The last episode of the fifth season. The end. Can I cry now? No more new X-Files until...June 19. Okay, maybe it's not so bad after all. I still want to make this review a little longer than normal, however, as I won't get a new episode to review for a few months. I guess I could review the movie, but I'd rather just take it in and enjoy the popcorn. So, hold onto your keyboard, and let's get ready to talk X-Files!

Being a season finale, "The End", was accompanied by the usual post-finale depression. I get it at about 10:05pm as I suddenly realize that the episode I just watched was the last one of the whole season. This was an especially bittersweet finale for me. It was the last episode of season five; it was the last episode filmed in Vancouver; and by the end of it, things looked pretty bad for the dynamic duo, their five *cough* six *cough* years work lying in ashes about them. But with this sadness, there was also some cheer. At about 10:06pm I realized that I'd get to see a new X-File, on the big screen, for two hours, with no ads, in only 33 days! That's a heck of a lot better than the five and a half month torture they put us through last year. But since the reason behind that long wait was the making of the movie, I guess in "the end" it all worked out nicely. ;-)

Though I'm very excited about the movie (heck, I've been waiting for it for two entire years!), I am quite saddened by the knowledge that "The End" was the end for Vancouver. I've often referred to that city as "the Mecca of X-Philes" and I still think of it that way. Though the show has moved on to Los Angeles, Vancouver will remain its mother. It nurtured it, gave it its distinctive look, and essentially made it what it is today. The local guest actors, the crew members, the locations - all these played an important role in the early development of the series, a role that will continue to grow even after it has moved on to warmer climates. It is truly another member of the show, just as integral as Scully and Mulder.

I think - no, I know - that the makers of The X-Files realized this too, and tried their best to make "The End" a cinematic tribute to Vancouver. The first scene was even set in the downtown core (in case you're curious, the stadium where the chess match was taking place is called GM Place), complete with 10,000 Vancouverites as extras. What with that scene, and that of Krycek going to retrieve Cancerman from the Québec wilderness, the whole first ten minutes of the episode were spent in Canada. Of course, the first five years have all really been spent in Canada, with Vancouver locations filling in for places as exotic as the Yukon or Texas or Puerto Rico. This was more than obvious in "The End." For anyone who has ever been to Vancouver, the meeting place of Cancerman and his cronies should be recognizable immediately. The geodesic dome of Scienceworld stuck out like a giant golf ball on the horizon, and the blue, yellow, and red of the British Columbian flag could easily be seen as the Skytrain whipped by overhead. For once, they weren't trying to hide the fact that it was shot in Vancouver, a fitting acknowledgement to the city.

Chris Carter claimed "The End" wasn't going to be like any season finale we've seen before. Though it was polished and action packed, with the look and feel of a movie, I'm not sure it lived up to Chris Carter's claim. It reminded me of a season finale, just one we haven't seen for a long time - "The Erlenmeyer Flask." Not to say it wasn't a great episode. I quite enjoyed the plot similarities between the two. Once again we are led to believe that this is truly "the end" for Mulder and Scully. By the end of each show, things couldn't look more hopeless for this intrepid pair. Something important to them had been destroyed (Deep Throat/their office), and the X-Files had been closed down. Their world, their work, their life were destroyed, just ashes now. But out of the ashes, the phoenix can rise again. And since the end is never truly the end for Mulder and Scully, I'm sure they'll be flying soon.

The fact that "The End" was like "The Erlenmeyer Flask" seems appropriate. Mulder and Scully are just now coming full circle in their quest. They have come far in the four years since Deep Throat's assassination, and are now just two moves away from finding the truth - their ultimate checkmate. The comparison between their quest and a game was made many times during "The End." Heck, the whole show was based around a chess match! And in a real sense, that is true. Aren't all of us just players on a universal chess board, moved and taken off by the great hand of fate? What remains to be seen in this section of the board is which side will come out ahead...the white bishops of truth or the black-lunged knight.

"It's all a game. They just take their pieces one by one until the board is cleared."

Another difference between "The End" and other season finales was its focus on character development. It seemed to emphasize the characters' emotions more than the plot, something that usually takes precedent in mythology episodes. Everyone played a vital role in "The End", but the two most important characters were, of course, Mulder and Scully.

