This article contains mild spoilers for the end of the season 11 premiere 'My Struggle III', which aired in the US last night (January 3). Read on if you dare.
The X-Files' season 11 premiere may have marked the beginning of the end for Gillian Anderson's Agent Scully, but it seems there was also a hidden message hinting at season 11 being the beginning of the end, full stop.
Yes, at the end of the premiere, 'My Struggle III', there's a scene that features a young man struggling while squeaky alien voices rise over the top of the other sounds and the music.
Clearly not one to leave a creepy alien voice be, it seems one X-Files fan noticed that the sounds were actually reversed speech, and decided to reverse the recording to unveil a secret message, which they later shared on Reddit.
"If this is the end, it's been a wild, wild adventure with some of the finest people I know and the greatest fans that we could've hoped for," the user identifies the message as saying.
"Here's to you. The truth is out there, 2018."
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If this is indeed the message, X-Files fans have speculated that it come from the series' creator Chris Carter, and could confirm that the show is ending after its second revived series plays out.
Other X-Files fans have suggested this could be a message from actress Gillian Anderson herself ahead of her stepping down from the role of Scully – but then again, Gillian firmly stated that this would be her last season just last week, so there would seemingly be no need for the "if this is the end" if this was from her.
Speaking after Gillian Anderson's exit news, creator Chris Carter appeared to suggest that the show could end when Scully leaves.
"For me, the show has always been Mulder and Scully. So the idea of doing the show without her isn't something I've ever had to consider," he said.
Time will tell if season 11 marks The X-Files' end or not – but in the meantime, we'll just be over here still reeling from the revelation of who the Cigarette Smoking Man is.
The X-Files airs on Wednesdays on Fox in the US. Channel 5 will be airing the series in the UK.
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