X-Files Episode Guide: The Gift

Written by Frank Spotnitz

Directed by Kim Manners

After almost half a season where 'the search for Mulder' has been put on the backburner in order to pursue manbats, killer slugs, and rolling mystics, it is refreshing to at least finally to have an episode where we are finally looking for Mulder. (The fact that the calendar for this search has become confusing because the writers can now no longer agree when he disappeared is just par for the course for the X-Files by now) That it chooses to do so by having us look not through alien abduction, but rather about a murder that Mulder might have committed, is actually rather intriguing, as well as the fact that it seems to finally be dealing with the mysterious brain ailment he seemed to be suffering from at the time of his departure. And maybe the fact that we are finally seeing Duchovny - albeit in flashbacks - may have been enough to sate the demand of the viewers who have stood by the series through this long and mostly disappointing slog.

The problem, its just not enough. There's the fact that Mulder is barely getting any traction in one of his rare appearances on the series, but considering we've basically gone without him for a third of the season makes it a little less irritating in retrospect. It's a little more bizarre not to have Anderson appear in the episode at all, save for flashbacks to Within, and even less explanation for that. But there's enough presence of Mulder throughout the episode to almost make the story work - had they stuck with it. Unfortunately, Spotnitz doesn't seem to have enough confidence in this to make the story work, so he tries to merge it with a monster-of-a-week episode. The monster is certainly disgusting enough to make it sound intriguing; however, its all spoiled by the fact that we learn that this hairy, deformed beast is actually the only character in the town of Squamash who seems to be doing things for the greater good. Its an interesting story, but rather than follow its obvious connection to Mulder - it appears that he chose not to add to its suffering, but rather attempt to end its pain. Noble, Mulder, but you couldn't have decided to tell anyone about it?

Now, I'll admit there are some decent ideas floating about, and the presence of Robert Patrick slowly trying to assemble them, almost makes it work. Doggett's determination to find the truth, and bring peace to this creature is noble, and Patrick gives a steady performance throughout putting the pieces together. But its filled with so many holes that it doesn't quite come together. The people of Squamash are clearly yet another example of the X-Files town with a secret they will kill to protect, and while for once its a good thing, it's really nothing we haven't seen before, and done better. It's a little more dramatic to have them actually shoot and kill Doggett - unfortunately, the series will be doing that a bit too often this season - but it seems a little extreme for it to be happening to a new character. And there's never any real idea how the soul eater could manage to somehow take Doggett's death away from him. You would think that the old woman who was protecting would've tried something like this before rather than have the FBI put three bullets in his chest.

But the most troubling thing comes at the end of the episode. Doggett wants to write a report revealing what has actually happened, and Skinner convinces him to repress it, because telling the truth would stop the search for Mulder too long. (Hasn't been going anywhere for awhile, Walter, but let's put a pin in that.)  Considering that the mission statement for the X-Files for the last seven years has been tell the truth and shame the devil, its a little worrisome that now the message is we must lie to go forward. Scully is lying about her pregnancy, Skinner is lying about having seen the UFO that took Mulder, and now Doggett is being told to lie  about the last thing Mulder did before his abduction. It would be one thing if this subterfuge was being carried out in order to find Mulder, but both the FBI and the series no longer seem to consider that a priority. It's supposedly symbolic that Mulder makes this ghostly appearance in the X-Files to symbolize that Doggett has finally begun to get in Mulder's head; its seem to be like he's Marley's ghost trying to warn his successor that this is a dangerous ground he's towing. Unfortunately, neither the series nor its characters will take any notice of this.

The Gift works a lot better than some of the episode that we've been getting recently, but that seems to speak rather poorly for how the writers have been doing than any real strengths of the episode itself. The performances are a little stronger (though the Lone Gunmen really seem superfluous by this point), but basically it seems telling that it this point X-Files is depending more upon the hint of Mulder than any actual story. And considering what's coming quickly for the series, that's a really dangerous game for the show to play.

My score: 2.5 stars.