Being traumatized by the X-Files movie when I was eight was one of my formative experiences, and thus x-files has always occupied a special place for me. I just did a re-watch of the "monster-of-the-week" episodes. These stand-alone non-"mythology" episodes are the real treasure, and following is a list of the recommended ones in chronological order.
Season 1.
Squeeze. This is the first monster of the week episode. Ghost in the Machine. Computer becomes sentient, classic sci-fi theme. Ice. This episode is a classic masterpiece, and imo is evidence that a 45 minute episode is a much better format for sci-fi than a 90 minute movie. Space. This one isn't as critically well received, but it has some nice dialogue. Eve. A lovely guest performance from Harriet Sansom Harris. Fire. Has a British, Midsomer Murders sort of setting.
Shadows, Miracle Man, Tooms, Roland are decent. Critics like Beyond the Sea.
Season 2.
Excelsis Dei. It's supposed to be a nursing home? but it's got a creepy mental hospital-like setting. Irresistible. Got a Silence of the Lambs kind of vibe. Die Hand Die Verlezt. High school occult. Humbug. A humorous episode. Circus freaks setting.
Blood, Fearful Symmetry, Død Kalm, F. Emasculata, Soft Light, Our Town also decent.
Season 3.
Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose. This is always on everyone's list Oubliette. Kidnapping Grotesque. This is sort of "noir" in attitude and therefore kind of hard to watch if you're not in the right mood Pusher. redditors like to quote this episode Hell Money. A very good episode that is criticized because it's not very x-files-y.
Wetwired is decent.
Season 4.
Home. This isn't really my cup of tea, but others consider it a masterpiece.
Elegy is decent.
Season 5.
Chinga. If you like Stephen King adaptations, you'll get enough enjoyment out of this one. If you don't, you won't.
Mind's Eye is decent.
Season 6.
Monday. The ole' time loop. Arcadia. Stepford Wives kind of thing
Drive, The Rain King are decent.
Season 7.
Hungry. From the monster's perspective, so that you sympathize. The Amazing Maleeni. Magic tricks First Person Shooter. A very silly and bad episode with a fun sci-fi idea.
Rush, Theef, Chimera, Brand X are decent
You can skip seasons 8 and 9. The first movie is good, and if you are into the alien conspiracy story arc, the mythology episodes are good for the first few seasons.
i was looking up x-files last evening wondering where to start seeing that there are over 200 episodes. and now there's a blog post about x-files lol...
i remember watching them as a kid and being scared shitless (along with stephen king's IT). why did i even watch things like that as a youngling. =/
should i just watch all the mythology episodes first? or just go season by season in order? or just watch the ones you posted
On January 14 2016 18:49 malcram wrote: 3spooky5me
i was looking up x-files last evening wondering where to start seeing that there are over 200 episodes. and now there's a blog post about x-files lol...
i remember watching them as a kid and being scared shitless (along with stephen king's IT). why did i even watch things like that as a youngling. =/
should i just watch all the mythology episodes first? or just go season by season in order? or just watch the ones you posted
I'd go in order, and watch both mythology and good stand-alone episodes together. At a certain point, you might get tired of the mythology. You might have an epiphany and realize that "plot" in and of itself, is not the point of things. Exposition, setting, dialogue, etc., contribute untold amounts. Writers call this a MacGuffin. At this point (after season 3?), drop the mythology episodes.
You could consult other top-episodes lists too. I left out a couple that make other lists, such as The Post-Modern Prometheus, Bad Blood and Triangle.
Thanks, was thinking about re-watching some good x-files episodes, loved the show back then and want to know how it is after all those years and with all those great tv shows out there. Hope it's still good.
I never cared about the Alien-story which they started. My favorite episodes, i can still remember, were the Tooms ones and the one with the twin-mutant-killer in the circus freak show.
btw:
They're bringing it back, i didn't even know. It's about the story unfortunately? Hopefully there will be other episodes as well... Jan 22nd is air date for the first episode.
Which was the one about the grumpy neighborhood watch guy who summoned a golem to kill people who didn't mow their lawns and stuff? That was always one of my favorites.
On January 15 2016 11:48 rebdomine wrote: I remember when my parents would tell me to go to sleep once this show started coming on. The theme always scared me back then too lmao.
EPT
