The End (The X-Files)

"The End"
The X-Files episode
The X-Files office on fire after being set by the "Cigarette Smoking Man"
Episode no.	Season 5 Episode 20
Directed by	R. W. Goodwin
Written by	Chris Carter
Production code	5X20
Original air date	May 17, 1998
Guest stars
William B. Davis as Cigarette Smoking Man Chris Owens as Jeffrey Spender Nicholas Lea as Alex Krycek Mitch Pileggi as Walter Skinner Mimi Rogers as Diana Fowley John Neville as Well-Manicured Man Tom Braidwood as Melvin Frohike Dean Haglund as Richard Langly Bruce Harwood as John Fitzgerald Byers Jeff Gulka as Gibson Praise Don S. Williams as First Elder George Murdock as Second Elder John Moore as Third Elder Martin Ferrero as Shooter Michael Shamus Wiles as Black Haired Man Orest Blajkevitch as Anatole Klebanow Patrick Phillips as Clinician #1 Paul Moniz De Sa as Clinician #2 John Trotter as Clinician #3
Episode chronology
← Previous "Folie a Deux" Next → "The Beginning"
List of Season 5 episodes List of The X-Files characters

"The End" is the 20th episode of the fifth season, and 117th overall of the science fiction television series The X-Files. The episode first aired in the United States and Canada on May 17, 1998. "The End" subsequently aired in the United Kingdom, Ireland and was eventually released for broadcast to mainland Europe. The episode was written by executive producer Chris Carter, and directed by R. W. Goodwin.

The episode starts with the assassination of a chess grandmaster which leads Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) into an investigation that they soon discover strikes at the heart of the X-Files when they learn that the real target was a telepathic boy named Gibson Praise. The episode earned a strong Nielsen household and syndication ratings in the United States compared to previous episodes of the season, it was generally well-received by fans and critics alike.

The episode was penned down by Carter, the episode features what would become the recurring character of Diana Fowley, portrayed by Mimi Rogers. As a season finale, it created loose ends for both The X-Files feature film, and the subsequent season opener, "The Beginning". The tagline for this episode is "The End".

Plot

In a stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, an international chess tournament is held between Anatole Klebanow, a Russian grandmaster, and Gibson Praise, a young American prodigy. In the rafters, the Shooter, an MIB assassin, prepares to fire at Gibson. However, Gibson senses the Shooter's presence and manages to discreetly dodge the shot, which kills Klebanow instead.

Elsewhere in Canada, the Smoking Man is found by Alex Krycek. At FBI Headquarters Skinner reveals to Mulder that Jeffrey Spender is leading the case investigating the shooting. Despite Spender's request that Mulder not be involved, he bursts into the meeting and offers the explanation that the assassin was firing at Gibson, not the Russian. In the meeting is Diana Fowley, an acquaintance from Mulder's past. The Cigarette Smoking Man is reunited with the Syndicate members, including the First Elder and the Well Manicured Man, who want him to help them with the situation concerning Gibson. Fowley accompanies Mulder and Scully as they go visit Gibson. Mulder believes that Gibson can read minds which is why he's so good at chess. Scully learns that Mulder and Diana know each other from long ago.

Mulder goes to see the shooter, despite Spender's objections. Mulder wants to give the shooter immunity in exchange for testimony, which the shooter refuses. Gibson proves his abilities to a group of clinicians while Scully and Fowley watch. The Guard at the prison hands the shooter a flattened Morley cigarette box that says he's a dead man. Scully visits the Lone Gunmen, wanting them to analyze the data from Gibson. She asks them who Diana is, and they tell her she worked closely with Mulder when he discovered the X-Files. The Cigarette Smoking Man meets with Jeffrey in the FBI parking lot, but disappears when Mulder spots them talking. Scully and Mulder present to Skinner on Gibson, who shows extraordinary brain activities. Mulder believes that Gibson is the key to everything in the X-Files and wants to make a deal with the shooter. Diana and Skinner think this may result in adverse attention from the Attorney General and the X-Files could be closed down if things go wrong, but Mulder dismisses that risk.

Mulder meets with the shooter again, who tells him that Gibson is a missing link. Mulder believes that Gibson has genes that are dormant in most humans. The Cigarette Smoking Man dismisses the Well Manicured Man's concerns about Mulder's actions. At the prison the guard kills the shooter. Diana Fowley, protecting Gibson in a hotel room, is shot shortly afterwards and Gibson is captured by the Cigarette Smoking Man's minions. Skinner tells Mulder of the shooter's death and that a flattened Morley cigarette box was found in his cell. Mulder confronts Spender, accusing him of working with the Cigarette Smoking Man. The Cigarette Smoking Man turns Gibson over to the Well Manicured Man. Scully is informed by Skinner that the Justice Department is seeking to have the X-Files shut down. Mulder realizes that this was all part of a plan. The Cigarette Smoking Man takes Samantha's X-File from Mulder's office and lights the room on fire. As he leaves he meets Jeffrey, and tells him that he's his father. By the time Mulder and Scully arrive the X-Files are completely destroyed.

Production

The episode introduced two new characters in Gibson Praise and Diana Fowley. Kim Manners said of Jeff Gulka, who portrayed Gibson, "There was something about that kid's personality that really came off on screen. He really exuded an intelligence that was pretty special. Chris saw what Bob Goodwin did with him and he knew that this kid was a special storytelling tool for the chronicle of the X-Files". Chris Carter said that Fowley "was a character you were destined to hate because she was a competitor for Mulder's affection with Scully. Gillian Anderson said, "She didn't make it easy on Scully. I think she was aware of her effect on Mulder and on the situation."

This episode was the last filmed in Vancouver, Canada prior to production moving to Los Angeles, California. The move was influenced in part by David Duchovny, who after five years of filming wanted to be closer to his wife. The audience at the chess match was made up of local fans as a 'thank you' to the city for hosting the production during its first five years. The chess match was filmed at Rogers Arena (known as GM Place at the time), the home of the Vancouver Canucks as well as the Vancouver Grizzlies at the time. While the producers expected five thousand people to show up, twelve thousand appeared. Instructions were given to the crowd by director R. W. Goodwin using giant video screens attached to the scoreboard. During breaks between shooting concession stands, music and videos were made available to the attendees. Actors Duchovny and Anderson also answered questions for the audience and over $20,000 worth of equipment was raffled off. Chris Carter directed the second unit filming for the episode in order to be with the show's Canadian crew members.

Reception

This episode earned a Nielsen rating of 11.9, with an 18 share. It was viewed by 18.76 million people.

External links

• "The End" on The X-Files, an external wiki
• "The End" at the Internet Movie Database
• "The End" at TV.com