files soft light episode second season american science fiction television series files originally aired fox network written directed episode monster week story unconnected series wider mythology overarching fictional history soft light received nielsen rating watched million households episode generally received mixed positive reviews television critics centers fbi special agents fox_mulder david_duchovny dana_scully gillian_anderson work cases linked paranormal called files episode student scully asks agents help investigation concerning number clues mulder idea spontaneous human find man afraid shadow scientist researching dark matter shadow developed ability people come soft light x-files episode written write acclaimed episodes bad blood soft light episodes written main writing staff x-files originally script called shadow able independently rewritten save animation costs addition character script initially character added legitimate fear government plot hotel richmond virginia knocks door room seeking person named morris shouts attract attention guest room hall looks shadow slips beneath door suddenly leaving strange burn mark floor realizes happened flees scene case death latest kind assigned local detective seeks help dana_scully gillian_anderson instructor fox_mulder david_duchovny takes investigation believing died spontaneous human searching home earlier victim agents realize recently traveled train sits train station looking floor room lit soft light shadow seen leaves confronted police officers patrolling area despite warnings officers step shadow disappear leaving burn marks following day reviewing station surveillance tapes mulder sees footage staring floor blowing frame mulder sees logo company called jacket agents visit meet scientist identifies physicist conducting research dark matter reveals disappeared weeks earlier incident laboratory locked target room active particle exposed large particles account scully consider spontaneous human mulder doubtful theory agents find train station runs poorly lit area declares walking shadow kill agents mulder shoots overhead lights allows taken mental hospital room soft light request tells agents accident laboratory caused shadow behave like black hole splitting component particles reducing matter pure energy claims deaths accidents government wants exploit detective ryan superior officer stop questioning declaring case closed despite mulder objections mulder contacts assures government interest associates later attempt remove hospital cutting power process killed emergency lights turn shadow falls flees hospital returns confronted ryan reluctantly kills shadow tries arrest orders destroy particle reveals helping government hunt locks particle shot scully arrive soon seemingly late save mulder realizes betrayed tells contact case considered closed mulder notes disappeared incidents episode ends enters research facility experiments performed production soft light written directed fan files talking agent relative series creator chris_carter arranged meeting carter praised carter asked writer ideas surprise reply observing shadow thought creepy began moving independently wrote episode episode finished carter asked join staff inserted reference villain season episodes squeeze conversation ryan mulder episode represents entries series written outside main writing staff x-files originally script called shadow able independently carter writer rewrote story remove aspect later noted rewrote episode saved enormous money animation costs addition character draft script series staff realized fear having government control paranoia written story writer frank_spotnitz later noted long time character needed grow episode guest stars recurring role nbc series wings familiar x-files offered time watch television instead sent script enjoyed similarities twilight zone agreed appear episode informed people going vancouver film episode series claimed response unbelievable impressed location filming series noted ninety percent filming wings material shot location vancouver ideal city gives producers options train station filmed rail pacific central station pacific marine training institute vancouver initially allowed filming persistence location managers led dean station allow crew commence filming production financed trip filming locations vancouver followed production video camera feat writer x-files broadcast reception soft light originally aired united_states broadcast united_kingdom february bbc original broadcast watched million households according nielsen ratings system received rating share viewers meaning percent households united_states percent people watching television time viewed episode soft light received mixed positive reviews television critics entertainment_weekly gave episode noted episode gains points obscure subject matter loses strained element zack_handlen gave praised cold open involvement thought explanation shadow robert_shearman lars_pearson book wanting believe critical guide lone gunmen rated episode stars wrote positively episode case calling mulder scully investigate properly coming theories later build shearman pearson wrote positively episode conclusion noting better illustration government brilliant closing scene features fixed chair bombarded flashes light single tear rolls terrified face reviews decidedly critical awarded episode wrote overall episode falls short completely central concept partially countered interesting resolution highlighting sinister informant like season final episodes season ending plenty hints mulder scully pushing wrong buttons
Soft Light (The X-Files)