Agents, Aliens, and A Whole Lot of Plot: A Ten(ish) Episode Introduction to THE X-FILES

Allow me to paint a picture. You, an X-Files newb, have finished watching the recent miniseries. Totally pumped, you head to Netflix to dive into some serious alien conspiracies. You check out the list of episodes. Realize there are approximately ten million bazillion of them. Give up your heady ambitions and take a nap instead.

Or perhaps you’re a veteran fan who followed the show since the Clinton administration. The recent miniseries having filled you with nostalgic verve, you head to Netflix (or your immaculate The X-Files DVD collection) to relive the best days of your life. You realize there are approximately ten million bazillion episodes. You go join the newbie in a nap.

Now far be it from me to discourage napping, one of the chief joys of mammals everywhere. But as an alternative to napping, The X-Files is about as good as it gets. It offers a masterful balance between a sophisticated multi-season plot arc, collectively referred to as the “Mytharc”, and stand alone Monster of the Week episodes that delve into every possible facet of the scifi genre. One long-time fan (my older sister) describes the show as, “an addictive blend of just-scary-enough-to-make-you-keep-the-lights-on and a peek into what makes us human. It’s fun, funny, slightly terrifying, and thought provoking all at once.”

Okay, I’m now assuming you’re sold on the show. So I’ve made a quick guide to help newcomers and prodigal fans alike get into the swing of things without having to become a recluse for a week straight. I have tried my best to offer necessary background info while keeping some surprises but here’s a spoiler warning just to cover my bases.

AHOY! SPOILERS FOR A TWENTY-THREE YEAR OLD SHOW AHEAD!

ahem

I won’t lie; picking just ten(ish) episodes to sum up a nine-24-episode-seasons-plus-a-movie series was quite a difficult task. But watching the list below should give you a pretty good crash-course in the X-Files mythos and leave you thirsty for more.

1) Season 1, Episode 1: “Pilot”

The one that started it all. (Too cliché?) Baby-faced FBI agent Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) is assigned to debunk both the titular X-Files and Agent Fox Mulder (David Duchovny), the maverick who threw away a promising career in order to chase little green men.

Being a pilot, it is a bit rough around the edges, particularly when it comes to Scully’s wardrobe. But all of the essential ingredients are there: Mulder’s passion and snark, Scully’s sarcastic skepticism, aliens, scared locals, and the infamous Cigarette Smoking Man (CSM) (William B. Davis).

2) Season 1, Episode 24: “The Erlenmeyer Flask”

The X-Files enters full-fledged narrative adulthood as the audience is thrown head-long into the Mytharc. Throughout the season, Mulder is given both protection and information by Deep Throat (Jerry Hardin), a top government official. Now, Deep Throat alerts him to the existence of proof positive of a government conspiracy involving humans and alien DNA. Scully has her first look at an alien face-to-face and the audience has their first look at a human-alien hybrid.

During the course of his investigations, Mulder is captured and Deep Throat must risk everything to free him. In the end, mysterious forces have closed the X-Files. But of course that won’t keep our agents down for long.

3) Season 2, Episodes 6 and 8: “Ascension” and “One Breath”

Okay, so I know this is technically two episodes, but it’s kind of like peanut butter and jelly. Sure, you can make a sandwich with one. But if you don’t use both, you are lying to yourself about that sandwich and you should rethink your life choices.

Former FBI agent Duane Barry (Steve Railsback) kidnaps Scully and takes her to Skyland Mountain, convinced that he can offer her to a flying saucer and thus free himself from an unending cycle of alien abduction. Mulder races to catch him, but gets there too late; Scully has disappeared. Mulder tries to wring information from Barry, while in the meantime we learn the true loyalties of newcomer Agent Alex Krycek (Nicolas Lea). Assistant Director (AD) Walter Skinner (Mitch Pileggi) reopens the X-Files.

In “One Breath”, Scully is mysteriously returned to Earth. Her body remains in a coma, kept alive by machines. Scully herself occupies a limbo between life and death. The episode alternates between her experiences and Mulder’s search for a cure to her condition. This leads to a nail-biting showdown with the Cigarette Smoking Man and an inspiring speech from AD Skinner.

Viewers of the most recent X-Files season will also recognize Mulder’s heartfelt bedside speech to Scully, referenced in “Home Again.” (Keep the tissues close, folks.) Finally Scully awakens, though she has no memory of her abduction.

4) Season 3, Episode 2: “Paperclip”

In the finale of season 2, an encrypted cassette tape leads Mulder and Scully to the New Mexico desert, where Mulder found a boxcar with the remains of strange creatures, each with the mark of smallpox vaccinations on their arms. Season 2 ends with CSM torching the boxcar, leaving Mulder to a fiery fate and X-Files viewers to the most suspenseful summer of their lives.

