 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 five stars out of five , calling it a " return to form " for the series . Shearman and Pearson also felt that the episode gave the character of John Doggett a chance to be accepted by the series ' other characters ; and praised the " subtle " writing of the episode 's emotional dialogue . Tom Kessenich , in his book Examinations : An Unauthorized Look at Seasons 6 @-@ 9 of ' The X @-@ Files ' , noted that the episode typifies the basic themes of the series — " dark , foreboding terror , overriding sense of paranoia " and " the fear of the unknown " among others . 
