Knowledge (XXG)

One Breath (The X-Files)

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address inside. Mulder bursts into the Smoking Man's home and holds him at gunpoint, demanding to know why Scully was taken instead of him. The Smoking Man claims he likes both of them, which is why she was returned; he reveals that he told Skinner that Mulder shot the man in the parking lot, although he didn't believe this to be true, incidentally revealing himself as being unaware of who did, namely X. He tells Mulder that he'll never know the truth if he kills him, and Mulder decides not to.
542:" for him. The show had been so dark and bleak, and Jim and I feel that there is a side to the paranormal that's very hopeful. We wanted to do that side of it. I thought it would be a great opportunity for Duchovny, but then the situation came up with Gillian's pregnancy. We needed to get her off her feet anyway." Consequently, Gillian Anderson, who had just given birth to her daughter Piper days before this episode spent the majority of the episode in a hospital bed. 516: 550:
cut adrift and slip into the unknown". Skinner facing the Smoking Man placed the character as "both an antagonistic and institutional figure" that tries to be both an FBI agent and an ally of Mulder and Scully—his refusal to allow the Smoking Man to smoke in his office "speaks of alliances and allegiances to Agent Scully and his hatred of this man he cannot vanquish, he cannot get rid of, but he has to tolerate".
1336: 611:, the episode was rated a B. Its "absurd symbolism and the introduction of Scully's dopey New Age sister" were criticized, but it was felt that these elements did not prevent "One Breath" from being a "richly layered installment". It was also felt that the episode featured "arguably Duchovny's best performance". Reviewer Zack Handlen of 500:
information on Scully, will search his apartment. Mulder is waiting with his gun at his apartment when Melissa arrives. Although he initially refuses to leave, Melissa convinces Mulder to see Scully. While with Scully, Mulder holds her hand and talks to her. Returning home to find his apartment trashed, he sits on the floor and cries.
595:, ranked the episode as the eighth best in the series' run, calling it "just too unforgettable". Sordi added that "verbal sparring matches between Mulder and Scully's equally feisty sister, Melissa, created an interesting dynamic in the absence of Scully's perspective". Nick De Semlyen and James White of 549:
episode to begin with", and that the related scene with Scully's tombstone was "a soft but beautiful opening" that "sets up the episode in a frightening way". The image of Scully in the boat was meant to symbolize "being tethered to something very tenuously, and that there was a chance for you to be
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hailed "One Breath" as an essential episode of the show. He felt that there was a "sloppiness to the mythology" and that "the resolution of the whole coma situation is weak". However, the "incredibly moving moments" and highlights such as Mulder attacking the Smoking Man and Skinner's speech about
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Scully has a vision of sitting in a boat, attached by rope to a dock where Mulder and Melissa stand with the mysterious Nurse Owens behind them. Frohike visits Scully and sneaks out her medical chart, which the Lone Gunmen investigate. Byers finds that Scully's blood contains branched DNA that may
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In another vision, Scully lies on a table and is visited by her deceased father. Mulder, with Melissa in the hospital cafeteria, is asked by a woman for change for the cigarette machine. When she says that a pack of Morleys is already there and leaves, Mulder opens it and finds the Smoking Man's
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he had in Vietnam. He refuses to accept Mulder's resignation, and Mulder realizes that he was the one who provided him with the Smoking Man's location. Heading to the parking garage, Mulder is met by X, telling him that he'll have a chance for revenge that night when men, believing him to have
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named it the fifteenth "greatest" episode of the series, considering it a "testament to the X-Files writing staff's ability to turn the temporary loss of one of the stars into a compelling, suspenseful and worthwhile piece of the overall mythology".
