User reviews

At this point in the series only two or three mythology-related episodes had aired and the direction of the alien/conspiracy plot arc was largely indiscernible. "E.B.E.," written by Glen Morgan and James Wong (better known for their early standalone episodes), takes things up a notch as government lies and cover-ups lead Mulder to question his trust in the only person he has trusted, Deep Throat. The entire feel of the episode is a very subtle one, lacking any cheap or sudden thrills - anyone expecting to see an aptly-named E.B.E. will be sorely disappointed - but compensates for this in its paranoid overtones and character development. The scene in which Mulder ransacks his entire apartment to find a bug behind an electrical socket is a case in point of the former, and even Scully panics upon finding something similar in a ballpoint. This episode is also notable for introducing the Lone Gunmen, who would make subsequent appearances in all nine seasons. While "E.B.E." took a few views to really appreciate, I consider it to be one of the best of season one. Great writing and acting, an eerie soundtrack, and just an overall sense of paranoia not found in later episodes make this one a classic.

Another great episode from season one, and this one is also remarkable for many reasons. 'E.B.E.' was the debut episode for The Lone Gunmen, group of likable eccentrics conspiracy theorists who occasionally provide help and information for Mulder. We also get to know more backstory of Deep Throat and also more questions will be raised about his real intentions. Well written tight and tense episode which uses a lot of UFO mythology.

It was also the first time I ever heard the term E.B.E. - Extra-terrestrial Biological Entity.

True, a couple of earlier episodes deal with UFO's and the like, but "E.B.E." is the first episode which takes the form of your average season 2-5 mythology episode, and is the first to show an indication of the extent of the government cover-up and conspiracy, well beyond what we had seen in previous episodes, and this time directly in relation to Mulder and Scully.

"E.B.E." is an oddity as a mythology episode since it was written by James Wong and Glen Morgan, who usually wrote spooky standalone episodes. This is a different sort of script for them, but they pull it off brilliantly, with a lot of excellent dialogue and memorable scenes, such as Scully's first meeting with the Lone Gunmen, us learning more about Deep Throat's background, if he is to be believed. I do find it odd that the episode which was very much the launching point for the mythology story was not written by the people who eventually carried on the story.

"E.B.E." features some outstanding use of smoke cinematography-wise, which lends the episode a great atmosphere. The same trick would continue to feature prominently in the second and third seasons which were also photographed by John Bartley. The musical score is also excellent, with one tune in particular being quite haunting and memorable.

"E.B.E." is very much a personal favorite as it was the first episode I properly sat down and watched, and got me hooked instantly. In a first season with precious few great episodes it shines even more than it does in comparison to most episodes in later seasons, and it lays the foundation for not only the masterful season finale "The Erlenmeyer Flask", but for the many great mythology episodes to come.

What an outstanding episode.

10/10

E.B.E. kicks the mythology into high gear. This episode has everything: danger, suspense, deception, humor, wit, and action. Before this episode I had always referred to aliens as extra-terrestrials (E.T.). This was the first time I had heard the expression extra-terrestrial biological entity (E.B.E). Too bad Spielberg's film wasn't called E.B.E.. And of course, besides the excellent and exciting story, a good reason to see this episode is for the introduction of the Lone Gunmen, a trio of paranoid men who help Mulder out with their expertise from time to time. What makes this episode stand out is that previously Deep Throat has given Mulder information to help him on a case. In this episode, however, he intentionally misleads Mulder. It makes you wonder what Deep Throat's motives truly are. E.B.E. is a top-notch episode that helps you to see whether it's remotely plausible that someone might thing Scully is hot.

E.B.E is a taught and suspenseful episode, teetering on the verge of paranoia. Up to this point the show's been feeling its way along, mostly aimlessly, trying to figure out where it's headed and what it's going to be about. We've got some hints and bits of disjointed and apparently unrelated events and phenomena of the overarching plot, but that's all. The producers knew it and we knew it- they had to dig up a solid theme. E.B.E. was the answer, and a good one at that.

The introduction of the Lonegunmen added yet another layer of texture and substance, broadening the show's background, bringing a refreshment and further ingenuity and, to some extent, taking some burden off Mulder and Scully's shoulders, giving them somebody to bank on every now and then.

Not showing too much was also a nice touch, raising the tension and expectations higher. We know now that the US government is in the possession of an extraterrestrial being, and later on we become privy to the government's intentions in relation to it. As the episode went along, we got one answer followed by a dozen lies, as frustration was growing stronger in Mulder on screen. It was even more successful on an emotional level that on story line, come to think of it. The lead characters were apparently becoming more and more unnerved as they realized they'd been spied on, lied to, and purposely fed misinformation.

Toward the end of the episode Deep Throat hints at Roswell Incident as being the beginning of an international agreement on destroying any E.B.E. should it establishes a contact with a particular country. This suggests that the Roswell Incident was in fact authentic, which contradicts another statement from DT later made in The Erlenmeyer Flask, dubbing it a 'smokescreen'.

But I guess that's the price you pay when you get tangled up in a plot so convoluted- it's hard to keep everything in check. Be it as it may, this episode bears enough merit as to grant it a pardon for the mistakes it made.

Main thing I can point out is that E.B.E. is a quintessential X Files episode that pretty much stands out among the crowd.

Information regarding a UFO which has been shot down over Iraq and secretly transported the U.S. has been conveyed to Mulder from Deep Throat.However previously where Deep Throat has appeared to be helpful and attempt to guide Mulder in the right direction isn't repeated in this episode.He blatantly lies to Mulder to cover up the truth of what really happened.Also in this episode is the debut of the much loved Lone Gunmen characters.Mulders paranoid friends who like showing off their technical knowledge with the express aim of aiding him on his cases.An exciting episode where many more questions are asked about Deep Throat and what his true motives are and the first sightings of the highly likable Lone Gunmen

Misinformation and red herrings are thrown into the path of Mulder and Scully, as the powers that be are trying hard to throw them off a scent.

Paranoia, drama, intrigue, suspense, they are all driven to the max. This is definitely one of the best episodes from this first series, it is a terrific episode, it's a great story, impeccably delivered.

Mulder and Scully feel like a very united duo here.

We learn what the term E.B.E is, and get introduced to some of Mulder's friends. There really is so much rich content here.

Deep Throat has been a constant, and been somewhat helpful for Mulder, could this be a turning point, is he perhaps not all he's cracked up to be? Hardin is great.

This was an impressive watch, 10/10.

Builds upon the UFO/extra terrestrial storyline seen in some episode's with a climatic finish, but also doesn't give too much away.

E.B.E. is the sixth appearance of Jerry Hardin as Deep Throat, this is an episode in the mythology of the first season. Here we are introduced in to The Lone Gunmen team (Bruce Harwood, Tom Braidwood, Dean Haglund). In this episode we have Mulder and Scully tracking down a truck that transports extraterrestrial living been in the trailer. They are been bugged and someone was listening to them. The only person thy can trust is their self's. In this episode we see Deep Throat in a different light who tried to sent Mulder and Scully on a wild goose chase for a search on a wrong air craft UFO. Mulder trusted Deep Throat only to find out, he was miss leading him. From the Season One Deep Throat (Jerry Hardin) as Mulder's ally is in my opinion my favorite character. I liked him much more than Steven Williams Mr. X.

"E.B.E." (extraterrestrial biological entity)"

Plot: Mulder and Scully receive information from Deep Throat about a UFO that was shot down over Iraq and has been secretly transported to the US. However, Deep Throat then intentionally misleads the agents to prevent them from discovering the truth. The Lone Gunmen (Bruce Harwood, Dean Haglund and Tom Braidwood) are introduced.

In the opening scene we see a pilot flying over Iraq who shots down an invincible UFO. The UFO is transported trough US in the truck and a driver who stars firing with a shot gun an unseen creature.

We see Mulder and Scully investigating this case.

When we are introduced in to The Lone Gunmen: Melvin Frohike (Tom Braidwood) calls Scully hot! He is so damn right Scully (Gillian Anderson) is incredible gorgeous beautiful hot in this episode flick! She is damn hot I love her to death and I want to marry her. She is so sexy that my tongue fall down.

I love the chemistry between the two leads Mulder and Scully that they relay on each other and they only have to trust each other.

In my opinion Scully (Gillian Anderson) was very intelligent she spot the phony photography right away way, while Mulder (David Duchovny) was blinded and miss leaded by Deep Throat's lies.

On the end we find out why Deep Throat lied to Mulder and Scully and why he choose Mulder for his ally.

