The X-Positions
February 22, 2016 9:03 PM Subscribe
Every Episode of The X-Files, Ranked From Worst to Best, not including the recent FOX revival. Regardless of how those episodes would stand up in the list, David Duchovny would love to come back for more, while Gillian Anderson might prefer to play a Bond villain.
Also a good early example of "man it sure is weird that [RANDOM FLAT AREA OF THE US] looks a lot like the pacific northwest!"
posted by Ferreous at 9:14 PM on February 22, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by Ferreous at 9:14 PM on February 22, 2016 [8 favorites]
Amusingly deliberate timing, Art, since that just-aired season ender SUCKED.
posted by mwhybark at 9:16 PM on February 22, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by mwhybark at 9:16 PM on February 22, 2016 [8 favorites]
Seriously, we just flipped back to an S2 Space 1999 episode we'd paused to catch the show and it's brilliant by comparison.
posted by mwhybark at 9:17 PM on February 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by mwhybark at 9:17 PM on February 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
If you could play a villain in the movies, who would you be?
posted by clavdivs at 9:18 PM on February 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by clavdivs at 9:18 PM on February 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'd be Fox Mulder huffing Barion Fh7.
posted by clavdivs at 9:19 PM on February 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by clavdivs at 9:19 PM on February 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
I take it back, this S2 1999 is saturday morning levels of cheese. Still.
posted by mwhybark at 9:21 PM on February 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by mwhybark at 9:21 PM on February 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
If you haven't watched in awhile, the remastered HD versions of the episodes on Netflix/Amazon Prime are really amazing looking.
posted by paulcole at 9:54 PM on February 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by paulcole at 9:54 PM on February 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
Ballsy move putting a season 9 episode in the top 10. Almost makes me want to watch it again, although I stand by my assertion that "Field Trip" should have been the series finale.
posted by town of cats at 9:58 PM on February 22, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by town of cats at 9:58 PM on February 22, 2016 [5 favorites]
If the monster-hunting episode of Season 10 was the finale, with no real resolution ever to any of the broader overarching plotlines and things just really ended with that, I would have stood up and applauded.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:02 PM on February 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:02 PM on February 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
I haven't looked at the list yet, but I'm preparing myself for having Opinions.
posted by figurant at 10:05 PM on February 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by figurant at 10:05 PM on February 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
If Spectre turns out to be Craig's last Bond film, it would be a pretty wild reboot to make Idris Elba the next Bond, with Anderson as the baddie.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 10:44 PM on February 22, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by a lungful of dragon at 10:44 PM on February 22, 2016 [12 favorites]
Whatever you may think about their relative ordering, the top 15 episodes listed are definitely the top 15 episodes.
Also motherfucker this is not the thread for complaining about the new episodes.
posted by shmegegge at 11:24 PM on February 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
Also motherfucker this is not the thread for complaining about the new episodes.
posted by shmegegge at 11:24 PM on February 22, 2016 [3 favorites]
One of my strongest memories of watching it as it aired was (as it turns out) Tooms. Will re-watch his two episodes. *shudders*
I was quite young when it started airing over here (11 for season 1) so the meta aspect of it went completely over my head — at least I can't remember any of it.
posted by flippant at 11:46 PM on February 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
I was quite young when it started airing over here (11 for season 1) so the meta aspect of it went completely over my head — at least I can't remember any of it.
posted by flippant at 11:46 PM on February 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
Fox never reaired "Home"? I guess I saw it live way back when, then.
posted by persona au gratin at 11:48 PM on February 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by persona au gratin at 11:48 PM on February 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
I have no beef with this, except Fearful Symmetry should always be ranked last. Worst episode EVER. In fact, I think it might be a contender for worst episode of television to air in history.
posted by backwards compatible at 2:49 AM on February 23, 2016
posted by backwards compatible at 2:49 AM on February 23, 2016
I have checked for the correctness of the #1 ranking, and I am fully satisfied
posted by thelonius at 3:15 AM on February 23, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 3:15 AM on February 23, 2016 [4 favorites]
I was on a bad acid trip when I saw the one with the incest family.
