X-Files 9.16 FAQ
What’s it called?
“William.”
Who’s responsible?
Teleplay is credited to Chris Carter, from a story by Carter, Duchovny and Frank Spotnitz.
What does TV Guide say?
“David Duchovny co-wrote and directed this episode, which centers on the alien mythology. The story begins when Doggett catches someone in the X-files office trying to steal documents pertaining to Mulder's sister. The intruder is a severely scarred man who blames his disfigurement on Government conspirators. He says the source of that information - and, in fact, the one who helped him gain entry - is Mulder. Although he refuses to divulge the missing agent's whereabouts, the mystery man has enough knowledge of the X-files and its history to lead Doggett to suspect that he just might be Mulder himself. Dr. Newman: David Fabrizio. Dr. Edwards: Cyd Strittmatter.”
What is TV Guide not telling us?
If you’ve been reading this site’s “X-Files” spoilers regularly, you already know the identity of the disfigured dude.
Does knowing the identity of the disfigured dude in advance ruin the episode?
I don’t know. I thought this week’s installment pretty mediocre, but Fox, Cartter & Co. have been publicizing Duchovny’s on-screen return for the finale. If the disfigured fellow is Mulder, he’ll obviously be back to normal by Memorial Day. So not much dramatic tension there.
The big news?
In the teaser, part-alien baby William is delivered into the adoptive arms of an isolated farm couple. Scully is nowhere about.
Is the farm couple named "Kent"?
Mr. & Mrs. Van de Camp.
What’s good?
The final shot.
What’s not so good?
Again, if you’re a regular reader of Coaxial, you’ll be pretty bored. The only real point of interest is learning why William falls into the hands of the farm couple. (Those with more emotional investment in Scully and her kid than I do may be a lot more caught up in this installment than I was.)
How about dealing with the big questions with inviso-text?
Okay.
Who is the disfigured man Doggett thinks is Mulder?
Spender (Mulder’s half-brother).
What is the disfigured man up to?
He wants to inject Scully’s half-alien baby with a solution that will take away William's superpowers.
Does the disfigured man succeed?
Apparently.
How does William wind up with the farm couple?
Even though Spender manages to make William fully human again, Scully understands that evil forces will never stop looking for the tot. So William is left to be raised by people who have no idea about William’s unique hertiage and identity.
Herc’s rating for “X-Files” 9.16?
**
The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:
