X-files 11x6: The

According to reviewers from IndieWire , this episode provides a "sweet and touching" moment for Skinner that feels earned after 20 years of backstory.

: Flashbacks reveal a young Skinner (played by Cory Rempel) and his friend John "Kitten" James (Haley Joel Osment) being exposed to the experimental gas. The gas turned James into a "monster" who collected trophies from victims, and Skinner’s forced silence during James's trial has haunted him for decades. The X-Files 11x6

: The episode ends with a crop duster spraying gas, and Skinner losing a tooth, suggesting he was recently exposed to the MK-NAOMI agent. According to reviewers from IndieWire , this episode

: The investigation leads Mulder and Scully to Mud Lick, Kentucky, where people are being murdered in booby traps resembling Vietnam War punji pits. : The episode ends with a crop duster

In the X-Files episode (Season 11, Episode 6), Walter Skinner's mysterious past in the Vietnam War finally takes center stage. The episode explores themes of guilt and accountability, revealing how a secret military project called MK-NAOMI —a gas designed to induce extreme fear and hallucinations—shattered Skinner's faith in the government. Plot Summary

: They encounter Kitten’s son, Davey (also Haley Joel Osment), who is using the gas and a "monster" costume to avenge his father. After being rescued from a trap, Skinner reaffirms his loyalty to Mulder and Scully, stating they restored his faith in people. Key Takeaways