I swear I am not going to forget that if I live to a hundred and six.
posted by angrycat at 4:04 AM on February 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
I swear I am not going to forget that if I live to a hundred and six.
posted by angrycat at 4:04 AM on February 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
And that episode was "Home" #3 if anybody wants to--just don't do what I did. Don't drop acid and watch it.
posted by angrycat at 4:05 AM on February 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 4:05 AM on February 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
I have a grudge against "Monday" because I started watching the X-Files when my late aunt gave me video tapes of stuff like "Clyde Bruckman" and "Squeeze/Tooms" and "Darkness Falls." And then I tuned in on TV and that was the first one I saw and as a kid I thought it was really lame. Is it actually a classic episode?
posted by atoxyl at 4:06 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by atoxyl at 4:06 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Gillian played Miss Havisham. Very well too. Miss Havisham has always been a terrifying character for me. In her dusty wedding dress, touching the dried flowers, cobwebs on the wedding cake... *shudder*
posted by adept256 at 4:08 AM on February 23, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by adept256 at 4:08 AM on February 23, 2016 [5 favorites]
One thing I liked about the x-files; he's a handsome professional with a brilliant mind, she's a pepperpot redhead burning with a passion for the job. WHEN WILL THEY KISS? NEVER!
Except that one episode where they did. I think? They were under control by aliens or something. I probably blanked it out.
posted by adept256 at 4:16 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Except that one episode where they did. I think? They were under control by aliens or something. I probably blanked it out.
posted by adept256 at 4:16 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Except that one episode where they did. I think? They were under control by aliens or something. I probably blanked it out.
They kiss in the last Mulder episode (except the finale-not-the-finale anymore and, uh you get what I mean) for sure. The show was already pretty bad at that point IMO so don't feel bad if you don't remember.
posted by atoxyl at 4:29 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
They kiss in the last Mulder episode (except the finale-not-the-finale anymore and, uh you get what I mean) for sure. The show was already pretty bad at that point IMO so don't feel bad if you don't remember.
posted by atoxyl at 4:29 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
In my somewhat limited experience: Best: Triangle. Worst: First-Person Shooter, which...I was just embarrassed for everyone involved.
posted by The Card Cheat at 5:06 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by The Card Cheat at 5:06 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
They also share a nice smooch on their guest appearance at the end of the Lance Hendrickson spin-off miniseries 'Millennium'.
posted by ovvl at 5:09 AM on February 23, 2016
posted by ovvl at 5:09 AM on February 23, 2016
I was 16 when it first aired in the UK (on terrestrial channels, anyway) and a massive Fortean Times fan and I could not wrap my head around the fact that people actually liked the ongoing alien story rather than the monster of the week plots. 'Aliens or proper stuff' is the question I find myself still asking as, for the first time, I'm rewatching the whole series. I refute this list thus.
posted by AFII at 5:15 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by AFII at 5:15 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
People who prefer mythology over monster of the week are themselves the true monsters.
posted by Ferreous at 5:24 AM on February 23, 2016 [20 favorites]
posted by Ferreous at 5:24 AM on February 23, 2016 [20 favorites]
I think a decent argument could be made that Chris Carter needs to be GeorgeLucasized, and have his creation taken away and rebooted by someone else.
posted by blue_beetle at 5:25 AM on February 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by blue_beetle at 5:25 AM on February 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
Yes! Gillian and David's moment in the sun has moved. A proper reboot with a new Scully and Mulder would be welcome. Let them get on with their careers. She was in a BBC period drama based on War and Peace. Yes Gillian! You are more than the x-files. I watched it all and you were amazing. They don't need the x-files. They have talent enough. Let some kids have a turn.
posted by adept256 at 5:34 AM on February 23, 2016
posted by adept256 at 5:34 AM on February 23, 2016
If Spectre turns out to be Craig's last Bond film, it would be a pretty wild reboot to make Idris Elba the next Bond, with Anderson as the baddie.
I Want to Believe
posted by nubs at 5:40 AM on February 23, 2016 [4 favorites]
I Want to Believe
posted by nubs at 5:40 AM on February 23, 2016 [4 favorites]
Should I rewatch the original series ? I don't even know which episode is the last one I watched, the last one I remember was with Scully on some beach in africa. I don't even know why I stopped watching, it just sort of happened.
posted by Pendragon at 6:33 AM on February 23, 2016
posted by Pendragon at 6:33 AM on February 23, 2016
And then I tuned in on TV and that was the first one I saw and as a kid I thought it was really lame. Is it actually a classic episode?
The first episode I ever saw was "D.P.O." no idea how I became a fan of this show.
Bold choice putting "Bad Blood" over "Jose Chung's From Outer Space" but I think I actually agree. It's more laugh out loud funny.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 6:34 AM on February 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
The first episode I ever saw was "D.P.O." no idea how I became a fan of this show.
