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Brad Follmer
The X-Filescharacter
Cary Elwes as Brad Follmer
First appearance"Nothing Important
Happened Today"
Last appearance"Release"
Portrayed byCary Elwes
In-universe information
OccupationFBIAssistant Director
BirthnameBrad D. Follmer
Duration2001-2002
Seasons9

FBI Assistant DirectorBrad D. Follmeris a fictional character in the AmericanFoxtelevision seriesThe X-Files,ascience fictionseries about agovernment conspiracyto hide or deny the truth of Alien existence. Follmer was introduced during the last season of the show, as an ex-lover to main characterMonica Reyes(Annabeth Gish). Follmer was portrayed by British actorCary Elwes.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Assistant Director Follmer made his first appearance in theninth seasonepisode "Nothing Important Happened Today"(2001). At the start of the season, Follmer wasunfriendlytowardsJohn Doggett(Robert Patrick) because of his case againstAlvin Kersh,the Deputy Director of the FBI. In time, however, he came to respect him.

Character arc

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Follmer was anAssistant Directorat theFBI.He had a romantic history withMonica Reyesthat he briefly brought up while trying to keep her away from theX-files.His true motives were more political in nature and part of his sycophancy toAlvin Kersh.He did not believe in the X-files and deliberately showed disrespect toJohn Doggettby calling him "Mr. Doggett" instead of "Agent".[1]

In 2002, new evidence concerning themurderofLuke Doggettcame to light. Doggett sought Follmer's assistance because he had worked against organized crime inNew York Citybefore coming toWashington.Reyes, however, recalled seeing Follmer accept a bribe from a mobster. Although he tried to play the event off as him paying an informant (at which he nearly succeeded), the truth was as Reyes suspected: Follmer was crooked. Once the truth of Luke's fate was revealed, Follmer killed the mobster who had nevertheless threatened blackmail concerning Follmer's bribe acceptance. Follmer's future at the FBI was left unresolved, although he most likely faced criminal charges for his actions.[2]

Conceptual history

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When creating the character,Chris Carter,one of theexecutive producersofThe X-Files,personally wanted British actorCary Elwesin the role.[3]Elwes won the role after an audition withAnnabeth Gishon August 8, 2001. He was chosen because of "the dynamic" and "the energy between the two of them." Along with announcing the character, he said that the character would only appear in six episodes.[4]Carter named the character Brad Follmer after his personal assistant during seasons 8 and 9.[5]

"He is so much different than Doggett, he's so much different than Mulder. He is a person that is physically attractive, terrific actor, and has a kind of quality that we saw we could use, which was, I don't want to say devious, but there is something going on behind Cary's eyes."
— Carter talking about the character of Follmer and portraying actor Elwes.[6]

When creating the character, Elwes did not want the character to be looked as "good or bad", even having discussing it with Carter andFrank Spotnitz,another executive producer of the show. The producers and actors have instead labeled him as "ambiguous", and a man who wants to see "evidence through logic" and not superstition.[7]When describing his character toThe Hollywood Reporter,Elwes said he "is a guy who is a little more buttoned up, a little more polished; he represents a different kind of FBI."[8]

There were two reasons for creating the character of Follmer, the first being when makingMonica Reyes(Annabeth Gish) became a main character in theninth season,they decided to provide a love interest for the character. When introducing Follmer to the show, they wanted to strengthenJohn Doggett's (Robert Patrick) and Reyes relationship.[9]The second reason was that they wanted to create a character different from Doggett; according to John Shiban, they wanted from the start to have a character who was basically "anti-Doggett".[6]

Reception

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John Sellers fromEntertainment Weeklyreacted overall positive when it was confirmed thatCary Elweswould become a recurring guest actor.[10]Marisa Guthrie from theBoston Heraldsaid Elwes was "fine" as Follmer.[11]Michigan Dailyreviewer Christian Smith called the character "unreadable".[12]An unnamed staff writer ofAirlock Alphafelt that Elwes performance was "forced," concluding his review of Follmer that Elwes did not feel "comfortable with his character."[13]An unnamed reviewer fromCritical Mythfelt Follmer's dialogue in the season premiere, "Nothing Important Happened Today",especially the scene at the bar did not" make any sense. "[14]While another review from the same site, felt that Follmer's "characterization" was much "stronger" in "4-D"than in the season premiere.[15]

References

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  1. ^Kim MannersandTony Wharmby(directors);Chris CarterandFrank Spotnitz(writers). "Nothing Important Happened Today".The X-Files.Season 9. Episode 1 & 2.Fox Home Entertainment.
  2. ^Kim Manners(director); John Shiban & David Amann (writers). "Release".The X-Files.Season 9. Episode 17.Fox Home Entertainment.
  3. ^Hinman, Michael (November 8, 2001)."Elwes talksThe X-Files".Airlock Alpha.RetrievedSeptember 30,2009.
  4. ^Hinman, Michael (February 15, 2002)."Elwes joinsThe X-Files".Airlock Alpha.Archived fromthe originalon January 14, 2010.RetrievedSeptember 30,2009.
  5. ^Ausiello, Michael (June 26, 2017)."The X-Files Season 11 Writers Revealed: Who's Back? Who's Missing?".TVLine.RetrievedJune 26,2017.
  6. ^abSpotnitz, Frank,Gilligan, Vince,Shiban, John,Carter, Chris,Elwes, Cary,Patrick, Robert,Manners, Kim,MacLaren, Michelle, Kaplan, Corey, Beck, Mat, Rabwin, Paul, Mungle, Matthew, Amann, David, Montesanto-Medcalf, Cheri, Wash, John, Roe, Bill andReynolds, Burt(2002).The Truth Behind Season 9(DVD).Fox Home Entertainment.
  7. ^Manners, Kim,Pickens, Jr., James,Gish, AnnabethandElwes, Cary(2002).Profiles: Brad Follmer(DVD).Fox Home Entertainment.
  8. ^Grossberg, Josh (August 10, 2001)."Elwes joinsThe X-Files".E!Online.RetrievedSeptember 30,2009.
  9. ^Spotnitz, Frank,Patrick, Robert,Gish, AnnabethandElwes, Cary(2001).Profiles: Monica Reyes(DVD).Fox Home Entertainment.
  10. ^Sellers, John (November 9, 2001)."Elwes Sightings".Entertainment Weekly.Archived fromthe originalon January 25, 2008.RetrievedOctober 23,2009.
  11. ^Guthrie, Marisa (November 11, 2001). "Television review; It's time to putX-Filesin a drawer ".Boston Herald.
  12. ^Smith, Christian (November 21, 2001)."Loss of Mulder slowsX-Files".Michigan Daily.RetrievedOctober 23,2009.
  13. ^Staff Writer (November 13, 2001)."A little too much X-skin?".Airlock Alpha.RetrievedSeptember 30,2009.
  14. ^"Nothing Important Happened Today".Critical Myth.Archived fromthe originalon October 24, 2009.RetrievedOctober 1,2009.
  15. ^"4-D".Critical Myth.Archived fromthe originalon September 24, 2015.RetrievedOctober 1,2009.
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