Some people felt Mulder actions in this episode were just a tad too cool. Compared to all the emotional turmoil swirling around him, I can see how that can be inferred. However, I don't think he was so much cool and uncaring as he was confused. Here he was, trying to understand an international conspiracy, of which his entire life's work may rest, while at the same time trying to understand his own feelings about two very important people in his life. What a distraction! What was he to focus on, saving the world, or saving himself? He missed Diana but he has done okay without her - his work is with Scully now. He cared very much about Scully too, but throughout most of the episode was too confused about his feelings to show it. To top it all off, the evil forces of darkness decided right then that this would be a good time to set Mulder up and end the X-Files. Perhaps his confusion about his feelings and all the distractions in his life let him be lured into this trap, but by the end, it didn't matter. The result was the same. Everything was gone. They had taken everything from him. His stance and facial expression as he stood in his charred office, his entire life lying in ruins about him, was one of pure incomprehension. I don't think he even noticed Scully clinging to him for comfort, his mind filled only with thoughts of the future. Where does he go from here? And is it even worth it...?

Scully went through similar feelings of confusion during "The End", only hers had less to do with conspiracies, and more to do with her own feelings for Mulder. All through the episode I kept thinking "Poor Scully..." She looked absolutely miserable! Somehow, she managed to remain strong, but you could just tell Diana's presence was killing her. Her quiet jealously and the tension it created was so thick at times it could almost be cut with a knife. Her anguish was even audible in her voice ("So, you two know each other?"), and the tight smiles she offered to the Lone Gunmen. We haven't seen this much tension since "Never Again", though this was a different kind of tension, unlike the angry, rebellious Scully of that episode. The Scully we saw in "The End" suffered in silence, tortured quietly and stoically. Luckily, Scully had someone to talk about her grief to. Scully, as we know, is quite good with children, and was able to make an ally of young Gibson. Since he could read her mind, he understood her, and could help her understand her own pain. Though anguished, I was quite pleased to see Scully open her mind to paranormal a bit more. She actually believed Gibson could read people's minds. Perhaps when Scully saw how accurately he could read her own mind, she began to believe. Asking Gibson, "How do you do it?" was her own way of admitting that something strange was happening, something that science might not be able to completely explain.

"Analyze the data...with an eye to the parapsychological."
"Oooh. Walk on the wild side."

Though I haven't mentioned it yet, I think it's kind of moot point of what Scully's feelings for Mulder are now. However, I do wonder if her sombre attitude throughout the episode had less to do with Dana Scully, tormented partner, and more to do with Gillian Anderson, depressed Vancouverite. This was her last episode in Vancouver. She's often spoken of how she gets a fear of detachment from the crew at the end of every season. That fear must only have been heightened by the knowledge that she'd never get to work with many of these people again. Back to Scully, though. I was quite surprised she didn't quit the X-Files in this episode, as the rumours seemed to point to. I guess the closing of the X-Files kind of put both her and Mulder out of work anyway. Or maybe she'll quit in the movie. We'll see.

"You're wondering, aren't you, about that other girl? Well she's wondering about you too."

Let me get this off my chest right now - I didn't like Diana. She could be the nicest person in the world, but as far as I'm concerned, she's evil. But with all old love interests in this show, I guess that's the point. The writers love to see us suffer. Just one grievance, though - did they have to make her name so obviously like Scully's? Add an "i" to Dana and you get Diana. Geeze... However (and I know no one will believe this), I didn't hate her for the fact that she used to be Mulder's "chickadee." I disliked her for quite another reason. Her attitude towards Scully, and her partnership with Mulder really irked me. I was quite insulted when Diana implied that Scully's skeptical approach was a bad thing for Mulder and the X-Files. I have always been under the impression that the opposite is true. If two partners agree on everything, how would they ever make any progress? Scully's scientific, skeptical views have been the biggest asset for Mulder's work on the X-Files. Scully has forced him to constantly reevaluate his theories and reexamine his beliefs, enabling him to come to the truth. However, since I believe Diana's opinion was prompted more by her jealousy of Scully than any legitimate concern, it didn't bother me *that* much. Diana was just as jealous of Scully as Scully was of her, upset that she had been replaced. Too bad she had to take that bullet in the chest. That's got to hurt. Okay! Let's move on... ;-)

