the episode offered "some interesting progressions in the grand theme" of the series, although it was also "worth it just for the awesome missile site finale" alone. Writing for The A.V. Club, Zack Handlen also rated the episode an A. Handlen felt the episode was impressive in its general impression, but that the details were not necessarily important; he also added that the cyclical nature of the plot of most mythology episodes was not something he felt negatively about, noting that although the series' protagonists are often defeated, they "can't be corrupted or dissuaded or undone". Co-writer Frank Spotnitz said of the episode "I actually think you didn't learn a lot more about the conspiracy in these two episodes, but emotionally, I think they were really good episodes ... It is really easy to go through a lot of these action things with people dying and never addressing them. So I thought it was very interesting to do so". Terrorist Timothy McVeigh, a fan of The X-Files, asked his defense team to watch the episode "Apocrypha" with him to showcase its "covert meetings in the night, secret goings-on" and "ghost government." At McVeigh's request, his attorneys included questions on The X-Files in the jury-screening questionnaire. Footnotes Bibliography External links "Apocrypha" on The X-Files official website 1996 American television episodes Television episodes written by Chris Carter Television episodes set in Hawaii Television episodes set in Maryland Television episodes set in New York (state) Television episodes set in North Dakota The X-Files (season 3) episodes Television episodes set in hospitals Fiction set in 1953