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There were so many emotions I felt with this finale unlike any of the past seven seasons. Part of me knew that this would be the last episode that we will see Scully and Mulder as the central characters. Another part of me knew that this episode would set the stage for Doggett and Reyes, the "Next Generation" if you will, for the just recently announced Season 9. And if any of you are regular X-File net surfers like myself, *that* decision by FOX is extremely controversial with the fans. But I will touch on that a bit later as well as a future "Season 8" review in my Musings section.
However, the biggest emotion I felt was sadness. I have watched the show and the characters evolve from the very first season. It is difficult to believe that eight seasons have past. Both Mulder and Scully have gone through hell and back several times over. I felt for these characters like one would feel for an old friend. They were definitely the heart and soul of an investigative unit that they (and the actors who portray them) will forever be linked to for many years to come. Hence, like many other fans, I come to think of "Existence" as not only the end of an era, but the end of the series as we all knew it.
Now, before any of you think that I am not going to watch the new season with two different F.B.I. agents investigating the paranormal and government conspiracies, you are mistaken. I am enthused with the idea of Doggett and Reyes trying to uphold the spirit and the legacy of what Mulder and Scully have accomplished. If Chris Carter and the gang, particularly Gilligan, Shiban and Spotnitz, concentrate on the series much more than most of this past season, I think they still have the chops to give us the excellent, compelling stories that the last few episodes of this season has produced. I was attracted to the series because of *what* was investigated, not *who* investigated them. However, I must admit that Mulder and Scully have a rare chemistry that made me look forward to every episode, whether it was outstanding or mediocre. I am sad that Mulder and Scully are not going to be a staple of this excellent sci-fi series, but I will respect the actors' wishes to move on with their lives and let people who are still *very* enthused about doing it (Robert Patrick, Annabeth Gish, Mitch Pillegi and TLG) make their own stamp on the show.
Okay, enough about that, on with the review...
If you all remember the previous episode, "Essence," Mulder, Skinner and Doggett were doing their best to protect Scully and her unborn child from the evil alien replicant known as Billy Miles. Agent Reyes was called in to get Scully out of D.C. to (hopefully) a safe place for her to have the baby. Meanwhile, Mulder pushed Billy off the roof of the J. Edgar Hoover Building into a trash compactor.
Exciting cliffhanger to set us up for the finale. Yet, I was wondering how in the world Chris Carter would be able to wrap up eight years of conspiracies and Mulder and Scully's relationship in less than an hour. After watching "Existence," I have mixed feelings about whether things were truly wrapped up. On the other hand, the episode certainly felt like the close of one era and the start of another.
The mystery surrounding Billy Miles and the other alien replicant's objective is very much still a mystery. Obviously, they are a part of colonization plans, but what Billy was doing in "Essence," where he destroyed evidence of a conspiracy and killed doctors associated with that conspiracy is still puzzling. If Miles and the other replicants wanted Scully dead, why did they allow her to have her baby? And why did they not take her baby? I have yet to understand if that was truly explained or resolved in the episode.
There is speculation that Knowle Rohr and Agent Crane were the "bad" alien replicants and Miles and the others that showed up at Scully's baby's birth were "good" alien replicants. It has to be noted that Knowle wanted to find Billy Miles so that he could "deal" with him. And there has to be some shred of truth when he mentioned that Scully was part of the military project that produced people like Billy Miles and allowed a barren Scully to be pregnant. Those points should certainly be explored next season.
As for Krycek's death, that was really no surprise. Part of the idea that the past eight years would be closed is that a major recurring character had to die. Mulder, Scully and Skinner are too much a part of the X-Files mythos to be killed off. Could you imagine the backlash that Ten-Thirteen or FOX would receive from such a plot device? Besides, Krycek was a good bad guy if he had something to bargain with. He really didn't this time around, and Skinner was due to kill him. I'll miss ratboy, but I'm sure his presence will still be felt in the future.
The last 15 minutes was nothing short of awesome pacing and story-telling. I like the quick cuts between Scully and Reyes struggling with childbirth as a crowd of alien replicants watched, and the struggles of Doggett and Skinner with the two alien replicants, Rohr and Crane. Though the car chase in the garage was much quicker in pace than Scully's childbirth scene, both were equally as nail-biting.
