Season One

The Pilot ~ Guide/Info: The Pilot episode of The X-Files, as with any successful series, is nothing short of fabulous. Here, viewers are introduced to the main characters as they meet one another for the first time and the tone of series is set for the next decade. While it is not a "classic" X-File in that it does not include a specific "Monster-of-the-Week," it has just enough character intrigue and spookiness, no pun intended, let one know that this series was to be one of the greats.; Hear Clips!
Deep Throat ~ Guide/Info: Deep Throat is the first real X-File that viewers see and follows a forumla that suited the series very well: Mulder gets a tip about a case. Mulder talks to Scully about the case and the tip. The agents argue and banter over the case. They go out and adventure ensues. What I find fascinating about Deep Throat, is that I did not like it initially, but learned to appreciate it overall. Unlike later on in the series, Mulder and Scully are still very much strangers and there is little to no trust on either end. We see this when Mulder lies and ditches his partner. Long-time viewers almost take it for granted that Mulder and Scully share this special "relationship" built on mountains of trust. The episode re-affirms the idea that the show's creator, Chris Carter, held upon the beginning of the series; we are all like Scully, trained to be pragmatic, but at the same time we cannot help wanting to assist the demon-ridden Mulder with his quest.
Squeeze ~ Guide/Info: While the Pilot and Deep Throat set the motions of the show's mythology, Squeeze is the first episode shown sans-aliens and solely meant to scare the crap out of anyone watching. Who would not be scared senseless by the idea of some liver-eating mutant that can squeeze through chimneys and duct work? I do not watch Squeeze on a regular basis because it is simply too scary for me and, of course, why it is among my favorites. Nearly fifteen years later, the same exact parts of this episode frighten me the same way every single time! It is almost infuriating knowing exactly what is going to happen in the next frame and being scared by it nonetheless. Eugene Tooms made for a completely believable and utterly frightening character, after watching this episode, I never walked by storm drains or pass by home's vents the same.; Hear a Clip
Ice ~ Guide/Info: Ah, Ice. A dear favorite. Simply put, this episode brings me through so many emotions, I am on the edge of my seat no matter how many times I watch it. I have found through the years, the best episodes are those that require the fewest amount of extra characters and Ice truly delivers with only six characters throughout the vast majority of the episode. However, what makes Ice special is the science shrowded by mystery in the episode. While improbable, as all X-Files are, there is a real science behind the episode and viewers get a quick rundown of the finer side of geology. What makes the impact, though, is the "who-dunnit" scenario. The audience knows that one of the six has the "killer bug," question is who?? This episode actually gets the wheels turning in one's mind as one goes through the clues to figure out who is the killer. Ice, fantastically, sets the bar of excellence for the show, which thankfully is hit many times throughout the series.; Watch It!
Beyond the Sea ~ Guide/Info: Before I go further, I must mention that Gillian Anderson is among one of my favorite actors of all time and this episode is partly the reason. In this episode, for the first time in the series, Scully ventures out and expands her mind the "possibilities" and in it we see Ms. Anderson's gifts unbound. Also, making this episode spectacular is the unstoppable talents of the duo, James Wong and Glen Morgan, who wrote and directed so many of my favorites. Brad Dourif, who I know very little about, also stars in this episode and gives a stunning performance as the serial killer Luther Lee Boggs. For the first time in the series, we see Scully own her own for a bit, which gives the audience a chance to not only learn more about her, but also relate to her. As this is nearing the middle of the season, we also see the agents' partnership strengthening and growing. This episode is nothing short of superb. The acting, the writing, the overall tone of this episode is spell-binding from start to finish and makes for utter amazement each time I watch this episode.
Darkness Falls ~ Guide/Info: Written by the show's creator, Darkness Falls is the type of outstanding episode that made this show ridiculously successful. Again, the highly unlikely albeit possible science that surrounds this episode and the lack of extra, erroneous characters running around is what gives it that extra edge. The agents have a "nice trip to the forest" and find something very old and menacing that makes one want to sleep with the lights on for a night or two. The suspense to see if they make through the night, plus Scully's little "freakout" still send shivers down my spine. To add the icing on the cake, instead of a normal "the-heros-will-find-a-way-even-if-all-hope-seems-lost"-type ending regularly seen in series of this nature, it looks at first like they really did not survive this one. Of course, they do, but one has to admit, those last five minutes were jaw-dropping.; Hear Clips
Tooms ~ Guide/Info: In this collaboration with Glen Morgan and James Wong, we revisit everyone's favorite mutant, Eugene Victor Tooms. I do not have much else to add in regards to this episode, except that we see how brilliant a mind Mulder has and the first hints at the innuendo that fervently flies throughout the rest of the series. The same fear felt the first time we met Mr. Tooms, is amplified by never knowing when he will strike next. We all know it is going to happen, it is just a matter of when and who. What also makes this episode special is the ongoing forensics which we see in detail for the first time in the series. I admit that to me, shows like CSI will always seem like realistic, X-Files, hence the reason I cannot stand to watch them. The X-Files brought forensics to the average person first and did it admirably.; Hear a Clip