sitting perfectly giving illusion head scene required spend minutes underwater shot new emerges old mouth created shots intercut shots puppet functioning mouth eyes later nominated emmy outstanding makeup series addition machine created slice head designed academic analysis themes according major themes exploration irresistible physical drives case desire kill biological need desire murder todd_vanderwerff review episode wrote helps human monster level wants survive happy able survive serves story multi season story arc features agent scully diagnosed terminal cancer chapter philosophical reflections trust book philosophy files argue scully knowledge cancer mulder example psychological protagonist reason telling partner information act self interest book fantasy girls gender new universe science fiction fantasy television notes episode contains themes maternal sacrifice maternal common series titular character mother nearly sacrifices life son cancer needs order escape death argues motifs concerning maternal figures notable season monster week episodes home condition cancer sickness people according metaphor let sin evil regular course life detect consume illness motives derived self appetite contrasts soul season entry gift episode agent played creature diseases soul polar opposition takes illness help harm living mode operation scientific research according biology professor science advisor manner limbs somewhat similar way amphibians tails limbs notes cells turn clock revert time fate possible humans types cells blood cells liver cells able process different stem cell simon able specific relationship immune system cellular growth notes scully actually masses cells capable growth regeneration organs body parts simon suggests truly composed entirely cancer cells lack functioning protein condition fatal broadcast reception ratings premiered fox network january immediately following super bowl episode earned nielsen rating share meaning seen year olds year olds watching television time broadcast episode highest rated episode series run episode viewed million people making watched episode series book essential cult reader argues super bowl switch series order episode appealing non viewers instrumental trend favored programs aired later syndication reviews episode received largely positive reviews critics gave episode noting deserves remembered little episode doesn work isn best episode x-files signifies moving best periods confidence series didn display critics praised writers airing episode featuring creepy character super bowl writing den geek listed files writing fox sic happens sunday fox decides run prime slot big game soft pedal things order grab wider audience instead decided feature cancer eating living grow limbs love x-files paula_vitaris cinefantastique gave episode positive review awarded stars vitaris praised episode balance humor horror noting comedy writers pleasure story buy situation lot scary humor script furthermore noted ending revelation scully cancer following conversation mulder scully season best scenes robert_shearman lars_pearson book wanting believe critical guide lone gunmen rated episode stars wrote positively quality story makes finale moments kick teeth shearman pearson noted episode come fourth season feels light deliberately makes cut character attracted positive criticism popmatters ranked character greatest monsters week describing grow head feat resulted best rated episode todd_vanderwerff praised way presented
Leonard Betts