When a scientist suddenly commits suicide, Mulder and Scully 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.

The X-Files second episode of its tenth season moves the series’ formula back to its more entertaining monster of the week formula while also attempting to tie that in to the new conspiracy that Fox Mulder is convinced is the reality of his quest.

The episode has issues much like the first with the first half feeling more like a reason to discuss Dana Scully and Mulder’s past and their child together. The overarching episode feels more like an attempt to wrap up, or at least address, a plot line from the previous series to keep fans settled.

The episode has to do with with the death of a scientist, which leads the two agents to explore children with diseases and deformities, which creates a connect the dots investigation where one clue leads to another and then another, without much big picture investigating.

The ending though is where the episode really goes off the rails with a weird mix of the X-Men and Carrie. The powers don’t seem to be consistent throughout the story, and the acting and fx towards the end are rather cheesy.

Much like the first episode, the acting is all over the place where it feels like some of the classic characters, and at other times Duchovny and Anderson feel like they’re phoning it in for a paycheck. It’s been so long since I watched the original series, I can’t say if this is par for the course or not. But, through my hazy memory, I remember it being better.

While as a fan I’m happy that The X-Files are back, I just wish the quality was a bit higher.

Overall Rating: 6.5