files twelfth episode eighth season american science fiction television series files premiered fox network february episode written frank_spotnitz directed monster week story unconnected series wider mythology episode received nielsen rating viewed million viewers overall episode received mixed reviews critics 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 string bizarre deaths tunnels boston subway system sees join team professionals underground investigate scully train authorities land determined trains running hours allotted huge budget fact replica boston subway recreated later called eventual set biggest damned thing seen life effect producers unorthodox ingredients create effect melted flesh addition use normal prosthetic combination plot boston undercover cop waits subway suddenly suspicious man appears jumping fare barrier eventually train police officer draws gun man starts walk suddenly subway comes halt flashes light seen train loses power later train running batch enter subway car find undercover cop flesh half face left arm stripped bone agents scully arrive operations center investigate greeted deputy chief transit police want fbi job fast order reopened hours irritated scully performed autopsy body autopsy scully idea killed man unable find biological chemical agents subway scully soon introduced strike force going subway investigate group includes structural engineer employee specializing scully decides plan work better acts eyes ears situation cameras watch hear happening plans leads team dark tunnel tunnels gets burn neck suggesting chemical leak test nearby shows dangerous salt water mentions tunnels run harbor places sea water time time moving ahead team finds abandoned section subway tunnels tunnel bursts man rib cage teeth exposed knocks suspected eaten away like man condition proves kill man fact looking teams discover bodies injuries wrapped plastic soon clear covering problem subway spots unknown person running away subway team follows group approaches spot train lost power starts crying pain visible electrical flashes start destroying skin left arm scully tells pour water stops flashes takes badly injured surface continues onward returns surface getting worse appears healthy scully sees bodies taken away non people scully confronts says organizing scully tells organized collect bodies accuses attempting cover tries deny involvement eventually allows send bodies actual tunnels notices green glow lit subway station refuses allow lieutenant leave runs away forcing chase learns scully gone ahead plan allowed passengers platforms subway start despite danger analyzing water samples found scene scully meets marine biologist explains sample contains unique microscopic sea creature called calcium know electrical reaction happens finds wounded finds condition gotten worse carries helps continue tunnels soon encounter boy signs green substance scully realizes sweat causing chemical electrical reaction calcium boy developed sweat affecting follows boy major leak bay green glow walls suddenly oncoming subway approaches group allowed subway resume schedule uses gun connect rail water kill preventing exposure later scully comes hospital scully informs plastic boy social services criminal charges pressed electrical charge rail destroyed proof tunnel production written executive producer frank_spotnitz directed reportedly scope episode huge budget allotted entry episode written place subway system set meeting requirements script created eventual set designed mirror actual boston subway system serves people day according star got built huge subway tunnel set patrick later described set biggest damned thing seen life real life boston subway system called short changed fictional purposes effect producers unorthodox ingredients create effect melted flesh addition use normal prosthetic combination characters episode named real life individuals characters named writers guild x-files staff served eighth season furthermore character named vice president 20th century served publicist series broadcast reception aired fox february episode earned nielsen household rating meaning seen nation estimated households episode viewed million households million viewers episode ranked 41st watched episode week ending february episode subsequently debuted united_kingdom bbc fox promoted episode tagline underneath street lies ultimate terror critical reception episode mixed television pity writer rated episode despite moderate praise morgan portrayal subway noting realistic wrote set subway station world trash apartment robert_shearman lars_pearson book wanting believe critical guide lone gunmen gave episode mixed review rated half stars despite writing paper right episode right time criticized episode noting teaser makes sense light relations offered appearance mute boy ending abrupt zack_handlen awarded episode noting episode possessed decent ideas wasted setting story sparks largely blamed episode antagonistic organism noting memorable monster despite wrote positively use scully arguing fun episode watching scully watch team slowly work closed subway tunnels finding bodies wrapped plastic mysteries paula_vitaris cinefantastique gave episode slightly negative review awarded half stars despite noting episodes butt crawling relief people die skin muscles fried away microscopic sea creatures called vitaris critical plot movies featured official insisting plane fly skyscraper fire proof potential staring face later admitted episode favorite written concept wasn clear compelling sustain hour
Medusa (The X-Files)