ghosts stole christmas ghosts stole christmas sixth episode sixth season science fiction television series files premiered fox network december written directed series creator chris_carter featured guest appearances episode monster week story unconnected series wider mythology ghosts stole christmas earned nielsen household rating watched million people initial broadcast episode received positive reviews critics reviews criticized episode characters 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 christmas themed episode mulder scully stake reputed haunted house duo soon discover pair living inside house determined prove lonely holidays carter based episode idea fellow writer frank_spotnitz working featuring haunted house featuring smallest cast files episode actors single set ghosts stole christmas sixth season episode drastic reduction budget strain main actors plot fox_mulder david_duchovny calls dana_scully gillian_anderson christmas eve investigate haunted house maryland explains christmas young couple living house agreed lover pact killing remaining committing suicide explains stand thought died wanted experience mulder claims want couples venture mansion fate scully busy wrapping presents ultimately mulder request inside house agents experience strange phenomena door mansion shut heard ceiling upper floor shadow form old woman seen occurrences mulder scully reluctantly decide investigate floor find massive library storing corpses clothes agents gunshot wounds decide search rooms find door walk library room entered decide split hoping find way room separated meet inhabitants mansion lily ghosts soon turn agents scully told mulder kill scully meets mulder pull gun shoot scully completely confused loses consciousness perspective shifts revealed actually carrying actions ability create causes scully mulder instead mulder comes bleeding scully lying floor try help shoots mulder stomach audience sees pretending scully manipulating mulder mulder scully stairs hope getting outside die meet door crawling floor covered massive amounts blood scully claims shot mulder claims shot mulder realizes happened stands illusion broken leave house sit fire holding hands saying agents mulder apartment mulder scully exchange gifts told production conception writing writer director series creator chris_carter based episode idea fellow writer frank_spotnitz working featuring haunted house scene completely planned climax features mulder scully pulling floor bleeding carter wanted action set episode featuring location production designer proposed episode filmed scully apartment set crew season carter wanting haunted house motif asked design mansion set tasked designing set bleak bleak deserted deserted casting filming ghosts stole christmas features smallest cast x-files history david_duchovny gillian_anderson guest stars present episode lily played originally approached casting agents x-files seasons prior season agent expressed interest carter agreed meet discussed possible ideas episodes years thinking carter decided write ghosts stole christmas vehicle originally carter wanted play interested crew instead approached veteran actor readily agreed episode episode filmed multiple sets studio locations large extras addition budget episode kept minimum ghosts stole christmas episode filmed sixth season carter readily admits making episode challenge drastic reduction budget strain main actors key individuals involved production outside scenes filmed mansion california sixth season episode rain king filmed day filming slated begin brush fire ignited hill mansion location manager rushed scene middle hour local able bring blaze control digging fire break fire stopped mere feet house effects music gunshot wounds scully later mulder discover created computer special effects editor tasked designing bullet holes head stomach create effect attached orange cloth places bullet wounds light added set lighting invisible reflected light function tracking data orange cloth post production bullet wounds inserted place admits technique borrowed movie death admitted better money gillian_anderson later critical fake blood episode sheer quantity soon formed mess composer episode admitted toy symphony create eerie baroque inspired score snow admits major influence episode brilliant score movie broadcast reception ghosts stole christmas aired united_states december 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 april received million viewers fourth watched episode week fox promoted episode tagline holiday season share gift terror later won award excellence directors work ghosts stole christmas episode received positive reviews critics detractors sight sound called episode best christmas episodes series review called ghosts stole christmas extremely creative arguably bitter holiday treat perfect christmas blend horror comedy hints romance static mass writer awarded episode stars said mulder scully presents end episode makes feel little bit complete den geek writer review monday said season included excellent episodes classic comedy episodes including ghosts stole christmas called ghosts stole christmas classic standalone episode sfx named episode sixth best sci fantasy christmas episodes noted classic lines neat tricks zack_handlen gave episode largely positive review awarded grade noted episode written similar manner earlier carter penned post modern handlen wrote entries everybody gets okay end vibe concluded episode lives dies strength guest stars writing task dvd talk called ghosts stole christmas highlights season robert_shearman lars_pearson book wanting believe critical guide lone gunmen rated episode stars book examination unauthorized look seasons files gave episode mixed positive review noting lack darkness episode wrote liked lot episode enjoyed sheer entertainment value past shows longing bit sinister darker reviews positive paula_vitaris cinefantastique gave episode largely negative review awarded half stars vitaris unhappy way characterized noting method trying mulder scully kill resulted endless dialogue writer review sixth season described ghosts stole christmas identified weakest episode sixth season
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