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The X-Files Season 8 Episode 11

The Gift

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8.4

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 2/4/01

Doggett comes upon an old case that Mulder kept secret from Scully, and decides to investigate it in more detail hoping to somehow find a link to Mulder's possible whereabouts. But while investigating Doggett stumbles onto something that he never knew about Mulder but all of this information comes at a high price when his life is put in danger.moreless

Fan Episode Reviews (6)

The Gift

9.5

By TrueTvWatcher, Sep 10, 2012

The Gift was a superb and very interesting episode of The X-Files. I really liked watching because the story was intriguing and dealt with Mulder and a Native American Legend. I liked watching Scully and Doggett and Skinner as they each had great character building scenes. The creature capable of healing in an abnormal way was an engaging story line and I liked how it played out. The creature itself had some scary and sympathetic scenes. Is Mulder out there somewhere? The mixed emotions of this episode were prominent and it was great to see how some of it worked out. I look forward to watching the next episode!!!!!!!moreless
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Guest Starring David Duchovny ;)

7.9

By Anon67683, Aug 17, 2011

With the help of both a veteran writer and a veteran director, this episode is an unexpected return to form after a series of so many disappointing episodes. It's not great, by any means, but it's at least logically written and coherently directed. Yeah, I'm looking at you, John Shiban....

The big news, of course, is that Duchovny returns, although he utters not a single word during his brief, somewhat menacing appearance. Rather inexplicably, he manages to get top billing in the credits. Bet that made Anderson and Patrick feel all warm inside...

I found the premise to be interesting, even if it is weakened by an awkward flashback structure. I'm still a bit put off by the whole "Mulder was dying anyway" storyline, but this episode is perhaps as concise a way as any to integrate it into the series proper.

I cried out with joy when Doggett was plugged from behind with a shotgun. For a split second I thought his character was being pink-slipped, Jeffrey Spender-style. Then I realized that our friendly neighborhood Soul-Eater was still available and I watched with some dismay as it worked its magic on Doggett. Oh well, can't blame a guy for hoping...moreless
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Doggett goes for an old Mulder case, involving a shaman, some very dodgy beliefs and nohing much else.

5.0

By qstevie, Mar 05, 2011

I really didn't enjoy this episode at all, not because it features Robert Patrick almost throughout - I like his character and his acting.

But what was the point? I just doesn't hang together in any proper way. A healer cum monster cum supposed underdog. Mulder as possible killer. Scully not appearing at all, save for a cameo at the beginning. And why did Duchovny get top billing again? He's left the series for a while, so shouldn't he be a 'special guest star'? Especially as he has almost nothing to do with the episode except a couple of scenes.

Definitely not my favourite episode by any means. I'm guessing it was put there to counterpoint Mulder and Doggett in their approaches and what happened to them and to remind the audience that Duchovny hadn't left the series entirely, but was taking a break. So flashback is the only opportunity to do that now, having had alien bounty hunter guy.

Really not great.moreless
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What a waste...

7.0

By OnePerCentClub, Mar 05, 2011

Why was it a waste? Because of the few appearances that David Duchovny had in this season they had to come up with this plot. Why was he dying? Why did he have to be dying? They could´ve written something about the conspiracy, about aliens or about the very Mulder and Scully relationship. A flashback, something that we didn´t see and needed to be addressed. And besides, the whole thing was a little bit gross.

It was sad that the writers didn´t take advantage of David´s time. It was poorly written and to be honest, I didn´t even know that Mulder was ill. Too bad, too confusing, too late.

