Alone (The X-Files)
"Alone" is the nineteenth episode of the eight season and the 180th episode overall of the science fiction television series The X-Files. The episode first aired in the United States on May 6, 2001 on Fox, and subsequently aired in the United Kingdom on Sky1 on June 14, 2001. It was written and directed by executive producer Frank Spotnitz. "Alone" earned a Nielsen household rating of 7.5 and was viewed by 12.7 million viewers. It received mixed to positive reviews from television critics.
The show centers on FBI special agents John Doggett (Robert Patrick) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson)—as well as ex-FBI agent Fox Mulder (David Duchovny)—who work on cases linked to the paranormal, called X-Files. In this episode, Doggett is paired with an enthusiastic young agent named Leyla Harrison who knows everything about the X-Files, when Scully goes on maternity leave. Harrison's apotheosis of Mulder and Scully leads to him learning a thing or two. But when Harrison and Doggett disappear, Mulder defies orders in an attempt to find them.
"Alone" marked the directorial debut of Spotnitz, who had been a writer on the show for several years. In addition, the episode would be the last Monster-of-the-Week episode to feature an appearance by David Duchovny as Fox Mulder. The character of Leyla Harrison was named after an X-Files fan who died of cancer in 2001.