History Recap / TheXFilesMiniseriesE10TheLostArtOfForeheadSweat

* HumansAreTheRealMonsters: According to the alien in the supposed final case, humans are so awful that we're to be [[TheWallAroundTheWorld blocked off from leaving the Solar System]] and that no aliens will make further contact. After denouncing humans as drug-dealing criminals and rapists, the alien concedes every species have their share of these problems, but he adds that lying is trait unique to humans and that they could infect other species with that.

Mulder and Scully meet a man whose claims of a "different world" lead to a baffling investigation.

!!Tropes

-->'''Skinner:''' Hey, where are they taking Reggie?

-->"Good luck and good riddance."

-->'''Scully''': "I want to remember it how it used to be. How it ''all'' used to be."

* TheWallAroundTheWorld: The "final case" alien declares that an electromagnetic barrier will be erected to prevent further contact -- humans can [[UranusIsShowing probe Uranus]] as much as they want, but anything trying to leave the Solar System will be disintegrated.

* FandomEnragingMisconception: InUniverse: When Scully suggests ''Serries/TheTwilightZone1959'' episode Mulder is thinking of may be an episode of ''Series/TheOuterLimits1963'', Mulder yells, "Do you even ''know'' me?"
* HumansAreBastards: According to the alien in the supposed final case, humans are so awful that we're to be [[TheWallAroundTheWorld blocked off from leaving the Solar System]] and that no aliens will make further contact. After denouncing humans as drug-dealing criminals and rapists, the alien concedes every species have their share of these problems, but he adds that lying is trait unique to humans and that they could infect other species with that.

** Mulder touches on a long-ranging fan debate at the idea of mixing up ''Series/TheTwilightZone'' and ''Series/TheOuterLimits''.

* FandomEnragingMisconception: InUniverse: When Scully suggests the [[Series/TheTwilightZone "Twilight Zone"]] episode Mulder is thinking of may be an episode of ''Series/TheOuterLimits'', Mulder yells, "Do you even ''know'' me?"

* FandomBerserkButton: When Scully suggests the [[Series/TheTwilightZone "Twilight Zone"]] episode Mulder is thinking of may be an episode of ''Series/TheOuterLimits'', Mulder yells, "Do you even ''know'' me?"

* RememberTheNewGuy: Parodied. Reggie insists he was actually working with Mulder before Scully even showed up.

* TomatoInTheMirror: The opening of a man realizing the "Martian in the mirror" is literally himself.

* AluminumChristmasTrees: Invoked. Dr. They notes his number in the phone book, though he concedes people might not know what that is anymore.
* AmbiguousSituation: What isn't? Everything that Mulder and Scully find out by the end is thrown into doubt by Dr. They's boast that he can alter memories and through them, the past.
* ContinuityNod: The events that Reggie was apparently present for are [[Recap/TheXFilesS01E01 Scully first entering Mulder's office]], [[Recap/TheXFilesS01E21Tooms Tooms being led past the agents]], [[Recap/TheXFilesS03E04ClydeBruckmansFinalRepose Clyde Bruckman discussing different outcomes to historical events]], [[Recap/TheXFilesS03E18TesoDosBichos the lead up to a killer cat reveal]], [[Recap/TheXFilesS04E02Home finding Mrs. Peacock]], and [[Recap/TheXFilesS04E20SmallPotatoes Eddie Van Blundht-as-Mulder kissing Scully and returning to normal]].

** In the final scene, Mulder claims he found it was an episode of a knock-off called ''The Dusky Realm.''

* RealAfterAll: After Reggie is about to be sent to a mental institution and it's said all his "memories" of being with the team were just delusions from NSA tapping, Mulder and Scully watch him go sadly. At which point, Skinner (who hadn't shown up at all in the episode) appears, demanding to know "where are they taking Reggie?" and the two exchange stunned looks.

* SelfServingMemory: Scully brings this up when Reggie talks of his not remembered in his high school yearbook as "no one remembers our high school years with accuracy."

** Mulder insisting that the Mandela Effect proves that there are alternate universes, and Scully's and Reggie's insisting that "we're not doing an alternate universe thing," is a take against the alternate universe "theorists" and against ''Series/{{Fringe}}'', which uses that explanation so much.

* HumansAreBastards: According to the alien in the supposed final case, humans are so awful that we're to be blocked off from leaving the Solar System and that no aliens will make further contact. After denouncing humans as drug-dealing criminals and rapists, the alien concedes every species have their share of these problems, but he adds that lying is trait unique to humans and that they could infect other species with that.

* FandomBerserkButton: When Scully suggests the [[Series/TheTwilightZone "Twilight Zone"]] episode Mulder is thinking of may be an episode of ''Series/TheOuterLimits'', Mulder yells, "Do you even KNOW me?"

* TakeThat: ''SO MANY'', most taking it to the Trump administration.

** The talk of "we're not doing an alternate universe thing" seems to be a shot on ''Series/{{Fringe}}'' using it so much.

* FakeMemories: The key of the episode with Reggie realizing he remembers things differently. This leads to Mulder mentioning the Mandela Effect but Reggie thinks it's really "The Mengle Effect" after how people remember Joseph Mengle arrested in Ohio in the 1970s.

* RealAfterAll: After Reggie is about to be sent to a mental institution and all his "memories" of being with the team were just delusions from NSA tapping, Mulder and Scully watch him go sadly. At which point, Skinner shows up demanding to know "where's Reggie going?" and the two exchange stunned looks.

** The talk of "we're not doing an alternate universe thing" seems to be a shot on ''Series/Fringe'' using it so much.

* OcaamsRazor: Mentioned by Scully with Reggie insisting it's called "Ozzy's Razor."