fourteenth episode seventh season science fiction television series files premiered fox network united_states march written frank_spotnitz directed kim_manners episode monster week story unconnected series wider mythology earned nielsen household rating watched million people initial broadcast episode received mixed positive reviews critics centers fbi special agents fox_mulder david_duchovny dana_scully gillian_anderson work cases linked paranormal called files mulder believer paranormal skeptical scully assigned debunk work episode mulder scully investigate murder prominent doctor father law found word written wall blood string follow accidents mulder suspects source threats doctor family written short time christmas break script dropped series main episode modern medicine versus supernatural arts episode featured noted actors including played role antagonist cast member science fiction series space created files writers series creator chris_carter later called episode cast plot staying night daughter family california including husband middle night finds pile dirt shaped like man bed eventually discovered robert hanging ceiling word painted blood wall investigating morning fox_mulder david_duchovny notices graveyard dirt bed believes caused dana_scully gillian_anderson believes doctor committed suicide throat writing wall hanging autopsy determined suffered disease called found united_states mulder believes given caused mad find family photo missing bedroom man later revealed named seen placing faces cut picture dolls collapses pile graveyard dirt found bed skin man stands pool talking doll visits work refuses tell committing family research finds file believes connected mulder expert notes order commit man draw energy charm place blood hair picture victim inside order follow burned death magnetic resonance imaging man found taking doll microwave word found branded chest tells agents man came found case connected murders investigating revealed jane died october bus crash doctor gave pain mulder assumes man father feels doctor stole family away mulder decides body virginia taking away father power body inside landlord apartment pain medication finds body bed immediately contracts flesh eating disease hearing incident news mulder goes apartment finds body missing finds family scully protecting makes scully hair photo inside places nails doll eyes scully promptly goes blind breaks house takes scully gun stabs causing doctor collapse pain mulder shows finds scully doll removes nails allowing regain vision shoot placed coma body shipped home west_virginia production writing originally episode planned produced seventh season writing crew prepared christmas break scheduled scripts removed line order meet deadline frank_spotnitz decided write script modern medicine versus supernatural arts later joked think enlisted fact southern thought closest thing staff producer explained inspiration story doctor prosperous dark page past comes later elaborated story initially going rid rid writers soon found storyline difficult develop admission story started evolve type situation episode finished writers christmas break handed kim_manners episode director casting directing makeup noted actor brought play role casting decision series creator chris_carter later called especially lucky son previously cast bernard season episode monday actor played cast member science fiction series space previously cast detective episode millennium called dead letters written files writers cast background character reporter childhood friend contact years reportedly delighted discover friend coincidentally cast episode carter noted episode cast kim_manners later noted difficult shoot cast crew inadequate time prepare explained kind rush thing got script late totally shooting manners later stated episode came editing room looked footage like looking somebody film cut real nice end result turned decent little episode manners later admitted episode credit series experienced illness manners day sickness took directing duties day makeup creators extremely pleased makeup episode later noted remember awesome looked creepy makeup wanted guy look super creepy disturbing look real scared looked window night saw standing broadcast reception aired united_states march episode earned nielsen rating share meaning roughly percent television equipped households percent households watching television tuned episode viewed million viewers episode aired united_kingdom ireland june received million viewers making watched episode week fox promoted episode tagline curse tonight dark powers black magic chosen victim agent scully episode nominated won emmy award series todd_vanderwerff awarded episode called strongest straight non experimental standalone season far strongest scary episode season praised guest cast notably morrison wrote writers episode able successfully character deaths episode count way moved audience vanderwerff main criticism episode painted broad stereotype book examinations gave episode moderately positive review despite slightly criticizing episode utilizing based plot called terribly original concluded wrong little modern medicine practical magic confrontation definitely enjoyed scully envelope pushed awarded episode stars noting writer gets fairly concerning series deadly cast doctor family cryptic plenty bad mojo going files team gets dig deep dark arts scully point losing sight thanks doll guide later named episode main antagonist files monsters paula_vitaris cinefantastique gave episode moderately mixed review awarded half stars concluded plot developments characterization overall decent installment x-files reviews mixed critical episode noting main antagonist caricature hard seriously compliment sympathetic qualities family robert_shearman lars_pearson book wanting believe critical guide lone gunmen rated episode half stars noting episode file collection moments work
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