x-files sixteenth episode fourth season american science fiction television series files written series creator chris_carter directed originally aired united_states february fox network episode monster week story stand plot unconnected series wider mythology episode earned nielsen rating seen million viewers initial broadcast received mixed negative reviews television critics centers fbi special agents fox_mulder david_duchovny dana_scully gillian_anderson work cases linked paranormal called files episode murder lieutenant general mulder scully struggling stop seemingly invisible assassin agents soon learn doomed failure start government attempting cover existence american kept vietnam gordon inspired write episode viewing installment news series minutes dealt american secret agents cia left vietnam war eventual concept assassin create blind spots came writer spoke brother entry featured finished replica vietnam veterans memorial canadian substituted locations washington plot episode begins national mall major general gives speech crowd vietnam war veterans fox_mulder david_duchovny dana_scully gillian_anderson walter_skinner mitch_pileggi patrol crowd searching potential agents repeatedly disappears makes efforts track difficult mulder finds aiming gun panicked crowd desperately searching disappeared right hours earlier maryland lieutenant general shot skinner agents killing noting king hearts playing card soldiers vietnam mark kills left scene fbi suspects far right paramilitary group right hand killing effort stop upcoming dedication vietnam war memorial washington mulder scully head virginia question right hand leader search cabin ammunition photograph showing company sergeant arrested reveals soldier vietnam left dead prisoner war vietnam memorial approaches war widow claims husband alive giving woman husband dog mysteriously disappears skinner informs agents officially dead remains army lab mulder learns lab possesses dental remains cause death recorded inconclusive mulder believes general signed death certificate target makes way past pentagon security kills office seeing pentagon surveillance tapes mulder notes frequent unexplained appearances troops reported vietnam meeting mulder learns involved negotiations concerning makes way mall scully spots crowd instant mulder tells skinner scully government arranged investigation fail effort cover truth american kept vietnam present dedication ceremony mulder realizes line sight follows skinner unsuccessfully shoots general skinner suffers flesh wound shot turn agents tries escape wounds repeats army identification pentagon states assassin different person mulder lie leaves skinner service vietnam war looks memorial wall production producer saw minutes episode american secret agents cia left vietnam war intrigued decided develop future script based howard scheduled write episode season nineteenth entry gordon met chris_carter frank_spotnitz day holiday break pitch idea getting frustrated developing episode plot summary gordon requested carter help exchange shared writing credit gordon wrote script break gordon considering man turned invisible political sense needed way physical eventual concept came writer spoke brother told blind spots spots nerves humans brain compensation gordon noted stories come scientific research said actually create field vision actually exists gordon decided use vietnam war veteran given getting old like holocaust survivor starting die opportunity allow larger role skinner general named editor heather episode featured finished replica vietnam veterans memorial featured incomplete state replica vancouver expansive flat characteristics portions wall real rest created computer generated imagery cgi day scenes monument shot night scenes took place pier large warehouse assembled dismantled warehouse replica fake names created sister art assistant legal reasons included names x-files cast crew addition referenced noted writer model crowd memorial scene times cgi consisted extras won opportunity appear local radio contests civilian doubled freedom plaza filming park public photographers sought anderson stipulation filming parks police deny access compensate available crew production staff members formed human blockade prevent disturbing shots terminal canada place waterfront building served stand interior pentagon reception premiered fox network february episode earned nielsen rating share meaning roughly percent television equipped households percent households watching television tuned episode seen million viewers broadcast episode aired united_kingdom january bbc todd_vanderwerff gave episode wrote isn good episode series potent great ideas unfortunately expanded vanderwerff felt episode biggest problem started media revealed episode conclusion writing pretty great starting point episode instead actually despite plot wrote entry good episode skinner gives mission alludes past realistic way furthermore vanderwerff applauded way vietnam war way felt fresh independent reviewer awarded episode derided pseudo political story negative lack emotional investment felt damaged episode called portrayed tragic hero robert_shearman lars_pearson book wanting believe critical guide lone gunmen rated episode stars heavily criticized episode taking place events attempt deal scully cancer furthermore criticized episode thin stuff heavily shearman pearson note long teaser episode new dramatic effect appearance offers new information paula_vitaris writing cinefantastique rated star writing collapses weight message fails bring life guest characters furthermore criticized teaser noting comes writer device
Unrequited (The X-Files)