"The X Files" Ascension (1994)

Director:

Michael Lange

Writers:

Chris Carter (creator)
Paul Brown (written by)

TV Series:

"The X Files" (1993)

Original Air Date:

21 October 1994 (Season 2, Episode 6)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Plot:

Reviewing Scully's message to him from before she was taken, Mulder tries to piece together where Duane Barry is headed...

Plot Keywords:

FBI | FBI Agent | Alien | X Files | Conspiracy

Cast

David Duchovny	...	Fox Mulder
Gillian Anderson	...	Dana Scully
Mitch Pileggi	...	Walter Skinner
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
William B. Davis	...	Cigarette Smoking Man / CGB Spender
Peter LaCroix	...	Dwight
Peter Lapres	...	Video Technician
Sheila Larken	...	Margaret Scully
Nicholas Lea	...	Alex Krycek
Steve Makaj	...	Patrolman
Steve Railsback	...	Duane Barry
Michael David Simms	...	Senior Agent
Bobby Stewart	...	Deputy (as Bobby L. Stewart)
Steven Williams	...	Mr. X
Meredith Bain Woodward	...	Dr. Ruth Slaughter

Runtime:

Argentina:60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Grouse Mountain, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Goofs:

Continuity: In the opening, when they show Mulder's apartment, the words at the bottom of the screen say that it is in Washington, DC. Later on, in the first movie, he gets in a cab to go home and tells the cab driver to take him to Arlington.

Quotes:

The Cigarette Smoking Man: We tell you only what you need to know.
Krycek: I think I have a right to know.
The Cigarette Smoking Man: You have no rights, only orders to be carried out. If you have a problem with that, we'll make other arrangements.

Soundtrack:

Keeping Faith

Great follow-up to "Duane Barry"

The continuation of the thrilling episode "Duane Barry" is more of a full-fledged mythology-arc affair complete with the reveal of Krycek as a bad guy and plenty of CSM screen time. The episode picks up where the last one left off, with Duane Barry taking Scully to where he plans to have the aliens abduct her instead of him. Meanwhile, Mulder and Krycek go after her, with Krycek attempting to sabotage Mulder's efforts, and following CSM's orders. The episode surprisingly ends with Scully's whereabouts still unknown. That mystery would not be solved until "One Breath", but Mulder appears to believe that the government did, in fact, 'abduct' Scully.

"Ascension" is an excellent, thrilling follow-up to "Duane Barry". The episode doesn't concentrate on him as much, but he is still one of the most memorable guest characters as far as mythology episodes go. "Ascension" is the first episode to very clearly show the 'syndicate' at work. A great early mythology episode.

9/10