The X-Files (TV Series) Existence (2001) User Reviews

Well, there's no water from this rock.

[Muldernscully · 8/10 · 22 October 2007]

Existence has Scully and Reyes heading to a ghost town out in the middle of nowhere, hoping that the Billy Miles can't find them there so that Scully can deliver her baby. According to the audio commentary by director Kim Manners, the script originally called for them going to a farmhouse and all the action taking place there. Manners prevailed upon Chris Carter to change the setting to a ghost town so that he could spread out his scenes. The set reminds me of the old town from Roadrunners at the beginning of the season.

Reyes' whale song is an interesting bit and continues to set her apart as a unique FBI agent. Her way of getting feelings about places reminds Scully of her sister Melissa and her new-ageness.

Earlier in the series, Scully asked Mulder, "Where is this going to end? What do you hope to find?" In this episode, Doggett basically reiterates to Mulder the same questions that Scully asked him. Mulder replies, "Maybe it doesn't." I found this parallel to be interesting. And Mulder is right in a way. Until they find a way to stop alien colonization, it will never end.

As is almost always the case in movies and television, Scully's delivery is very contrived. She luckily goes into labor shortly after arriving at the town. She's ready to deliver shortly thereafter. Real childbirth is nothing like you see it on TV or the movies.

At first I was thinking that the FBI wasn't a very secure place with Billy Miles and Krycek seemingly being able to enter at their leisure. Later, the security breach appears to be explained by saying that Agent Crane, a Super Soldier, is getting them access from the inside. Still, security doesn't seem to be a high priority there.

Krycek has a very cool death scene. It was sad to see him go, but he went out in style. Kim Manners says its one of the best moments he has seen on television.

Mulder arrives in the ghost town via helicopter. Where did Mulder get these helicopter connections? Anyway, the show ends with plenty of overt symbology relating to Christ's birth, with Mulder following a light(star) and the Lone Gunmen portraying the three wise men bearing gifts. It's cheesy and a bit heavy-handed.

Before I end, I'll share some additional thoughts from Manner's audio commentary that I found remarkable. He likes to use dripping water whenever he can. He likes geography shots over master shots. He misses the Syndicate and it was his idea for the car chase and the cgi bullet that killed Krycek.

Thanks to some great suggestions and direction by Kim Manners, Existence is a quality episode. However, the whole Super Soldier storyline continues to confuse, lessening my enjoyment of the episode. Scully even asks Mulder directly, "Why didn't they take my baby?" Mulder says, "I don't quite understand that either. Except that maybe he isn't what they thought he was." You just get a "they're making it up as they go along" kind of feeling with this new myth/arc direction.

It's sad to see Mulder go, but thankfully the X-Files doesn't end here.

Precisely Why the X-Files is one of the Greatest Television Shows Ever

[joshua-a-mcknight · 10/10 · 12 April 2007]

I won't bother to summate this episode, but I will say that it is a culmination not just of the past season but of everything the X-files is and has stood for. This gem stands as a prime example of the greatness of the X-files - writing, directing, acting, everything is superb. It rivals most big screen movies, and yet it's part of a television show that is decades old.

The music, the tension, the emotion, and the action are breathtakingly brought to climaxes in this episode. There is something for everyone, including 'shippers' ;). *spoilers* I love the parallels made to the birth of Christ in the birth of Scully's baby. So many questions are raised that I wonder why in the world this show was canceled. If they brought it back today it would be as popular as ever.

Here's to hoping that not just the X-files two gets made, but several movies after that.

A truly great end to the series.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 10/10 · 30 September 2022]

Agent Reyes is tasked with taking Scully to a place of safety, leaving Mulder, Skinner and Doggett to deal with a seemingly unstoppable Billy Miles.

This was a fantastic end to the series, I'd put it up there with thr best of them. I've been frustrated in the past by overly complex stories, where they've intimated at tying loose ends, but haven't. Here it felt like we got some answers, Scully's baby and Krycek being two cases in point.

A breathless episode, this is one that had me on the edge of my seat, the momentum built and grew. Once again I got more than a vibe of Terminator 2, felt like a real thumbs up to Robert Patrick.

I go into series 9 with high hopes, series I 8 started well and concluded in remarkable fashion, I have to be honest, it's up there with my favourites, and for me was a big improvement over series 7.

That final scene was quite telling, it looks like we have a slightly different setup for the next episode.

Classic, 10/10.

Season 8 Review

[ametaphysicalshark · 9 April 2008]

I really would have been pleased if Season 7's "Requiem" was the series finale for The X-Files, but only because season 8 was surplus and led to the disappointing season 9. Season 8, however, despite lacking Mulder for a significant number of episodes and containing some lesser episodes, is really one of my favorite seasons of The X-Files, with a lot to recommend.

