It was hardly surprising that the final episode of
X-Files' fifth season, "
The End," was a cliffhanger, despite the "finality" of its title. This time around, however, viewers were advised to seek the solutions to the problems posed in the episode by attending the
X-Files movie, which was slated to open on June 19, 1998 -- a full month after the season-ender's May 17 play date. For the record, the plot of "
The End" hinged on a young psychic boy named Gibson Praise (Jeff Gulka), who had witnessed the bizarre death of a Russian chess champion. It soon develops that Gibson may possess the solution to all the X-Files cases -- past, present, and future. The episode was written by series creator
Chris Carter, who coyly (and maddeningly) planted clues to the content of the upcoming -- and highly anticipated --
X-Files theatrical feature. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide