 Robert Shearman and Lars Pearson , in their book Wanting to Believe : A Critical Guide to The X @-@ Files , Millennium & The Lone Gunmen , rated the episode four stars out of five . The two wrote that " the episode sings when it reinvents the old and introduces the new . " However , Shearman and Pearson criticized the bringing back of Gibson Praise , noting that " the return of Gibson Praise almost derails the episode altogether [ … ] he only manages to make an episode that seemed as if it was giving The X @-@ Files a bold new beginning feel like it 's about to offer more of the same old stooge . " Tom Kessenich , in his book Examinations wrote a moderately positive review of the episode . He noted , " In many ways , ' Within ' reminded us why we tune into The X @-@ Files every week . However , it also reminded us why the road ahead will be difficult . Fox Mulder may be gone , but he will never be forgotten . Or replaced . " 
