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Existence
"I've never delivered a baby."
Written by Chris Carter
Directed by Kim Manners
Directed by Kim Manners
"I'm sure that this looks untoward, but my life is in danger. And my baby's. There's a man who's pursuing us and it is very important that he not find us here."
— Dana Scully
Alien Super Soldiers continue to pursue Scully and Reyes as Scully prepares to give birth, while at the FBI building Mulder, Doggett and Skinner investigate how deep The Conspiracy goes.
Tropes:
- Actor Allusion: This time Doggett (Robert Patrick) is on the receiving end of a super strong and durable inhuman opponent determinedly chasing his car on foot in a parking garage while trying to flee.
- Apologetic Attacker: Krycek to a slight degree towards Mulder, seemingly regretful and hesitating with killing him long enough to be stopped.
- Away in a Manger: William's birth has multiple parallels to the Christ birth story. This includes the proverbial Star of Bethlehem (which leads Mulder to the abandoned town where Scully gave birth) and The Three Wise Men as portrayed by the Lone Gunmen. An interesting birth, given that Mulder is a agnostic and Scully a Catholic—the symbolism probably wasn't missed by either of them.
- Bad Boss: Kersh as usual, though Doggett finally turns the tables on him and informs him he is under investigation for his involvement with The Conspiracy.
- Big Damn Heroes: Skinner just in the nick of time to save Mulder from Krycek.
- Birth-Death Juxtaposition: Scenes of Scully's labor is juxtaposed with scenes of a chase scene in the FBI garage that ends with Alex Krycek's death.
- Delivery Gal: Monica delivers William, and is nervous about it at the beginning of the episode.
- Dead Guy Junior: William is named after both Scully and Mulder's fathers.
- Ghost Town: Scully and Reyes escape to one of these to avoid the Super Soldiers while Scully gives birth. It doesn't work.
- Imperiled in Pregnancy: Scully gives birth in the middle of nowhere because indestructible super-beings are out to take and/or kill her child. And just then they gather while she's in labor, just as Scully thought she was safe.
- Karmic Death: After tormenting Skinner and manipulating him for seasons, Skinner breaks his hold over him and finally kills Krycek once and for all.
- Killed Off for Real: Krycek's backstabbing and scheming finally backfires and he is gunned down by Skinner in the FBI parking garage before he can murder Mulder. Later returns as a spirit.
- Myth Arc
- Rewarded as a Traitor Deserves: Krycek's betrayal of the heroes in this episode proves to be his final one.
- Screaming Birth: Scully, though at least half of her screams are directed at the Super Soldiers standing outside.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Several characters are forced to do this throughout the episode, thanks to the invincible nature of the Super Soldiers.
- Sealed with a Kiss: The very last scene of the episode, following an equally heartwarming scene of Mulder and Scully admiring William.
- Shut Up, Hannibal!: Doggett delivers a righteous and long overdue one to Kersh for his corruption. Informing Kersh he is now under investigation by him and Agent Reyes.
- Three-Month-Old Newborn: Averted. Jerry Shiban (son of producer John Shiban) played baby William, and was only a couple weeks old at the time of filming. Kim Manners, in the DVD commentary for this episode, laughed at the situation of having to re-cast William for season 9. Apparently, all babies don't look alike and having to find one that looked like Jerry was not as easy as it sounded.
- Why Don't You Just Shoot Him?: Played with. It is very much implied Krycek does not want to kill Mulder, and hesitates for so long having him at gun point that Skinner is able to swoop in and save the day before he can.
Scully: From the moment I became pregnant, I feared the truth... about how... and why. And I know that you feared it, too.
Mulder: I think what we feared were the possibilities. The truth we both know.
Mulder: I think what we feared were the possibilities. The truth we both know.
