Closure (The X-Files)
Encyclopedia
"Closure" is the 150th episode and the eleventh episode of the seventh season
of the science fiction
television series The X-Files
. The episode first aired in the United States and Canada on February 3, 2000 on the Fox Network
, and subsequently aired in the United Kingdom. It was written by executive producers Chris Carter
and Frank Spotnitz
, and directed by Kim Manners
. The episode is the end of a two-parter and continues from the episode "Sein und Zeit".
"Closure" was a story milestone for the series, giving the final revelation of what really happened to Fox Mulder
's sister, Samantha
. When Mulder is forced to accept that his mother’s death was by her own hand, he is led by a man whose son disappeared years earlier to another truth - that his sister may be among the souls taken by ‘walk-ins’, saving the souls of children doomed to live unhappy lives. Together, they embark on a journey that will reveal to Mulder the truth about his sister’s disappearance. The episode earned a high Nielsen household and syndication rating when compared to other episodes of the seventh season, but received mixed reactions from fans and critics alike.
and Scully
aid the Sacramento
Police in the investigation of a brutal murder committed by Scruloff, the owner of the Santa Village. As the remains of more children are discovered, he admits killing twenty-four children, but denies murdering Amber. Mulder is approached by psychic
Harold Piller, who tells Mulder that he has helped law enforcement across the world, and has proved in various cases that children had been taken by "walk-ins". Piller believes that walk-ins save children who suffer terrible fates.
Scully becomes worried about Piller's influence over Mulder. The agents return to Washington D.C., where Mulder keeps searching for evidence in the case. Meanwhile, Piller gets another vision of Samantha Mulder
, leading Mulder to April Air Force Base. Scully finds evidence that Samantha's disappearance is linked to the Cigarette Smoking Man
; when she returns to her apartment, she finds him waiting for her. He tells her that he had called off the search for Mulder's sister when she vanished because he knew she was dead.
When Mulder returns to April Air Force Base, he uncovers proof that Samantha lived with the Cigarette Smoking Man along with his son, Jeffrey Spender
, and that she was forced to undergo painful tests. Scully finds a 1979 police report
of a girl matching Samantha's description, and learns that she was taken to a hospital emergency room. She and Mulder find the nurse who treated her, and the nurse describes how Samantha disappeared the same way as Amber - without a trace. Mulder later walks through the forest and receives a vision of Samantha along with the spirits of other children. Upon telling Scully and Pillar (who reacts badly upon hearing that his son is dead) of his vision, Mulder accepts that his sister is dead and in a better place. When Scully comforts Mulder and asks if he is alright, he responds with a choked "I'm fine. I'm free."
crew had built two permanent stages, when shooting season seven
of the show. The stages were five and six at 20th Century Fox
, and they used stage eight as their "swing set". The first scene was shot in Griffith Park
, above the playground. The first scene with the Walk-ins rising up from their grave was "tricky," according to director Kim Manners
. The children wouldn't collaborate if the crew told them to lay themselves in graves, so instead the crew called the holes in the ground "forts."
The scene at April Air Force Base was shot in San Bernardino, California
at a closed airfield, the former Norton Air Force Base. On the airbase was a large abandoned house complex built and used by the United States military. The air force base was renamed April Air Force Base because the producers could not use the name March Air Force Base. One of the shots in the April Air Force Base was filmed at a sound stage in Los Angeles
. The scene at the restaurant
was shot in a location on Sepulveda Boulevard
, at a hotel
that had been standing there for 30 to 40 years.
"My Weakness", a song by Moby from his album, Play
, is used in this episode, during the first scene (in which the FBI discover the mass grave) and near the end (when Mulder encounters his sister's spirit). Carter never told the series' resident composer Mark Snow
about the decision to use someone else's music, although Snow has since said that his reaction to the use of the song was more positive than negative and that the song was a "perfect" fit for the scenes in which it can be heard.
The episode's tagline was changed from the usual "The Truth is Out There" to "Believe to Understand".
of 9.1, with a 13 share. It was viewed by 9,173,000 households and gathered a total of 15,360,000 viewers in the United States
. The episode debuted in the United States and Canada
on Sunday, February 13, 2000 at the Fox Network
. The episodes debuted the same time and day in Canada on the Global Television Network
. In the United Kingdom
, the episode gathered 680,000 viewers and was the eighth most watched episode that week, in front of Angel
and The Simpsons
. On May 28, 2000 the episode debuted in the United Kingdom and Ireland
on Sunday. Three days later, on May 31, 2000, it made its first appearance on Australian television.
