 The seventh season was a time of closure for The X @-@ Files . Characters within the show were written out , including The Smoking Man ( William B. Davis ) and Mulder 's mother ( Rebecca Toolan ) , and several plot threads were resolved , including the fate of Fox Mulder 's sister Samantha . After settling his contract dispute , Duchovny quit full @-@ time participation in the show after the seventh season . This contributed to uncertainties over the likelihood of an eighth season . Carter and most fans felt the show was at its natural endpoint with Duchovny 's departure , but it was decided Mulder would be abducted at the end of the seventh season , leaving it open for the actor 's return in 11 episodes the following year . " Requiem " , the seventh season finale , was written by Carter both as a possible series finale and as a way to segue into a new season . However , the producers found it difficult to convincingly write Duchovny 's character out of the script , and explain Mulder 's absence in the episodes of the upcoming season . 
