The X-Files Review: Ghouli (Season 11 Episode 5)
Scully is reunited with her son after 16 years in The X-Files Season 11 Episode 5, “Ghouli.”
The story of William’s heritage has always been a convoluted one (and one as confusing as the state of his parents’ relationship status), but one this has always remained constant — there is nothing Scully wants more in the world than to keep him safe.
Gillian Anderson portrays Scully’s anguish at her son’s apparent death with raw grace, imbuing Scully with not only regret but a melancholy air; Scully never knew her son and never saw him grow up, but she is still nostalgic for the life they could have had.
SCULLY: I need you to know that I never forgot you. And I thought…I felt even recently that we were going to somehow be reunited. I wish I could have been there to ease your pain. Oh my god, this is so inadequate. I’m just so sorry. I’m so sorry.
The show allows Scully to have this heart-wrenching moment privately, without having her share her grief with Mulder. It not only gives Gillian Anderson an Emmy-worthy moment of acting, but gives Scully the chance to give voice to all the things she’s held inside her.
No, she didn’t fail William. No, this isn’t her fault. No, she couldn’t control what happened to him after she gave him up. But Scully thinks all those things anyway, and Mulder is there to hold her and reassure her of the things we as an audience also believe: Scully did the best she could.
While Mulder spends some truly memorable moments in this episode going by the name “Bob,” his biggest role in “Ghouli” is to act as Scully’s constant.
He is her voice of reason when he cautions her against hope when William’s body goes missing, and her place to rest when everything becomes too much. Years may go by, but the unwavering devotion Mulder and Scully have for each other only grows stronger.
However, as William is clearly the child of the biggest drama queen in the world (Fox Mulder) and not a cigarette-smoking Cancer Man, it turns out he really isn’t dead — oh, and he has a superpower or two.
William’s parentage and even conception seem to be slowly heading towards resolution at last, with theories like him being a cloned super-soldier fading away in the revelation that he possesses some type of supernatural skill.
Less Mystique and more Eight from Stranger Things, William can change a person’s perception of the people around them. Has he actually been visiting Mulder and Scully for a while, given his ability to change himself and others? Will that power come forward later this season?
MULDER/SCULLY RELATIONSHIP WATCH
Okay, kids! For anyone keeping track, here’s this season’s sequence of events: Mulder and Scully (presumably) live in the same house, they sleep together twice, they go on a “date,” and now Scully…sleeps alone and has to tell Mulder about her sleep paralysis once they’re at work.
What? Who? Why? Come on.
It seems their relationship changes episode to episode and writer to writer, this time back to being at the “maybe they’re together but they don’t live together” status.
I’m confused! I’m baffled! I’m still super into it and will show up week to week to see what fleeting glimpses we’ll get into the Mulder and Scully of it all.
STRAY THOUGHTS:
- HUG COUNT: 2. Good. Good.
- I still have no idea what’s happening with Skinner, and I’m starting to get frustrated as hell about it.
- Remember when Cigarette Smoking Man was like, burned from head to toe and should have died? Good times.
- RIP William’s adoptive parents, you were genuinely good people and I’m sorry you got sacrificed for William’s angst.
- Two girlfriends, really? Two?
- Three good episodes in a row! This is a new revival record.
What did you think of this episode of The X-Files? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
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The X-Files airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on FOX.
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Brittany Rae
Brittany is a writer and avid TV blogger hailing the infamous year of 1989. She trained at Vancouver Film School in screenwriting for television and film, and has gone on to become a graphic designer and blogger in her free time. When she’s not watching the Food Network, she’s trying to consume every bit of sci-fi television she can get her hands on (current favorites include The 100, Person of Interest, and Doctor Who). She’s always up for female-led dramas and, of course, a literal interpretation of the phrase “Netflix and chill."