507:. Scully tells him she doesn't remember anything after being kidnapped by Duane Barry. Later, Scully asks one of the nurses if she can see Nurse Owens, but the nurse tells Scully that no nurse named Owens has ever worked at that hospital. 45: 454:), tells Mulder a story about Dana shooting a snake with her brothers as a child and regretting what she did. She indicates that she is ready to let go of Dana and shows Mulder Scully's gravestone. Mulder, however, refuses to give up. 410:) has continued his work without her, but is still investigating her disappearance, believing her to have been abducted by aliens. His investigations into similar abductions in the past have been aided by 328:. "One Breath" earned a Nielsen household rating of 9.5, being watched by 9.1 million households in its initial broadcast. The episode received mostly positive reviews from television critics. 457:
Scully then turns up mysteriously at a hospital in a coma. An out-of-control Mulder demands to know how she got there and is escorted out by security but calms down and meets with Dr. Daly (
366:", this time centered on Duchovny's character Mulder. The episode also introduced the character of Melissa Scully, an attempt to provide a romantic lead for Mulder which was later dropped. 362:
Anderson returned to the series only days after having given birth, missing the previous episode due to her pregnancy. Morgan and Wong attempted to create a version of the earlier episode "
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The episode title, "One Breath" comes from a line from Scully's father when he talks to her during the episode. The character 'The Thinker', who later appears in person in the episode "
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Later, Mulder visits Scully while another nurse takes her blood. A mysterious man steals Scully's blood sample and runs. Mulder chases him to the parking lot where he is confronted by
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said of the episode, "What's so unusual about "One Breath" is that it had very little to do with our usual X-File stuff. It was more about human emotions, drama, relationships".
535:, who specifically wrote the part with her in mind. Thoughts were given to having a romantic interest between Mulder and Melissa, but the concept never came to pass. 503:
Scully awakens the following day, and Mulder is called to the hospital to see her, where she indicates that she heard his voice while in her coma, and he returns her
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declared "One Breath" to be one of the series' most popular episodes. Co-writer James Wong also enjoyed the episode, saying "I really love that show". Director
527:" was named after online X-Files fan 'DuhThinker'. The episode introduces Melinda McGraw as Scully's sister Melissa. McGraw had previously worked with writers 495:
Mulder returns to FBI headquarters and types a resignation letter that he hands to Skinner. Skinner visits his office as Mulder is packing and relates an
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Chris Carter described the opening scene—in which Scully discovers the truth about death, sadness, and sorrow—as "a way he would never imagined an
476:, who demands that he stop pursuing what happened to Scully and let her die. X then executes the man who stole her blood. When Assistant Director 461:), who reveals that no one can figure out how she got there or what's wrong with her. At Scully's bedside, Mulder meets her older sister Melissa ( 1365: 1329: 805: 148: 139: 1027: 981: 962: 941: 997: 379: 359:". Mulder attempts to investigate what has happened to her, but finds himself hindered by a man he had believed to be an ally. 332: 1266: 1147: 1117: 1339: 1020: 283: 1048: 539: 363: 266: 622: 1231: 488:
is responsible for what happened to Scully. Mulder demands to know where he is, but Skinner refuses to tell him.
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of 9.5 with a 16 share, meaning that roughly 9.5 percent of all television-equipped households, and
1161: 484:) calls Mulder to his office regarding the incident, Mulder denies any involvement and claims that 469:
have been used for identification but now is inactive and a poisonous waste product in her system.
