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Season One
"trust no one"
1X79Series Pilotunrated SummaryI'm not going to rate this episode against all the others because it would suffer by comparison in an unfair manner. Pilots are typically strange entities in that they are supposedly used to sell an entire series' ideas, but on the other hand, most of them are made so independently of the actual series that they remain almost external by default. Naturally, the actors are not quite in their characters' "skin". The time lag alone between pilot and the first "real" episode makes significant differences inevitable. Suffice it to say that this episode was a decent introduction to the characters and their work and managed to establish a strong foundation for what ultimately followed. Apparently there were enough viewers who were "there from the start" to have paved the way for the rest of us to enjoy this unique creation. And to them, by the way, my personal thanks. :) Best or Worst MomentWhat can I say? That conversation that they had in Mulder's room while the power was out was totally powerful (no pun intended), despite the slightly odd "strip tease" scene that preceded it. One could sense that he wouldn't have told his story had he really not felt some sort of kinship and trust in his new partner. Deep Throat
SummaryDeep Throat's a great character. Nothing like an informant who shows that he actually cares and has a conscience about both sides of whatever it is that he's protecting and exposing. As the show progressed into its final couple of seasons and destroyed/lost track of the mythology, Mulder's had no further need for "information", I guess. That's too bad, because I miss those clandestine meetings. With specific regards to this episode, however, I found it full of "stuff" but none of it really came together for me. I've seen this ep enough times for me to know it well, but for some reason, it remains merely a collage of scenes in my memory. Best or Worst MomentI liked the first scene with M&S in this one — the crowded bar where it was too early in the afternoon for a drink. (And when would be the next time that we see them in similar circumstances? Season four when Mulder celebrates Scully's birthday?) Their interaction was interesting, with that soon to be patented "invasion of personal space" move by Mulder as he almost drapes himself over Scully. Squeeze
SummaryIf I'd had the chance to catch this episode when it first aired, I might have become one of those "fans since the first season". This was an excellent example of what an X-File could be: imaginative and original premise, interesting characterizations and strangely enough, not so far-out that it tests that all-important suspension of disbelief. Yes, it seems odd to say that, but perhaps it's a testament to the overall quality of the early episodes. So well done that I could believe in an elastic-bodied, liver-eating mutant who goes into hibernation between meals. (Strange how I couldn't later believe in a pregnancy that went on for over a year...) Best or Worst MomentMulder and Scully go into dark places and find smelly, gooey stuff. And they still manage to be flirty and stylish. How can you top that? Conduit
SummaryKeeping in mind that this is season one and prime time for established background facts to roll out on a regular basis, we get another "reminder" of the fact that Mulder had a sister who disappeared when he was young... and that alien abduction may have been involved. So when something similar happens at a UFO "hotspot", Mulder is instantly on the case. Despite the premise, the events that follow are not entirely convincing or intriguing. Maybe little Kevin is a conduit for some form of alien communications, and maybe Ruby "showed signs" of having been kept in a prolonged state of weightlessness, but I think I need something more than that to believe that she wasn't just out sowing some teenage oats. Best or Worst MomentSince this one was really about Mulder and his sister's disappearance, my pick for best moment was that bit of dialogue near the end where Scully is listening to his regression tapes and we see Mulder in a church. "I want to believe," Mulder says, when his therapist asks if he believes the voice that tells him that his sister is going to be okay. The Jersey Devil
