8x01 Within
Synopsis
Newly appointed Deputy Director Kersh organizes a manhunt for Mulder and assigns Agent John Doggett to head the team. Scully and Skinner go along with the investigation but are warned by Kersh that they will be fired if anything is said about aliens. Scully, along with the Lone Gunmen, surmise that the Bounty Hunter is trying to erase all evidence of abductions and they realize that he may be going after Gibson Praise, who is now living at a school in Arizona. Agent Doggett comes to the same conclusion and his team race Scully and Skinner to the school where they find Mulder trying to kidnap Gibson.
Writer/s: Chris Carter
Director: Kim Manners
Originally aired: 5th November 2000 (in the US) - 14th February 2001 (in Australia)
Quotes
Scully: I don't believe this.
Skinner: This isn't about finding Mulder - this is about Kersh covering the FBI's ass.
Scully: Why do I get the feeling they'd be happy if we never found him at all?
Scully: Mom, it's Dana. I, uh... I'm sorry I haven't called you in a while. I've been busy with work and, um, with something... else that I should probably tell you about in person. I mean, I don't even know if you're in town or if you're checking your messages. But, um... but I really need to see you and talk to you. There's a lot of stuff that's going on with me right now and, um... and I just really need to talk.
Scully: What are you doing here?
Doggett: I could ask you the same.
Scully: I came by to feed Mulder's fish.
Doggett: And then you got tired and decided to take a nap.
Links
Episodes: Fanpop and SideReel.
Transcripts: Episode transcript.
Screen captures at: The X Files Screen Grab Archive
Episode related fanfic: Page 1
Season 8 Gag Reels: Part 1 and Part 2
Mods thoughts and discussion attempts
Gosh, I really hate this episode. For the simple fact that they try and make us believe throughout season seven, Mulder was dying and planning for his death by getting the Mulder family tombstone engraved. Yeah ok, I really got the vibe that Mulder was dying and his health was declining in season seven, how about everyone else? *rolls eyes*
Aside from that, I cant stand the introduction of Doggett and not just because he’s seen as DD’s “replacement” - cos I like Robert Patrick as an actor - but because Doggett starts out really unlikeable. Its not really a great idea in my opinion to have your new main character to be such a pain in the arse.
I like that Skinner gets some more screen time. I wish he could’ve had more to do with the X Files this season, rather than Scully getting a new partner, but that would’ve meant a demotion, obviously, and I always secretly felt like he deserved it anyway, for losing Mulder.
I love Scully in this ep. I always get a bit sad when she goes to Mulders and falls asleep on his bed. I want to hug her! And then the whole thing gets ruined by the appearance of Agent Snoopy-pants.
Extra
The name of Mulder's mother is given in most X-Files sources as Teena; however, when the Mulder family tombstone is shown in this episode, her name is spelled Tena.
This episode marks the first major change to the opening credits since the show first started with new images, updated photos for David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson and the addition of Robert Patrick to the main cast.
The titles of this two part season premiere 'Within' and 'Without' is from a line by Deep Throat in the season 3 premiere 'The Blessing Way'. When Mulder talks to him in the dream state, Deep Throat says "Go back. Do not look into the abyss or let the abyss look into you. Awaken the sleep of reason and fight the monsters within and without."
Agent John Doggett is named after sports commentator Vin Scully's co-commentator, Jerry Doggett. Vin Scully is the man after whom Dana Scully is named.
Dedication: In Memoriam - Jim Engh 1961-2000. Jim Engh was a member of the production crew who was electrocuted while filming a scene from a scaffold for this episode. Six other crew members were injured in the accident.
In the intro to this episode, when the tube is pulled from Mulder's mouth, it appears the same as the one pulled from Scully in the The X Files movie.
When Doggett picks up the file on Gibson Praise you can see that part of the number that is shown when he looks at it is 1013 which is Chris Carter's birthday.
Recycled Actors
Jeff Gulka reprises his role as Gibson Praise.