355:. In the episode, Scully is found comatose in hospital after her abduction in the earlier episode " 1090: 862: 1007: 977: 958: 937: 815: 810: 515: 387: 348: 171: 1189: 485: 473: 447: 411: 391: 232: 175: 166: 162: 390:) is currently missing, having disappeared after being kidnapped by a deranged multiple- 931: 572: 504: 477: 462: 431: 423: 407: 340: 313: 208: 199: 157: 144: 1354: 1294: 952: 867: 626: 613: 481: 451: 427: 419: 317: 309: 204: 186: 153: 135: 74: 591:"One Breath" received mostly positive reviews from critics. Nina Sordi, writing for 1287: 1217: 435: 321: 195: 180: 618:
Vietnam turned it into an episode "more about the moments than the big picture".
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of households watching television, were tuned in to the episode. A total of
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Anderson had given birth to her daughter days before filming "One Breath".
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Carter, Chris (2000). "Chris Carter Talks About Season 2: "One Breath"".
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Writer Glen Morgan said of the episode, "Duchovny challenged us to do a "
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is visited by the spirit of her father, during her near-death experience.
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households watched this episode during its original airing.
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The Truth is Out There: The Official Guide to the X-Files
324:. The episode helped to explore the series' overarching 351:) who work on cases linked to the paranormal, called 834:"X Cyclopedia: The Ultimate Episode Guide, Season 2" 1137: 216: 125: 117: 102: 94: 80: 70: 57: 23: 804:Semlyen, Nick De; White, James (October 2013). 1028: 8: 414:, a trio of conspiracy theorists made up of 18:8th episode of the 2nd season of The X-Files 605:In a retrospective of the second season in 1035: 1021: 1013: 43: 20: 909:Academy of Television Arts & Sciences 645:for Outstanding Cinematography - Series. 643:Academy of Television Arts & Sciences 767: 765: 637:"One Breath" earned a nomination for an 747:The X-Files: The Complete Second Season 723:The X-Files: The Complete Second Season 698: 696: 694: 684: 682: 680: 678: 676: 654: 7: 312:, and featured guest appearances by 744:Nutter, David; et al. (2000). 254: 220: 806:"The 20 Greatest X-Files Episodes" 781:Sordi, Nina (September 22, 2009). 14: 1361:1994 American television episodes 861:Handlen, Zack (August 29, 2008). 1335: 1334: 278:" is the eighth episode of the 563:"One Breath" premiered on the 59: 1: 1366:The X-Files season 2 episodes 936:. Little, Brown and Company. 670:Lovece (1996), pp. 126–129. 106:November 11, 1994 1382: 661:Lowry (1995), pp. 179–180. 394:in the two-part episodes " 1325: 1055: 863:"3/One Breath/Firewalker" 783:"Top 10 X-Files episodes" 265: 255: 221: 132: 42: 32: 954:The X-Files Declassified 573:Nielsen household rating 888:Edwards (1996), p. 105. 702:Edwards (1996), p. 104. 571:. The episode earned a 951:Lovece, Frank (1996). 793:on September 27, 2009. 688:Lovece (1996), p. 130. 520: 497:out-of-body experience 292:. It premiered on the 1239:Die Hand Die Verletzt 972:Lowry, Brian (1995). 930:Edwards, Ted (1996). 771:Lowry (1995), p. 249. 711:Lowry (1995), p. 180. 518: 300:. It was written by 191:John Fitzgerald Byers 933:X-Files Confidential 915:on October 30, 2013. 839:Entertainment Weekly 608:Entertainment Weekly 331:The show centers on 842:. November 29, 1996 822:on April 10, 2014. 725:(DVD featurette). 521: 286:television series 217:Episode chronology 1348: 1347: 1118:I Want to Believe 957:. Citadel Press. 816:Bauer Media Group 569:November 11, 1994 446:Scully's mother, 298:November 11, 1994 272: 271: 251: 250: 183:as William Scully 127:Guest appearances 103:Original air date 1373: 1338: 1337: 1267:Fearful Symmetry 1148:Little Green Men 1037: 1030: 1023: 1014: 1000:on TheXFiles.com 987: 976:. Harper Prism. 968: 947: 917: 916: 911:. Archived from 895: 889: 886: 880: 879: 877: 875: 858: 852: 851: 849: 847: 830: 824: 823: 818:. Archived from 801: 795: 794: 789:. 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Index

The X-Files

Dana Scully
R. W. Goodwin
Glen Morgan
James Wong
Sheila Larken
Margaret Scully
Melinda McGraw
Melissa Scully
Mitch Pileggi
Walter Skinner
Steven Williams
X
William B. Davis
The Smoking Man
Don Davis
Bruce Harwood
John Fitzgerald Byers
Dean Haglund
Richard Langly
Tom Braidwood
Melvin Frohike
3
Firewalker
The X-Files season 2
List of episodes
second season
science fiction
The X-Files

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