The X-Files
Season 1 Episode 2: “Founder’s Mutation”
Written & Directed by James Wong
Created by Chris Clark
Starring David Duchnovy, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, Robbie Amell, Joel McHale, Lauren Ambrose.
FOX
Air Date: Monday, January 25th, 2016, 8:00pm

Mulder and Scully are back! After re-introducing us to our favorite FBI agents from the mid 90s, FOX decided not to make us wait too long and instead brings the second part of the series premiere one night later! In the first part we meet Tad O’Malley (Joel McHale), a Fox News-style TV host who uses his wealth and fame to dig deep into conspiracy theories, and offers Mulder an explanation for everything that’s happened since Roswell… it’s not the aliens… it’s us. The episode ends with Skinner (Mitch Pileggi) reopening the X-Files division, and we get an ominous view of the Smoking Man (Walter Davis), still at the front of the evil scheme after all these years. As the second part begins, a doctor shows up to work. His eyes are bleeding and he’s hearing high-pitched ringing in his ears, with occasional voices; “find her” they say. When the ringing gets too much, he sticks a letter opener in his ear, killing himself. Looks like a case for Mulder and Scully.

Spoilers below.

The company the doctor worked for Nugenics is associated with the Dept of Defense… hmmm. Mulder (David Duchovny) knows there’s more and he and Scully (Gillian Anderson) open their own little inquiries, he by stealing the victim’s phone to meet his contacts, and her by doing an autopsy that reveals a hidden message in his palm: Founder’s Mutation. The man in charge, Augustus Goldman, is called the “Founder”… hmmm. Mulder finds that the doctor was secretly gay and had a secondary residence in need of exploration. At his home they find a wall of patients, young kids with severe genetic mutations, some graphic. While there Mulder gets blasted by the high-pitched frequency and again hears the “find her” message.

Skinner and Mulder gleefully ignore and skirt the DOD in their investigation. Mulder wants to pursue Augustus Goldman who can fit the pieces into the puzzle. Scully is nervous. If Dr. Sanjay committed suicide because of the high frequency sounds, what will happen to Mulder now that he hears them as well. Unfortunately, this doesn’t daunt Mulder at all. They get a meeting with Goldman (Doug Savant). Mulder’s theory is that he is trying to harvest mutated babies, and treat them with alien DNA to use their abilities for military purposes. This theory is more than disturbing for Scully as she feels that’s what happened to their baby 15-years ago, which led to her putting him up for adoption. They each have really scary dream sequences about William, more scary if you’re a parent.

In pursuit of the truth, the search moves to Goldman’s wife (Rebecca Wisocky), who is in an insane asylum for killing their son 17 years ago. Her story involves her daughter’s “mutation,” and her knowledge that her husband was responsible for it. Turns out, the never recovered “dead” baby is almost 18 and was using high frequency sounds before he breached the womb. They put two and two together and find the hospital janitor Kyle (Jonathan Whitesell) looking for his sister (find her). They take him to Goldman and things kinda go haywire from there. Let’s just say you DON’T wanna piss those siblings off.

As a companion to the series premiere this episode was great. It leaned more towards the classic X-Files craziness while keeping the new conspiracy theory fresh. The show was always at its best when it kept that happy balance. Too much conspiracy leads to too many unanswered questions and the show getting bogged down. So far, the show is fantastic and I’m excited about where it all leads. Duchovny and Anderson have not lost a step, and playing these characters must be like muscle memory at this point.

The X-Files, Episode 2 “Founder’s Mutation,” premieres Monday night, January 25th at 8:00pm ET on FOX.

FOX’s synopsis:

MULDER AND SCULLY INVESTIGATE A DOCTOR WITH UNSCRUPULOUS PRACTICES ON PART TWO OF THE TWO-NIGHT SEASON PREMIERE OF “THE X-FILES” MONDAY, JANUARY 25, ON FOX
MON JAN 25 8/7c

When a scientist suddenly commits suicide, Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) investigate what unseen force may have driven him to it. What they uncover is a laboratory where extreme genetic experimentation has been going on for decades, breeding subjects who possess unexpected and dangerous powers – and who harbor deep resentments in the all-new “Founder’s Mutation” season premiere, part two, episode of THE X-FILES airing Monday, Jan. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. Doug Savant (“Desperate Housewives,” “Melrose Place”) Guest-Stars; Episode Written and Directed by James Wong

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THE X-FILES | Nothing To Say from “Founder’s Mutation”

Scully and Mulder pay a visit to Kyle’s house to ask him a few questions about the suicide at his work.