“Essence” is the first part of the eighth season finale. Like most first parts, it is a lot of set up leading up to wait will hopefully be a big pay off. Unlike most lead ups to a finale, it is very thin on plot. The episode attempts to make up for the lack of plot with lots of action and a cast of thousands.
Quite literally, in fact. If anyone was on The X-Files roster, they showed up. Well, sans Adam Baldwon’s Knowles Rohner. There is a always one guy who fans four times when the rest of the team is going 3 for 4 at the plate. But everyone else is here: Skinner, Krycek, Reyes, Margaret Scully, Skinner’s secretary who does not even have a name (She is played by Mitch Phileggi’s wife) Billy Miles, and Duffy Haskell. For good measure, new characters played by Clint Eastwood’s main squeeze Frances Fisher and a obstetrician played by Star Trek: the Next Generation’s drop in for a lscene or two.
As Scully is on the verge of giving birth, Billy Miles returns to kill her first obstetrician and destroy the clinic at which he was helping create human/alien babies. The clinic’s destruction catches Mulder’s attention. He recruits Doggett to investigate. While there, they run into Miles, who beats the stuffing out of Mulder and takes three shots to the chest without flinching from Doggett. As an old school x-Phile, Miles’ act feels like a poor man’s copy of the Alien Bounty Hunter’s old methods. As a nod to Robert Patrick, there are hints of the T-1000, too. But the latter does not diminish the feeling this show is running out of steam by forcing new characters to do what past characters did better.
Meanwhile, Scully discovers a woman named Lizzie, a friend of her mother’s, has been replacing her medication. It is only a vitamin supplement, so there is nothing sinister about it other than her belief Scully’s baby is something special. Messianic special, as the case may be. Fearing the worst anyway, Mulder insists Scully leave with him. They are attacked by Miles. Krycek, popping in yet again with no explanation or compelling rationale why he wants to help, rescues them.
Everyone rendezvoused at FBI headquarters for some exposition about super soldiers, alien babies, and scully’s new messiah child. She remarks she is tired of being part of a perpetual x-files. Something tells me that was Gillian Anderson talking with David Duchovny silently concurring. Whatever fans were left at this point probably did, too. Miles shows up ay FBI headquarters, too, so while most of our heroes hold him off, Krycek passes Scully off to Reyes. Yes, Reyes. Smacking on nicotine gum as she loads Scully in the car amidst a nearby scuffle with Miles. I cannot put into words how aloof she comes across.
Yes, fans. She is going to be a main character next season. Woo hoo, right?
It is difficult to rate the first part of a multi-episode story because so much of it hinges on the big picture. I found the story quite anemic. There is a lot of violence with gun play, fist fights, and a couple car chases interrupted by a lot of cryptic exposition about aliens among us wanting Scully’s special baby. Characters show up, but have very little to do. Krycek is there for the sake of an appearance by Krycek. Denise Crosby’s character has two lines one explains the vitamin supplements. The other says the baby is healthy. One of the main characters could have recapped that during exposition time. Was Crosby about to lose her SAG health coverage and needed a quickie acting job? Nice of Chris Carter to be so charitable as to toss her in.
“Essence“ is not really bad. It just is not much on its own. There is not even an immediate tension regarding Scully giving birth, because other than looking like she is about to pop, there is no hint she is ready. Come on, guys. This is television. When a pregnant woman is on the run, she has to start having contractions. You cannot just end with an alien coming after her. Geez.
Rating: *** (out of 5)
“Essence” is the first part of the eighth season finale. Like most first parts, it is a lot of set up leading up to wait will hopefully be a big pay off. Unlike most lead ups to a finale, it is very thin on plot. The episode attempts to make up for the lack of plot with lots of action and a cast of thousands. 
