happening happening fourteenth episode eighth season episode overall science fiction television series files episode aired united_states february subsequently aired united_kingdom written executive producers chris_carter frank_spotnitz directed kim_manners episode received nielsen household rating watched million viewers making highest rated episode season happening received positively television critics series centers fbi special agents dana_scully gillian_anderson new partner following alien abduction partner fox_mulder david_duchovny work cases linked paranormal called files episode scully walter_skinner mitch_pileggi discover returned alien calls agent assist case scully fears finding mulder come head sudden recovery seized time happening story milestone season returning mulder alien abduction started requiem addition episode introduced character main character season character introduced possible replacement anderson considering leaving series end season plot montana chasing spaceship spaceship stops naked female woman later revealed abducted time fox_mulder david_duchovny walter_skinner mitch_pileggi dana_scully gillian_anderson visit hospital information mulder whereabouts later friend abducted mulder investigating ufo reports montana attempt find reports fresh shoes noted area found making skeptical claims alien sightings assumed form doctor arranges transferred having learned disappearance calls agent reyes assists investigation believing mulder joined ufo cult derelict compound smith injuries observed man called reyes car stalls sees ufo stopping sees smith taking body finds body reyes able retrieve license plate number truck kidnap later revealed belongs better known leader cult fbi storms cult compound arrests smith found tells scully saving left dead aliens examining video compound raid scully reyes watch smith step doorway transform agent stunned agents realize smith compound scully runs cult compound identifying smith shoes tells knows distracted skinner tells found mulder body woods scully sees mulder body races compound hoping smith heal ufo directs beam light room held enters room gone distraught scully happening production background effects happening marked return david_duchovny fox_mulder settling contract dispute quit time participation seventh season order explain mulder absence duchovny character abducted aliens seventh season finale requiem rounds contractual discussions duchovny agreed return total season episodes happening marked fifth appearance duchovny eighth season character appeared cameos flashbacks gift opening scene required crew x-files create ufo chase order scene filmed entirely mountainous area lit shot alien like feel ufo seen flying opening scene actually helicopter disguised techniques called effect created computer consisting digital fog lights spaceship appear suddenly disappear casting episode marked appearance played main character season character developed introduced gillian_anderson possible departure end eighth season anderson remain end later series regular creating character series creator chris_carter wanted character personality common fox_mulder dana_scully time carter wanted character different scully character way different mulder saying unlike mulder needed equally unlike scully later noted chris wanted sunny force hard play natural instinct find happiness midst darkness casting process unconventional received agent informed x-files looking new female character applied instead having reading meet chris_carter frank_spotnitz receiving shot scheduled morning scene episode run hill discover reception happening premiered february american television fox episode earned nielsen household rating meaning seen nation estimated households watched million households million viewers making highest rated episode season highest rated episode series seventh season episode sixth extinction fox promoted episode tagline tonight search mulder ends episode nominated single camera series episode later included volume dvd collection contains episodes involved alien super soldiers arc critical reception happening positive todd_vanderwerff awarded episode called strongest episodes season reyes applauded character felt forgotten wrote highly calling episode highlights vanderwerff wrote episode previous episode showcase anderson acting ability robert_shearman lars_pearson book wanting believe critical guide lone gunmen rated episode stars noted praised true tragedy episode fact despite increased role reluctant believer way scully deals smith strictly scientific way instead taking leap faith prevents finding saving mulder time reviews positive paula_vitaris cinefantastique gave episode negative review awarded half stars called episode concluded final scene anti climactic addition vitaris noted introduction explained
This Is Not Happening