SummaryI must say I liked this episode more for its character presentations than for its believability as an X-File. (Mind you, this was an educational moment for me as I discovered the meaning behind the name of the New Jersey hockey team.) It definitely had its ridiculous moments that made Mulder seem just a little over the edge and deserving of a night in the drunk tank, but we also got another early glimpse here of his inherent compassion and desire to understand all types of behaviour. In any case, the shortcomings were made up for in the unexpected character development... Dana Scully already has this love/hate thing going on for Fox Mulder? She has real friends and goes on dates with dull guys? Best or Worst MomentBest moment was definitely Scully's comment in the final scene when Mulder casually asks, "Don't you want a life?" after she passes up a second date with Mr. Excitement. "Keep it up, Mulder, and I'll hurt you like that beast woman did." Ah, such promise of an interesting relationship that was never realized. Shadows
SummaryHere we have an episode where the premise is not entirely original, but it's carried off in a stylish enough way to keep my interest. We have potential poltergeists and telekinesis going on and hey — Lauren Kyte is just your everyday admin assistant in the secretarial pool. She's not odd or decidedly different. It's always a more pleasant viewing experience when the characters are average people that you can imagine knowing in real life. In this case, Lauren has a protector (her boss) from beyond the grave who seeks to make her aware of his murder. She follows through and subsequently exposes his partner's illegal business dealings through a series of wild scenes that involve close calls for Mulder and Scully and worse fates for several other people. Oh, and who can forget Scully's answer to Mulder's question about believing in the afterlife? (She'd settle for a life in this one.) All in all, this was an interesting hour of paranormal TV. Best or Worst MomentGotta go with a worst moment in this one, because it's used as a device/plot point that moves the story forward early in the hour. How in the world did they make that initial connection between Lauren and her boss from that photograph?? Enhancement, you say? Yeah, that's some enhancement... Ghost in the Machine
SummaryThe "computer as free-thinking intelligent entity" re-tread. Can anyone say "HAL?" Actually, while this one is commonly counted among the worst of the first season, in the overall scheme of things, it wasn't that horrible. Unoriginal, but not horrible. Oh, and the back story was great — I liked it when we used to see Mulder and Scully interacting with real people at the FBI. (I didn't mention it in my review of Tooms, but the same could be said of that episode. Mulder and Scully don't work in a vacuum. Seeing them with others — even others as arrogant as Tom Colton or as pathetic as Jerry Lamana — adds realism to an often unrealistic show.) In this one, we're shown that Mulder's work is at least good enough to steal. Best or Worst MomentHaving seen the bloopers, the Mulder and Scully elevator scene always sticks in my mind when I think about this episode. (Whether it's a best or worst moment depends on what side of the shippy fence you stand.) And is it just me or does Mulder look extra sexy in that scene?? Ice
SummaryI really, really enjoyed this episode — so much so, that it probably should be on my "defining episodes" list. I suppose its overall lack of originality stopped me from selecting it, but this is a good example of how rehash doesn't necessarily make for a bad experience. There was so much quality Mulder/Scully interaction here that whatever reminiscences I may have had of "The Thing" (or whatever) were completely overshadowed. The tension and dialogue in this hour — even though there were instances in which I could tell the actors were still trying to find their footing with these characters — was convincing and engaging. We learned about these two, about their differences, and most importantly, about their trust. Best or Worst MomentYes, the let me feel your neck segment was searing in its "heat" (this early in the series yet), but my choice for best moment was the "guns drawn" scene. No point in trying to describe how powerful it was (if you haven't seen it, you simply must) — that scene is one of my all-time faves in TXF history. Space
SummaryThis may have been one of those episodes that seemed to go nowhere but I'm like Mulder in that I dig "all things space" and the concept itself interested me sufficiently. (Furthermore, the underlying message, outside of the actual X-File, was sadly genuine — the space program has gotten to the stage where it doesn't make the news unless something bad happens.) While there really wasn't much to redeem the episode as a whole, as I've said before, I'll watch this one again before I watch a few others. In the end, as with many of these first season episodes, I liked what the hour told me about the main characters. In this case, it was interesting to see Mulder realize a childhood dream by coming to NASA and meeting one of his heroes. Best or Worst MomentHard to say. Perhaps the Mulder and Scully banter as they first arrive at their destination and are driven to their meeting with Belt? Their conversations were always interesting back in the day... Fallen Angel
