files seventh episode eighth season episode overall science fiction television series files episode aired united_states canada december fox subsequently aired united_kingdom written executive producer frank_spotnitz directed monster week episode unconnected series wider mythology episode earned nielsen household rating viewed million viewers generally received television critics positively commenting eerie atmosphere dream sequences critic referred superb x-files episode 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 takes time deal early stages pregnancy walter_skinner attempt mysterious murder religious cult leader kills victims sleep eventually cult leader essence evil possesses urged murder scully sleeps inspired write episode intrigued mental image tube opened blood gillian_anderson available majority filming recurring characters walter_skinner lone gunmen brought episode title means negative way latin theology attempts describe god god plot pittsburgh fbi agents observing house leeds falls asleep discovers door house open agents investigate room filled dead bodies suddenly man wielding axe possessing eye murders agents blow head following day dana_scully gillian_anderson calls inform case says joining personal matters visits crime scene meets boss walter_skinner mitch_pileggi skinner tells cult victims died leeds body found car partner missing cult leader keith man eye fbi later finds locked fatal blow head searching phone booth unnamed person asks change attacks trapping pavement forehead fbi skinner agents case tells bring closer god combination christian eastern religious practices called meaning negative way latin tracing earlier leads skinner drug dealer arrested cell local police department jail vision holding scully severed head hands waking realizes vision bad dream cell fallen asleep dreaming attacked rats officers find body returns files office surprise meets tell history eye coming conclusion convinced projecting peoples dreams killing returning warehouse found skinner meet trying life pushing head table saw rush hospital surprise finds scully register coma decides pull plug case saying found main suspect skinner satisfied saying explanations murders events surrounding case day wakes discovers eye middle forehead suddenly fbi building talks skinner hoping expresses fear despite coma able enter dreams skinner dismisses concerns sends home leaving ordering kill scully suddenly finds scully kill partner turns axe immediately awakened dark finds bedroom scully standing bed begins thank saving life informs died coma production frank_spotnitz writer episode inspired write episode trip trip met friend friend constantly mentioned image man explained image tube opened blood come mental image intrigued later create story blood comes tube idea unable think real world scenarios having likeness image began look dreams eventually came idea cult trying reach higher plane existence instead lower place darker plane later explained higher plane darker plane think reaching reaching episode title means negative way latin type theology commonly referred theology attempts describe god expanding god gillian_anderson character dana_scully available writing staff decided episode written spend time hospital writing staff hard time coming story saw opportunity evolve new character introduced beginning eighth season order fill anderson void recurring groups characters brought walter_skinner noted eager skinner desk looking opportunities office field mitch_pileggi portrayed walter_skinner pleased final product later complimented work played saying big hole mulder gone thought robert came wonderful job brought good energy set lot fun getting know work addition eager use episode episode mark scene called episode favorite episode writers saw chance create vulnerable moment character character named childhood friends went science star trek voyager star trek deep space preparing character death scene director spent day shooting rats total film crew rats initially issue getting rats middle room shot order fix animal trainers continuously released rats middle room finally covered crew later spent hours painting rat shot reception ratings premiered december american television fox episode earned nielsen household rating meaning seen nation estimated households episode watched million households million viewers fox promoted episode tagline die dream wake reviews received positive reviews critics time named best episode stating episodes like proved thrills zack_handlen awarded episode noted episode power took entirely guard kind lost classic story impressive praised atmosphere episode describing heavy doom laden frequently bizarre fact argued largely makes shortcomings script robert_shearman lars_pearson book wanting believe critical guide lone gunmen rated episode stars called best standalone x-files years overall positive episode saying features created superb x-files episode stated eerie surreal quality dialogue comic relief cryptic insights key characters left wondering sort trouble bend reacted positively numerous references fox_mulder finally episode compared work series paula_vitaris cinefantastique gave episode moderately positive review awarded half stars noted short plot makes long atmosphere mood number eerie images
Via Negativa (The X-Files)