paper clip paper clip second episode season american science fiction television series files premiered fox network september directed written series creator chris_carter paper clip featured guest appearances episode explored overarching mythology fictional history x-files paper clip earned nielsen household rating watched million people initial broadcast paper clip received highly positive reviews critics generally considered critics cast crew best episodes series centers fbi special agents fox_mulder david_duchovny dana_scully gillian_anderson work cases linked paranormal called files episode mulder scully investigate information secret government records finding nazi scientist working operation responsible creating race human alien hybrids paper clip concludes episode storyline carrying second season finale season premiere blessing way creators series likened themes episode star wars trilogy referring revelations mulder father choice referring forced choose fox samantha taken plot continuing previous episode dana_scully gillian_anderson walter_skinner mitch_pileggi hold gunpoint fox_mulder david_duchovny person lingering outside apartment bursts forces skinner gun demands skinner surrender digital tape skinner insists keeping tape saying leverage exposing conspiracy agents visit showing old photo featuring smoking man deep throat members syndicate lone gunmen recognize notorious nazi scientist brought united_states informs scully sister condition mulder persuades scully visit hospital targeted furious wrong person murdered syndicate demands smoking man produce tape smoking man promises following day mulder scully visit says photo taken mining facility west_virginia agents leave calls man informs mulder alive news causes syndicate smoking man hospital visits suited man nearby mulder scully arrive mining facility code constant given unlock reinforced doors inside agents discover large complex filing containing smallpox records tissue samples mulder finds sister file finds originally meant skinner tells smoking man found digital tape smoking man agitated insisting deal skinner threatening life hearing noise mulder heads outside witnesses ufo flying overhead inside small beings run past scully cars armed soldiers arrive forcing agents flee agents meet skinner rural maryland skinner wants turn tape exchange safety initially mulder agrees let skinner turn tape skinner heads hospital told albert mysterious blue suited man outside skinner chases man attacked beat unconscious steal tape narrowly escapes attempt life car explodes subsequently phones smoking man telling tape contents public come smoking man lies rest syndicate telling scully assassin killed car bombing tape destroyed mulder scully return greenhouse finding man admits knowing mulder father states helped gather genetic data post apocalyptic identification data work alien human hybrids samantha taken ensure silence learned experiments mulder confronts mother tells father chose samantha taken fbi headquarters skinner meets smoking man tape smoking man calls skinner bluff knowing longer tape skinner reveals albert contents tape ready reveal mulder scully harmed mulder meets scully hospital reveals sister died hours mulder tells scully believes truth x-files scully tells heard truth wants answers themes book x-files argues episodes like paper clip later episodes like public trust science proposes scientists ing fabric life causing public faith science fade drastically concern notes directly addressed x-files episodes notes scientists portrayed x-files depicted connection ancient evil lone exception agent scully paper clip main scientists nazi episode proceeds scientific pursuits soon begin paint scientist goes far factor argues public science practitioners production aliens episode run past scully mining facility portrayed children aged spacecraft spotted mulder achieved crane lift lights building mulder outside constant code access mining facility episode code error scully mulder use code unlock door fact constant mining facility named real life german scientist employed united_states world war fictional based accused conducting similar experiments humans identical victor german jew escaped persecution world war fleeing american controlled territory filmed british_columbia canada episode dedicated internet fan died car accident story editor frank_spotnitz said episode love paper clip thrilled plot know moved fast people actually think shows don need understand think exciting rocket speed everybody mark david performances direction chris_carter writing terrific said finished paper clip thought don know going year mitch_pileggi called episode finest particularly enjoying line tells smoking man kiss ass claims favorite lines scene frequently introduce files conventions creators likened themes episode star wars trilogy referring revelations fox_mulder father choice referring forced choose fox samantha taken carter included motif white buffalo reading news story birth white buffalo feeling image potent mind entirely fit beliefs episode broadcast reception paper clip premiered fox network september broadcast united_kingdom bbc september 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 paper clip received highly positive reviews critics generally consider best series overview season entertainment_weekly paper clip rated called outstanding episode scully accept paranormal making contact seen ing trend writing todd_vanderwerff rated episode felt strengths came parallels real world history handling operation actions west cold war noting united_states western nations survive onslaught communism cold war ones nations citizens pause stop think cost living free episode parts story arc listed concurrently second best episode series den geek noted plotline laid mythology arc rest series adding brought significance come
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