Not unexpectedly, the seventh season of The X-Files ended with a cliffhanger on May 21, 2000. This time, however, the episode in question, "Requiem," had all the earmarks of a series finale, inasmuch as star David Duchovny's contract had ended, and co-star Gillian Anderson's commitment to the series had only one more year to go. Whatever the case, the plot found agents Mulder and Scully facing an FBI audit of expense accrued during their seven-year partnership. As Mulder was taken to task for overspending and Scully was reprimanded for not keeping her partner in check (which was her original assignment), a number of familiar characters -- the Cigarette Smoking Man (William B. Davis), Alex Krycek (Nicholas Lea), the Lone Gunmen (Tom Braidwood, Dean Haglund), and Bruce Harwood) -- make significant appearances, subtly suggesting the direction the series may or may not be taking. In true "what comes around" fashion, Mulder and Scully wind up in Bellefleur, OR, the scene of their first joint X-Files case. Ending with a burning unanswered question -- "whose baby is that?" -- "Requiem" was written by Chris Carter, the series creator. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