The X-Files (season 7)
The seventh season of The X-Files commenced airing in the United States on November 7, 1999, concluded on May 21, 2000, and consists of twenty-two episodes. The X-Files is an American serial science fiction-horror-thriller television series. Season seven took place after the destruction of the...
of the science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series The X-Files
The X-Files
The X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
. The episode first aired in the United States and Canada on February 3, 2000 on the Fox Network
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
, and subsequently aired in the United Kingdom. It was written by executive producers Chris Carter
Chris Carter (screenwriter)
Christopher Carl Carter is an American screenwriter, film director and producer. He is the creator of The X-Files and Millennium.- Ten Thirteen Productions :...
and Frank Spotnitz
Frank Spotnitz
Frank Spotnitz is an award-winning American television writer and producer, best known for his work on The X-Files television series.-Biography:...
, and directed by Kim Manners
Kim Manners
Kim Manners was an American television producer, director and child actor best known for his work on The X-Files and Supernatural.-Early life:...
. The episode is the end of a two-parter and continues from the episode "Sein und Zeit".
"Closure" was a story milestone for the series, giving the final revelation of what really happened to Fox Mulder
Fox Mulder
FBI Special Agent Fox William Mulder is a fictional character and protagonist in the American Fox television shows The X-Files and The Lone Gunmen, two science fiction shows about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of Alien existence. Mulder's peers consider his theories on...
's sister, Samantha
Samantha Mulder
Samantha Ann Mulder is a fictional character in the television series The X-Files. She is the sister of FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder and the daughter of Teena and Bill Mulder. As a child, Samantha was abducted, ostensibly by aliens, and was never recovered...
. When Mulder is forced to accept that his mother’s death was by her own hand, he is led by a man whose son disappeared years earlier to another truth - that his sister may be among the souls taken by ‘walk-ins’, saving the souls of children doomed to live unhappy lives. Together, they embark on a journey that will reveal to Mulder the truth about his sister’s disappearance. The episode earned a high Nielsen household and syndication rating when compared to other episodes of the seventh season, but received mixed reactions from fans and critics alike.
Plot summary
Agents MulderFox Mulder
FBI Special Agent Fox William Mulder is a fictional character and protagonist in the American Fox television shows The X-Files and The Lone Gunmen, two science fiction shows about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of Alien existence. Mulder's peers consider his theories on...
and Scully
Dana Scully
FBI Special Agent Dana Katherine Scully, M.D. is a fictional character and protagonist on the Fox television series The X-Files , played by Gillian Anderson. She also appeared in two theatrical films based on the series...
aid the Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
Police in the investigation of a brutal murder committed by Scruloff, the owner of the Santa Village. As the remains of more children are discovered, he admits killing twenty-four children, but denies murdering Amber. Mulder is approached by psychic
Psychic
A psychic is a person who professes an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception , or is said by others to have such abilities. It is also used to describe theatrical performers who use techniques such as prestidigitation, cold reading, and hot...
Harold Piller, who tells Mulder that he has helped law enforcement across the world, and has proved in various cases that children had been taken by "walk-ins". Piller believes that walk-ins save children who suffer terrible fates.
Scully becomes worried about Piller's influence over Mulder. The agents return to Washington D.C., where Mulder keeps searching for evidence in the case. Meanwhile, Piller gets another vision of Samantha Mulder
Samantha Mulder
Samantha Ann Mulder is a fictional character in the television series The X-Files. She is the sister of FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder and the daughter of Teena and Bill Mulder. As a child, Samantha was abducted, ostensibly by aliens, and was never recovered...
, leading Mulder to April Air Force Base. Scully finds evidence that Samantha's disappearance is linked to the Cigarette Smoking Man
Cigarette Smoking Man
The Smoking Man is a fictional character and the antagonist on the American science fiction television series The X-Files. He serves as the arch-nemesis of FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder. Although his name is revealed to purportedly be C.G.B...
; when she returns to her apartment, she finds him waiting for her. He tells her that he had called off the search for Mulder's sister when she vanished because he knew she was dead.