One character I did like was Gibson. He was a cute kid, and worked well with the other actors. He also had a strange air of both eeriness and innocence about him. It was oodles of fun to see him messing with everyone's minds ("What's wrong with Baywatch?" "You have a dirty mind.") - that ESP must come in handy. I really liked the way the writers worked him into the storyline as well. Finally, Mulder has found the key to the X-Files, the truth about the human mind, alien/human cloning, and the government's part in all of it wrapped up in a twelve year old boy (though how exactly he is all this was never really made clear). Gibson could allow Mulder and Scully to quantify the unquantifiable, proving to everyone their work is not just some silly ghost hunt. And luckily, Gibson liked them. They gave him protection, and he gave them a closer look at the truth. But for some reason, he didn't seem to like Diana very much. I have to wonder why. After all, he *can* read minds. What does he know about her that we don't? Hmmm... I hope to see him in future episodes. I couldn't stand the thought of what Well-Manicured Man might do to him. :-(

As much as I can't stand the thought of Gibson in WMM hands, I'd be even more worried if he was under the care of Cancerman. All those months in isolation must have made him quite cynical. Before, I used to think he's was an okay guy, just kind of misunderstood. I was even beginning to feel kind of sorry for him. Now I just think he's a meanie. His description of how he would kill Gibson repulsed me, but what upset me more was his callous carnage of the X-Files. What a loser! He just took what he needed (Samantha's file) and got rid of everything else. Burning down Mulder's office was really cruel of him. (Though I can see why it had to be done - they need a new set in LA!) The poor "I Want to Believe" poster! And the pencils on the ceiling! I was sadder to see those go than all the X-Files. I don't blame Mulder for being angry that he's back. I almost feel sorry for Spender for being his son too! I still wonder what his motivations for suddenly revealing Spender's parentage were, though...does he need someone to take over the family business? :-P

"Pursue your own self-interest. Always."

The expression "Luke, I am your father" kind of takes on whole new meanings, huh? It certainly gives me another perspective of Spender. Actually, for once I didn't hate him as much as I usually do. I liked the role he was put in, kind of a crossbreed of Krycek and Bill Scully. He works well in the role of an arrogant, ambitious antagonist, someone you're supposed to hate. His interaction with Mulder was definitely fun to watch. One of my favourite scenes was when Mulder pinned him to the wall and shoved the Morley wrapper in his face. :-) I do kind of wonder how much he knows about CSM, though. Is he really as innocent as he seems? I suspect he is. Cancerman, though, has evil written all over him. After all, what motivation did he have for putting Spender in charge of the murder case? He *may* have just wanted his son to get ahead in the bureau, but he also may have put him in charge because he didn't want the case solved at all. Spender is a rookie, inexperienced and incompetent. Putting him on the job might help guarantee a failure. Luckily, the dynamic duo stepped in and saved the day again...though it might have cost them their own future.

Where do we go from here? I'm sure this is a question every X- Phile asked themselves after "The End", echoing the thoughts of Mulder and Scully in the final scene. How do Mulder and Scully go on now, with their life work destroyed, the X-Files closed down, and reassignments impending? More importantly, how will the show go on? How will this show tie into the movie? I can see how the general conspiracy aspect of this episode may tie into "Fight the Future", but there are many specifics that will have to be left out. Gibson, Spender, Diana...all these people didn't exist at the time the movie was made. I'm interested in seeing how they'll continue these storylines after the sixth season starts in the fall. I was kind of worried of what may lie after the movie in the alien environment the X-Files will be introduced to next season, but with all these loose threads, I'm sure the X-Crew will have lots of ideas for at least another year to come.

"The End" was an fitting title for this season finale. It marked the end of the season, but it also marked the end of an era. This was an era that saw "The X-Files" develop from a cult hit stuck in an unwanted time slot to a cultural phenomenon reaching twenty million viewers each Sunday night, spawning merchandise, web pages, and a feature length movie. No one knew where this little show about two FBI agents investigating the paranormal would lead, but for some reason it hit a nerve, and became one of the best shows of the 90's. I'm just glad I was around for the ride. In another month, that ride will take its next big curve. "The End" is the beginning as "The X-Files" propels itself into TV and movie history by being the first show to hit the big screen before the series has ended. I can hardly wait.

"What do you hope to find? I mean, in the end."