Episode 1 – Pilot
Scully meets Mulder for the first time as she is asked to report on the validity of his work. Together they investigate the mysterious deaths of several young people in Oregon. Mulder is convinced that they show signs of alien abduction, but Scully is more sceptical. They eventually find the man responsible to be Billy Miles, a teenager who has been in a ‘waking coma’ at hospital. He claims that he has been abducted and taken for testing on a ship. Scully’s report cannot support or refute this claim. The only evidence she has is a small metallic nasal implant that ends up in CIA hands with the Cigarette Smoking Man (CSM).
An impressive opening, it is easy to see why this was picked up for a full series. The chemistry between the leads is already significant and the show is well scripted. It has a dark, dreariness that must have been pretty original in the mid 1990’s. Acting is strong in most cases, though a bit wooden in parts. The only ‘effects’ seem a little dated, but this actually enhances the show, making clear that it is about story and character over flashiness. The idea of a wider conspiracy is toyed with and major aspects to follow including CSM and the abduction of Mulder’s sister are given to us.
Episode 2 – Deep Throat
Mulder and Scully investigate the disappearance of a test pilot in Idaho after he has been affected by a skin disorder. He suspects a military cover up. He is warned off by a mysterious man in a bar and realises his phone is tapped. Once there, he believes that UFO parts are being used by the military to build planes. After the pilot returns, apparently having had some of his memory wiped, the agents are told by the military to leave town. Mulder takes off on his own and enters the base, where he sees a UFO like plane. He is then captured and injected with an unknown substance. As he is stretchered through the base, he appears to see the UFO plane but then has his memory altered. He cannot remember what he saw when he is released. Mulder meets with the mysterious man again, who implies that what he saw was a UFO and that aliens do exist – he also tells Mulder that his and Scully’s lives could be in danger.
Apart from an abrupt change in hairstyles for the leads, this continues with the good work. Again, a major character, Deepthroat, is introduced. We also get some idea of the steps Mulder is willing to go to to prove the existences of extra-terrestrials – and how far the cover up could reach. The chemistry continues positively and there is a humorous appearance from a young Seth Green. This also sees the familiar theme tune and title for the first time,
Episode 3 – Squeeze
Scully is approached by a ruthlessly ambitious colleague to look at the case of a serial killer who takes the liver of his victims. On investigation, Mulder finds a fingerprint tying the killer to a similar cases that have happened every 30 years since 1903. They discover the killer is Eugene Tooms and that he can seemingly squeeze and stretch himself to gain access to his victims homes. As Mulder and Scully get near to catching their suspect, he attacks Scully at home. As Mulder comes to the rescue, the two agents manage to capture Tooms, though it is implied he may not be able to be kept behind bars for long.
This is the first episode that takes on a ‘horror’ style and is genuinely creepy. It is also the first 'stand-alone' episode. Tooms makes a disturbing character whose motives and origins are never fully explained. We also see some of the hostility that the other agents have towards ‘Spooky’ Mulder and the loyalty that Scully has now developed. A memorable episode that will remain one of the greats.
Episode 4 – Conduit
Sioux City Iowa – a teenage girl, Ruby, disappears while camping with her little brother. She is the daughter of a woman who claimed to have seen UFOs when younger. When Mulder and Scully investigate, they find that Ruby has a reputation for running away. The case is similar to that of Mulder’s sister’s disappearance and he becomes obsessed. Her brother appears to be channelling digital messages though, writing what seems like nonsense in binary, which, when analysed, shows significant writings, art and music. Eventually, Ruby returns, showing signs of alien abduction but her mother wants to say she had run away. The episode ends with a tape of Mulder speaking of the night his sister was abducted.
A moving episode, which showcases some strong acting from Duchovny. This sort of story will become fairly typical of the X-Files. The theme of Mulder’s true obsession is well developed in this Close Encounters influenced episode.
Episode 5 – The Jersey Devil
A man is dragged into the woods and eaten alive in New Jersey in 1947. A ‘wild man’ is chased down and shot by the sheriffs department. In the present day and there has been a similar case. The case resembles the myth of the Jersey Devil. Mulder goes against the local authorities and sleeps on the streets to try to catch the ‘devil’. It turns out that it is actually a wild woman who is killing and eating people. Mulder and Scully attempt to catch the woman alive, but the local police shoot her dead.