We found out more background about Deep Throat.

Everything began in Roswell 1947 and the cover up about UFO.

I love this Episode to death and it is my favorite episode in the first season. First Season still kicks ass I love the stakeout and the hunt for the truck carrying extraterrestrial life.

I like how Mulder tracks Druce and the E.B.E. to a power plant in Mattawa, Washington. With assistance from the Lone Gunmen, the agents are able to enter the plant with fake identification. Their unfamiliarity soon gives them away, but Mulder flees from the guards through a restricted area and is about to approach the room where the creature is held when armed guards stop him.

I still don't know why Scully confess to guard that she is an FBI agent on a case and she expose them both is beyond me.

In this episode I Love Gillian Anderson more than in other episodes and Jerry Hardin much more than David Duchovny.

I love this episode to death and E.B.E.is also one of my favorite episodes.

Everyone from this episode from writers to director and the cast did an amazing job.

Glen Morgan and James Wong did again an outstanding job writing the plot for the mythology episode. I still can't wait to re watch Season 3 on DVD again and write more reviews about my favorite TV Show.

Season 3 was honestly my first season of The X-Files that I have watched all episodes. I was never bored with the first four seasons of The X-Files, but for some reason I can't watch Season 5, but I can enjoy Season 6 more because episode Triangle was also Episode that I have taped on VHS.

Season One will still be the season in The X-Files for me in this season you don't have complicated or sad episodes so I like that more in this TV Show.

Scully is still a hot sexy babe in this episode and this episode is intelligent , brilliant and fun to watch.

This episode get's 10 out of 10 for one of my favorite mythology episodes of all time. The 90's still has awesome movies and TV Shows that I love.

The first season of the science fiction television series The X-Files commenced airing on the Fox network in the United States on September 10, 1993, and concluded on the same channel on May 13, 1994, after airing all 24 episodes.

"E.B.E." (short for extraterrestrial biological entity) is the seventeenth episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series The X-Files. It premiered on the Fox network on February 18, 1994. It was written by Glen Morgan and James Wong, and directed by William Graham. The episode introduced the recurring characters of The Lone Gunmen, played by Bruce Harwood, Dean Haglund and Tom Braidwood; and saw Jerry Hardin reprise his role as Deep Throat. The episode helped explore the series' overarching mythology. "E.B.E." earned a Nielsen household rating of 6.2, being watched by 5.8 million households in its initial broadcast; and received positive reviews from critics.

10/10 Grade: Bad Ass Seal Of Approval Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Starring: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Jerry Hardin, Allan Lysell, Peter LaCroix, Bruce Harwood, Dean Haglund, Tom Braidwood Director: William Graham Producers: Chris Carter, Joseph Patrick Finn, Glen Morgan, James Wong Screenplay: Glen Morgan, James Wong Rated: R Running Time: 45 minutes

Now this is a turning point.

Previously, the pair of detectives had all sorts of close encounters with strange phenomena, with sundry evidence establishing proof. This is complicated here. We have the usual conspiracy and cover-up by secret government, but also we have doctored evidence, and even a whole close encounter staged to dupe the pair away from the 'real' thing.

So when in the end we have deep revelations about Roswell, and the alleged UFO at Hanoi, the narrator is unreliable and could be making up any part of what he reveals, and even the whole secret compound can be a hoax set up because it is something we would expect to discover, wanting to believe. It makes little sense why any of this should happen, but that's the series for you.

The notion is that the most convenient place to hide a lie is between truths, a statement which in our case can be both a lie and true.

Other than that, this is the most cinematic and evocative of the episodes so far.

This episode is a classic that represents the tone this series has. It has extraterrestrial elements, unexplained phenomenon, the distinct personalities of agents Mulder and Scully, as well as the way the secret government operates (as in the case of Deep Throat.)

One cannot keep away from the show after getting the strong taste out of this episode.

Okay, to the bottom of this:

We could say that for nearly half a century, the voices from the USA have been trying to raise awareness to the possibility of "trewe encounter with the extraterrestrial beings" that are later to be cleared away, or denied existence by the secret government of the USA.

Moreover, this claim or "idea" was adopted by the everyday folk and the outsiders in the community, as well as the artists that would produce books, movies and series.

To this point, everything seems normal. Yes.

