X-Files: Episodes 1-4

I have a confession to make: I've never actually watched the entire run of the X-Files, nor have I seen the films. Of course, most people haven't, but then again most people don't run a blog called "Blessed are the Geeks." I like the show, but I only ever made til.... I dunno. Season five or six maybe. I don't even remember. But I'm finally going to do it. I've been inspired by my buddy The Mugato who has spent the past couple years trying to watch every episode of every version of Star Trek for his blog, and my buddy Jester is also attempting to watch them all too.

Anyway, I thought it might be fun -- or, at least, help to keep me on track -- if I wrote up my thoughts on each episode.

So here are my thoughts on the four episodes I've watched over the past couple days:

Episode 1: Pilot
As pilots go, this was a great intro to the series. The characters are perfectly set up, as is the basic mythology of the show.

Here's the basic plot in case you've never watched the series: FBI special agent Fox Mulder works in the bureau's X-Files department, that details cases that are deemed to be unexplainable. Fellow special agent Dana Skully is assigned to work with him on the cases, in an effort to debunk his more ludicrous theories and assumptions. So it's a perfect odd couple pairing of the true believer and the skeptic. Of course, Mulder is always right and his most ludicrous theories always prove true.

Anyway, it's a fun gimmick and they milked 8 or 9 seasons out of it, and this intro is a bit dry in the story department, but David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are so good it doesn't matter.

Episode 2: Deep Throat
A military test pilot goes missing, and of course Mulder assumes it's because the military is testing aircraft based on UFO technology found at Roswell... or something. This is a classic X-Files plot that's a lot of fun, especially because of an early role by a very young but still very cool Seth Green.

Episode 3: Squeeze
This is where the X-Files actually becomes the X-Files, and distinguishes itself as not just sci-fi, but the scariest horror show on TV. This is also where they start there gimmicky "monster of the week" formula, but that doesn't matter because this was one of their best monsters. Doug Hutchinson plays Eugene Tooms, an immortal cannibal who eats peoples livers so he can prolong his life... or, and he can stretch and fold his body to fit through the mail slot of your front door. The whole thing makes no sense, but it's really fun and really creepy. There's also an early performance by Donal Logue as the FBI's biggest douchebag.

Episode 4: Conduit
Zzzzzzzzz... this episode was pretty boring. The plot was interesting, but nothing much happened. I literally just finished watching this one, and I can't even remember it. The sheriff is played by Michael Cavanaugh, who I originally thought was Frank Gorshin. That's all I have to say about this episode.

Michael Cavanaugh

Frank Gorshin