SummaryHere we meet the fascinating Max Fenig for the first time, who — like Duane Barry in season two — appears to be a habitual abductee. In fact, when this episode draws to a close, he is gone. I've discussed Mr. Fenig's appeal elsewhere, but it merits additional mention here for the fact that he has some great lines/moments. When he meets Mulder, it becomes apparent that — despite Mulder's initial reticence — Max is quite "puppy-dog like" and is a fan of Agent Mulder and his work. Whodathunk?? Moreover, when Scully is introduced into the picture, who could ever have predicted that the description of "the enigmatic Doctor Scully" would achieve such cult status over the internet? In terms of the actual plot here, I'm not sure what connection — if any — these aliens have with the ones that eventually take over the TXF plotlines. They seem to fry their victims (indicating at least some parallel with other cases that eventually surface) but that's not a whole lot to go on when radiation is commonly attributed to otherworldly beings. Best or Worst MomentMulder is in hot water at the end of this adventure and the powers that be are not amused. At a committee hearing of some sort, the passionate Agent Mulder declares that "no one... has jurisdiction over the truth." We'd like to believe that, yes. Eve
SummaryBoy, these girls were cold-blooded, creepy little souls... I wouldn't want to encounter them on the school playground! Within an x-file, of course, their creepiness worked quite well for them. (Oddly enough, the twins' "questionable" acting talents made for an effective portrayal of clone-ish, genetically engineered entities.) As far as believability goes, the fact that this "experiment" was happening right under people's noses made it all the more believable and alarming. I don't think you need to be too much of a paranoiac or conspiracy buff to wonder if this sort of stuff doesn't mirror real life these days. Oh, and good thing Mulder is a lot like my hubby — always leaving his keys everywhere. Saved his life this time, don't you think?? Best or Worst MomentI found it amusing to watch the scenes where Mulder and Scully played "Mom and Pop" to these little demons. So this is what family life would be like for these two?? I liked Mulder's "chivalrous" way of drawing Scully's attention away from her poisoned drink — "... just wanted to open the door for you." Fire
SummarySo what was this, Chris Carter showing his evil side early in the series?? Did we really buy the love story between Phoebe Green and a young Fox Mulder? (I like Amanda Pays, but I didn't see much chemistry between the two of them.) The only thing that seemed believable was the part about Mulder getting in over his head — Inspector Green did not show many signs of ever having been an innocent, if you know what I mean. The x-file in the background was sorta interesting, if not entirely original. I couldn't truly tell what motivated the firestarter dude, but he was creepy enough in his madness. The real weakness of this episode was the "tidy" way in which the events played out... a bit contrived, in my opinion. Best or Worst MomentDana Scully is a jealous person; we learn this early in the series. And yes, she probably has reason to be jealous of this leggy man-eater who has a past with her sexy partner. But she's not very appealing when she's jealous, so I'm picking the closing scene as my best moment... Mulder and Scully back to normal once more. (Yes, I'm relegating the famous "BSB scene" to my memorable Mulder moments discussion.) Beyond the Sea
SummaryThis was very good. (And Brad Dourif was excellent.) As a first season outing, it was an interesting peek into Dana Scully's psyche. Via the background story involving the death of her father, we learn how controlled she is and how she yearns for affirmation. In terms of how she reacts to the actual x-file, in later years, I would lament the fact that she sees things and ignores them. Here — for whatever reason — she has an open mind about what she's experienced and even tries (for awhile at least) to convince Mulder of it. And when she later pulls back, at least we got a straight answer from her of why: she's afraid. Such honesty is appreciated — by both Mulder and the viewer. Best or Worst MomentWith Mulder out of action and his life in danger for the latter part of this adventure, we get to witness a rare display of Scully passion when she unloads on Boggs and basically threatens to kill him herself. Genderbender
