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We are down to the final five episodes of The X-Files. Four of the five wrap up dangling plot threads to varying degrees of satisfaction. “Jump the Shark,” a play on both the point at which a television series hits its peak before hitting the decline and a major plot point of the episode, features the ultimate fate of the Lone Gunman. It is a direct sequel to the final episode of their self-titled series which had been cancelled the previous year. For the sake of full disclosure, I have seen only the two initial episodes of The Lone Gunman, so “Jump the Shark” is my first exposure to many of the concepts and characters featured. However much my unfamiliarity taints my review is up for you to decide.

I have always had mixed emotions about the Lone Gunman. My opinion hinged on how they were used. Often, they were thrown into the story when Mulder and Scully were unable to get from point A to point B any other logical way. The Lone Gunman managed to implausibly have specialized knowledge which somehow escaped the FBI’s crime lab. Go figure. Other times, they were out in the field, either heroically on their own, or in a back up role for mulder and scully or Doggett and Reyes. In the latter cases, they were usually great characters. Perhaps enough so that I ought to give their series a bigger chance than I did a decade ago. When used properly as real people, they are fine additions to the supporting cast. So much so, I have a melancholy feel about the ending to “Jump the Shark.”

Like many of the best episodes of The X-Files, “Jump the Shark” has a good mix of comedic and horrific elements. Much of the episode is a scam by former man in black Morris Fletcher to con the Lone gunmen into finding one of their former associates, Yves, by convincing Doggett and Reyes she is secretly a super soldier. Yves is working on a mission of her on to prevent the release of a biotoxin hidden inside shark catilage within a terrorist carrier. The Lone Gunmen track down who they believe is the carrier, but winds up being a decoy. They discover the true terrorist, but too late to stop him in any other way than sealing themselves inside an airtight room with him to wait for the biotoxin to activate. The three sacrifice themselves. For that sacrifice, skinner arranges for them to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery..

I am skeptical non-veterans could ever be buried at Arlington, but it is a nice touch regardless. I have to fight off the feeling that Mitch Pileggi, who has only two lines at the end, and Gillian Anderson are embarrassingly misused here. They both neded to be at the funeral, obviously, but it feels like the two are just thrown in there. Particularly Pileggi. Skinner is a really good character, but for long stretches has been sorely misused. Never so much so than in the ninth season. After quickly killing Krycek at the end of last season, it is as though no one could figure out what to do with him. I would have suggested dumping Folmer and handing all his appearances over to Skinner, but I digress. Regardless, the emotions involved in saying goodbye to the Lone Gunmen outweigh any criticisms about how other characters fared.

“Jump the Shark” is not aptly named. It is one of the best episodes of the ninth season. Obviously, I think it gave the Lone Gunman a good send off. Not that I think they should have been killed off mind you. I would have preferred them to ride off into the sunset aware that they were heroes rather than, as Langley says of his hero Joey Ramone, living forever knowing nothing ever broke their spirits. But if they had to go, this is a touchingly appropriate way to give them a send off.Rating: *** (out of 5)

Quick note: Jolie Jenkins, who played Leyla Harrison in yesterday's episode, sent a Twitter DM thanking me for the shout out yesterday. So she is not only cute, but nice, too. Become a fan of hers, folks.