Existence (2)

Season 8, Episode 21, Aired
EDIT

Episode Summary

With otherworldly factions in pursuit, Mulder and the agents race to safeguard the birth of Scully's child. Scully and Reyes take refuge in an abandoned town where Doggett grew up. Meanwhile Doggett and Skinner have the final showdown with Alex Krycek and continue to fight off the replicants but how successful will they be?moreless
9.0
out of 10
EPISODE RATING: Superb
220 votes
  • Your Rating: 10
    "Perfect"
  • Your Rating: 9.5
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 9
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 8.5
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 8
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 7.5
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 7
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 6.5
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 6
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 5.5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 4.5
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 4
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 3.5
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 3
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 2.5
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 2
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 1.5
    "Abysmal"
  • Your Rating: 1
    "Abysmal"
Rate It

Watch Online

Netflix
Subscription
Amazon
Buy
iTunes
Buy
Hulu Plus
Subscription
Amazon Prime
Free Trial/Subsc...

Cast & Crew

See All EDIT

Fan Episode Reviews (16)

See All

  • The true ending of the X-Files!

    9.9
    "Superb"
    By koberfan, May 28, 2011 Report Abuse
    It has always been my idea that this episode was the true ending of this fateful series. With Mulder standing with Scully and holding their son William,then all was right with the world! I truly wish that Chris Carter had ended the series on this note. The next(and last)season was just totally an anti-climax after this episode! I know that most will disagree with my opinion here,but I never felt the series ever again reached the zenith,it did with this episode.Perhaps it is the romantic in my soul,but I had always secretly wanted Scully and Mulder to truly get together and here it finally happend and with a child to boot! So to me,here, ended a series that will always be close to my heart!moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    7 0

  • The End Of The Eight Year Wait

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By Anon67683, Mar 07, 2011 Report Abuse
    Season Eight comes to a merciful end with a surprisingly good episode. Color me surprised.

    The opening teaser doesn't inspire much confidence, as the remains of Billy Miles are apparently sent to the laziest coroner in the state. Of course, Billy recovers so that he can continue to wreak havoc. Yeah, right...

    Krycek gets way too much screen time before Skinner gives him a much-needed third eye. How is it that Krycek is still involved in the whole alien conspiracy when the Syndicate has been wiped out? Who supports him? Why don't Skinner/Mulder/Doggett plug him sooner? It's a great death scene, at any rate, even if I'm not sure what Krycek means when he tells Skinner that killing Mulder will save a thousand lives.

    I'm not entirely sold on the need for Scully to travel to an abandoned town to give birth to Mulder Jr. but it does add to the whole Christ subtext. Speaking of which, Carter lays it on a bit thick with the star of Bethlehem, the Jesus stained-glass and the Lone Gunmen posing as three wise men bearing gifts. I'm not sure where the candles and Reyes' lesbian come-on to Scully fit into the picture, but hey, girls just wanna have fun, right?

    Doggett is actually very good in what turns out to be a supporting role. His refusal to buy the lies fed to him by Rohrer earn him brownie points. His action scenes with the super soliders are also very, very good, with great Steadicam work and a thumping soundtrack.

    Which brings us to the momentous conclusion, wherein Scully finally gives birth and Mulder finally acknowledges that he is the daddy. I'm still not sure why Billy and his robot friends gather to watch the birth without interfering. It renders the whole preceding search for Billy meaningless. Oh well, accept it and move on.

    As cynical as I am about Season Eight, I have to admit to having a lump in my throat during the entire final scene as Mulder and Scully embrace with baby William held between them. It's a classic moment, however contrived and overdue it might be. It's particularly poignant as it marks Duchovny's final appearance in the series (excepting the final two episodes of Season Nine).

    So, put down your hankeys and bring out the barf bags, Season Nine is up next....moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    5 0

  • The best end scene

    10
    "Perfect"
    By OnePerCentClub, Dec 24, 2010 Report Abuse
    So how long did I wait to see that? Probably 8 years. Poor Scully, giving birth to William under those circumstances was a terrible experience and not having Mulder beside her too, even when shes strong. But it was good that she had Reyes by her side.
    So finally, Krycek is gone. I dont know if it was the right end for him, he did so much damage that he couldve stayed around to suffer and pay for what he did. The last scene is the best. Mulder arriving at Scullys apartment giving us the feeling that hes at home is perfect. Then, as soon as the Lone Gunmen see him they immediately leave. Then the best... Scully (which looked amazing by the way after the whole thing), stands up and meets Mulder. They have a beautiful conversation about the name she just gave their son and as usual, Mulder jokes. Mulder holds William and its the only time we will see him do that. And its sealed with a sweet kiss.
    LGmoreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    3 0

  • very special episode i mean c'mon its scully's baby, hes born in this episode! hes so cute!

