William

A badly disfigured man attempts to get hold of an X File, a man who could possibly be Mulder.

This is a real mixed bag I thought, some elements were pretty good, some were pretty poor.

First off, it was good to see Scully centre stage, she's been the outsider throughout this series, it feels like quite some time since they explored her troubled motherhood.

On the downside, I'm not sure I was totally sold on the idea of him potentially being Mulder, mannerisms, accent, I know physically there were similarities, but surely highly trained and Killed FBI agents would know.

Worst of all, the story itself, it was just so bleak, almost every aspect of it was sad, from the central character, to the final outcome.

William is not an episode I'd want to return to in a hurry, 6/10.

Yet another episode displaying how the series declined towards the end. Poorly written with incredulous decisions once again by Scully to let complete strangers stay in her house with easy access to her baby. Says a lot about a series where we are willing to believe in UFOs and aliens, but they throw it all the way in writing in bizarre character decisions that don't fit in with what we know about them. Also, the desperation of Chris Carter and the other producers trying to cling on to the over-stretched conspiracy arc (that should have finished 2 seasons ago) is embarrassing. The original concept of the X-Files was about FBI agents investigating un-explainable cases. The sky's the limit from that point, the writers can imagine whatever they like and have produced some excellent episodes over the years. Instead, they've ran out of ideas and seem to have given up the game by this point. Last episode was called jump the shark, might as well call 'can't be bothered to jump the shark'.

I'm in a rewatch and season 9 is the worst season, while season 8 gets a bad rap too I actually really enjoyed it.

This particular episode was just lazy and poor storytelling. The disfigured man is revolting and you get the feeling they did that to spice things up but it's not done well.

Scully is center stage for once this season but it's a shame it's wasted on a crap story. Oh and yes, she's crying again, that's really getting old. I really need to speed up and close out season 9 so I can get to the reboot seasons with mulder and scully. The last episode jump the shark was really excellent, so there are some bright spots in season 9 but this episode can absolutely be skipped, 4/10.

"William," the sixteenth episode of the ninth season of The X-Files, directed by David Duchovny, delivers a deeply emotional and controversial chapter in the series' mythology, primarily concerning the fate of Dana Scully's (Gillian Anderson) son, William. This episode grapples with themes of sacrifice, destiny, and the burden of protecting loved ones, yet its narrative choices have sparked debate among fans regarding their impact on the characters and the overall storyline.

The episode centers around Scully's horrifying discovery that a grotesquely disfigured man caught lurking in the X-Files office has DNA matching the long-missing Fox Mulder. This disfigured man attacks Doggett while trying to retrieve X-Files for Mulder. Flashbacks reveal William being given up for adoption to a couple in Wyoming. One week earlier, a heavy-breathing man observes William, now in his new home. A series of events unfolds, highlighting the extraordinary nature of William and the continued threats surrounding him. The agents detain a scarred man caught breaking into the X-Files office and attempt to determine his true identity. Doggett finds a strange, disfigured man in the X-Files office and, on a whim of Scully's, they test his DNA. The surprising answers they find become even more surprising when William's life is put on the line. Scully ultimately makes the heart-wrenching decision to give William up for adoption to protect him from those who seek to exploit his unique abilities.

Visually, "William" maintains a somber and suspenseful atmosphere, enhancing the episode's emotional weight. Duchovny's direction effectively captures Scully's internal struggle and the sense of impending loss. The scenes are imbued with a palpable sense of dread and the cinematography underscores the tension between the agents' desire to protect William and the forces conspiring against them.

The performances in "William" are particularly noteworthy. Gillian Anderson delivers a powerful and heart-wrenching portrayal of Scully as she confronts the impossible choice of giving up her son. Her emotional depth resonates throughout the episode, conveying both her strength and vulnerability in the face of unimaginable circumstances. The supporting cast effectively contributes to the narrative, though the focus remains squarely on Scully's journey and her maternal sacrifice.

Thematically, "William" explores the complexities of parenthood and the sacrifices parents make for their children's well-being. The episode delves into questions of destiny versus free will, as Scully grapples with the belief that William is destined for a life of persecution due to his extraordinary abilities. It also examines the moral implications of making such a profound decision, leaving audiences to ponder whether Scully's choice was ultimately the right one. Many viewers still can't fully grasp the justification for sending William away.

"William" is a deeply moving episode of The X-Files that tackles difficult themes with emotional resonance. While the decision to give William up for adoption has been met with mixed reactions, the episode's powerful performances and exploration of sacrifice make it a memorable chapter in the series' mythology. "William"'s final sequence of Dana crying over William and him being in his new home stirred up so many emotions. The plot points never made sense to some viewers. Ultimately, this episode invites viewers to reflect on the lengths to which parents will go to protect their children, even if it means making choices that defy easy answers or conventional expectations, leaving an enduring impact on the show's narrative legacy.

Despite Fox Mulder's absence, Chris Carter managed to make the last two seasons of the X-Files, highly enjoyable (with a few exceptions.) What I liked about 'William' for instance was that it was a good episode that revolved around Scully, not Doggett or Reyes. Directed by David Duchovny, the story goes on about a stranger, who states that some kind of conspiracy did tests on him that have scarred his body. Scully can't identify the man, but when the man offers her information about Mulder and starts having a strange interest in her son, William, Scully is forced to make a hard decision, which in a way wraps up some of the complex mythology that has been going on for the last three years. However,with that said people will agree/disagree with me. This episode is often criticised of being slow-paced and trying to end the on-going story of The X Files too ambitiously with a sense of emptiness. I myself, like this episode but I believe it could probably have done a lot more to appeal to a wider range of people.