episode fourth season american science fiction television series files written directed episode originally aired united_states october fox network monster week story stand plot unconnected series wider mythology earned nielsen 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 scully called investigate unexplained deaths african african american people skin color turned white result rare medical disorder bizarre curse episode features second appearance following debut fourth season premiere guest stars social worker inspired topics racial discrimination explores prejudice effects episode difficult apply took hours completed episode received mixed reviews critics compared episode older episodes series racial topics episode drew mixed attention plot international airline flight african man enters bathroom attacked man exhibiting traits attacker leaves bathroom normal black skin tone plane lands united_states flight attendant discovers victim bathroom devoid skin months later walter_skinner mitch_pileggi calls dana_scully gillian_anderson informs african american men kidnapped philadelphia found dead exhibiting specialist believes men died disease requested scully investigate case fox_mulder david_duchovny joins scully evidence samples autopsy analyzed agent finds seed rare west african mulder takes seed informant asks help provides information incident plane african immigrant seeking citizenship attacks young black man waiting bus kidnapping investigating disappearance mulder finds seed bus stop social worker helping apply citizenship cross reference names flight applying permanent residency work leads runs try question discovered drainage pipe appears symptoms disease analyzed local medical center scully plans examine mulder sees diplomat tells old folk tale people nocturnal spirits air scully examines pet scan shows escapes hospital meets car manner victims long metal object nose policeman finds requests ambulance police tell mulder scully sweeping area driving mulder tells scully thinks mythical stops demolition site remembering found fibers body mulder scully split site scully finds missing men dead mulder pierced scully finds calls medical help shoots field journal scully writes stand trial lives long condition survival discovered science humans fear alien causes production writer executive producer originally working episode appeared immortal discussions consulting producer added notion vampires series creator chris_carter approved storyline draft script met disapproval writing staff story rewritten episode entered pre production carter asked gordon script purpose gordon came theme phrase scully episode closing sentiments replaces usual truth tagline title sequence episode carter came weapons extract kept hidden greek end spirit air african mythology thought fellow writer suggested emerge country based job programming foreign air mail rates computer software company casting episode difficult production team wanted real auditioned find including african theater troupe passing role eventually went known role cbs role went runner returned home southern_california summer olympics atlanta georgia appear skin underwent layers cover cream layers white powder little pink powder color wore contacts transparent pink eyes hair dyed orange post production special effects change forth black white revealed resident alien card birthday september reference birthday gillian_anderson daughter opening sequence makes use airplane cabin set built later season episodes max set hydraulic shaking rig completed african drums chants score episode samples bulgarian women chorus recording known southern_california promotion local radio station compositions snow utilized elements african tribal drums features prominent usage themes explores concept representing characters different race episode culture treated norm african culture episode depicted intimidating way african folk tales considered strange nation shown episode ominous bizarre episode prominently features tribal music according book usage episode dangerous culturally dangerous writer claimed linking supernatural ethnic character tribal music adds exotic feeling character making character unnatural adds extraterrestrial quality making unusual nature clearly attached racial identity episode commenting episode cultural understanding race mere skin color martin cites mulder joke michael_jackson self aware comment contemporary white negro stereotype book flesh text flesh commented episode depiction race argues episode makes point perfectly normal black man looks certain way pointing episode states black man defined certain skin pigment exception norm depicted negative manner science answer unnatural phenomena agreed analysis philosophy files commenting main themes episodes revolved science attempt explain folk theories paranormal phenomena episode antagonist escapes fbi fitting dinner cart feat compared slaves escaping slave ships broadcast reception originally aired fox network october episode marked final time episode series aired friday episode earned nielsen rating share meaning roughly percent television equipped households percent households watching television tuned episode seen million viewers broadcast episode received generally mixed reviews critics entertainment_weekly gave grade finding similar season episode squeeze zack_handlen gave noting similarity squeeze finding uncomfortable racial overtones feel climax wonderfully tense better awarded episode stars noting similarities squeeze criticized depiction mulder scully commenting lacked quality scenes compliment scene agent disappointed seeing scully describing highlight episode book guide author pointed episode timeline episode kills men months duration episode kills men matter days
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