But what if they are spreading the claims on purpose?.. "They" as in the secret people that hold the emperialistic ropes.

We are now used to the idea of "extraterrestrial beings on Earth." So, when the oil drains, the excuse to invade countries, or to practise the eugenics under the false pretence that the DNA is retrieved from the "little green men."

Am I too hysterical?.. Oh, maybe I, too, am in this...

Woe... I have just helped the cause.

P.S.: If my culture is concerned, Islam is not against the possibility of extraterrestrial life whatsoever.

It is even mentioned in the Gracious Koran that there are the Djin alongside the Human, the Animal, the Plant on this Earth. So, what is not mentioned or hinted at in Islam simply cannot "exist" not!..

For instance, it says there is no god other than Allah, it disavows any other god. (Relax, people! For the believer, this is!)

Furthermore, the Koran, on a number of Verses, warns the believer to draw lessons from the the sky, the Earth, and the existence in between.

Here:

"O company of jinn and humankind, in case you are able to penetrate (all) regions of the heavens and the earth, then penetrate (them)! Ye will never penetrate them save with (Our) all-binding sanction."

The 33rd Verse of the 55th Chapter (The Beneficent) in the Gracious Koran.

Amen.

The seventeenth episode of "The X-Files," titled "E. B. E.," directed by William A. Graham, serves as a pivotal entry in the series' ongoing exploration of government conspiracy and extraterrestrial phenomena. This episode not only advances the overarching mythology of the show but also deepens the characterization of Mulder and Scully while introducing the iconic trio known as the Lone Gunmen. The narrative revolves around Mulder's pursuit of an extraterrestrial biological entity (E. B. E.) following a truck driver's encounter with a UFO and subsequent mysterious events that unfold.

The episode begins with a gripping prologue that sets the stage for the unfolding mystery. A truck driver witnesses a UFO and later becomes embroiled in a violent confrontation, leading to his death. This chilling start effectively establishes an atmosphere of tension and intrigue, drawing viewers into the world of government cover-ups and alien encounters. As Mulder and Scully investigate, they discover that the driver was transporting something significant-an E. B. E.-and they must navigate a labyrinth of deception as they pursue the truth. The pacing is well-crafted, balancing moments of suspense with character development, particularly highlighting Mulder's relentless quest for proof of extraterrestrial life.

Visually, "E. B. E." retains the series' signature aesthetic, utilizing shadows and dim lighting to create an atmosphere of unease. Graham's direction builds suspense effectively; scenes where Mulder interacts with government officials and the Lone Gunmen are particularly impactful, showcasing their paranoia and determination to uncover hidden truths. The cinematography captures both the sterile environments of government facilities and the more chaotic settings associated with UFO sightings, enhancing the narrative's tension. However, some critics have pointed out that certain plot points feel predictable or lack depth, particularly regarding how quickly Mulder connects his findings to the E. B. E.

The performances in this episode are commendable, especially from Duchovny and Anderson. Duchovny's portrayal of Mulder captures his characteristic charm and obsession with uncovering hidden truths; he embodies a sense of urgency that drives the narrative forward. Anderson's Scully provides a rational counterbalance; her skepticism grounds Mulder's wild theories while showcasing her growing curiosity about their cases. The introduction of the Lone Gunmen-Byers (John Fitzgerald), Langly (Bruce Harwood), and Frohike (Tom Braidwood)-adds an intriguing dynamic to the story; their eccentric personalities and unwavering belief in conspiracy theories provide both comic relief and critical information to Mulder and Scully.

Thematically, "E. B. E." delves into issues of trust and deception within both personal and societal contexts. The character of Deep Throat (played by Jerry Hardin) serves as a complex figure whose motivations remain ambiguous throughout the episode; he provides crucial information to Mulder but also reveals his own capacity for manipulation. This raises questions about loyalty and truth in a world rife with conspiracies. The episode culminates in a powerful confrontation between Mulder and Deep Throat, where Mulder grapples with feelings of betrayal as he realizes that his informant has been withholding vital information about their investigations.

In conclusion, "E. B. E." stands out as an engaging entry in "The X-Files," successfully blending elements of science fiction with psychological drama while deepening character dynamics between Mulder and Scully. While it may not reach the emotional heights of later episodes or fully develop all plot points, it effectively maintains tension and intrigue throughout the episode.