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By maverick13007, May 28, 2010 Report Abuse
    well..........ok i love this episode becuz for one thing scullys baby is born here and as much as it hurts me 2 say it belongs to mulder, well moving on i really like this episode becuz after this it also hurts me 2 say mulder leaves, i mean i know its becuz of william, but hey u didnt have 2 leave. hehe well this episode is also special becuz its like the 3 on screen kiss between mulder and scully 1(millenium) 2.(triangle, not really becuz its like back then) and this being the 3rd one. and the fact that william is born and not being taken by the super soldiers is awesome becuz the frist time i saw it i thought they were gonna take him, but i thought wrong.

    this episode also has a special thing 2 it 2. the fact that becuz william is born and all this brings scully closer to mulder even though that in per manum (one of my fav episodes) mulder deeply says that he accepts but he doesnt want this 2 come in between them.

    so thanks 2 mulder the x-files will live on and becuz of william he will be a leader to blah blah blah, no just playin, hopefully he will reunite with them in the "2nd movie" that they will hopefully do!! plz chris, john, vince, and frank do anpther movie, if they do then yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    16 0

  • Scully's baby is born, Krychek pulls his last double-cross, Monica Reyes reveals her lesbianism (naw, not really, but she says some suspicious things), and we all can all go back to living normal lives because Mulder & Scully hook-up for real.moreless

    9.2
    "Superb"
    By grifter78, May 28, 2010 Report Abuse
    Now, as I prepare to start watching season 9, I fear that it can't live up to this. Because for a season that started with alot of doubt and worry, season 8 came around and finishes in style.
    Glad it was Skinner that got to give Krychek his third eye. Those nano-attacks looked like they hurt alot.
    Great car chase too, with some excellent FX work. Scraping guys off your car with pillars at 50 mph works every time, but it usually doesn't look this good.
    And there's really no reason to name a kid after a guy's father unless...ya know. So can we all get some sleep now? They love each other, yay, goodnight:)
    I can't imagine the Season 7 finale being the series finale like it almost was, but this...this would have been perfectly acceptable.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    1 0
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

See All

  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • Goof: Skinner shoots Krycek twice in the arm which knocks Krycek to the floor. As Krycek talks to Skinner his head position implies that he's still on the floor. However, when Skinner shoots him again (in slow motion), Krycek is on his feet. Edit
    • Goof: When Reyes pulls back Billy's collar to show Scully he doesn't have any vitals, it's visible that a piece of the fake skin that covers the bump on his neck is folded over. Edit
    • When Doggett first meets Rohrer at the Bureau he shows an official FBI badge, but in the scene following he has a red (visitor's) one. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • In 2008, The Emmys Academy chose the most memorable drama TV moments. The kiss between Mulder and Scully, was in the top 5. Edit
    • This episode marks the time that Mulder and Scully finally become a couple. Edit
    • This episode marks the death of recurring villain Alex Krycek, although he appears in a hallucination during the finale. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Krycek: I could've killed you so many times, Mulder. You've got to know that. I'm the one that kept you alive. Praying you'd win somehow. Edit
    • Reyes: You're looking at me like... I don't know, I probably sound like a goof. Scully: No, no, it's not that. Um, I was thinking that you reminded me of someone that I was close to-- my sister. Reyes: You're not close to her still? Scully: Uh, she was killed... about five years ago... in my home. It was a terrible time. Oh, it's, uh... It's okay. Oh, thank you. Thank you for, um... putting this together and... it's not what I planned but, um... it's very nice. Edit
    • Krycek: It's going to take more bullets than you can ever fire to win this game... But one bullet, and I can give you a thousand lives. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • The events surrounding the birth of Scully's baby are a subtle allusion to the birth of Christ--Mulder is guided to her location by a light, three wise men (the Lone Gunmen) bring gifts, etc. Edit

Show Forums

See All
Last Activity
Replies

Watch The X-Files Full Episodes

See All

Related Shows

Season 8 Episodes

See All
Ep 21
Existence (2)
Ep 20
Essence (1)
Ep 19
Alone
Ep 18
Vienen
Ep 17
Empedocles
Ep 16
Three Words
Ep 15
Deadalive (2)
Ep 14
This Is Not Happening (1)
Ep 13
Per Manum
Ep 12
Medusa
Ep 11
The Gift
Ep 10
Badlaa
Ep 9
Salvage
Ep 8
Surekill
Ep 7
Via Negativa
Ep 6
Redrum
Ep 5
Invocation
Ep 4
Roadrunners
Ep 3
Patience
Ep 2
Without (2)
Ep 1
Within (1)

Contributors

Become a contributor
More
Less

TV Listings

Full Listings
BROWSE | Shows | Videos | News | Listings | Forums | People | Photos | TV.com Blog

CBS Entertainment | About TV.com | About CBS Interactive | Jobs | Advertise

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Ad Choice | Terms of Use