Revelations (The X-Files)
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"Revelations" is a 1995 episode of The X-Files television series. It was the eleventh episode broadcast in the show's third season. "Revelations" features Mulder and Scully investigating a case where fake stigmatics are being murdered. When a boy shows signs of being a real stigmatic, Mulder and Scully attempt to protect him, fearing he'll be the latest victim.
Plot
A minister fakes stigmatic injuries to his hands during a sermon. Afterwards he is visited by a white haired man, Simon Gates, who strangles him, his hands smoking while he does so. Agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) investigate the case. Mulder says that the priest was the eleventh fake stigmatic who has been killed over the past 3 years in a series of international murders. Meanwhile at an elementary school in Ohio a boy, Kevin Kryder starts bleeding from the palms of his hands. The agents arrive and meet with a social worker, who claims that Kevin has suffered injuries before and that his father was institutionalized, claiming that Kevin was in danger from evil forces. The agents visit Kevin's father, who claims that his son is the chosen one and that evil forces will come to kill him as part of a great war between good and evil.
Kevin is abducted by a strange looking bald man. Kevin's mother recognizes the man's description as Owen Jarvis, who had done yard work for the family in the past. Owen claims to be Kevin's guardian angel. By the time the agents arrive Kevin is gone. Owen claims he was asked by God to protect Kevin and criticizes Scully for her faith not being as strong as his. Owen jumps out the window and escapes. Kevin arrives at his home and is pursued by Gates, who kills Owen when he arrives to protect him. Scully performs an autopsy and finds that Owen's corpse is not decaying, reminding her of "incorruptibles" that she learned about in Catechism. Mulder tells Scully to not let her faith cloud her judgment. Scully finds that handprints on Owen's neck belong to Simon Gates, a rich and powerful executive.
Kevin travels with his mother in a car which breaks down. Gates arrives offering to help fix the car, and Kevin, who appears in two places at once is able to distract him and help them escape. Kevin's mother, hurt by Gates, runs car into a ditch however, dying as a result. Scully tells Kevin she'll protect him. They bring him to a hotel where Scully finds an additional wound on Kevin's side. Scully becomes upset at Mulder for his unwillingness to accept the possibility of a miracle. As they talk, Gates breaks into the bathroom, kidnapping Kevin by prying an opening in the barred window. Scully returns to see Kevin's father but finds him heavily drugged.
Scully theorizes that Gates has brought Kevin to a recycling plant he owns in Jerusalem, Ohio. Mulder thinks that he has headed to the airport, as a man matching Gates' description was reported headed there. Mulder thinks Scully believes that she's been chosen to protect Kevin. Scully arrives at the recycling plant where Gates tells Kevin that he must die for the 'New Age' to come. Gates attempts to jump into a paper shredding machine with Kevin, but Kevin grabs onto the side as Gates falls into the shredder. Scully is able to pull Kevin to safety. Two days later Scully and Kevin say goodbye. Kevin tells Scully he'll see her again. Scully goes to the confessional for the first time in years, wondering if God is speaking, but no one is listening. [1]
Production
According to Co-Producer Paul Rabwin the episode had script problems and went through several rewrites, including while the episode was still in production. The producers felt it was difficult to sell the concept of religious magic and having Kevin appear in two places at once. The episode went through a detailed editing process including additional rewrites and having actor Kevin Zegers flown back to Vancouver to film additional scenes. The producers claimed to be in awe by the way the episode turned out after all the additional work had been done.[2]
The episode features a role reversal with Dana Scully the believer and Fox Mulder the skeptic, which David Duchovny calls "a refreshing change of pace." Director David Nutter said that dealing with faith permitted the show's creators to further delve into Scully's character.[3] The episode was the final episode directed for the show by Nutter. Nutter decided that he wanted to try different things and that the show was in excellent hands with fellow directors Rob Bowman and Kim Manners.[4]
The producers were unhappy with the voice of the priest in the final scene, resulting in them using a new vocal track in post production.[3] A scene with Kevin's father featuring him quoting a line from The Day the Earth Stood Still was cut in the final edit of the episode.[5]
Reception
This episode earned a Neilsen rating of 10.0, with a 17 share. It was viewed by 15.25 million people.[6] David Nutter said Anderson delivered a sparkling performance, particularly in the final scene. He also stated "I really love working with Gillian. She's got such an ability to emote and give from the inside."[3]
Footnotes
- ^ Lowry,Brian (1996). Trust No One: The Official Guide to the X-Files. Harper Prism. pp. 135–138.
- ^ Edwards, Ted (1996). X-Files Confidential. Little, Brown and Company. pp. 159–160.
- ^ a b c Lowry,Brian (1996). Trust No One: The Official Guide to the X-Files. Harper Prism. pp. 138–139.
- ^ Hurwitz, Matt, Knowles, Chris (2008). The Complete X-Files. Insight Editions. pp. 79–82.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Lowry,Brian (1996). Trust No One: The Official Guide to the X-Files. Harper Prism. p. 136.
- ^ Lowry,Brian (1996). Trust No One: The Official Guide to the X-Files. Harper Prism. p. 251.
