Favourite X-Files Stand-Alones (no myth-arc)
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- DirectorRobert MandelStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonCharles CioffiAgent Dana Scully is instructed to debunk an FBI project dubbed "The X-Files," paranormal cases that have been reopened by Agent Fox Mulder.If intro is wanted
Note: first few episodes make a really big deal of "Mulder as Spooky," something which is lessened as the series moves on, but a few important moments are hinged on it. - DirectorHarry LongstreetStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonDoug HutchisonMulder and Scully search for a humanoid killer whose savage murder spree reoccurs every 30 years.
- DirectorDavid NutterStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonXander BerkeleyMulder and Scully are sent to investigate when a team of geophysicists stationed at a remote Alaskan outpost are killed by a parasitic alien life form.
- DirectorDavid NutterStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonBrad DourifScully believes that the psychic predictions of a death row inmate are the only hope in the kidnapping of two college students.
- DirectorDavid NutterStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonDoug HutchisonEugene Tooms, a supernatural killer whom Mulder helped incarcerate, is released on parole.
- DirectorDaniel SackheimStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonMitch PileggiMulder pursues a humanoid, parasitic organism that uses sewage systems as its home.
- DirectorDavid NutterStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonBruce WeitzScully and Mulder hunt down a fetishist who collects pieces of the dead.
- DirectorKim MannersStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonDan ButlerThe agents investigate a murder in a small town populated by devil worshippers.
- DirectorKim MannersStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonJim RoseThe agents search for a killer in a Florida town inhabited by sideshow performers.First "wow" ?
- DirectorRob BowmanStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonCharles Martin SmithAs Scully investigates the spread of a deadly contagion at a prison, Mulder tracks down two escaped convicts infected with the disease.
- DirectorDavid NutterStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonPeter BoyleA grumpy old man with psychic powers that show him how someone will die assists the agents with the hunt for a crazed killer who targets psychics. He also cryptically reveals to Mulder and Scully their own ultimate fates.
- DirectorKim MannersStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonBobbie PhillipsWhile looking for signs of alien ships in the sky above a small town, Mulder learns of a series of deaths supposedly caused by metallic cockroaches. He turns to sexy entomologist Bambi for help, which makes Scully angrily rush to his aid.
- DirectorRob BowmanStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonMitch PileggiA seemingly unmotivated murderer, who can apparently talk his victims into killing themselves is on the loose and it is up to Mulder and Scully to study the clues left to them by the person and capture him.Notable for the first really good VG writing credit.
Also, fun WGA freelancer regulations/TV history, see Sanguinarium review for details. - DirectorRob BowmanStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonCharles Nelson ReillyScully recounts the investigation of an alleged UFO encounter for the famous quirky author Jose Chung's latest novel. The case gives a whole new meaning to the term Rashomon effect. Chung later returns in Jose Chung's 'Doomsday Defense' (1997).
- DirectorKim MannersStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonChris EllisMulder suspects that a beast similar to the Loch Ness Monster is responsible for the deaths of several people who reside near a large lake. Frustrated Scully insightfully confronts Mulder about the futility of their work on X-Files.Good MOTW episode, redeemed especially by some really nice character work.
Include? Discuss. - DirectorKim MannersStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonTucker SmallwoodThe remains of a murdered deformed infant lead the agents to a family of murderous, inbred, animal-like brothers living on a secluded farm in a remote section of Pennsylvania.
- DirectorRob BowmanStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonPruitt Taylor VincePhotos of a hellish sight from the mind of a psychopath who abducts women makes Mulder think that the man has the ability of psychic photography.Good, but got it's "inclusion boost" from VG connection.
Additionally, a good example of a "middle of the road" X-Files episode, if that is of interest. Some great moments, lacks the overall narrative pizzazz.
Optional, include if desired. - 1993–201845mTV-149.0 (5.7K)TV EpisodeDirectorJames WongStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonWilliam B. DavisThe Lone Gunmen reveal the (possibly fake) secret history of the Smoking Man to Mulder with focus on three episodes from his life - the assassination of JFK, his attempts at becoming a novelist and one of his UFO cover ups."Stand-alone" in that it doesn't have a a direct bearing on the mythology; just provides some interesting background.
Preface: a figure known only as the CSM [Cigarette Smoking Man] alt. Cancer Man, has been fairly omnipresent in the alien/government themed mythology episodes, but we really know nothing about him except that he is dangerous, powerful, and possibly well connected.
Best comparison I can think of is "Peter," although in Fringe we know a lot more going in than in X-Files.
Verdict: excellent episode, but if you're not interested in spending some time in the past of the X-Files mythology without Scully and Mulder, we'll skip it. - DirectorRob BowmanStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonMitch PileggiAn incarcerated serial killer claims Mulder's sister was one of his many victims.
- DirectorKim MannersStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonPaul McCraneA headless corpse of a paramedic walks out of the hospital morgue triggering a manhunt for a man with unimaginable regenerative powers, that come at a terrible cost. The case makes Scully realize in shock that she may not be well.Possibly myth-arc; unclear at time of writing.
Must decide how we want to treat the carcinoma plot line.
Provide background re. abduction, implants, support group, and the cancer hints. - or even provide this AFTER the episode, because I don't think that it's actually directly relevant to the appreciation of the reveal. Don't want to tip the show's hand.