First off, the 'old' mytharc effectively finished with "Requiem". Say hello to the new mytharc. Fans, including me, have been guilty of generalizing when speaking of the later mythology episodes, because as evidenced by ratings from this site and others and many reviews that have been written on them, all but the last two mythology episodes from season 8 are very, very well-liked. The last two have more critics because they were the real beginning for the deservedly hated 'super soldiers' storyline. It's refreshing to see such a significant focus on the mythology arc again (nine of the 21 episodes are mythology episodes), and within the context of the season, these mythology episodes are really quite excellent, some of them being absolute favorites for me, such as "This is Not Happening", "Deadalive", and especially what I consider a real classic and something of a MOTW meets mythology type episode, "Vienen", which features Mulder and Doggett's only investigative partnership, which is really too bad, considering their effortless chemistry.

With the excellent mythology episodes lifting the average score for the season, the standalones do suffer a bit, although it's nice to make a clean break from the sunny, humorous season 6 and 7 episodes and return to the gloomy feel of earlier seasons (kudos to the directors and cinematographer Bill Roe for making this aesthetic work). Most of them are good, some truly outstanding ("Roadrunners", "Alone", and especially "Redrum", which is one of the best standalone episodes for the entire series), and some significantly weaker ("Badlaa", "Surekill").

I didn't mind Mulder being gone for the first part of the season as much as I did when initially watching the season on TV as part of its original transmission. I find that every time I see Season 8 on DVD it improves. Watching the episodes closer together, one gets a sense of how much the creative team was aware of the need to revitalize the series and not play it safe ala Season 7.

Season 8 is a season that continues to grow in my estimation and currently stands as my third favorite season, not a commonly shared sentiment, but one that I think will continue to grow in popularity as more casual X-Philes continue buying the DVD sets and watching this season this way. I think Robert Patrick made for a truly great addition to the cast and John Doggett an excellent character. Season 8 is a thrilling, dark, action-packed season of television which seems just a little unsure in places but quickly makes up for it. The excellence of this season makes Season 9's relative mediocrity seem even more disappointing in retrospect.

Season average based on ratings for all episodes: 7.95/10

This one should have been the end

[NoisySnails · 9/10 · 13 December 2015]

I've long known that X-Files would never find a way to tie up the loose ends in a satisfactory way. My only hope is that the series ends on a dignified note without opening any further mysteries the writers will be unable to wrangle. X-Files Season 8 Episode 21: Existence would have been that point and I find it rather disappointing that the decision was made to pursue a ninth season.

Season 8 comes to an action packed close with the continued terminator-like determination of Billy Myles and the growing cadre of super-soldiers. There is some intense vehicular action in the FBI parking garage that is some of the finest the series has ever produced. The action reaches a boiling point with what may be the final showdown between Skinner and his long time nemesis Krycek.

There are still a multitude of problems with this episode primarily in the form of Agent Reyes. The stilted acting and strange writing choices do their damnedest to remove any enjoyment. The scene in which Reyes attempts to sooth Scully with a mimicked whale sounds was more than a bit embarrassing for the actor and the viewer. Reyes has been imbued with a brand of oblivious stupidity usually reserved for Homer Simpson.

The episode ultimately culminates in the birth of baby William, and finally after 182 episodes of X-Files we are witness to a romantic kiss between Mulder and Scully. As many ups and downs as the series has had in storyline and quality, this moment was every bit as satisfying as I had imagined. Though there are still outstanding story lines this would have been the ideal moment to end the series. Unfortunately season 9 looms and while I'm fully on Team Doggett, I'm not optimistic the series can find a more fitting end.

And we waited...

[hurlock · 10/10 · 18 June 2019]

...8 long years for a kiss. Well worth it. Well done, Chris.

"There was a light, I followed it."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 23 August 2017]

The story opens with Billy Miles (Zachary Ansley) back from the trash heap and subject to an autopsy. At just about any point in the prior episode 'Essence' and this one, you would have to ask yourself just how silly it's all become, especially with that twisty metal remnant pulled from the scraps of hamburger that was once and future Billy. Okay, we had the bit about 'smart metals' from a previous episode, but this was way beyond the beyond.

And I don't know about you, but how about that job Agent Reyes (Annabeth Gish) did in converting the dumpy cabin into a first class birthing facility overnight? She didn't even look tired the next morning. She said something to Scully that just about sums up one's feelings for this story - "I don't know if I'm feeling paranoid, but something feels off".

Apparently I'm not the only one who was reminded of the bright star in the night sky over Bethlehem that brought the Three Wise Men to the birth of Christ. When Mulder uttered that line in my summary above to Scully, I had to contain a groan because of the blatant symbolism offered. It wouldn't have been the first time either, as the Season Four ender titled 'Gethsemane' likened Christ's betrayal by Judas to Mulder's fate in a cliffhanger ending that was resolved at the beginning of Season Five.

