Invocation (The X-Files): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:59, 4 February 2020

Revision as of 19:33, 5 December 2020

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* Sheila Shaw as Marcia Purnell

* Steve Stapenhorst as Principal

* Jim Cody Williams as Cal Jeppy<ref name=cast>{{cite web|title=The X-Files - "Invocation"|url=http://www.thexfiles.com/episodes/season8/8x05.html|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020207004630/http://www.thexfiles.com/episodes/season8/8x05.html|archivedatearchive-date=7 February 2002|publisher=[[Fox Broadcasting Company]]|work=TheXFiles.com|accessdate=27 April 2012|date=12 December 2001}}</ref>

| prev = [[Roadrunners (The X-Files)|Roadrunners]]

| next = [[Redrum (The X-Files)|Redrum]]

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"Invocation" was written by producer David Amann, and marked his fifth script contribution to the series. "Invocation" was the first of two episode of ''The X-Files'' to be directed by [[Richard Compton]]; he would later go on to direct the eighth season episode "[[Medusa (The X-Files)|Medusa]]".<ref name="BigbookDirector">Hurwitz and Knowles, pp. 236–240</ref> Although the episode was the fifth aired in the season, it was actually the sixth one filmed, as evidenced by its production number.<ref name=cast/><ref name="BBCdate"/> A majority of the episode was filmed in [[Pasadena, California]]. Many of the extras from the episode auditioned via General Casting, a casting agency.<ref name="fraga">Fraga, p. 186</ref>

In the episode, Doggett is told by a psychic that his very own son was kidnapped and murdered; thus, "Invocation" would mark the first appearance of Luke Doggett, the son of John.<ref name="Invocation">{{cite episode | title=Invocation | series=The X-Files | serieslinkseries-link=The X-Files |credits = [[Richard Compton]] (Director); David Amann (Writer) | network = [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] | season = 8 | number = 5}}</ref> Luke's story would develop into an arc featuring Doggett trying to find out the truth about his son's murder. Robert Patrick noted "['Invocation' started] a very important arc, because you start to see the vulnerability of the Doggett character, what drives him. That's where we first realize something's happened to him. There's a tragedy that's involved with him."<ref name="Bigbook">Hurwitz and Knowles, p. 189</ref>

The song that Ronald Purnell sang to Billy to keep him quiet and that was featured as a [[Backmasking|backmasked]] message on Scully's tape-recorder is a traditional African American [[lullaby]] from the [[southern United States|American South]] called "[[All the Pretty Horses (lullaby)|All the Pretty Horses]]".<ref name="xfilessite">{{cite web|title=The X-Files - "Invocation" - Research|url=http://www.thexfiles.com/episodes/season8/8x05_research.html|publisher=[[Fox Broadcasting Company]]|work=TheXFiles.com|accessdate=12 May 2012|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011229194218/http://www.thexfiles.com/episodes/season8/8x05_research.html|archivedatearchive-date=29 December 2001|date=3 December 2000}}</ref>

==Reception==

"Invocation" first aired on Fox on December 3, 2000.<ref name="BBCdate">{{cite DVD notes |title=The X-Files: The Complete Eighth Season |titlelinktitle-link=The X-Files (season 8) |origyear=2000–2001 |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|accessdate=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 |accessdate=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 |accessdate=11 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurlarchive-url=https://archive.is/20130204065130/http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/the-xfiles/invocation.php?page=11 |archivedatearchive-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/Dogett 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]]|accessdate=October 19, 2013|date=October 19, 2013}}</ref>

[[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 two-and-a-half stars out of five. The two praised Amman's ability to "elicit real-world reactions out of fantastical situations".<ref name="shear">Shearman and Pearson, p. 232–233</ref> However, Shearman and Pearson took issue with the way Doggett's backstory was extrapolated. They noted that Doggett had been portrayed, up to the point in the series, as a "solid and reliable" character. However, "Invocation" sees him "[break] protocol and [behave] like a bully" because of a case reminiscent of that of his deceased son's, a situation that, the authors reason, is too similar to Mulder's own search for the truth about his sister, [[Samantha Mulder|Samantha]].<ref name="shear"/> Paula Vitaris from ''[[Cinefantastique]]'' gave the episode a mixed review and awarded it two stars out of four.<ref name=cinepaula>{{cite journal|last=Vitaris|first=Paula|title=The X-Files Season Eight Episode Guide|journal=[[Cinefantastique]]|date=April 2002|volume=34|issue=2|pages=42–49}}</ref> Vitaris bluntly wrote, "'Invocation' is a masterpiece, but only if you grade it on a '[[Roadrunners (The X-Files)|Roadrunners]]' bell-curve."<ref name=cinepaula/> She elaborated, calling it "a run-of-the-mill stand-alone, a combination of '[[Revelations (The X-Files)|Revelations]]' and '[[The Calusari]]'"<ref name=cinepaula/>