end files end 20th final episode fifth season overall science fiction television series files episode aired united_states canada end subsequently aired united_kingdom march bbc episode written executive producer chris_carter directed end earned nielsen household rating watched million people initial broadcast episode received mixed positive reviews television 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 assassination chess leads mulder scully investigation soon discover strikes heart x-files learn real target boy named episode originally supposed series finale allowing series evolve film franchise following release movie series proved profitable fox sixth season ordered episode filmed vancouver production subsequent seasons moved los_angeles california end features recurring character portrayed season finale created loose ends feature film subsequent season opener beginning plot vancouver international chess tournament held arena russian young american shooter assassin prepares fire gibson gibson senses shooter presence manages dodge shot kills instead canada smoking man found fbi headquarters walter_skinner mitch_pileggi reveals fox_mulder david_duchovny leading case investigating shooting despite request mulder involved bursts meeting offers explanation assassin firing gibson russian meeting acquaintance mulder past smoking man reunited syndicate members including elder man want help situation concerning gibson accompanies mulder dana_scully gillian_anderson visit gibson maryland mulder believes gibson read minds good chess scully learns mulder diana know long ago mulder goes shooter despite objections mulder wants shooter immunity exchange testimony shooter refuses gibson proves abilities group scully watch guard prison hands shooter flattened cigarette box says dead man scully visits lone gunmen wanting analyze data gibson asks diana tell worked closely mulder discovered x-files smoking man meets fbi parking lot disappears mulder spots talking scully mulder present skinner gibson shows extraordinary brain activities mulder believes gibson key x-files wants deal shooter diana skinner think result adverse attention attorney general x-files closed things wrong mulder dismisses risk mulder meets shooter tells gibson missing link mulder believes gibson genes dormant humans smoking man dismisses man concerns mulder actions prison guard kills shooter protecting gibson hotel room shot shortly gibson captured smoking man skinner tells mulder shooter death flattened cigarette box found cell mulder confronts accusing working smoking man smoking man turns gibson informed skinner seeking x-files shut mulder realizes plan smoking man takes samantha file mulder office lights room fire leaves meets tells father time mulder scully arrive x-files completely destroyed production writing originally fifth season x-files supposed manner finale season series movie franchise david_duchovny explained saying okay going came going series proved lucrative fox additional seasons ordered end created x-files movie sixth season premiere beginning near beginning episode praise plays russian chess notes chess motif carried episode notably fact smoking man plays mulder past actions perceived smoking man true villain story played smoking man felt character hero story noted conventions try convince hero series mulder bad guy got lot laughs certainly true plays character thinks evil casting filming episode introduced new characters played portrayed kim_manners later said kid personality came screen intelligence pretty special chris saw knew kid special storytelling tool chronicle x-files chris_carter said character destined hate competitor mulder affection scully gillian_anderson said didn easy scully think aware effect mulder situation episode episode series filmed vancouver canada prior production moving los_angeles california influenced david_duchovny years filming wanted closer wife audience chess match local fans thank city hosting production years chess match filmed known place home vancouver time producers expected thousand people thousand appeared instructions given crowd director giant video screens attached breaks shooting concession stands music videos available attendees actors duchovny anderson answered questions audience worth equipment chris_carter directed second unit filming episode order canadian crew members reception ratings end premiered fox network broadcast united_kingdom 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 episode later included volume colonization dvd collection contains episodes involved alien plans earth reviews end received mixed positive reviews critics chicago_sun-times reacted positively episode describing pivotal paula_vitaris cinefantastique gave episode positive review awarded stars wrote episode effective moving conclusion season vitaris wrote entry far superior season season finale praised character introductions notably gibson praise criticize fact smoking man working syndicate critical myth reviewer gave episode rating wrote overall episode good season finale making sense season character arcs setting stage feature film effect somewhat fact episode set situations sixth season highlights cancer man strategic strengths way previous episodes didn fully exploit review season called end gem praised acting noting great child actor reviews mixed zack_handlen gave episode mixed review grade handlen criticized episode lack resolution noting feed social paranoia comes time deliver finally pull curtain stage things furthermore called love triangle immediately putting criticized characterization handlen smoking man return thrilling wrote burning mulder office arguably iconic visuals run series robert_shearman lars_pearson book wanting believe critical guide lone gunmen rated episode half stars criticized closing x-files division largely fact seen reference divisions closing conclusion season shearman pearson wrote end works spite citing arrival confrontation smoking man positive points episode
The End (The X-Files)