I can understand now why a lot of viewers were getting fed up with the story lines offered by the series, as the convoluted nature of the characters seemed to be written by a seat of the pants approach. The replicant posse standing down after all the hype about coming after Scully's baby was the biggest head scratcher in this one, so much so that even Mulder didn't have a clue. And riddle me this - with the idea that Scully's implant six years earlier was designed to cause her pregnancy, what are we to make of Mulder's sperm donation? With another season to go, it'll be difficult to refrain from sarcasm reviewing any of the upcoming myth arc stories.

Merry Williammas!

[Sanpaco13 · 5/10 · 11 October 2009]

I had an interesting thought while watching this episode. I wonder if everyone on the show was just as bored and sick of doing the show as Duchovny was but were stuck doing something with it because of contracts and such. That would definitely explain the lazy writing and convoluted and uninteresting mythology episodes that everyone hates so much. This episode is only slightly better than Essence. The teaser is the most interesting part where we see Billy Miles' vertebrae spinning around and magically regeneration a new terminator spine or whatever. After that there is a bunch of sexual tension between Scully and Reyes that has led many to wonder as to Reyes preferences in that area, and more confusing super soldier crap. If all of these people are super soldiers just like Billy Miles, then why are they shooting him with a shot gun? And how did he find them out there anyway? Apparently they followed the star of Bethlehem or something. Then Reyes finds out that the sheriff lady is a super soldier and a huge crew shows up but they all collectively change their minds about taking the baby and instead decide that they were just curious? Mulder even admits to not understanding what the freak is going on with this stupid plot at the end of the episode. Other than that, there is the death of Krycek which was a little too random for me. I still don't quite understand why all of a sudden Skinner decided that now was the right time and all the hundreds of times before when they could have killed him weren't. And that seriously lame moment where Krycek tells Skinner to shoot Mulder and then there's a little second where the cinematography tries to get you to think Skinner is actually going to do it? Come on give the viewer's some credit. Oh yeah Skinner is really considering killing Mulder just because Krycek said to. I'll believe anything if its on TV. The final redemption for the episode is the car chase out of the FBI garage where Agent Crane goes all gremlin on the Blazer and then Knowle Rohrer crashing into the median. Good chase scene. And Reyes whale sounds are stupid. I love how she just happened to find fresh clean towels in an old dusty cabin. And how she's all bragging about her psychic energy feelers or whatever but then she invites the super soldiers into the cabin for a front row seat to the delivery? Where were your energy feelers on that one genius? Finally, the end scene with the three wisemen and then the Mulder and Scully on screen kiss that everyone's been pining for ever since forever and its such a special moment except there's some random baby in the way that nobody cares about and honestly could the kiss look any more awkward? They're standing like a foot away from each other (making room for the holy alien baby) and then Scully grabs Mulder's arm instead of hugging him? What a terrible scene. 5 out of 10.

Season Eight

[zkonedog · 7/10 · 7 July 2019]

In the previous (seventh) season of the X-Files, the Mulder-Scully romantic relationship was cultivated by the writers/producers more than ever before. Thus, as the eighth season dawned without Mulder (David Duchovny signed a limited contract with the show), the tension between Scully (Gillian Anderson) and new agent John Doggett (Robert Patrick), a "by-the-book" skeptic, is wonderful. Let's quickly look at how that tension played into this season's episodes:

Mythology: Unlike previous seasons, this season had many more mythology episodes than ever before. As the season dawns, Scully is paired with Doggett, with their primary task being to determined the whereabouts of Mulder. Once Mulder is found (dead or alive, I will not reveal) the mythological focus shifts towards a new sort of government/alien conspiracy...enhanced human beings ("Super Soldiers") meant to pave the way for colonization. While the added number of mythology episodes was exciting, the dramatic material often seemed a bit contrived. The quandary the writers/producers found themselves in was that they did not know when the show would end. Essentially airing on a season-by-season basis at this point, the mythos of the show was conflicted between providing answers to previously-asked questions and creating new material.

Also present throughout the entire mythology of this season (and coming to a head in the two-part season finale) is Scully's mysterious pregnancy: Who is the father? Is the baby "normal"? This is quite a compelling thread, as it gives Anderson a chance to shine alone.

Stand-Alone: After some sub-par stand-alone efforts in Season Seven, the addition of Doggett really livened up the stand-alones this season. The tension between the now-believing Scully and the procedural Doggett is a great dramatic tool, as Scully must learn to not always "think like Mulder" while Doggett learns to take a few leaps of faith. Only 1-2 "clinker" stand-alone episodes exist during this season, with "Roadrunners" being an all-time classic.

To conclude, the Eighth Season of the X-Files succeeds in breathing new life into a show that began showing its age in Season Seven. Yet, as is true in most media efforts, nothing is as good as the original. The witty Mulder-Scully banter is no more, no humorous episodes appear this season, and the mythology plotlines often do not jive with previously established material. While not measuring up to previous seasons, this season still is a strong effort that contains many compelling hours of drama for X-Files fans.