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There are several mysteries, cliffhangers, and engrossing moments throughoutThe X-Files, and Nurse Owens (Nicola Cavendish) is one of the most compelling minor characters. Although she only appears briefly, she is part of a fascinating storyline involving Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson). Every episode ofThe X-Filesfeatures the formula of Scully and Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) investigating a creepy paranormal occurrence sinceThe X-Filesinfluenced the sci-fi procedural genre. The episode that includes Nurse Owens is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
WhenThe X-Filesaired in the late 1990s and early 2000s, it was a critically acclaimed TV series, and fans have enjoyed rewatching it since. Nurse Owens’s plotline inThe X-Filesis a reminder of the solid storytelling of this popular show.
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Who Was Nurse Owens On The X-Files?
Nurse Owens is one of the most memorable minor characters inThe X-Files. Scully spends time at the hospital because she falls into a coma, and while she’s there, she sees visions of someone named Nurse Owens. In one scene, Scully is sitting in a boat in a lake, and she sees Nurse Owens on the dock nearby. Scully’s sister Melissa (Melinda McGraw), who visits her in the hospital, is there as well. In another scene, Scully is lying down unconscious and her late father, who is wearing a white outfit that signals that something supernatural is happening, tells her, “I know death is at arm’s reach tonight” and adds, “Your time is not over.”
Nurse Owens tells Scully that she will:
“Take care of you sweetheart. Help you find the way home.”
Throughout these scenes, it’s unclear if Nurse Owens is real or if Scully is imagining her completely. Scully seems to think that she works at the hospital. One thing is certain, though: Nurse Owens appears to Scully because Scully is on the edge of life and death. Fromthe Trinity Killerstothe Smoking Man, many characters in The X-Files play an integral role in the overall story. Even though Nurse Owens is only in one episode, she helps Scully think about her mortality and what’s next.
11
1993-2002
“Dana’s choosing whether…whether to remain, or move on.”
Which The X-Files Episode Features Nurse Owens?
Nurse Owens is featured in season 2, episode 8 ofThe X-Filescalled “One Breath.” There areseveral underrated episodes ofThe X-Filesand “One Breath” is one of the most interesting. In the previous episode, “Ascension,” Duane Barry (Steve Railback) abducted Sully, and Mulder spent time looking for her. Now that Mulder knows that Scully is in a coma, he tells her that she should keep living and that she is strong.
Nurse Owens is also an importantThe X-Filescharacter because when she appears to Scully, this allows Scully to examine her faith. The episode touches on Scully’s desire to keep living and whether there is something else out there. While she is Catholic, she isn’t sure what she believes in, which is a common thread throughout the TV series. Scully’s questions about religion are a contrast to Mulder’s feelings. While some episodes are purely entertaining, likeThe X-Filesepisode that Stephen King wrote, “One Breath” has a more serious tone and asks some big questions.
In an interview withThe Faderin 2016,The X-Filescreator Chris Carter talked about Scully’s religious beliefs:
“I think people always commented that the stereotypes were busted because typically the woman is the believer and the man is the skeptic, so it was interesting to play it the opposite way. That cross around Scully’s neck creates the paradox that is Scully. She’s a person of tremendous faith—religious faith—but also faith that science can answer the questions.”
What Happens To Nurse Owens?
At the end ofThe X-Filesepisode “One Breath,” it becomes clear that Nurse Owens might not be real. When Scully talks to a staff member at the hospital about her, she is told that Nurse Owens isn’t an employee. This suggests that she is a spirit or a hallucination. Since the show doesn’t answer the question of who Nurse Owens is, she becomes even more fascinating.
Other Memorable The X-Files Season 2 Episodes:
While some think that Nurse Owens is simply someone who shows up in Scully’s dreams, some think that she could be a guardian angel since Scully has been thinking about her faith for a long time. “One Breath” is one ofThe X-Filesepisodes that is still relevant, no matter who fans believe Nurse Owen is.
