Nothing Important Happened Today

The ‘hype’ for the ninth season opener of the “X-Files” was that “Xena: Warrior Princess” star Lucy Lawless would be guest starring on the episode, a two parter entitled “Nothing Important Happened Today.” It was an episode in which she and Carl Elwes (who portrays the new Assistant Director Follmer) were outstanding in their performances.

The much anticipated first part of the episode “Nothing Important Happened Today, Part I” was slated to air on November 4th but was postponed for a week due to the airing of the twice postponed “Emmy Awards.” When the episode finally aired on November 11th having to compete with an “I Love Lucy” special and the uncut airing of “Saving Private Ryan” it placed third in the ratings.

The second part, “Nothing Important Happened Today, Part II,” which aired November 18th became the lowest rated episode since the series moved to Sunday nights from Friday nights back in 1996. “Nothing Important Happened Today, Part II” garnered some 9.4 million viewers.

“Nothing Important Happened Today, Part I” opened with mystery and intrigue. It showed a “pick up” scene in a bar in Baltimore, MD where Lawless’ character was picked up by a man named Carl Wormus (portrayed by Nicholas Walker), the two leave and go for a drive in Wormus’ convertible. They drive up to a bridge and Lawless’ character causes the car to go over the edge of the bridge into the Potomac River where she drowns Wormus.

The opening scenes leave the viewer with questions about who or what Lawless’ character is and why she killed Wormus. Those questions are answered later on, but for most of the first part of the two part episode the character is a mysterious woman who kills two men and is lurking around the FBI Building.

Later we find out that Lawless’ character is named Shannon McMahon, a former “Bravo Company” pal of Doggett’s (portrayed by Robert Patrick). She and Knowle Rohrer (portrayed by Adam Baldwin), a character from the eighth season, are first generation proto-type ‘bio-engineered combat units’ also know as “super soldiers,” products of some fifty years of military research. She holds some answers for Agent Scully (portrayed by Gillian Anderson).

Meanwhile, Agent Reyes (portrayed by Annabeth Gish) meets up with an old flame of hers, the new Assistant Director Brad Follmer (Elwes). It’s clear from their first interaction that Follmer wants to resume their former relationship, but Reyes is a little leery of the idea. “The Lone Gunmen” also make an appearance in the episode. They give Reyes some information on the murdered men.

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