When the fourth season of "The X-Files" ended in June, our two favorite FBI agents were in dire straits. All in one day, agent Fox Mulder was presumed dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the face and partner Dana Scully was dying of a mysterious cancer planted in her.
As fans, we hated the wait. We have felt their pain. Throughout the season and even the hiatus, we spent valuable time sifting through the melange of case files, tracking aliens, spirits, cults, mutant beings and government officials with weird names like Cancer Man, Well-Manicured Man, Deep Throat.
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But what constitutes the truth and what is a lie? Instead of answers to last season's questions, Carter instead creates more questions, compounding the quandry of what we believe.
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| Agents Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Mulder (David Duchovny) of "The X-Flies." |
The episode picked up a "Trust No One" philosophy as a guilt-ridden Mulder (played wonderfully by David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) navigate a maze of deception to reach the truth. Using a Defense Department official's information and the clearance card of another, Mulder weaves his way through the bowels of the department to somehow uncover a cure for Scully's affliction. What Mulder uncovers is the most shocking piece of information that he has ever found.
On the other end, Scully encounters a similar fate, uncovering the evidence that could disprove everything about Roswell, the Cold War and government activities for the last 50 years.
These revelations cause the duo to question their purpose together, and the beginnings of their partnership. And with many fans catching up on early episode reruns on Fox's cable station, FX, Carter's timing is impeccable.
Let's not forget the exploits of villain Cancer Man who popped up in short intervals throughout the episode. What is his purpose? Is he getting weeded out by his superiors? And what did he mean when he said, "I made Agent Mulder."
Carter's writing style is at times poetic - sometimes too poetic in the voice-overs, like this one by Scully: "The cruelest ironies are those consecrated by the passage of time, chanced and occasioned by shocking discovery." Now tell me - how many FBI agents do you know who talk like that?
Several questions remain. Has the partnership of Mulder and Scully been a hoax from the start; nothing more than an elaborate setup by the government? Have all of Mulder's beliefs concerning the abduction of his sister and his interest in paranormal phenomena been nothing more than a ruse?
Who is responsible for the disease that currently eats away at Scully; perhaps the colleagues and officials closest to them?
Whatever happens, don't panic. Even though Carter has completely overhauled the purpose of the show without missing a beat, make sure to keep watching the reruns on FX. Week after week engrossing adventures are presented, just as exciting as they were the first go-round. Everything has purpose.
This season's premiere admirably mixed a unique brand of suspense and absolute skepticism.
Controversy has also brewed outside of the screen, as Duchovny has threatened to leave to move back to Los Angeles to be with wife Tea Leoni, and Gillian Anderson continues to see Hollywood in her future. But in an interview with USA Today, Anderson confirmed a sixth season and Carter stated that there would be more stories to tell.
"The X-Files" will be headed to the big screen this summer at the end of June perhaps to answer some more questions, perhaps to provoke some more thoughts. But, if you tune in at 9 p.m. next Sunday, beware. You might be watching for a long time - like Scully's cancer, it will grow on you.
11-04-97
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