LGmoreless
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Doggett looks into a case that Mulder hid from Scully and the FBI, and winds up finding his own death there. No really. But he gets better:)

6.6

By grifter78, May 20, 2010

A strange, disturbing episode. Reborn via shaman digestion and puke? Yikes. And yet Doggett still clings to his close-minded refusal to believe in anything he can't touch and see and prove. Remind you of anyone?:)

A fairly slow, uneventful episode, salvaged by an unexpected Duchovny cameo and the sheer gross-out factor.
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Robert Patrick	Special Agent John Doggett
David Duchovny	Special Agent Fox Mulder
Gillian Anderson	Special Agent Dana Scully

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Caroline Lagerfelt	Rustic Woman	Guest Star
Jordan Marder	Creature	Guest Star
Natalie Radford	Marie Hangemuhl	Guest Star
Mitch Pileggi	Assistant Director Walter Skinner	Recurring Role
Tom Braidwood	Frohike	Recurring Role
Dean Haglund	Langly	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- Doggett mentions that there were three rounds missing from the clip of Mulder's Walther PPK. This is inaccurate as the Walther uses a magazine and not a clip. Furthermore, an FBI Agent and former U.S. Marine would understand this distinction and not make such a blunder.
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QUOTES (6)
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- Doggett: A.D. Skinner, you're here late.
  Skinner: So are you.
  Doggett: I wanted to finish my case report before Agent Scully comes in tomorrow morning.
  Skinner: Have you?
  Doggett: I don't even know where to begin or how to explain it. Only thing I do know is is I'm no closer to finding Mulder now than when I started this thing.
  Skinner: You got inside of his head, Agent Doggett. You understood why Mulder did something I wouldn't have thought him capable of doing. You want some free advice? Don't write that report. You turn that in you open up a world of trouble for Agent Scully. And yourself.
  Doggett: She didn't know anything about this, sir. Of that I'm certain.
  Skinner: How many months will be lost proving that? How much damage done to her good name? And Mulder's? And to yours? For what?
  Doggett: The truth.
  Skinner: You and I both know what happened out there, Agent Doggett. No one else needs to.
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- Byers: We learned what we could. This is somewhat short notice, of course.
  Frohike: And a little outside our area of expertise.
  Langly: Plus the fact we were sleeping.
  Doggett: You wearing pants, Langly?
  Langly: Uh...yeah.
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- Skinner: You want the truth? Then ask Agent Scully!
  Doggett: I can't do that.
  Skinner: Why not?
  Doggett: Because she... she signed those case reports, too.
  Skinner: You take that story to OPR, the accusation alone could cost Scully her job.
  Doggett: I'm not taking it to OPR. I'm taking it to you.
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- Doggett: This is the muzzle of Mulder's pistol. You see that there?
  Skinner: It's blowback.
  Doggett: Macrospatter of dried blood in a semi-circular pattern. Which indicates Mulder fired close-range at something or someone.
  Skinner: I've heard enough.
  Doggett: Where are you going?
  Skinner: It's where you're going, Agent Doggett. You're trying to build a case that what? Mulder killed a man and then made himself disappear? That's not what happened. I told you before, he was abducted. I saw it!
  Doggett: Agent Mulder signed falsified case reports.
  Skinner: Oh, come on, John, this isn't about Mulder, it's about you! Your career. You give the FBI a narrative for Mulder's disappearance, you're off the X-Files and back on the fast-track to the directorship.
  Doggett: I'm just trying to find the truth.
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- Sheriff Frey: Like I said, Agent Doggett, I hate to waste your Saturday.
  Doggett: The Hangemuhls own a gun, Kurt?
  Sheriff Frey: No, I don't think so. Why?
  Doggett: I saw three holes plastered over in their living room wall.
  Sheriff Frey: Gunshots?
  Doggett: Possibly.
  Sheriff Frey: You want to go back and ask 'em?
  Doggett: No.
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- Rustic Woman: (to Doggett) All these years, we didn't know what it could do. It took your death. You freed it.
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NOTES (2)
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- Mulder is mentioned as having a Walther PPK as a second weapon - the same gun he used to kill John Lee Roche in "Paper Hearts".
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- Mulder and Scully both briefly return in this episode, albeit in flashbacks.
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- Byers: Agent Dogbert...
  In the teleconference between Doggett, Skinner, and the Lone Gunmen, Byers refers to Doggett as "Agent Dogbert." This is a reference to a character in the comic strip Dilbert written by Scott Adams.
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