Bold choice putting "Bad Blood" over "Jose Chung's From Outer Space" but I think I actually agree. It's more laugh out loud funny.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 6:34 AM on February 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
The offhanded closure of Millenium episode always angered me. The whole of Millenium was about Frank Black fighting against the oncoming end of the world. Somehow, though, we're just supposed to buy into the idea that Frank is actually one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, and that rather than fighting against it, he's supposed to be one of the main causes?! Gah. The show had amazing promise, but then there was the whole "we're being cancelled, let's finish the series in the last couple weeks" followed up by getting renewed and limping along trying to figure out what to do next. Damn, damn shame.
posted by Ghidorah at 6:39 AM on February 23, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Ghidorah at 6:39 AM on February 23, 2016 [5 favorites]
The offhanded closure of Millenium episode always angered me.
If you watch the X-Files gag reel for that season, Duchovny actually makes a little throwaway quip about that very thing -
"What's Frank Black doing in this asylum, Mulder?"
"I dunno, I think that they cancelled his show and he wanted to wrap things up somehow."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:44 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
If you watch the X-Files gag reel for that season, Duchovny actually makes a little throwaway quip about that very thing -
"What's Frank Black doing in this asylum, Mulder?"
"I dunno, I think that they cancelled his show and he wanted to wrap things up somehow."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:44 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh, and more:
She was in a BBC period drama based on War and Peace. Yes Gillian! You are more than the x-files. I watched it all and you were amazing. They don't need the x-files. They have talent enough.
If you haven't watched The Fall, then proceed immediately to Netflix and boot that up NOW. I binge-watched that last weekend and it gave me lots of happy ideas about what would happen if Stella Gibson (the detective she plays in The Fall) met Scully; Stella would probably take one look at her and say "oh, darling, you desperately need a night on the town" and would take her out to Chippendale's or something, followed by hitting Skinner up for a threesome.
Should I rewatch the original series ? I don't even know which episode is the last one I watched, the last one I remember was with Scully on some beach in africa.
That would be The Sixth Extinction, or possibly Biogenesis; first episode of the 7th season. I'd say, go back and watch the top....20 or 30 on this list, or pick the ones that sound interesting.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:52 AM on February 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
She was in a BBC period drama based on War and Peace. Yes Gillian! You are more than the x-files. I watched it all and you were amazing. They don't need the x-files. They have talent enough.
If you haven't watched The Fall, then proceed immediately to Netflix and boot that up NOW. I binge-watched that last weekend and it gave me lots of happy ideas about what would happen if Stella Gibson (the detective she plays in The Fall) met Scully; Stella would probably take one look at her and say "oh, darling, you desperately need a night on the town" and would take her out to Chippendale's or something, followed by hitting Skinner up for a threesome.
Should I rewatch the original series ? I don't even know which episode is the last one I watched, the last one I remember was with Scully on some beach in africa.
That would be The Sixth Extinction, or possibly Biogenesis; first episode of the 7th season. I'd say, go back and watch the top....20 or 30 on this list, or pick the ones that sound interesting.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:52 AM on February 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
I looked up the DNA baby on an X-Files wiki and came to the conclusion that I either did not watch or have mentally blocked seasons 8-9 and that really that is for the best.
posted by Artw at 6:56 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 6:56 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
If Spectre turns out to be Craig's last Bond film, it would be a pretty wild reboot to make Idris Elba the next Bond, with Anderson as the baddie.
And: The villain she's playing is _Dana Sculley_, trying to take over the world with the help of everything she's learned from the X-Files, in order to save it.
posted by mhoye at 6:59 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
And: The villain she's playing is _Dana Sculley_, trying to take over the world with the help of everything she's learned from the X-Files, in order to save it.
posted by mhoye at 6:59 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh geez. Home. I had buried all memory of that episode deep, deep in a memory hole and covered it up with miles of butterflies and strawberries and now here it is risen.
The Breaking Bad episode in which Jesse is grabbed by the meth addict couple ("Peekaboo" Google tells us) squicked me in much the same way. Shudder.
Also agree with the Bad Blood positioning ahead of Jose Chung. Close one, though.
posted by notyou at 7:07 AM on February 23, 2016
The Breaking Bad episode in which Jesse is grabbed by the meth addict couple ("Peekaboo" Google tells us) squicked me in much the same way. Shudder.
