files sixteenth episode seventh season science fiction television series files premiered fox network united_states april written directed episode monster week story unconnected series wider mythology earned nielsen household rating watched million people initial broadcast episode received positive reviews critics 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 investigates appears case missing woman small town soon turns murder spirit summoned underworld scully endure uncomfortable similar season episode written suburban perfection examined evil lies beneath white bread suburban existence episode produced time david_duchovny gillian_anderson directing episodes order compensate anderson role drastically reduced episode plot vermont raven little girl park neighbor watches bird later found home mother attacked killed unseen monster washington fox_mulder david_duchovny dana_scully gillian_anderson looking woman possibly killing prostitutes mulder believes power disappear time police attempt arrest found mulder gets attack leaves office walter_skinner mitch_pileggi tells mulder disappeared asks knows mulder believes bird usually associated evil skinner tells mulder case priority wife powerful judge home martha husband howard tells mulder wife cheating found birth control pills suspicious howard neighbor wife sheriff approached sees raven window nearby car home sees raven outside window howard leaves check leading find hand sticking flower bushes later police dig martha body marks face ellen tells mulder saw reflection mirror earlier killed martha mulder believes glass demonic dimension forth demon attack people ellen believes summoned spirits denies later ellen finds skeleton key house raven baby mirror ellen sees reflection monster chasing suddenly breaks hides closet comes home finds attributes stress believing imagining things mulder finds skeleton key matches found coat pocket mulder sheriff having affair mulder later tells martha pregnant thinks father sheriff reveals key opened door met clandestine affairs sees outside promptly attacked killed creature explains mulder wanted divorce ellen years ago got pregnant allow believes reason happening summoned entity turns ellen entity given away cut given attack ellen transforms creature attacks mulder attempts bath stops sees monstrous reflection water placed psychiatric hospital doctors multiple personality disorder scully reveals mulder mysterious prostitute killer file man disguised woman talked prostitutes religion attempted help prostitution ring production writing premise compelling examination evil lies beneath white bread suburban existence themes previously explored season episode wished explore ideas straight ahead scare style horror episode humor series creator chris_carter saw episode chance bold new carter wanted story revolve crow image described simply scary story wanted bust perception expose white bread community originally episode going feature subterranean monster going titled subterranean monster blues episode written burst hour days assisted described finished script suburban perfection noted book complete files script commentary suburban repression self major comeback conservative late 90s episode soon went pre production issues addressed notably episode produced david_duchovny gillian_anderson busy directing episodes things respectively cope schedule writers planned duchovny anderson limited number scenes anderson needed day filming auxiliary sub plot involving prostitute murderer casting filming casting director tasked finding normal looking suburban people cast later noted necessitated casting perfect people easy find normal looking people people years gotten harder harder find individuals cast previously played parts obscure genre films appeared anthology film noted movie alien space movie night finally appeared film creature opening scenes shot local los_angeles backyard finding suitable tree lined elements proved difficult ultimately museum hollywood allowed crew film tree filled section grounds episode ran filming director trouble trying act cue eventually brought doubles later noted got good good ending sequence shot times producer explained originally wanted mirror image woman attacked monster didn sell eventually crew decided candy glass piece manner camera able action shattered glass broadcast reception aired united_states april episode earned nielsen rating share meaning roughly percent television equipped households percent households watching television tuned episode viewed million viewers episode aired united_kingdom ireland received million viewers making watched episode week fox promoted episode tagline american beauty tonight perfect small town perfect neighbors perfect families lies evil waiting sic perfect face episode received positive reviews critics detractors robert_shearman lars_pearson book wanting believe critical guide lone gunmen rated episode stars calling script stylish noted david duchovny good anderson provides great comic relief shearman pearson concluded episode little paced classic episode clever crafted makes rewarding stand awarded episode stars wrote birds spirit split personalities order day story doesn offer genuine thrills best moments scully occasional complaints field paula_vitaris cinefantastique gave episode moderately positive review awarded half stars despite noting episode gets awkward start vitaris concluded takes heart x-files family zack_handlen awarded episode noting episode good falls short classic status trying metaphor flesh succeeding handlen enjoyed way episode explores connects main characters main critique ellen transformation explicitly explained explained sense need comes hint drove point work actress performance excellent character remains generic reviews positive wrote neutral review saying little said pro con episode mildly interesting avoids recent episodes book examinations gave episode relatively negative review derided lack anderson character feelings simple sentence scully
Chimera (The X-Files)