Ascension (The X-Files)

Infobox Television episode | Title = Ascension


Series = The X-Files
Season = 2
Episode = 2X06
Airdate = October 21 1994
Production =
Writer = Chris Carter
Director = Chris Carter
Guests = Steve Railsback as Duane Barry
-
Prev = Duane Barry
Next = 3

"Ascension" was the sixth episode of the second season of "The X-Files" science-fiction television series created by Chris Carter.

Plot

In a follow-up from the previous episode Agent Fox Mulder races to Agent Dana Scully's house after listening to the recording of her attack on his answering machine. Duane Barry has kidnapped Scully, determined to offer her to the aliens in his place. As Mulder is involved in a high speed pursuit in a cable car, Krycek attempts to kill him to prevent him from rescuing his partner. Duane Barry is successful in handing Scully to his abductors, but later dies in the hospital from asphyxiation, a death for which Mulder is briefly held accountable. When Mulder discovers a partially smoked cigarette in Krycek's car, he makes accusations to Assistant Director Skinner about Krycek being involved with a covert organization along with the Cigarette Smoking Man and that he gave away the whereabouts of Scully. In the middle of the conversation Skinner receives a phone call saying that Agent Krycek didn't show up for work and that his home phone number had been disconnected. In the end, Skinner decides to reopen the X-Files because "that's what they fear the most".

Guests

*William B. Davis as The Cigarette Smoking Man
*Nicholas Lea as Alex Krycek
*Mitch Pileggi as Assistant Director Walter Skinner
*Sheila Larken as Margaret Scully
*Steven Williams as Mr X
*Steve Railsback as Duane Barry

Trivia

* Agent Scully conveniently appears to be pregnant (during a vision of her being abducted) in this episode. Anderson gave birth to her daughter, Piper, on 9/25/1994. A keen viewer would also notice that sequences featuring Anderson were very limited recently in the show.
* While driving Duane Barry listens to "Red Right Hand" by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. This is track 6 on Songs in the Key of X.
* This episode changes its regular tagline "The truth is out there" for "Deny Everything". This is what X tells Mulder about the politics of, apparently, the Syndicate. This episode forms part of the mytharc episodes.

References and external links

*imdb title|0751077|Ascension
* [http://www.tv.com/the-x-files/ascension-2/episode/520/summary.html Ascension] at TV.com