breath files breath eighth episode second season american science fiction television series files premiered fox network november written directed featured guest appearances episode helped explore series overarching mythology breath earned nielsen household rating watched million households initial broadcast episode received positive reviews television critics centers fbi special agents fox_mulder david_duchovny dana_scully gillian_anderson work cases linked paranormal called files episode scully found hospital abduction earlier episode ascension mulder attempts investigate happened finds hindered man believed ally anderson returned series days having given birth missing previous episode pregnancy morgan attempted create version earlier episode sea time centered duchovny character mulder episode introduced character attempt provide romantic lead mulder later dropped plot background fbi special agent dana_scully gillian_anderson currently missing having disappeared kidnapped multiple episodes ascension partner fox_mulder david_duchovny continued work investigating disappearance believing abducted aliens investigations similar past aided trio conspiracy events scully mother margaret tells mulder story shooting snake brothers child indicates ready let shows mulder refuses scully turns mysteriously hospital coma control mulder demands know got escorted security later meets reveals figure got wrong tells mulder scully living taken life support condition falls specific criteria scully mulder meets older sister scully vision sitting boat attached rope dock mulder stand nurse visits scully medical chart later investigate finds scully blood contains branched dna identification inactive poisonous waste product system mysterious visits scully trying reach coma visits scully nurse takes blood distracted mysterious man steals scully blood sample runs mulder chases parking lot confronted demands stop pursuing happened scully let die man stole blood assistant director walter_skinner mitch_pileggi calls mulder office incident mulder denies involvement claims responsible happened scully mulder demands know skinner refuses tell vision scully lies table visited deceased father mulder sitting hospital asked woman change cigarette machine says pack leaves mulder opens finds address inside mulder bursts home holds gunpoint demanding know scully taken instead cigarette smoking man claims likes returned reveals told skinner mulder shot man parking lot didn believe true incidentally revealing unaware shoot man tells mulder know truth kills mulder decides mulder returns fbi headquarters types resignation letter hands skinner skinner visits office mulder packing things relates body experience vietnam skinner refuses accept mulder resignation mulder realizes provided location heading parking garage mulder met telling chance revenge night men believing information scully search apartment specific time mulder waiting gun apartment arrives initially refuses leave able convince mulder scully holds scully hand talks returning home find apartment mulder sits floor cries day scully awakens mulder called hospital sees returning cross necklace indicates heard voice coma scully tells doesn remember kidnapped later scully asks nurses wants thank nurse tells scully nurse named works hospital production gillian_anderson given birth daughter days episode spent majority episode hospital bed episode title breath comes line scully father talks episode character later appears person episode named online files fan episode introduces scully sister previously worked writers specifically wrote mind thoughts given having romantic interest mulder concept came pass writer said episode duchovny challenged sea dark bleak jim feel paranormal hopeful wanted thought great opportunity duchovny situation came pregnancy needed feet line scully sister says belief positive good doesn silly theme chris_carter described opening scene scully discovers truth death sadness sorrow way imagined files episode begin related scene scully soft beautiful opening sets episode frightening way image scully boat meant symbolize chance cut slip unknown skinner facing smoking man placed character antagonistic institutional figure tries fbi agent ally mulder scully refusal allow smoking man smoke office speaks skinner alliances agent scully hatred man rid tolerate reception ratings breath premiered fox network november broadcast united_kingdom bbc october episode earned nielsen household rating share meaning roughly percent television equipped households percent households watching television tuned episode total million households watched episode original airing reviews breath received positive reviews critics reviewer gave episode glowing review rated seeds stated episode works levels called best writing gave episode favorable review rated stated easily best episodes series best concluded truly masterpiece writing den geek ranked episode eighth best series run calling unforgettable added verbal matches mulder scully equally sister created interesting dynamic absence scully perspective empire named fifteenth greatest episode series considering testament files writing staff ability turn temporary loss stars compelling worthwhile piece overall mythology retrospective second season entertainment_weekly episode rated absurd symbolism introduction scully new age sister criticized felt elements prevent breath richly layered installment felt episode featured arguably duchovny best performance hailed breath essential episode felt mythology resolution coma situation weak incredibly moving moments highlights mulder attacking smoking man skinner speech vietnam turned episode moments big picture chris_carter declared breath series popular episodes writer enjoyed episode saying love director said episode unusual breath little usual stuff human emotions drama relationships awards breath earned nomination
One Breath (The X-Files)