(Courtesy of Shane Harvey/FOX)
Before taking a break from its 10-part arc, Fox continues The X-Files: Season 11 as the series dives into Walter Skinner’s mythology in Episode 6: Kitten. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson return as the iconic FBI Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully.
During the Vietnam War, Young John ‘Kitten’ James (Haley Joel Osment) and Young Walter Skinner (Cory Rempel) have been ordered to protect a secret case. Unfortunately, the case finds itself under fire and a canister inside leaks. Skinner is unable to reach ‘Kitten’ in time as James inhales the gas.
In the present day, Mulder and Scully are called into Alvin Kersh (James Pickens Jr.)’s office. Still showing his distaste, Alvin reminds them Skinner could have had a lucrative career if it wasn’t for them. Skinner has gone AWOL and has been poking his head around, asking questions he shouldn’t have.
Mulder and Scully have to break into Skinner’s place to get their next clue. They find themselves in Mud Lick, where a murder has taken place into the woods. Skinner, ends up in the hunter’s cam, making him the sheriff’s number one target.
Back in the Vietnam War, ‘Kitten’ James is clowning around with his fellow soldiers. No one is paying attention to the mad bomber lurking around, except for Skinner. Armed and ready, Skinner shoots down the mad bomber, saving Kitten, before he can detonate the explosives.
In the present, Skinner ends up at ‘Kitten’ James’ place and meets his son. Davey James (also Hayley Joel Osment) has been looking for his lost father. Davey believes the gas that his father inhaled has driven him to kill.
Davey reveals how his father has been experimented on at a secret lab. The doctors continude to expose him to the gas, driving him insane. Because he blames Skinner for his father’s mistreatment, Davey steers him into a deadly trap.
While Skinner is trapped and bleeding in a hole in the ground, Mulder and Scully arrive at Davey’s place. No one is able to hear Skinner’s cries for help as John Cale’s “Fear Is A Man’s Best Friend,” plays in the background. After listening to Davey’s conspiracy theory, Mulder realizes he’s stalling them.
Separating from Scully, Mulder attempts to rescue Skinner but finds himself trapped along with him. Scully manages to save the two after shooting Davey in the back. In his last attempt to kill Skinner, Davey ends up crushed to death by a bed of spikes.
While Scully tends to his wounds, Skinner reveals they saved him. All his life, he has been blindly following orders, instead of questioning them. He will continue to kiss the ring, in order to bring down the corrupt from the inside.
Mulder makes peace with Skinner and says, “They are with him.” The conspiracy continues elsewhere as the deadly gas is exposed to innocent civilians.
Season 11 of The X-Files continues Wednesdays at 8pm on Fox.
– By Jorge Solis