SummaryI like to call this one "Aliens meet the Amish". But I don't think that these aliens have anything whatsoever to do with the various aliens that later dot the TXF landscape. Too bad, because these guys seemed a bit more interesting, if you get my meaning. At least you could attribute some sort of "fun" motivation for their ways, whereas aliens in TXF's later seasons seem to exist for the mere pleasure of being mean to earthlings. I liked the sequence of Scully almost falling prey to Brother Andrew and her subsequent rescue by Mulder. (Along with the requisite clever dialogue, of course.) In the end, this is a bit of a strange episode, however, in that while the individual component parts of it are somewhat intriguing, it doesn't stand up (or out) in an overall sense. Best or Worst MomentNot that they could have foreseen the phenomenon that this show would become in a little over a year's time, but the guest casting was a bit unfortunate, don't you think? Mulder's photographic memory must have had a lapse when Krycek extended his hand in Season Two's Sleepless... "Hey, I know you — aren't you the guy who made out with the guy you thought was a girl?" Lazarus
SummaryIs this why people think Dana Scully is such a fascinating (and conflicted) person? She's so straight and narrow and Catholic and yet has this hidden urge to be a "bad girl"? (Hell, don't they all?) She likes to date father-figures? To be honest, if Mulder and Phoebe Green appeared to be an unlikely pairing, this one was even more so. What did they see in one another? There didn't seem to be any spark or attraction between them that would have made a torrid love affair believable. Anyway, the reason for all this back story — the "body jumping soul" — was quite Star Trek-y... and I for one never thought that it worked that well even back then. Best or Worst MomentI liked Mulder's "attentiveness" throughout this episode. As I've hinted at in my stories, he always manages to show his concern for and/or interest in Scully without any overt possessiveness or jealousy. There's something pure and elemental about that. Young at Heart
SummaryAnother glimpse into the past during this ground-breaking first season. Along the way, we ultimately lost the need for these history establishing eps — or so it seemed. In terms of an X-File, it remains one of the more original ones, despite over-used plot devices. (Even at this point in the first season, if I was Scully I'd be worried over why it's so easy to break into my apartment!) When I recently rewatched it, I wondered why no one ever picked up the storyline. After all, that was CSM in that room badgering our misguided antagonist as he finally expired, wasn't it? And poor Reggie. He was someone who honestly liked Mulder and appreciated his talents, and also seemed to be a real friend to him. But after seeing Ghost in the Machine and Lazarus, I was thinking, boy, anyone who's ever worked with these two seem doomed to die before their time. Best or Worst MomentThere's a "Mulder defining" moment at the end of this one that I'm picking as my best moment. When Scully reassures him that he's done the right thing despite the fact that it wasn't "by the book", he replies, "Tells you something about the book, doesn't it?" Methinks that Mulder had long since decided to defy the book — long since that incident back in 1989 anyway — but that this case really put it away for him. E.B.E.
SummaryThe first official wild goose chase, perchance?? I dunno, this episode sorta bugs me. There were certainly some interesting and wildly unlikely moments — such as that bit with the surveillance equipment in Scully's pen — but in the end, we were stuck with "okay, so what was the point of all that?" Deep Throat pays Mulder (and us) some lip service about wanting to atone for past behaviour by helping him, but we're still caught one step short in getting to any real proof. For once, I totally understood Scully's frustration at Mulder's quick acceptance of everything Deep Throat tells him. The thing is, as a viewer, I was always wanting to believe when it came to Deep Throat, but in instances such as this episode, it really did make me think whether he was just yanking on Mulder's chain because he got off on it. Best or Worst MomentThe introduction of The Lone Gunmen, definitely, and their introduction to Scully. The three geeks made enough of an impression among the geeks discussing the show on the internet that the creators extended their lives beyond this single appearance. And the rest, as they say, is history. (Unfortunately, history eventually took a bad turn, but that part of the show is not allowed to be mentioned on this site.) Miracle Man