Example: This is not really a part of the myth-arc, but certain elements are informed by the myth-arc, and these elements will continue to be important in the forthcoming stand-alones. During the myth-arc, which we have been avoiding, Scully was abducted by either aliens, government agents, or both (it's unclear) as a way to give Gillian Anderson mat leave. This was a thing at the beginning of season two, and it's come up a few times since. Once, Scully accidentally happened upon a support group of ladies who also claimed to be abduction victims, and they removed some sort of implant chip from her neck. They believed that there was a carcinogenic link to the chips, but it's been pretty unclear. This hasn't been at issue in the series, but it is worth mentioning because there are themes that carry through. - DirectorRob BowmanStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonRodney RowlandMulder takes a vacation to visit Graceland while sending disaffected Scully to Philadelphia to look into Russians with ties to UFOs. She becomes attracted to a secretly unstable young divorcee whose tattoo is telling him to kill women.Directly follows.
Please join me in injuring Mulder.
Reminder of what Scully has given up to join in his charade - personal safety so many times (we've seen a few of these), her ABDUCTION AND BODILY AUTONOMY, her sister... - DirectorRob BowmanStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonMitch PileggiScully attempts to come to terms with her inoperable cancer. Meanwhile Mulder and the Lone Gunmen break into a high-security research lab to find the cure that could save her life.
- DirectorCliff BoleStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonMitch PileggiFive unrelated women in a small town give birth to babies with small tails. The prime suspect is a man who can shape shift into whomever he wants.Note: Still rape.
Even in the absence of Rohypnol, no informed consent = not sex. I'm glad they picked up on that!
Best VG episode?
See also: Fringey moments. Scully preforms a bit better than Peter, though.
Note:
-Skinner about to morally compromise himself; we could watch it, it's a good episode, but not one that enthuses me.- Watch select scenes from Elegy if interested in seeing Scully struggle with mortality. Episode - mediocre, but some gorgeous moments.
- DirectorKim MannersStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonMitch PileggiScully is hospitalized after collapsing, while Mulder receives help from a most unlikely source as he continues to search for a cure for Scully's illness.Prefix with overview of past few episodes.
- DirectorBrett DowlerStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonColleen FlynnIn the unexplored woods of Florida's Apalachicola National Forest, Mulder and Scully investigate the disappearances of two land surveyors and a boy's claims that he and his father were attacked by an invisible creature.
- DirectorChris CarterStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonJohn O'Hurleyin this surreal, comical take on Frankenstein, Mulder and Scully arrive in a small rural town to investigate claims of a monster obsessed with Cher that's sedating and impregnating the local women.
- DirectorCliff BoleStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonMitch PileggiScully and Mulder each recount their version of events that led Mulder to drive a stake through the heart of a Texas teenager he claims was a vampire.
- DirectorRob BowmanStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonMitch PileggiMulder goes undercover to infiltrate a militia group armed with a deadly pathogen and wanted for domestic terrorism. Scully becomes suspicious when Mulder lets a suspect escape but she learns that his assignment may be a suicide mission.
- DirectorKim MannersStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonMitch PileggiParanoid telemarketer takes his coworkers and Mulder hostage claiming that their boss is a disguised insectoid monster that's literally turning the workers one by one into his zombie drones.
- DirectorRob BowmanStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonBryan CranstonA man tormented by a piercing sound that could make his head explode unless he heads west as fast as possible takes Mulder hostage to drive for him, while Scully rushes to find the cause of this affliction that also killed the man's wife.
- DirectorChris CarterStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonWilliam B. DavisMulder boards the wreck of a legendary missing WWII ship that suddenly appeared in the Bermuda Triangle. The ship turns out to be a time portal. Now Scully must use all of her wits to try and get the unwilling FBI to help her save him.
- DirectorChris CarterStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonLily TomlinOn Christmas Eve, Mulder and Scully find themselves trapped in a haunted house with two ghosts who are determined to prove just how lonely the holiday can be.
- DirectorMichael W. WatkinsStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonGeoffrey LewisA rookie agent asks for Scully's help in proving that a quaint crime scene photographer is a serial killer. With some help from a bored Mulder, Scully discovers the man's actual dark secret. And an old prophecy regarding Scully comes true.
- DirectorKim MannersStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonMitch PileggiA woman desperately attempts to change the outcome of the events of a day she is forced to relive again and again in which her boyfriend explodes a bomb during a failed bank robbery killing everyone inside, including Mulder and Scully.
- DirectorKim MannersStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonJohn HawkesA strange writer infatuated with Scully moves in next door to Mulder and proceeds to slowly bewitch her through his writing. Mulder investigates the man and realizes that he may be behind a series of killings involving psychic surgery.Optional:
This is either a totally brilliant critique of fanficiton (the purple prose, the objectification of characters, the treatment of women, the obtusely sly means of directing relationships, the mystical "mary-sue" type who waltzes in, sees all, and informs us of things from some bizarrely cryptic yet omniscience standpoint), OR it is a really infuriating example of misogeny and the violation of a well-developed character.
I honestly don't know, and so submit it for consideration. - DirectorDavid DuchovnyStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonJesse L. MartinSearching through an FBI reference book, Mulder finds a photograph of Arthur Dales with a baseball team and the alien bounty hunter. Mulder goes to Arthur Dales' house to ask him about the photograph. There he finds Arthur Dales' brother, also named Arthur. Mr. Dales proceeds to tell Mulder a story of a 1940s Negro baseball player in Roswell named Josh Exley who was closing in on breaking some professional baseball records. Mr. Dales tells how he was assigned to protect this player from the KKK and that Exley was actually an alien.Hey! You like baseball!
This is an optional watch - it's quite good, some nice character moments, and is a love letter to baseball. Wouldn't force it one somebody, but happy to revisit! - DirectorKim MannersStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonMitch PileggiThe skeletal remains of a young couple are found after they have been missing for only three days in an area known for UFO activity. Mulder and Scully have different experiences in the investigation but nothing is quite as it seems.
- DirectorMichael W. WatkinsStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonJudson MillsThe investigation of a neighborhood monster isn't too weird for the crew of Cops (1989) to follow around Mulder and Scully.