This is a Darin Morgan episode which means we're in for a ride. He's responsible for bringing the surreal and the humor to the 10-Files with his episodes "Jose Chung's From Outer Space," "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose," and last season's standout episode "Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster." This night'southward episode, "The Lost Art of Brow Sweat," is the spiritual successor of those episodes delivering an hour filled with mystery, runarounds, and telepathic aliens in sparkly wear. What happened in this episode? Or more than accurately, what didn't happen in this episode? Truth, lies, conspiracies and false memories.

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In a role reversal, an X — Mulder'southward secret rendezvous sign — on his window sends him to his secret rendezvous spot where he finds a man eating sunflower seeds. The man, Reggie, begins talking almost a conspiracy. A secluded parking garage and a mysterious man talking frantically nigh a conspiracy, this is right up Mulder's alley. But Reggie is coming in a little strong even for Mulder. Reggie claims to know Mulder merely Mulder doesn't know him. He references an episode of The Twilight Zone, Mulder's first episode, to prove he's right about the conspiracy. The episode doesn't exist, he tells Mulder and despite a afterwards exhaustive search through his collection, he tin't find information technology. It's non about the episode, it's about the memory, Mulder tells Scully. In the flashback, we see Mulder'due south adult caput superimposed on a child's body. An oddly funny sight that perfectly illustrates how we equally adults often shape our childhood memories. That'southward what this entire episode is about — memory and how it tin can neglect u.s..

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The same man gives Scully a package of Goop-O ABC, something she remembers fondly from her childhood which brings her into the case. Mulder tells her about the Mandela effect. It'southward when y'all have a memory of something that can't be backed up by fact. Like me remembering that time I hung out with Beyoncé. Can't be backed up past fact and consensus will call me a liar.  I said this episode was near memory. Mulder, Scully and Reggie are all suffering from the Mandela issue in 1 way or another. This is part of the conspiracy, Reggie tells them. A conspiracy that involves aliens, memories existence collectively altered and a mysterious "They." They have orchestrated the memory wipes to further their own schemes and are in the process of erasing Reggie from memory which includes his human relationship with Mulder and Scully. More than on that relationship later.

"At some bespeak, you're going to have to explain who 'they' are. Yous go along on referring to this omnipresent, mysterious 'they' to give intentionality to random events, or external explanations for psychological ones," Mulder tells Reggie. Mulder, you've fabricated a career out of doing this. Run across the hypocrisy?

Reggie then drops an even bigger bombshell. After Grenada, he joined the FBI and founded the X-files. "We used to be partners," he tells them dramatically. What follows is an alternate version of scenes from The X-Files with Reggie inserted. Outset with the opening credits with the character names instead of the actors and Reggie Something appearing after Scully. They flash through a number of episodes with the three of them solving cases together. In instance you're wondering, the episodes they reference are: "Unusual Suspects," the "Pilot," "Tooms," "Clyde Bruckman's Final Placidity," "Teso Dos Bichos," "Domicile" and "Small Potatoes."

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Neither Scully nor Mulder believes him. Why would they? Reggie is substantially trying to rewrite their history. But Mulder can't let information technology become. He's still trying to figure the mystery of Reggie and the missing Twilight Zone episode when he gets a call from "They" who turns out to be an actual person. Dr. They to be exact. A man who perfected memory manipulation …Or did he? Has he been shaping the way we recollect our own history or has he only suggested information technology, letting the conspiracy nuts run wild with the possibility of information technology being true? Honestly, either is possible after his talk with Mulder. He drives domicile that truth has become subjective in this climate of fake news. People like Mulder, who seek the truth in a world where governments murder to hide their secrets, are out of date. Non when governments secrets similar corruption, covert affairs, election manipulation and illegal wiretapping are free for anyone with an internet connection to find. Facts are presented in a manner that leaves it up to the individual whether or not to believe them.

While Mulder was talking to They, Scully was looking into who Reggie is. He's a government worker who suffered a breakdown and was committed. His knowledge of Mulder and Scully comes from his time at the NSA where he followed them through wiretapping.

Reggie kept referring to their concluding case together. Before he'south taken back to the psychiatric hospital, Mulder asks him what information technology was. This is when things get really strange. Information technology involved a coming together with an conflicting similar to the i Reggie saw in Grenada. An alien wearing an Elvis cape and platform shoes. The aliens have been watching humanity and have found them wanting. They're building a wall to proceed humans from leaving the solar system.

"You lot're not sending us your best people. You bringing drugs. Yous're bringing law-breaking. You're rapists," the alien says. Sound familiar? This season has been heavy-handed with the political allegories. Equally a parting gift, the conflicting easily Mulder a compendium containing answers to any question they may have. In i of my favorite parts of this episode, considering it was just then ridiculous, Mulder throws himself on the ground in defeat. With all of the answers, the X-files are over. What is at that place left for him to alive for? Reggie gives a speech virtually finding each other. They all hug.

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The X-Files has weird episodes and episodes with moments of levity in them. Darin Morgan writes episodes with both that also make y'all think. This episode has us asking what is truth? While Reggie was being driven away, Skinner walked into the parking garage and recognized him. Was there some truth in what he said or was it really but a faux reality created by a mentally sick human being? The episode doesn't give united states of america the answer which ultimately isn't necessary.

This episode wasn't perfect, I would rather not have them play torture and drone strikes against civilians for laughs. And Scully'due south ending speech about wanting to call up herGoop-O ABC as it was when she was a kid rather than trying it as an adult makes me think of the problems with this X-Files reboot. Episodes accept ranged from good to what were you thinking? Though I've mostly enjoyed it, I can't assistance simply wish sometimes that I could think it equally it was without having those memories overcast by experiencing them now.