When Mulder returns to April Air Force Base, he uncovers proof that Samantha lived with the Cigarette Smoking Man along with his son, Jeffrey Spender
Jeffrey Spender
FBI Special agent Jeffrey Frank Spender is a fictional character in the American Fox television series The X-Files, a science fiction show about a government conspiracy to hide or deny the truth of alien existence. Spender was in control of the X-Files office after Fox Mulder's and Dana Scully's...
, and that she was forced to undergo painful tests. Scully finds a 1979 police report
Report
A report is a textual work made with the specific intention of relaying information or recounting certain events in a widely presentable form....
of a girl matching Samantha's description, and learns that she was taken to a hospital emergency room. She and Mulder find the nurse who treated her, and the nurse describes how Samantha disappeared the same way as Amber - without a trace. Mulder later walks through the forest and receives a vision of Samantha along with the spirits of other children. Upon telling Scully and Pillar (who reacts badly upon hearing that his son is dead) of his vision, Mulder accepts that his sister is dead and in a better place. When Scully comforts Mulder and asks if he is alright, he responds with a choked "I'm fine. I'm free."
Production
The X-FilesThe X-Files
The X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
crew had built two permanent stages, when shooting season seven
The X-Files (season 7)
The seventh season of The X-Files commenced airing in the United States on November 7, 1999, concluded on May 21, 2000, and consists of twenty-two episodes. The X-Files is an American serial science fiction-horror-thriller television series. Season seven took place after the destruction of the...
of the show. The stages were five and six at 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
, and they used stage eight as their "swing set". The first scene was shot in Griffith Park
Griffith Park
Griffith Park is a large municipal park at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The park covers of land, making it one of the largest urban parks in North America...
, above the playground. The first scene with the Walk-ins rising up from their grave was "tricky," according to director Kim Manners
Kim Manners
Kim Manners was an American television producer, director and child actor best known for his work on The X-Files and Supernatural.-Early life:...
. The children wouldn't collaborate if the crew told them to lay themselves in graves, so instead the crew called the holes in the ground "forts."
The scene at April Air Force Base was shot in San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
at a closed airfield, the former Norton Air Force Base. On the airbase was a large abandoned house complex built and used by the United States military. The air force base was renamed April Air Force Base because the producers could not use the name March Air Force Base. One of the shots in the April Air Force Base was filmed at a sound stage in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. The scene at the restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
was shot in a location on Sepulveda Boulevard
Sepulveda Boulevard
Sepulveda Boulevard is a street in Los Angeles, California, which stretches some 42.8 miles from Rinaldi Street at the north end of the San Fernando Valley to the city limits of Hermosa Beach, where it "jumps" east and continues on to Long Beach. It generally runs north-south, passing underneath...
, at a hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
that had been standing there for 30 to 40 years.
"My Weakness", a song by Moby from his album, Play
Play (Moby album)
Play is the fifth studio album by American electronica musician Moby, released on May 17, 1999 on V2 Records. While some of Moby's earlier work garnered critical and commercial success within the electronic dance music scene, Play was both a critical success and a commercial phenomenon...
, is used in this episode, during the first scene (in which the FBI discover the mass grave) and near the end (when Mulder encounters his sister's spirit). Carter never told the series' resident composer Mark Snow
Mark Snow
Mark Snow is an American composer for film and television.Born in New York, he grew up in Brooklyn, graduating from the High School of Music and Art and, afterwards, the Juilliard School of Music...
about the decision to use someone else's music, although Snow has since said that his reaction to the use of the song was more positive than negative and that the song was a "perfect" fit for the scenes in which it can be heard.
The episode's tagline was changed from the usual "The Truth is Out There" to "Believe to Understand".
Reception
The episode earned a Nielsen household ratingNielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
of 9.1, with a 13 share. It was viewed by 9,173,000 households and gathered a total of 15,360,000 viewers in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The episode debuted in the United States and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
on Sunday, February 13, 2000 at the Fox Network
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
. The episodes debuted the same time and day in Canada on the Global Television Network
Global Television Network
Global Television Network is an English language privately owned television network in Canada, owned by Calgary-based Shaw Communications, as part of its Shaw Media division...
. In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the episode gathered 680,000 viewers and was the eighth most watched episode that week, in front of Angel
Angel (TV series)
Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999...
and The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
. On May 28, 2000 the episode debuted in the United Kingdom and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
on Sunday. Three days later, on May 31, 2000, it made its first appearance on Australian television.