Also agree with the Bad Blood positioning ahead of Jose Chung. Close one, though.
posted by notyou at 7:07 AM on February 23, 2016
If Spectre turns out to be Craig's last Bond film, it would be a pretty wild reboot to make Idris Elba the next Bond, with Anderson as the baddie.
Idris Elba would obviously be acceptable, because his appearing in any role is always acceptable, but my preferred next Bond: Hayley Atwell.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 7:09 AM on February 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
Idris Elba would obviously be acceptable, because his appearing in any role is always acceptable, but my preferred next Bond: Hayley Atwell.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 7:09 AM on February 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
Home is the episode that got me to watch the X-Files regularly. I was contrarian and had avoided watching it to that point but for some reason had tuned into that mind-burner. Hooked me completely even though they lost me after the first movie and the African spaceship and then somehow going back to business as usual even though they just found proofs of everything they'd always been looking for.
posted by kokaku at 7:13 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by kokaku at 7:13 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
"First Person Shooter" is obviously terrible (and, I think, where I stopped watching the show during the original broadcast run?) but "Kill Switch," also by Gibson, is actually pretty good and deserves to be at least in the top 50. It sounds ridiculous, and it is ridiculous in that mid-90s kind of way, but there are a ton of amazing moments in it (the cold open in which the AI developer is given the chance to realize how screwed he is, any point in the show where the Honeydrippers' "Twilight Time" is playing, some of the series' best use of the Lone Gunman, &c.).
I'd probably rank the Darin Morgan episodes all in the top 10, too, but I'm a fanboy like that.
(Well, maybe not "War of the Coprophages.")
posted by thecaddy at 7:16 AM on February 23, 2016 [5 favorites]
I'd probably rank the Darin Morgan episodes all in the top 10, too, but I'm a fanboy like that.
(Well, maybe not "War of the Coprophages.")
posted by thecaddy at 7:16 AM on February 23, 2016 [5 favorites]
I'm guessing there's a 50% chance Sculley and Mulder get abducted at the end of that last episode and we're stuck with the Muppet Babies (as my s/o calls them)
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 7:18 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 7:18 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
And: The villain she's playing is _Dana Sculley_, trying to take over the world with the help of everything she's learned from the X-Files, in order to save it.
An alternate universe Scully would be a good fit. She's a government agent who was investigating the Conspiracy, became entangled in it, and ultimately came to run it.
It would be a more mundane alien-less Conspiracy, but the setup writes itself.
posted by Sangermaine at 7:18 AM on February 23, 2016
An alternate universe Scully would be a good fit. She's a government agent who was investigating the Conspiracy, became entangled in it, and ultimately came to run it.
It would be a more mundane alien-less Conspiracy, but the setup writes itself.
posted by Sangermaine at 7:18 AM on February 23, 2016
Kill Switch could totally be the basis of a whole other show that would be kind of perfect right now.
posted by Artw at 7:19 AM on February 23, 2016
posted by Artw at 7:19 AM on February 23, 2016
Should I rewatch the original series ? I don't even know which episode is the last one I watched, the last one I remember was with Scully on some beach in africa. I don't even know why I stopped watching, it just sort of happened.
Definitely rewatch. As noted above the whole thing is on Netflix, and you can ignore the dreck and watch only the good ones, of which there are many.
The only danger I've found is that the X-Files is worse than most shows for "Well, I guess just one more before bed wouldn't hurt..." and then it's 3am.
posted by Sangermaine at 7:22 AM on February 23, 2016 [4 favorites]
Definitely rewatch. As noted above the whole thing is on Netflix, and you can ignore the dreck and watch only the good ones, of which there are many.
The only danger I've found is that the X-Files is worse than most shows for "Well, I guess just one more before bed wouldn't hurt..." and then it's 3am.
posted by Sangermaine at 7:22 AM on February 23, 2016 [4 favorites]
Kill Switch could totally be the basis of a whole other show that would be kind of perfect right now.
I really do need to watch Person of Interest, don't I.
posted by thecaddy at 7:26 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
I really do need to watch Person of Interest, don't I.
posted by thecaddy at 7:26 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
They've got Kolchak on there too, if you want to pretend it's a prequel.
