This Is Not Happening (The X-Files)

"**This Is Not Happening**"
"This Is Not Happening"
The X-Files episode
	Fox Mulder is returned to Earth, deceased. The episode, featuring the return of David Duchovny, was praised by critics.
Episode no.	Season 8; Episode 14
Directed by	Kim Manners
Written by	Chris Carter; Frank Spotnitz
Production code	8ABX14
Original air date	February 25, 2001
Running time	44 minutes
Guest appearances
	Annabeth Gish as Monica Reyes; Mitch Pileggi as Walter Skinner; Sarah Koskoff as Theresa Hoese; John McGonegle as Uniformed Officer; Arlene Pileggi as Skinner's Assistant; Randy Ross as Nike Man; Judson Scott as Absalom; Roy Thinnes as Jeremiah Smith; Eddie Kaye Thomas as Gary Cory; Judd Trichter as Richie Szalay; Bernard White as Dr. Desai; Roz Witt as Night Nurse;
Episode chronology
← Previous; "Per Manum"	Next →; "Deadalive"
	The X-Files season 8
	List of episodes

"This Is Not Happening" is the fourteenth episode of the eighth season and the 175th episode overall of the science fiction television series The X-Files. The episode first aired in the United States on February 25, 2001, on the Fox Network, and subsequently aired in the United Kingdom. It was written by executive producers Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz, and directed by Kim Manners, and forms part of the series' overarching mythology. The episode received a Nielsen household rating of 9.7 and was watched by 16.9 million viewers, making it the highest-rated episode of the season. "This Is Not Happening" was received positively by television critics.

The series centers on 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-Files. In this episode, Scully, Doggett, and Walter Skinner (Mitch Pileggi) discover several returned alien abductees. Doggett calls on another agent, Monica Reyes (Annabeth Gish), to assist the case. Scully's fears about finding Mulder come to a head with the sudden recovery of one of the abductees seized at the same time.

"This Is Not Happening" was a story milestone for the season, returning Mulder from his alien abduction which started with "Requiem". In addition, the episode introduced the character Monica Reyes (Annabeth Gish), who would become a main character in season nine. Gish's character was introduced as a possible replacement for Anderson, who was considering leaving the series after the end of the season.

^ "The X-Files – "This Is Not Happening"". TheXFiles.com. Fox Broadcasting Company. February 2002. Archived from the original on 7 February 2002. Retrieved 27 April 2012.

[cast-1] "The X-Files – "This Is Not Happening"". TheXFiles.com. Fox Broadcasting Company. February 2002. Archived from the original on 7 February 2002. Retrieved 27 April 2012.

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