X-Cursions: `This Is Not Happening' marks a return to form.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

It just might be happening.

We're not talking about Fox Mulder's apparent demise. We're sure that didn't happen, or won't last long.

What does seem to be occurring, thankfully, is the creative revival of "X-Files" masterminds Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz, whose story-telling skills had seemingly been abducted some time ago. The latest chapter in the series, "This Is Not Happening," convinced us that this duo's talents are no more dead than Mulder.

But can things be the same again? Can repairs be made to the damage done while the series' mesmerizing qualities were missing along with Mulder?

This episode certainly gave us great hope. The opening installment of a three-part arc that will conclude in April did much more than revive the mystery cloaking the extraterrestrial incursions that have menaced Earth for decades, if not centuries.

"This Is Not Happening" shows what happens when "The X-Files" is hitting on all cylinders. It evoked the feelings of paranoia, mystery, foreboding and heartfelt emotion that have been absent in far too many episodes in recent years.

Subtle, but important things, like lighting reinforced our feeling that this was a throwback to classic "X-Files." Visually, this was one of the series' darkest episodes, with the primary shades seeming to be black and blue. Writers Carter and Spotnitz, along with director Kim Manners, even made sure the dead trees looked eerie. This episode looked like it easily could have been filmed in the series' old Vancouver stomping grounds instead of Southern California.