episode season science fiction television series files premiered fox network february episode written executive producer chris_carter frank_spotnitz directed helped explore series overarching mythology introduction black oil storyline milestone series black oil later play larger role series including playing pivotal role files movie earned nielsen household rating watched million people initial broadcast episode received positive reviews critics centers fbi special agents fox_mulder david_duchovny dana_scully gillian_anderson work cases linked paranormal called files episode french salvage ship sends diving crew recover mysterious wreckage world war crew falls prey bizarre illness forcing fbi special agents fox_mulder david_duchovny dana_scully gillian_anderson investigate source investigation brings face face written showcase visual images chris_carter wanted include script beginning deep sea finding living pilot trapped wreckage world war era fighter plane second black white flashback taking place submarine title episode reference middle gillian_anderson daughter born production second season plot french salvage vessel exploring pacific_ocean member ship crew sea finds sunken fighter plane world war shocked find man alive plane cockpit looks like black oil eyes returns surface possessed black oil washington walter_skinner tells agent dana_scully fbi investigation sister murder inactive despite evidence recovered fox_mulder tells scully laid anchor coordinates ship believed salvaged ufo came port san_diego crew found suffering radiation burns aboard ship agents find traces black oil diving suit viewing video dive scully identifies sunken plane returns home searches wife joan arrives black oil passes scully visits old friend father commander seeking information plane admits sent find sunken bomber aboard submarine recalls aboard sub suffered radiation burns joined mutiny commanding officer succumbed black oil mulder visits home finds passed covered black oil memory experience mulder finds letter salvage broker visits broker secretary mulder follows office invaded armed men mulder joan follow hong_kong mulder learns selling government secrets mulder tracks arriving office mulder finds waiting inside having selling contents digital tape escapes window shot group men coming hallway mulder escapes joan walks hall encounters men creating flash causes suffer radiation burns skinner initially confronted men including told pursue case skinner later shot mulder catches airport tells tape locker washington exchange letting mulder lets bathroom confronted joan departs bathroom leave mulder eyes infected black oil production conception writing conception episode originated visual images series creator chris_carter wanted include script beginning deep sea finding living pilot trapped wreckage world war era fighter plane second black white flashback taking place submarine director shared carter experiences diving feeling episode based finding creepy underwater good idea carter wanted episode feature emergence documents seen earlier paper clip frank_spotnitz began working episode immediately writing earlier season episode rest concept flight minneapolis ended writing ideas magazine having brought paper included outline investigation scully sister murder title episode reference middle gillian_anderson daughter born production second season french wife reference special effects producer filming post production episode cold open filmed water tank replica plane designed art director needed direct scene gillian_anderson react memory playing sister child scene involved digitally children playing anderson footage asked anderson act tree sister later telling going tell everybody great reaction tree episode ending originally duchovny walk past camera continue screen feeling effective replaced walking shot continued straight camera noting nick jump truck think scene better screen appearances black oil achieved visual effects oil effect digitally placed actors post production crew went find right types according physical effects mix oil believed gave substance look special effects technician able digitally bend oil effect shape actors eyes man plane teaser worked construction coordinator felt episode fulfilled life long dream working purposely left ending credits order preserve sense surprise reception ratings premiered fox network february broadcast united_kingdom bbc november episode earned nielsen household rating share meaning roughly percent television equipped households percent households watching television tuned episode total million viewers watched episode original airing reviews received positive reviews critics overview season entertainment_weekly episode rated review described featuring tough sentimental scully noting action packed detective work mulder enhance scenario vanderwerff gave episode wrote positively mythology noting great thing belongs period time mythology episodes exposing pieces puzzle fitting things meant incorporate time meet black oil obvious know gave episode complimented introduction black oil writing episode good introduction black oil virus providing bridge mythology elements earlier season larger scope conspiracy revealed empire named sixth greatest episode series describing thrilling balanced introduction black oil episode met positive criticism oil described original frightening creation mythology best parts listed number den geek files countdown described central series mythology gillian_anderson considered episode emotionally difficult saying challenging having pull past brought present past good play director kim_manners complimented anderson performance stating look season look season girl exploded actress terms talent capability film alien predator featured named naming ship nod episode
Piper Maru