A Lovecraftian doctor villain enacts a bizarrely overcomplicated plot to kill people.
I think the writers knew this was embarrassing schlock for adolescents sitting at home on a Friday night hoping to be scared, and leaned into not caring or trying. The initial part of the episode sets up the ruling cabal of doctors and administrators as being shady, and continues to present them that way, but then for some reason this is a sham (not a red herring by the way for any non-writers thinking maybe this qualifies as misdirection) and actually its just one doctor who's made sure to schedule enough patients with the right birthday so that he may complete his evil ritual.
Really when you consider how powerful this guy is, it's kind of hard to believe he could fail, he's like a tenth level sorcerer, he can transport knives into anyone with a thought, levitate, live forever, and also his hand-eye coordination and reaction times are Spider-Man-esque. That nurse burst out of a pool of blood with the knife ready and he still caught her by the wrist. And then did it again 30 seconds later when she attacked him from behind. I don't care how athletic you are, been practicing Karate for the last decade, you wouldn't have caught that knife, except right in the chest. Mulder and Scully are just basically there to watch, they can't stop this guy.
Overall this was a throw whatever at the wall and see what sticks monster of the week episode, it lacked the hunger to be good that you got in season 1, or the competency you got in season 3. The story was muddled, lacked action, and was poorly executed on the screen.
I think the writers knew this was embarrassing schlock for adolescents sitting at home on a Friday night hoping to be scared, and leaned into not caring or trying. The initial part of the episode sets up the ruling cabal of doctors and administrators as being shady, and continues to present them that way, but then for some reason this is a sham (not a red herring by the way for any non-writers thinking maybe this qualifies as misdirection) and actually its just one doctor who's made sure to schedule enough patients with the right birthday so that he may complete his evil ritual.
Really when you consider how powerful this guy is, it's kind of hard to believe he could fail, he's like a tenth level sorcerer, he can transport knives into anyone with a thought, levitate, live forever, and also his hand-eye coordination and reaction times are Spider-Man-esque. That nurse burst out of a pool of blood with the knife ready and he still caught her by the wrist. And then did it again 30 seconds later when she attacked him from behind. I don't care how athletic you are, been practicing Karate for the last decade, you wouldn't have caught that knife, except right in the chest. Mulder and Scully are just basically there to watch, they can't stop this guy.
Overall this was a throw whatever at the wall and see what sticks monster of the week episode, it lacked the hunger to be good that you got in season 1, or the competency you got in season 3. The story was muddled, lacked action, and was poorly executed on the screen.