Speaking of which: X-Files Origins series to follow Mulder and Scully as teenagers
posted by Artw at 7:26 AM on February 23, 2016
Speaking of which: X-Files Origins series to follow Mulder and Scully as teenagers
posted by Artw at 7:26 AM on February 23, 2016
My favorite will always be the so-so Born Again (#119 on the list, I believe) only because it is set in my hometown and Mulder even says the town name at one point. That still sets my little Duchovny-obsessed teenage heart afire.
posted by ElleElle at 8:55 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ElleElle at 8:55 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'd recommend watching the good parts version of the X-Files, which averaged about 2/3rds of a season for the first six seasons when we did it. Though I would probably skip more mythology eps than we did; they get weaker after season 2 (though the throw everything at the wall ethos and Krychek keep some of them quite watchable) and just get consistently *boring* around around season 6. I think we would have gone on farther if I hadn't felt like I needed to show the opening and closing 2 and three parters. The stand alones remain quite solid through 6 and 7, and I liked season 8 surprisingly much, mainly because Doggett's actor was not as bored as Duchovny had been. Never saw 9, but looks like there are at least a couple I should try.
posted by tavella at 8:55 AM on February 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by tavella at 8:55 AM on February 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
It's getting harder and harder to get the willpower up to watch the reboot...
Oh and I caught a bit of Gillian's Miss Havisham last weekend when I randomly turned on a old repeats channel. So good in the role.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 9:28 AM on February 23, 2016
Oh and I caught a bit of Gillian's Miss Havisham last weekend when I randomly turned on a old repeats channel. So good in the role.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 9:28 AM on February 23, 2016
If you get around to the new ones, just watch "Were-Monster" and "Home Again".
Anyway, I can't really find fault with this list, apart from the season 9 episodes I skipped in the original run.
posted by tobascodagama at 9:39 AM on February 23, 2016
Anyway, I can't really find fault with this list, apart from the season 9 episodes I skipped in the original run.
posted by tobascodagama at 9:39 AM on February 23, 2016
Fox never reaired "Home"? I guess I saw it live way back when, then.
I remember seeing it when it aired, with my parents, and all of us being a little...weirded out? I mean, it was an awesome, downright scary/creepy/disturbing episode of TV that you don't really expect to catch with your parents when you happen to be at their place that night and join them to watch.
Anyways, I do recall a bit of a hue and cry after it aired. Here's an interview with Wong and Morgan about the episode and the reaction. I always wondered if they wouldn't follow-up on this one the way they did with Tooms.
Skimming through the whole list has made me think about sitting down and watching the whole run of the X-files. I dropped out somewhere in season 7 I think, and I periodically wonder about doing the whole shot of it. Usually that feeling goes away. For a time. Then it comes crawling back.
posted by nubs at 9:52 AM on February 23, 2016
I remember seeing it when it aired, with my parents, and all of us being a little...weirded out? I mean, it was an awesome, downright scary/creepy/disturbing episode of TV that you don't really expect to catch with your parents when you happen to be at their place that night and join them to watch.
Anyways, I do recall a bit of a hue and cry after it aired. Here's an interview with Wong and Morgan about the episode and the reaction. I always wondered if they wouldn't follow-up on this one the way they did with Tooms.
Skimming through the whole list has made me think about sitting down and watching the whole run of the X-files. I dropped out somewhere in season 7 I think, and I periodically wonder about doing the whole shot of it. Usually that feeling goes away. For a time. Then it comes crawling back.
posted by nubs at 9:52 AM on February 23, 2016
We've been watching the new series and rewatching all the original episodes. It still holds up. Everything Darin Morgan wrote - including Were-Creature from the new series - is a delight. Regarding non-Morgan episodes, I'd forgotten how much I loved The Post-Modem Prometheus and how wiggled out Paper Hearts left me.
Oh, and I don't think they ever escaped being digested by the plant/cave thing. Every episode since then has been a dying fantasy.
posted by Joey Michaels at 9:54 AM on February 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
Oh, and I don't think they ever escaped being digested by the plant/cave thing. Every episode since then has been a dying fantasy.
posted by Joey Michaels at 9:54 AM on February 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
"Wigged out." Missed the editing window by like 2 seconds.
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:00 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:00 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Scully suggested he dress up as Erik the Red for the Viking cosplay party, but Mulder wants to be
posted by straight at 10:10 AM on February 23, 2016
posted by straight at 10:10 AM on February 23, 2016
I like "D.P.O." - but not nearly as much as the people who made this list do. (I wasn't going to argue about this stuff but man they underrated "Quagmire" by a lot!)
posted by atoxyl at 10:59 AM on February 23, 2016
posted by atoxyl at 10:59 AM on February 23, 2016
Yeah, "D.P.O." is a good episode, but it's way higher on the list than it ought to be.
