blessing way files blessing way episode season american science fiction television series files premiered fox network september directed written series creator chris_carter blessing way featured guest appearances introduced episode helped explore overarching mythology fictional history x-files blessing way earned nielsen household rating watched million people initial broadcast episode received mixed reviews critics centers fbi special agents fox_mulder david_duchovny dana_scully gillian_anderson work cases linked paranormal called files episode mulder found near death reservation health tribe led scully investigates found neck fears life family danger blessing way episode storyline carrying second season finale continuing episode paper clip series creator chris_carter called episode favorite episodes write created episode way explore character fox_mulder react death father episode contained elaborate special effects effects producer considered sequence mulder vision father difficult season plot new_mexico family beaten search whereabouts fox_mulder david_duchovny dana_scully gillian_anderson pursued black helicopter soldiers retrieve printed copies albert translations digital tape scully denies having original tape saying mulder possession returning washington fbi puts scully mandatory leave forces turn badge gun entering mulder office finds tape missing new_york_city smoking man appears syndicate question whereabouts tape mulder alive severely wounded found buried rocks near buried mulder taken sweat lodge healed blessing way ritual ritual mulder visions father urge recover continue search truth visits scully apartment shows newspaper article murder returns fbi headquarters metal goes scully presents skinner newspaper article thinking data death clear mulder father murder skinner refuses follow leaving building scully seeing metal leads locating metal neck scully sees doctor removes small metal scully sister urges recover lost memories abduction scully heads scared stops session returning home scully finds skinner leaving apartment driving later denies mulder recovered blessing way ritual told albert change clothes days scully heads boston attend bill funeral introduces mulder mother cemetery scully approached syndicate member known man warns killed pair assassins knows mulder goes connecticut questions old photo father standing members syndicate mysterious building calls scully tells coming receiving immediately hangs scully leaves apartment tells head home instead leaves skinner pulls car telling need speak private shows soon mistakenly shot hiding realizing shot wrong person flee taking skinner mulder apartment scully holds gunpoint believing traitor man spoke skinner tells scully possession digital tape steps outside door scully skinner pull gun production series creator chris_carter felt favorite episodes write found interesting explore character fox_mulder react death father carter recently lost parent began work episode frank_spotnitz said episode expectations high coming summer worth anticipation mulder got knew answer question leave intriguing dilemma end bring viewers final thought big indian stuff thought lot people necessarily respond nervous excited scully storyline way played mulder skinner carter attended chants rituals ensure accuracy events episode alerted previous episode scholars sand painter brought create sand paintings blessing way sequence took entire day create scenes set new_mexico filmed vancouver quarry stand previous episode required minor touch ups visual effects producer considered sequence fox_mulder vision father difficult season end episode reads wells costume designer slightly changed piano melody opening theme music corresponding shortened theme credits seasons episode music remain unchanged years title episode refers ceremony episode mitch_pileggi credited starring opening credits reception ratings blessing way premiered fox network september broadcast united_kingdom bbc september 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 making viewed episode season reviews blessing way received mixed reviews critics episode parts story arc listed concurrently second best episode series den geek noted plotline laid mythology arc rest series adding brought significance come writing gave episode largely positive review rated described perfect strong beginning season reviews mixed overview season entertainment_weekly blessing way rated episode derided dream sequence high flown cosmic introduction man portrayal walter_skinner seen highlights writing todd_vanderwerff panned episode pseudo mystical rating episode felt resolution cliffhanger previous episode mulder apparent death poorly handled character worst series introduction plot threads scully alien human hybrids deemed positive factors david_duchovny somewhat disappointed episode hoping chance episode primarily symbolic journey real actor said like psychology like thinking went episode viewer actor felt like opportunity passed episode actor called episode greatest missed opportunity chris_carter disagreed stating fox_mulder role episode right way dramatic weight episode shift mulder dana_scully
The Blessing Way (The X-Files)