What starts out as a ‘horror’ episode takes on a more human story by the end, with us having sympathy for the wild woman. We see something of Scully’s personal life in this episode as she goes on a date. We also see how strong the connection she has with Mulder is. A fairly average entry into the X-files, though the reveal in the last scene is rather predictable!
Episode 6 – Shadows
In Philadelphia, a secretary mourning the suicide of her boss, Lauren Kite is attacked at an ATM machine by two thugs, both of whom then turn up dead, their throats apparently crushed from the inside. Could Lauren be capable of telekinesis? Mulder and Scully come up against the NSA who are investigating the company for terrorist connections. It turns out that Lauren’s boss was murdered and his ghost is protecting her from the new boss of the business who is determined to shut her up. With the culprits caught, Lauren moves to a new city – has her boss moved with her?
A neat little ghost story which takes some unexpected directions. This episode is let down by some daytime soap standard acting, with the pre-credits scene being particularly horrific. The terrorist links are interesting in the current climate and no doubt would be played up more nowadays.
Episode 7 – Ghost in The Machine
In Virginia, the MD of Eurisko, a computer company dies in an accident that seems to have been caused by the computer system. Mulder is asked to assist by an old colleague who is trying to get himself out of trouble. He claims Mulders work as his own and is eventually killed by the out of control Artificial Intelligence System. Eventually Mulder succeeds in shutting down the system which several government departments are attempting to get their hands on.
Probably the weakest entry into the catalogue so far. Some interesting ideas, but this all seems a little dated. Yet more themes of ambitious colleagues from Mulder and Scully’s past that will come up again. Another appearance from Deepthroat makes things interesting but this will not go down as one of the best episodes.
Episode 8 – Ice
Contact is lost with a research team in Alaska so Mulder, Scully and a group of research scientists fly out to investigate. They find that all the previous inhabitants had been infected with a parasite that made the hosts violent to each other. As the team become infected, they become increasingly paranoid and two members die. Scully discovers that if they introduce a second parasite to the body, they will kill each other off and they cure the final host. After they are evacuated, the base is allegedly destroyed.
It is unclear whether this is a homage or a copy of John Carpenter’s The Thing. However, originality aside and this episode has some great touches. The increasing paranoia allows some heated arguments between the two agents and we get to see how much they have grown to trust each other. The scene where they check each other for parasites is brimming with sexual chemistry. Xander Berkley makes his obligatory appearance in the series and a young Felicity Huffman also features.
Episode 9 – Space
A space shuttle pilot in charge of NASA mission control is seemingly possessed by an alien spirit in the form of the face of Mars. Mulder is called in when a NASA scientist suspects sabotage and they assist in getting a space shuttle safely back to Earth
This is a pretty bad episode with little of interest, other than Mulder’s passion for the Space Programme. It is not clear why space shuttle sabotage could be an X-file and everything feels forced. File this one under forgettable.
Episode 10 – Fallen Angel
An alien ship crash lands in Wisconsin and Mulder investigates. There is a military cover up going on and Mulder is caught by an aggressive commander. While he is being held, he meets Max Fenig, a UFO obsessive. Mulder is tasked to take Mulder home but they continue to investigate. Meanwhile, the military are attempting to apprehend the aggressive, Predator style alien. Mulder believes that Max is an alien abductee when he finds a strange incision behind his ear. Mulder, Max and the alien are trapped in a warehouse by the military where Max is seemingly abducted by the alien as they both vanish. Mulder is left to face the music for his actions but Deep Throat has clearly pukked strings to save his career – but for what reasons – does he want to help Mulder, or just keep him on side.
Though this episode starts slowly, it ends brilliantly, with Duchovny clearly finding his stride as an angry Mulder facing a tribunal. Marshall Bell, a sci-fi standard, acts well though the role is fairly familiar to him. We also meet the character of Max Fenig who will reappear later. Scully has rather little to do in an episode where the alien is something of a MacGuffin. The superb closing scene makes us question the motives of Mulder’s supposed ally.
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