My Struggle IV
Salvator Mundi Translation
Written and directed by Chris Carter
"The person who controls your son is the person who controls the future."
— Monica Reyes
The other parties are getting closer to William for their plans to work. This is Mulder and Scully's final chance to prevent that, even if it comes with a cost.
Tropes:
- Bittersweet Ending: Mulder and Scully are too late to ensure William's safety, since he is shot by the Cigarette-Smoking Man and falls into a lake. To make matters worse, the two finally know the truth about William being the CSM's son instead of Mulder's, their X-Files is shut down by Kersh, Monica is killed, and Skinner's fate is left unknown after he was almost run over by the CSM. But Scully is miraculously pregnant, meaning the two can start over. Tad O'Malley has finally told the world about the Spartan Virus and William's powers, with Mulder and Scully as credible sources. The CSM is finally dead, after having pulled so many strings to hide extraterrestrial truths from the public. And finally, the last shot reveals that William is still alive.
- Blood from Every Orifice: When William was a child, he inflicted this on a school bully, Jerry Marriott.
- Book Ends: Mulder's first meeting with the CSM had him hold the old man at gunpoint, with the latter in disbelief that the trigger could ever be pulled. Now, Mulder's last interaction with the CSM has him go through with it... five times.
- Boom, Headshot!: Twice.
- When the CSM forces Monica to drive their vehicle towards Skinner, the latter shoots the driver four times. The last bullet strikes her head.
- Finally, the CSM does this on who he thinks is Mulder. It turns out it was actually William, but he learns this at the wrong time.
- Call-Back: When William impersonates Mulder through his illusion abilities to ask the CSM if it's worth shooting him. The CSM responds with this:
- Grand Finale: Considering Gillian Anderson's decision to leave the show after Season 11, Chris Carter's satisfaction with the "series finale" feel of this episode
and Fox's co-CEO Gary Newman revealing the lack of plans for a possible season 12, it can be described as such. - Internal Reveal: Skinner finally comes clean to Scully about William's real father, since he and the audience learnt this through the CSM's conversation nine episodes ago.
- Ludicrous Gibs: One of William's powers is revealed to be this in all it's bloody glory, with Erika Price being one of the unfortunate victims.
- Multiple Gunshot Death: Mulder shoots the CSM five times after seeing him shoot William. Let's just say the chainsmoker had it coming for a long time.
- Oh, Crap!: Erika Price has a horrified stare at William after he blew her military personnel to bloody bits, staying that way for the final time when he uses his powers on her.
- You Wouldn't Shoot Me: William tries this excuse when being held at gunpoint by the CSM.William: I don't think you can do it.
Cigarette-Smoking Man: Then you don't know me very well.
"It's more than impossible."