SummaryI didn't much like this one, but those of you familiar with my other reviews already know this. Beyond the basic subject matter, there was just something too "Jim and Tammy Faye" about the whole circus atmosphere. Amid all the gobbledegook about miracles and plagues, we get this oddly touching subplot about Samuel knowing Mulder's pain re: his sister. I know it's supposed to get us non-believers (including Mulder, I must point out) to believe, but in the end, I think Mulder's comment about the King of Rock 'n' Roll tells the true story about this episode. (As they proceed backstage, he says to Scully, "Hang on — this is the part where they bring out Elvis.") Best or Worst MomentMulder sees his sister throughout this episode. On one occasion, he says, "I think people are looking hard for miracles — so hard that they make themselves see what they want to see." Shapes
SummaryCould this have been good? Given the "been there and done that many times" werewolf theme, I'm not sure that it had any chance. The mythical/cultural elements were a valiant attempt at providing some sort of deep meaning to the whole thing, but in the end, it fell short. Because in the end, it's still about a guy turning into a wolf and killing people; it's not really about the culture and unique ways of this community. Shapes is one of those experiences where you see something familiar and want it to capture your imagination in a new way, but it doesn't and you realize afterwards that there's no way that it could have. In much the same way as the Star Trek creators were pushed to write "planet shows" in its early days, I think this was one of those attempts to ensure that TXF met its quota of monsters. Best or Worst MomentI have two — or perhaps I have one of each. The scenes of Scully stomping around in what could only be referred to as oversized "galoshes" were absolutely precious. (Could you picture her in later seasons outfitted like that??) Otherwise, my personal best moment was when Ish offered Mulder suggestions on how to create a good Indian name out of "Fox". Darkness Falls
SummaryThis episode, along with Ice, were two of the best episodes of the first season with regards to the man against nature theme. Some have said that this one is a ripoff of the first one, but they both have some strong character-establishing moments for Mulder and Scully that made both episodes "keepers" for me. I actually liked the X-File component of this one — another of those strangely believable ones that had me hanging on the edge of my seat. Unfortunately, the threat of the bugs was not really handled consistently and the actual ending was a bit lame, but hey, it was a good effort overall. Best or Worst MomentDefinitely the heated discussion that the partners have over Mulder's decision to trust Spinney. They're both right; Mulder shouldn't have acted unilaterally, but Scully should know that Mulder will make the right decision for the both of them. Tooms
SummarySequels to outstanding episodes are always doomed in a way. (This is, of course, the sequel to Squeeze.) Don't get me wrong — Tooms is still loads better than the average TXF ep, but this one doesn't quite hit the same high notes as its predecessor. I'm speaking mostly of how Tooms acts here, as opposed to the original episode. For the fact that he was let loose — despite Mulder's "crazy" testimony — he seemed damned eager to pave the way for his ultimate recapture. (And recaptured he would have been, had Mulder not decided to shred him in the escalator.) The best parts of this one were about our heroes and the depth of their support for one another. That aspect picks up quite nicely from Squeeze. Best or Worst MomentI'll have to satisfy the expectations of the masses and pick the stakeout "ice tea" love/fate moment. Even I have to admit that that is a classic Mulder and Scully moment. (God, I even referenced it in my fanfic!) Born Again
SummaryDidn't like this one at all. I don't know — I find it difficult to conjure up feelings for uncommunicative little girls with blank faces. Sure, sure, she was possessed by a reincarnated soul who wanted revenge of the worst kind, but even that explanation doesn't make it any easier to swallow this hour. Perhaps this ep is truly the one that suffers from predictable unoriginality. Coming back from the dead and taking over some innocent's body to commit atrocities — that's already been done too many times to be interesting, right? Best or Worst MomentThe teaser sequence is probably the best part of this one. And I have to take this moment to give credit where credit is due — TXF was consistently good at creating the lead-in scenes. I can't speak for the season and a half that I didn't see, but I can't offhand think of a teaser that didn't draw my interest. Roland