One thing the list doesn't really comment on is the fact that "Irresistible" is just straight up an episode of Criminal Minds, 10 years early. I don't think X-Files gets enough credit for inspiring modern procedurals like Criminal Minds and Bones.
posted by tobascodagama at 12:07 PM on February 23, 2016
One thing the list doesn't really comment on is the fact that "Irresistible" is just straight up an episode of Criminal Minds, 10 years early. I don't think X-Files gets enough credit for inspiring modern procedurals like Criminal Minds and Bones.
posted by tobascodagama at 12:07 PM on February 23, 2016
One thing I appreciate about this list was that it was by someone who actually watched the whole series, and not out of bitterness. I don't disagree that seasons 3-5 were the heights of the show, but their stand-alone episode game was still strong in seasons 6 and 7, and season 8 was not bad. A different show, mind you, but still fairly enjoyable.
I think it helped in my case that I had actually basically given up on the mythology as anything coherent back in season 3 (Nisei/731, where they chased around on trains for 2 looooong episodes and absolutely nothing new came out of it), and had been taking each episode on its own since then. I mean, I didn't skip season 9 out of hatred, just that my Sunday night SF TV watching group had broken up and I wasn't really watching TV at all in that period of my life.
posted by tavella at 12:22 PM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
I think it helped in my case that I had actually basically given up on the mythology as anything coherent back in season 3 (Nisei/731, where they chased around on trains for 2 looooong episodes and absolutely nothing new came out of it), and had been taking each episode on its own since then. I mean, I didn't skip season 9 out of hatred, just that my Sunday night SF TV watching group had broken up and I wasn't really watching TV at all in that period of my life.
posted by tavella at 12:22 PM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
IIRC "Home" was an episode that I just got up and walked out of, because it just wigged me out BAD, but my boyfriend at the time loved it.
(My personal all-time favorite is probably Eve. I'm all about monster-of-the-week, and the actresses playing the insane clones, young and old, are fantastic.)
posted by epersonae at 12:43 PM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
(My personal all-time favorite is probably Eve. I'm all about monster-of-the-week, and the actresses playing the insane clones, young and old, are fantastic.)
posted by epersonae at 12:43 PM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Mrs. Fimbulvetr and I have been re-watching the entire series. So far we are almost done Season 5. "Home" was the only episode we skipped. It was seared into our memories back in 1996 when it first aired anyways.
posted by fimbulvetr at 1:10 PM on February 23, 2016
posted by fimbulvetr at 1:10 PM on February 23, 2016
wasn't there a point in "Home" after the horror is revealed, and the mutants are driving away with mom in the trunk where there is a pit stop and it's suggested that Son had sex with Mom WHILE THEY WERE ON THE RUN because Son steps away from the trunk and zips up his fly?
I mean, don't do LSD, kids
posted by angrycat at 2:16 PM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
I mean, don't do LSD, kids
posted by angrycat at 2:16 PM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Morgan and Wong reflect on whether people would still remember "Home" if it hadn't been banned. It's a good way to quickly sum up its horror for the uninitiated, but it's not the reason why I remember it. It's the only hour of network television to ever give me nightmares, and it stole from me one of the few coping mechanisms I have against creeping terror (namely, listening to upbeat music).
posted by chrominance at 3:50 PM on February 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by chrominance at 3:50 PM on February 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
Weirdly the car and the music are the first things that come to mind when I think of Home, not the other... stuff.
posted by Artw at 3:54 PM on February 23, 2016
posted by Artw at 3:54 PM on February 23, 2016
Fox never reaired "Home"? I guess I saw it live way back when, then.
It has reappeared in syndication. I remember being surprised to see it airing again.
posted by fuse theorem at 6:21 PM on February 23, 2016
It has reappeared in syndication. I remember being surprised to see it airing again.
posted by fuse theorem at 6:21 PM on February 23, 2016
I'd switch Home around with E.B.E. As I think that E.B.E Is the quintessential X-Files episode. And the best part about it? It introduces us, and Scully, to the paranoia that Mulder is feeling and we begin to realize that it's quite justified.
posted by I-baLL at 9:01 PM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by I-baLL at 9:01 PM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
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posted by Ferreous at 9:08 PM on February 22, 2016 [10 favorites]