“I found something I thought I’d lost … faith to keep looking.” – Fox Mulder.
END GAME [Mythology] Aired February 17, 1995
Episode: 2×17 / 41 Overall
Director: Rob Bowman • Writer: Frank Spotnitz
Mulder attempts to catch an alien bounty hunter who holds the key to his sister’s whereabouts.
The conclusion to the two part mythology story line that began with Colony, which is arguably the superior of the two, thanks mainly to the competent direction from Rob Bowman. This is the first credited work of Frank Spotnitz who will go on to become a key collaborator in the series as a writer and executive producer, contributing to both feature films and creating the short lived spin-off series, The Lone Gunman. Spotnitz also worked as a producer on Harsh Realm and Millennium, two other Carter produced shows, and has returned for the 2016 mini-series event. Spotnitz worked closely with Carter over the years to develop the mythology of the show. A great deal of what will become the tangled web of secret government conspiracies, interwoven counter-plots and entangled backstories was intricately constructed by these two. End Game heaps exposition at us by the bucket load at such an overwhelming pace that it’s difficult to take it all in upon first viewing. Spotnitz attempts to answer the questions left by Colony though in the process we’re left scratching our heads, searching for the missing pieces while second guessing the information handed to us, is this the ever elusive ‘truth’, or yet another deception? Even so it’s a hell of a ride.
The pacing of this episode is tighter than it’s predecessor and Bowman’s direction shapes a more noticeably polished experience. The scenes in Alaska towards the end of the episode are a definite highlight, the submarine/spacecraft submerged in the ice provides a memorable visual spectacle that is a key element to the climactic finish of this two-parter. Once again the relationship between the agents is tested, only to be strengthened further by the events that take place. Scully is, somewhat disappointingly, placed in the damsel-in-distress role once again, relying on Mulder to save her. However, the tables turn and Scully plays the role of savior, returning the favor. If anything this episode shows us that Mulder and Scully are a team and when they’re separated physically or at odds with one another, trouble will ensue. Furthermore, beyond their mutual respect that exists between them on a professional level, there is a willingness to go beyond the requirements of the job description in order to help one another. There is little doubt at this point that these two agents share more than a professional relationship, considering all they’ve been through it’s clear that they are prepared to go the extra mile for each other. Even if Scully doesn’t believe to the extent that Mulder does, she does however believe in his convictions and is willing to fight for the cause, even while battling her own conflicting feelings regarding the facts from a scientific perspective. This is of course what makes the dynamic between them so compelling.
Scully attempts to enlist Skinner’s help when Mulder performs his disappearing act but she is met with hostility and a resistance to lend support. However as we’ve begun to expect from Skinner, he is all to aware of his superiors discovering where his allegiance lies and he turns out to, literally, fight for the information which helps save Mulder’s life. Scully contacts X using Mulder’s usual method though he is unwilling to help when he finds out it’s her. Skinner however confronts X as he attempts to leave the building which results in a violent encounter. Proving conclusively that Skinner is in fact willing to risk a great deal for his subordinates on a personal and professional level, and has a personal stake in the X-Files unit. This is a turning point for the character of Skinner whom we now see as a true ally to the agents. In the position that he’s in, Skinner is perhaps more aware of how deep the conspiracy goes than Mulder himself, who is really at this stage of the game still quite naive.
Introducing Samantha only to effectively kill her off in the next episode feels a little cheap. It might have been nice to keep her around a little longer before revealing the truth about her so that as an audience we could develop a relationship with the character which would in turn give the reveal more impact. On a positive note, the Bounty Hunter’s shape-shifting ability is a great device at creating tension as we’re never sure exactly who is who in this story. During the interaction between fake Mulder and Scully in her apartment there’s really no way to tell whether it’s him or not and this very effective. Even during the final encounter in the submarine you’re just about to start trusting the disheveled and frightened crew member before he reveals his true nature. Overall, the Colony / End Game story-line establishes some rich mythology based plot that really helps to begin to flesh out the X-Files universe and show us what the series is capable of.
★★★☆☆
The X-Files Retrospective Project 