The X-Files (TV Series) One Son (1999) User Reviews

It's too late now. Colonization is going to begin.

[Sanpaco13 · 9/10 · 28 June 2009]

One Son begins with Mulder and Scully being brought under quarantine by the CDC and none other than horse face herself Diana Fowley. And as usual, Mulder clings on to her every word as if it were gospel truth. I have said it before and I'll say it again, Mulder's unconditional acceptance of everything that she says as truth is the most unrealistic part of the entire show. Anyway, I love the little moment when Mulder and Scully check each other out in the shower. Its pretty subtle but Mulder definitely sneaks a peek and Scully gives him a little raised eyebrow look as if to say, "not so bad yourself". This episode is definitely the better half of this two parter. Although it features the mass murder and end to the syndicate which I love so much, there is so much of the story that finally is revealed such as the purpose for the syndicate and their origins and ultimate demise by the rebels. I also love how in the series there are so many times when people just randomly break into someone else's apartment and hang out in the dark waiting for them or run into someone else who happens to be breaking into the same person's apartment when their not there. Sometimes when I come home I wonder how many people have broken into my apartment and pointed guns at each other and told each other secrets about the end of the world while I wasn't there. I need to set up a camera or something. And I just love the conversation between Mulder and CSM. They argue back and forth and the best part is how convincing CSM is just as always that he is and always has been in the right. The key to a convincing villain is that the villain must think that they are the good guy. I think I read something William B. Davis wrote about portraying CSM that said something along those lines. That is why he is such an awesome character. So yeah I don't have much else to say about the episode. It was a lot better than its predecessor. 9 out of 10.

So long, Syndicate!

[Muldernscully · 9/10 · 9 February 2007]

When trying to make things more serious and dark for mythology episodes, the x-files turns into a nighttime series, meaning most of the scenes are shot at night. And most of the shots indoors are done with extremely low lighting. Being in L.A., this is what has to be done. But it's done well and it's very effective. One Son is the second part of a revealing mythology story arc. Cassandra Spender is the first successful alien/human hybrid and the Syndicate is going to turn her over to the aliens so that colonization can begin. Mulder and Scully are trying to prevent this. Scully senses that Diana Fowley isn't working on their side and tries to prove it to Mulder. But Mulder is blind to anything regarding Diana. It's amazing to see him treat Scully with such contempt in relation to Fowley. Mulder has blind faith in her. I liked the set used for the air force base hangar. Maybe it's a real one. I don't know, but it looks quite authentic. It's shocking to see all of the Syndicate get slaughtered by the alien rebels. You're thinking, "what now for the conspiracy?" But with CSM and Krycek still alive you know that lies are still going to be abundant. From time to time, Mulder speaks in riddles when questioned by higher authorities. He does it at the end of this episode with Kersh, which frustrates Kersh to no end. I enjoy it. It's great to finally get the answers, but true to the X- Files, once one question is answered, they throw in some new wrinkles that begets new questions for us to ponder.

An epic conclusion.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 17 September 2022]

Spender learns the truth about his mother, and his father, he has a pretty monumental choice to make.

I watch this for the first time, and for me it felt like quite a monumental episode.

I will aim to keep this review spoiler free, as there are so many things happening here, I won't give anything away.

To begin with, it's quite an epic story, it has the feeling of a season finale about it, they could easily have left us with a cliffhanger, that kind of big, monumental vibe. Incredibly well made, filmed, with a great score, it has movie like qualities once again.

The story arc of the black oil has been running a long time, it may seem like, but I get the feeling that it isn't quite done yet. Lots of changes, it'll be interesting to see where this is picked up next.

William B Davies was once again fantastic as Smoking Man, throughout this two parter you may begin to see him in a slightly different way, but of course, you're left in no doubt by the conclusion.

9/10.

"The rebels are gonna win."

[classicsoncall · 9/10 · 26 July 2017]

I guess maybe I'm just a little too simplistic watching these episodes of the X-Files. If Cassandra Spender (Veronica Cartwright) really meant to have herself killed, why not take a header out of a hospital window in which she was confined. You have to know the whole suspense of having her captured along with Scully and Mulder and put into quarantine was simply a way to keep the story line going. If she really believed it when she said "I must die, or they all die", then she should have done something about it in a more proactive way.

Between the prior episode "Two Fathers" and this one, the entire five and a half season run of the X-Files mythology arc is explained rather concisely and neatly. Cigarette Smoking Man (William B. Davis) and Alex Krycek (Nicholas Lea) take turns explaining things in the prior episode in a way that brings the potentially confused viewer up to speed. All that's left is to complete the story line without leaving any loose ends.

But see, this is The X-Files, and as such, the viewer has to be kept hanging. With the Syndicate and their families wiped out by the faceless rebel forces, presumably the alien colonization of Earth has suffered a major blow. But the alien fetus kept under wraps by the Syndicate is now in the hands of the Rebels, so who knows what happens next? One would think that with Agent Spender making his peace with Mulder in Assistant Director Kersh's (James Pickens Jr.) office, things might approach something resembling normal at the FBI. Nice try there. CSM once again startles the viewer with the murder of his own son, thereby adding further nuance to Mulder's contention that "...the future is here, and all bets are off".

The End

[frederik-atak · 9/10 · 31 October 2021]

For me, this episode is kind of the unofficial end to the X-Files. It wraps up the original mythology so well.

After that, the show didn't manage to hook me like it did to this point - although there are still some great single episodes that follow.

Plan 13 From Outer Space

[andyetris · 7/10 · 19 October 2006]

In the previous episode, "Two Fathers," the conspiracy of "the Syndicate" was laid bare: temporize with the alien invaders by using alien DNA and technology to develop a slave race of human-alien hybrids, while secretly working on a vaccine against the "black oil" that would be used to clear the planet of humanity. However "Patient X," the cigarette-smoking man's wife Cassandra Spender, had been developed into the perfect human-alien hybrid ahead of schedule. In the "Tunguska" episode Syndicate agent Alex Krycek had revealed that the faction of "rebel aliens" was trying to force the Syndicate's hand, and in "Two Fathers" they forced Cassandra into the open, thus apparently starting a countdown to the annihilation of humanity. The Syndicate, believing that the only humans to survive would be those to reach the Air Force base where it all began, scramble to get there while Mulder and Scully try to help Marita Covarrubias, the only human to have been successfully vaccinated from the black oil's effects.

The fact that this climactic episode happens halfway through the season has got to be kind of a giveaway! As someone who always felt that "the mythology" was a bit of a crutch I wasn't entirely upset to see the plug get pulled, but WAY too many questions are left unanswered here, especially that 600 lb gorilla of why the Syndicate was so totally wrong about everything. No alien invasion, eh? A pile of burnt bodies, eh? Oh well, whatever. How about a change of pace? Let's go to Florida!