SummaryHere we have head games in a literal sense. A dead rocket scientist's head has been preserved and it serves to heighten a link that he has with his mentally retarded twin brother Roland, who has been able to continue his work on his behalf. One of the dead scientist's colleagues, however, has been attempting to take credit for said work, which results in some nasty things happening for which Roland is blamed. For some reason, I always have trouble remembering this episode outside of "broad strokes". Whenever I take a moment to watch it — which, admittedly, isn't often — I think, well that wasn't so bad... certainly are some great visuals involving big engines and liquid nitrogen. On the acting side, the guy who plays Roland gives a convincing performance. Best or Worst MomentIt's usually Mulder who makes the connections with innocents, isn't it? (Think of his short moments with Emily.) I liked his scenes with Roland, where it's clear that he knows how to communicate with him and gain his trust. Good use of Mulder's psychology background. The Erlenmeyer Flask
SummaryExperimentation on humans with alien DNA probably qualifies this episode for being one of the "legitimate" mythology eps. (We also get the eye irritation thing happening.) As usual, we have a multitude of story threads to keep track of here, all wrapped around one of the earliest incidences of Mulder and Scully being consistently one step behind the powers that be, chasing that dangling carrot. They see things and then suddenly, they're not there anymore. Mulder's comment to Deep Throat — to "cut the Obi-Wan Kenobi crap" — was a memorable line. Deep Throat, however, insists that he's "never been closer". Poor man. The next to final sequence of this episode is certainly not lacking in drama. In the middle of the night, as Scully is arranging for an exchange that will release her partner, in quick succession their informant is killed and the X-Files are subsequently shut down. Thus ends season one. Wow. Best or Worst MomentI know Mulder and Scully are smart and clever, but really now. It was a bit of a stretch for me to accept the fact that she could come up with the "purity control" password just like that, allowing her to gain entrance into that lab so she can steal the alien embryo and — do what with it? Stuff it into her thin little briefcase?? Put it under her coat?? ... back to top
Overall Rating: 2.33 out of 4A wide variety of stories came out of the first season of this ground-breaking series. (And ground-breaking it was. When I see how far-reaching the TXF influence has been, it amazes me. From totally unrelated things such as a show called "The Sex Files" to the myriad of pseudo-scientific paranormal ripoff/homage series that can be found around the current dial, TXF made its mark, no doubt about it.) Some were more successful than others, of course, but overall, the scripts that we saw in season one convinced the network powers that be that this show had potential to be more than just a show about aliens. Worst / BestMy pick for worst ep goes to Born Again. Nothing much to say about it except that of all the episodes that I gave a "poor" rating to in this season, this one sinks to the bottom as one that I wouldn't care if I never saw again. And it's not because it conjures up hateful memories like an episode that I won't mention from season seven. This one just appears to lack in any sort of impact. Best episode is a toss-up between Squeeze and Ice and if I had to pick one, I think I'd go with the latter. The fact that the agents are so isolated in that episode raises the danger level for them, and the way in which they are forced to interact shows us so much of their respective characters. Mulder is still so Mulder in his quips and reactions and Scully is ever the rational soul who seeks a scientific answer to everything. Most Disappointing / Most SurprisingSince I was a full-fledged fan before I ever saw most of these first-year episodes, I was exposed to "fan comments" about some of them that led me to have expectations. So in light of that, I have to choose Fire as most disappointing. It simply wasn't a very strong story despite the Phoebe/Scully thing. And while the "BSB" scene was very sweet eye candy, by itself it doesn't elevate an episode's overall quality. I would have to choose the series pilot as most surprising episode in season one, because I was surprised — on many levels — when I finally saw it in the fall of 1998. I was surprised by how the characters looked in their choice of dress — which probably had a lot to do with budgetary constraints — and accessories. (Scully actually carried a sizable purse... and did you get a load of their suitcases??) Both agents also seemed a bit "green and raw" compared to how they appear by the "next" episode. On the other hand, I was surprised by the extent to which the characters were established from the very beginning. Aside from that incongruous "mosquito bite check" scene, Mulder and Scully more or less acted as we would expect them to later in the series. ... back to top |
Series Pilot
Other Reviews: Season 2
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