I've read people's comments on the bulletin boards about the correlation between Virgin Mary delivering the baby, Jesus, with a bright star shining in the heavens to mark the birth to Scully's own childbirth with a bright star shining in the heavens as noted by both Reyes and Mulder. That's an interesting point that I wasn't paying attention to during the episode. Though I'll talk about the baby's parentage a little later, the idea of God and immaculate conception is something that was hinted at in Mulder's own musings in "Essence." The very fact that the alien replicants found out where Scully was hidden to witness the birth for themselves is very much in relation to the Christian beliefs of Jesus' own audience at his birth in Bethlehem. You got to love Chris Carter's take on Judeo-Christian beliefs. He just likes to put an X-Files' spin on things.
The last 5 minutes were simply worth the wait of most of this season. There was the opening of a new chapter in the series with Reyes officially coming on to the X-Files at Doggett's request. I love how both he and Reyes rubbed Kersh's face into the fact that his office was being investigated in the conspiracy with Knowle and Agent Crane. Even though we never witnessed the actual meeting, Kersh's pause certainly signified an admission of guilt. I honestly believe that Doggett is staying with the X-Files as a way to get back at Kersh for being a true horse's ass. To top it off, Reyes does not seem the least bit concerned with any threats that Kersh is more than ready to make in regards to career or reputation. Season 9 starts to look better and better.
Of course, the truly great scene for me was the final one with Mulder and Scully. It was also the end of an era. The tender moment they shared only justifies what I have believed from the very beginning: Mulder and Scully belong together. No other kind of ending for these two characters would have been appropriate other than dying together. One cannot be associated without the other, and that is something Carter and gang found out with so many people this past season unhappy with the lack of any chemistry between Doggett and Scully. It's like trying to boil an egg without water. You only end up burning the egg.
Hence, both Mulder and Scully believe that little William is their child. Though how that came to fruition is still nothing but speculation by any fan, but I firmly believe that only one of two scenarios could have happened. The first is the most obvious...that Mulder's "donation" really did culminate in fertilization with Scully's ova. Sometimes, nature takes over where science may fail. The other scenario was brought to my attention from a friend.
We know that Scully asked Mulder for his sperm in flashbacks of "Per Manum." We also know that Scully left a very happy Mulder in bed in "all things." Is it possible that the two timelines may have been close enough where they "did the deed," and Scully was naturally made pregnant? Another friend mentioned to me that the chip that was re-implanted into Scully's neck in "Redux II" could have allowed Scully to be fertile again. Since we're not privy to their private lives, it is very possible that Mulder was the only intimate partner she had during the entire period leading up to her pregnancy.
Now, for those of you who don't believe that little William's paternity was explained, remember that this is the "X-Files" after all. Nothing is truly spelled out, but all you have to do is watch Scully's reaction to what Mulder believes is the truth about her baby. She truly felt in her heart that Mulder is the father of her baby. When he told her what they were both afraid to believe - that they truly did conceive the child - she felt a sense of inner peace, because he admitted it. Just like their love for each other, they were always afraid that the other didn't feel the same way. Thus, they always kept their emotions in check, but never their hearts. When Mulder finally admitted to the truth, she did as well. Hence, the romantic kiss that you see in the pic above with their baby between them - a truly happy ending to eight years together.
So where does the series go off from here? We already know that David is not coming back in any kind of regular basis next season, but Gillian will to a certain extent. I think that Mulder will still be a presence in the show just as he has this past season, but we just won't see him. Scully will most likely stay close to home and have Doggett and Reyes investigate in the field. They will probably consult her in their cases as well as confer with Skinner and The Lone Gunmen. I'm sure we will hear more about Doggett's past and what makes Reyes so damn sunny! Not to mention that there are those sweeps periods where David might just want to stop in and say hello...
A final couple of words to the fans who have had issues with another season...DON'T WATCH! I am the last person to have an issue with someone's comments. I am an advocate for free speech in all of its forms, whether it be despicable or beneficial. However, I don't understand why any person would like to inflict themselves with frustration over something they have no control over. You're not happy with the show? DON'T WATCH! You hate the idea of another season because it isn't the same as the "good ole days"? DON'T WATCH! You think that the series is over for you because no more Mulder and Scully moments? DON'T WATCH! You believe Carter and Ten-Thirteen have no idea what the hell their doing with the show? DON'T WATCH!
It's better to be ignorant than sound stupid to the millions of devoted fans who are more than happy to take your place in a heartbeat. Let the show be. It has already fulfilled legendary status. Anything more is gravy.
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