It has been over 25 years since the premiere of The X-Files, the award-winning series starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson that debuted in 1993 and made everyone believe that "the truth is out there".
FBI agents Fox Mulder (Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Anderson) have returned to the limelight in recent years for a successful revival of the hit show, which returned to television for its 10th season in 2016 after a hiatus of 14 years of the small screen (and an eight-year layoff since The X-Files: I want to believe was released in theaters in 2008). The warm welcome to this six-episode revival prompted the Fox Network to deliver an 11-episode 10-episode season in 2018. Although there are currently no plans for a 12-episode season, there are over 200 TV episodes. , two feature films and countless ties. -in novels and comics to immerse fans in the adventures of Mulder and Scully in search of aliens, monsters and strange phenomena.
With that in mind, we've compiled a list of 10 episodes that best illustrate why the show is so loved by those who know it. After reviewing all 218 episodes across 11 seasons, here are the 10 best episodes of The X-Files. If you're feeling ambitious - or a little nostalgic - you can now stream the entire series on Hulu, or purchase individual episodes and seasons to watch. Amazon Prime Video, iTunes and other streaming platforms.
10. 'Detour' (Season 5, Episode 4)
You won't find this episode on many best-of lists, but it's one of our personal favorites. The story follows Mulder and Scully as they investigate a series of murders that appear to involve an invisible killer, which doesn't seem like anything special until you finally get a glimpse of the killer and, well - let's just say that this is the only episode. from the series that again gives us nightmares.
9. 'Memento Mori' (Season 4, Episode 14)
One of the most heart-wrenching episodes in the series, this 1997 story featured Scully's aggressive cancer diagnosis, which would become a recurring plot point throughout the rest of the series. The episode unfolds from two angles: Scully's own efforts to come to terms with his fatal diagnosis and Mulder's desperate quest for both answers and a cure. The characters of Duchovny and Anderson were brought closer than ever before in this emotional arc that resonated from that point at the end of the series, and the screenplay won a Primetime Emmy nomination for Chris Carter. , Vince Gilligan, John Shiban, and Frank Spotnitz. It also earned Anderson an Emmy lead actress for her performance in that episode, as well as for the entire fourth season.
8. 'Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster' (Season 10, Episode 3)
It is not surprising that this episode is generally regarded as one of the best chapters of the X-Files rebirth seasons, as he brings back the show's most acclaimed writer, Darin Morgan, for a monster-of-the-week episode starring two of TV's most talented comedians: Rhys Darby ( Theft of Conchords) and Kumail Nanjiani ( Silicon Valley). The story has Mulder and Scully investigating a gruesome murder in Oregon that may have been committed by a mysterious creature. Darby turns out to be the episode's big scene thief as Guy Mann, an employee of a mobile phone store who may or may not be able to transform into a giant lizard creature. Funny, touching, and uplifting in all good ways, this episode simultaneously served to renew Mulder's self-confidence and fans' faith in the series.
7. "Jose Chung's From deep space'(Season 3, Episode 20)
Typically regarded as the best episode in the series or just one of the best, writer Darin Morgan's eccentric alien abduction story is an ever-changing tale that doubles as its own story countless times, and ends up being a brilliant satire of the series itself. It's the most meta episode of the entire series in the series, playfully using its unreliable narrators - including Mulder and Scully - to craft a story that only becomes logical when you step out of the universe, the series spent three seasons attracting audiences. in. That says a lot about the revolutionary character of a series The X-Files was that one of its greatest episodes is a satire of its own conventions.
6. 'Drive' (Season 6, Episode 2)
One of the greatest legacies of The X-Files This is the number of now famous television and film legends who have appeared on the series or played a creative role in it at any given time. breaking Bad Creator Vince Gilligan had been a regular writer of the series for quite a while before writing this episode about a loathsome man who takes Mulder hostage and forces him to drive across the country due to a mysterious affliction that will kill him s 'he slows down. While the episode itself is excellent, it's the cast of breaking Bad Star Bryan Cranston as the aforementioned anti-Semitic and racist fanatic which makes him truly fascinating to watch. This is the episode Gilligan remembered when casting her own iconic series years later, and it's worth checking out as a prime example of The X-Files' long term place in the history of television.
5. 'The Postmodern Prometheus' (Season 5, Episode 5)
One of the strangest episodes in the series (which says it all), this surreal version of Frankenstein's story was written and directed by series creator Chris Carter, and it's a perfect example of the pleasure that Carter was ready to have with the series. - and how weird the show could be, in all good ways. At this point in its race, X-Files was already a big hit, so Carter had the freedom to tell an original, independent story that allowed her to play with fans and show them that the show was more than just a weekly scare. Oh, and it was also nominated for seven Emmy Awards in the year it was released, winning for Outstanding Art Direction.
4. 'Home' (Season 4, Episode 2)
This gruesome, nightmarish episode about an inbred killer family was so terrifying and controversial that Fox said it would never air again after its initial airing sparked a flood of complaints from concerned viewers. Ask nearly any fan of the show to name the scariest episode, and nine out of ten will say "Home" (then shiver uncontrollably, most likely). It was the episode that really established The X-Files as a vehicle for horror stories as well as conspiracy theories, urban legends and science fiction tales.
3. 'Paper Clip' (Season 3, Episode 2)
Many loyal fans consider the third season of to be one of the absolute best in the series, thanks to a series of episodes that find common ground between scary stories of the monsters of the week and the overall mythology of alien investigation that makes up the series. In this particular episode, the alien investigation is brought to light - it attaches a few details and answers several questions from the previous season's finale. This episode draws on last season's conspiracies and secret government ploys to create a rich, complex, and suspenseful storyline. The overall production of this episode is what will stay with you; it's one of the most striking finals in the series and, spoiler alert, it involves aliens.
2. 'Squeeze' (Season 1, Episode 3)
Fresh off the pilot, 'Squeeze' shows viewers that may spread beyond UFO and extraterrestrial investigations. This tone-shifting episode explores the story of a creepy murderer who can enter and exit any space, no matter how small, to capture his prey. This story kicked off the Monster of the Week storylines which quickly became the cornerstone of the series. As Scully becomes the killer's focus, this episode also reveals a major breakthrough in Mulder and Scully's vibrant relationship.
1. 'Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose' (Season 3, Episode 4)
continued to develop her plot and her character growth each season, but much of her focus has remained on mythology. However, thanks to the development of this plot, several standalone episodes stand out among viewers. And in some cases, like "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose," viewers see the best of the best stories from the entire series. This show tops our all-time list; it stars Peter Boyle, and the episode aired in October 1995. Boyle ultimately won a Primetime Emmy Award for his portrayal of the cynical psychic Bruckman, who is recruited by Mulder and Scully to help investigate several murders . Many critics have advertised this episode as one of the most excellent episodes of any TV show. Writer Darin Morgan too won an Emmy for his involvement in the creation of this story. What's most poignant about this particular episode is that viewers have the chance to approach life and death from an unusual angle; we see it as a series of external events throughout the plot and an internalized psychological study of our perception of the subject.
Editor's recommendations
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