Scully is at the forefront of this episode, and the added focus gives Gillian Anderson a chance to shine.

It’s Christmas time on The X Files and we get to meet Scully's parents, William and Margaret. William is retired US Navy, and judging from their interaction he and Dana have a particularly close relationship. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes and the Scully family is hit with a huge loss when William passes away. Strangely, Dana sees her father, but due to the timing of his death, this should be an impossibility. Meanwhile, Mulder is requested to visit Luther Lee Boggs, a serial killer he helped put away previously. Boggs claims to have psychic ability and can help the FBI and authorities with a kidnapping case, and it’s during this visit that Scully has another vision of her father. Mulder thinks everything Boggs says is a lie, but Scully isn’t so sure. After other things the killer told the agents prove to be accurate, Scully becomes the believer while Mulder is the skeptic.

This episode is notable in that the agents' roles are reversed. Mulder is unwilling to believe that Boggs is legitimate, mainly due to his history with the man, whereas Scully has a more personal reason to believe. Unfortunately, in the end, Scully chooses to push this belief away, possibly because she refuses to have her memory of her father tainted by Boggs.

I think once again grief after a sudden loss and how we cope with it is the main thing going on in this episode. Losing someone never seems to make sense to us, and we look for anything to provide some sort of answer. Also, it was great seeing Scully in the spotlight while Mulder steps back. Brad Dourif of Chucky fame plays Boggs, and he owns every scene he’s in. Obvious Silence of the Lambs influence here.

Disturbing Moment: Boggs is pretty creepy.