x-files season season american science fiction television series files commenced airing fox united_states september concluded channel contained episodes season continues follow cases fbi special agents fox_mulder dana_scully portrayed david_duchovny gillian_anderson respectively investigate paranormal supernatural cases known files fbi season features conclusion plot lines introduced season introducing new plot elements major plot arcs include elaborate conspiracy discovered fake alien autopsy video acquired mulder scully search killer sister mystery surrounding pivotal characters elder alien virus black oil introduced season addition season features wide variety monster week episodes feature stand stories influence wider mythology series season attained higher ratings season receiving highest viewing audience series achieved season premiere blessing way debuted nielsen household rating doubled premiere season ratings consistently stayed making watched series television line season received generally positive reviews television critics winning primetime emmy awards episodes written writer received critical acclaim including episodes final outer space cited best series morgan left series following season inability fast paced nature plot overview centers fbi special agents fox_mulder david_duchovny dana_scully gillian_anderson work cases linked paranormal called files mulder later found desert following events second season finale health scully investigates possible involvement smallpox program human genetic experimentation discovering nazi scientist defected operation conducting human experimentation create alien human hybrids sister shot assassins mistake dies hospital night investigating evidence alien autopsy mulder secretive government train carriage carrying alien human hybrid mulder killed syndicate operative guarding hybrid saved informant tipped mulder activities agent partner dana_scully gillian_anderson scully meets group women abduction experiences similar meets member syndicate known elder claims abduction placed similar train car experimented japanese scientists crew french salvage ship trying raise world war era submarine sea floor stricken massive radiation burns infected parasitic black oil discovered submarine oil controlling body passing hosts overtaken mulder pursuing scully finds submarine involved discovering oil sea floor world war guise finding sunken fighter plane infected makes way missile hide ufo oil escapes body board craft scully tracked man responsible killing sister writing development episode season blessing way began second season finale episodes paper clip form trilogy episodes began season directed later directed season finale paper clip directed directed total episodes season followed kim_manners directed seven series creator chris_carter served executive producer showrunner wrote episodes directing small involvement second season asked contribute content appeared host brought brother help write episode blood morgan sole credit writer came episode received positive reception staff david_duchovny expressed enjoyment working morgan commenting loved scripts trying destroy morgan wrote total episodes later left series fast paced nature network television expressed negative opinion way handled despite positive reception critics crew work contributed script episode writing episode previous season returned write solo episode season credited creative consultant cast member david_duchovny collaborated chris_carter episodes receiving story credit new writers season included story editor wrote episodes supervising producer wrote single episode wrote episodes staff writer wrote episodes new writers return season series visual effects producer wrote episode producers included production manager producer producer themes darker series exploring public distrust government episodes dealing wider mythology series explore similar concepts showcasing shadow government plot line series episodes like feature villains containing human beings capable highly immoral acts despite seemingly mundane appearances episode serial killer antagonist revolves way evil change influence people offers sentimental emotional plot driven kidnapping young girl episode features parallels real life case provides commentary stockholm syndrome trauma aliens serial killers antagonists season episodes revolve traditional movie inspired monsters taking influence horror films episodes include war killer lake monster episodes satirical elements including war showcasing public create panic need final outer space play established formula series themes series usually followed cast main cast david_duchovny special agent fox_mulder episodes gillian_anderson special agent dana_scully episodes recurring cast starring mitch_pileggi deputy director walter_skinner episodes guest starring episodes episodes marked double dagger episodes series alien mythology arc reception ratings season x-files debuted blessing way september episode earned nielsen household rating share meaning roughly percent television equipped households percent households watching television tuned episode episode viewed million viewers blessing way time highest rated episode x-files air previous record belonged season entry fresh bones scored rating share season continued ratings dropped slightly stabilized season premiere highest rated episode season finale viewed million viewers season hit low penultimate episode season viewed million viewers series ranked number television season viewed average million viewers increase seven percent compared second season viewed season files fox rated program year old demographic season aired friday nights fourth season moved sunday reviews todd_vanderwerff called season best season maybe greatest seasons time noting consistent swung strength strength mythology stand episodes thought starts kind terribly blessing way zack_handlen vanderwerff colleague wrote season strongest conspiracy arc keeping tension high instead time point awkward effects work early years gone overall direction highly polished giving season weakest entries cinematic feel stated morgan final outer space files greatest hours writing credits provided morgan widely cited highlight season war written received positive reviews entertainment_weekly gave war praised entertainment value episode episode containing writing credits morgan received positive reviews minute dialogue sequence featuring mulder scully receiving highly positive reviews episode cited best episodes series ign book examination unauthorized look seasons files named episode best episode x-files called best monster week series history duchovny considers performance favorite season episode received positive reviews writing dvd talk rated season overall half stars finding series increased budget meant production values quality guest appearances better previous seasons accolades season earned series primetime emmy award nominations received second consecutive nomination outstanding drama series gillian_anderson received nomination outstanding lead actress drama series episode outer space nominated outstanding individual achievement art direction series series won awards including outstanding individual achievement writing drama series episode final written won outstanding guest actor drama series performance episode episode won outstanding individual achievement sound editing series outstanding individual achievement sound mixing drama series won outstanding individual achievement cinematography series episode duchovny anderson nominated golden globe award performances dvd release
The X-Files (season 3)