Invocation (The X-Files): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 16:38, 30 July 2023

Revision as of 23:47, 2 April 2024

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"'''Invocation'''" is the fifth episode of the [[The X-Files (season 8)|eighth season]] of the American [[science fiction on television|science fiction]] television series ''[[The X-Files]]''. It premiered on the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox network]] on {{nowrap|December 3, 2000}}. The episode was written by David Amman and directed by [[Richard Compton]]. "Invocation" is a "monster-of-the-week" story, unconnected to the series' wider [[Mythology of The X-Files|mythology]]. The episode received a [[Nielsen rating]] of 8.2 and was viewed by 13.9 million viewers. Overall, the episode received mixed reviews from critics.

The series centers on [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] special agents [[Dana Scully]] ([[Gillian Anderson]]) and her new partner [[John Doggett]] ([[Robert Patrick]])—following the alien abduction of her former partner, [[Fox Mulder]] ([[David Duchovny]])—who work on cases linked to the paranormal, called [[X-File]]s. In this episode, a little boy mysteriously reappears after having been kidnapped for ten years. However, he has not aged one bit after his disappearance. While the case stirs up painful memories for Doggett, suspicion stirs that the boy is not all he seems.

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==Reception==

"Invocation" first aired on Fox on December 3, 2000.<ref name="BBCdate">{{cite AV media notes |title=The X-Files: The Complete Eighth Season |title-link=The X-Files (season 8) |others=[[Kim Manners]], et al |type=booklet |publisher=[[Fox Broadcasting Corporation|Fox]] }}</ref> The episode earned a [[Nielsen ratings|Nielsen household rating]] of 8.2, meaning that it was seen by 8.2% of the nation's estimated households.<ref name=ratinggood/> The episode was viewed by 8.27 million households,<ref name=ratinggood>{{cite journal|agency=Associated Press|title=Television Ratings|journal=Associated Press Archive|date=5 December 2000}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|At the time of airing, the estimated number of households was 100.8 million.<ref name=ratinggood/> Thus, 8.2 percent of 100.8 million is 8.27 million households.|group="nb"}} and 13.9 million viewers.<ref name=tvtango8>{{cite web|last=Canton|first=Maj|title=The X-Files – Series – Episode List – Season 8|url=http://www.tvtango.com/series/x_files/episodes?filters%5Bday%5D=&filters%5Bseason%5D=8&filters%5Bbroadcast%5D=No&filters%5Bmedia%5D=&commit.x=25&commit.y=12|publisher=TV Tango|access-date=February 24, 2013}}</ref> The episode ranked as the 41st most-watched episode for the week ending December 3.<ref name=ratinggood/> The episode aired in the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Ireland]] on [[Sky1]] on March 8, 2001 and received 0.64 million viewers, making it the eighth most watched episode that week.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.barb.co.uk/whats-new/weekly-top-10/? |title=BARB's multichannel top 10 programmes |publisher=barb.co.uk |access-date=4 January 2011}} Note: Information is in the section titled "w/e March 5–11, 2001", listed under Sky 1</ref> Fox promoted the episode with the tagline "How can a child disappear for ten years... and not age a single day? Tonight, a family's miracle may be a gift from hell."<ref>{{Cite sign |title=Invocation |year=2000 |type=Promotional Flyer |publisher=[[Fox Broadcasting Company]] |___location=[[Los Angeles, California]]|url=http://i550.photobucket.com/albums/ii421/maurisap/xfiles%20forum/138childdisappear.jpg}}</ref>

[[Television Without Pity]] writer Jessica Morgan rated the episode a B−, and, despite the moderate praise, finished her review with the statement, "I miss Mulder."<ref name="TWP">{{cite web |url=http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/the-xfiles/invocation.php?page=11 |title=Invocation |work=[[Television Without Pity]] |publisher=[[NBCUniversal]] |first=Jessica |last=Morgan |date=3 December 2000 |access-date=11 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204065130/http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/the-xfiles/invocation.php?page=11 |archive-date=4 February 2013 }}</ref> Zack Handlen of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' awarded the episode a "B−", writing that it is "an okay entry that’s kept from being completely forgettable by some memorable shots […] and some decent Scully/Doggett banter."<ref name=avclub/> Handlen held a mixed feeling toward's Doggett's backstory, noting that its introduction "does push the character in ways that undermine some of his strongest traits".<ref name=avclub>{{cite web|last=Handlen|first=Zack|title='Invocation'/'Redrum' {{!}} The X-Files/Millennium {{!}} TV Club|url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/invocationredrum,104379/|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|publisher=[[The Onion]]|access-date=October 19, 2013|date=October 19, 2013}}</ref>

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*{{cite book | year=2009 | first1=Robert |last1=Shearman |first2=Lars |last2=Pearson | title=Wanting to Believe: A Critical Guide to The X-Files, Millennium & The Lone Gunmen|publisher=Mad Norwegian Press|isbn=978-0975944691}}

{{WikiaFandom content

|sitename=X-Files

|articlename=Invocation