By “Paperclip”, Mulder is back and Scully has discovered a metal chip implanted in the back of her neck–a souvenir of her abduction. “Paperclip” sees the two agents reunited and back on the trail of the shadowy government Syndicate. A visit to an abandoned West Virginia mine and to Mulder’s mother leaves them with some startling revelations regarding the Syndicate conspiracy and the abduction of Mulder’s sister Samantha.

5) Season 5, Episode 2: “Redux, Part Two”

Remember that chip Scully has in her neck? Well, it’s been removed, and now she is in the hospital suffering from cancer. Bummer. “Redux, Part One” and “Part Two” follow Mulder’s search for a cure that only the Cigarette Smoking Man can provide. In the process, his discoveries regarding the Syndicate conspiracy, and a shocking encounter with someone from his past, force him to reconsider his most deeply held beliefs. By the end, things are looking up for Scully and very, very down for CSM.

6) Season 5, Episode 5: “Post-Modern Prometheus”

Alright, so this one isn’t Mytharc. But to truly understand the show, you have to see at least one Monster of the Week episode, and “Post Modern Prometheus” is a classic (and not just because the title alliterates so well). Mulder and Scully arrive in a small town to investigate a string of mysterious pregnancies supposedly cause by a monster called The Great Mutato. Shenanigans ensue. A heart warming ending is provided. We all feel warm and fuzzy inside. Bonus: the episode is shot entirely in black and white for that cool retro look!

7) Season 5, Episode 14: “The Red and the Black”

Quick background for this episode: a race of alien colonists wants to colonize Earth (naturally). The Syndicate has been cooperating with the aliens while secretly developing a vaccine to save the world from the “black oil”, the aliens’ main method of eliminating the human race. They have also been trying to perfect a species of human-alien hybrid by testing on abductees, including Scully. As a result of these experiments, Scully is unable to have children. In season 5, episode 13, we meet Cassandra Spender (Veronica Cartwright), a multiple abductee, and her FBI agent son, Jeffrey (Chris Owens). Meanwhile, Krycek tries to make a deal with the Syndicate. And as if that isn’t enough, a group of alien Rebels has been systematically immolating abductees across the globe.

Got it? Good.

In “The Red and the Black”, Scully has narrowly escaped immolation herself and, while under hypnosis, recalls that Cassandra Spender has been taken away by a flying saucer. Krycek continues negotiating with the Syndicate, who have managed to capture a Rebel alien prisoner. Mulder faces off with Krycek and we learn a surprising fact about the Cigarette Smoking Man.

8) Season 6, Episode 12: “One Son”

Cassandra Spender has returned and is apparently the first true human-alien hybrid. This makes her the key to defeating the black oil and a target for the Colonists. Knowing this, she ends the previous episode by demanding that Mulder shoot her. Her plan is foiled when Diana Fowley (Mimi Rogers), an old flame of Mulder’s and a Syndicate henchwoman, shows up and throws Mulder, Scully, and Cassandra into CDC quarantine. Mulder and CSM have a téte-a-téte, wherein we learn the whole story of the Syndicate conspiracy. The Syndicate themselves receive a highly unwelcome surprise. And Jeffrey Spender has an exceedingly bad day.

9) Season 9, Episode 17: “William”

If you’ve watched the recent X-Files miniseries, you’ll have some idea who William is. If you haven’t (or if you have and you’re still confused), here’s the gist:

Season 8 sees Scully give birth to baby William, despite her previous inability to conceive. Though we don’t get to see the events leading up to his conception, Mulder and Scully have referred to him as their child throughout the recent episodes. By season 9, Mulder has disappeared, and theories abound as to William’s humanity or lack thereof. At various points prior to “William”, we see him move objects through telekinesis and take out members of an alien worshiping cult bent on kidnapping him.

In this episode, a disfigured man with a troubled past shows up at the FBI and sheds some light both on William origins and the ever-present government conspiracy. Scully must then make a difficult choice regarding William’s future.

10) Season 9, Episodes 19 and 20: “The Truth”

Though listed as two episodes, the former series finale is really just one two-hour episode. Mulder is on trial for his life as the US military charges him with the murder of an officer. Several figures from Mulder’s past come to chat as his allies work to free him. Get ready for some serious introspection and one last get together with CSM before an emotional send off.

In case you didn’t already know, the entirety of The X-Files is currently streaming on Netflix. With episodes averaging forty minutes, you should be able to power through this list in about eight hours, maybe nine if you’re one of those wimps who needs to “eat” and “pee”. To be clear, I’m not saying you should skip work and/or school and/or all social functions in order to do this tomorrow. But I’m not not saying it either.

While you’re doing that, feel free to leave us a comment with your favorite X-Files moments, episodes you’d add to this list, thoughts on the current season, your deepest hopes and fears … you know, the usual. You can also hit me up on Twitter. I’d love to chat!

The official website of X-Files and episodes of the most recent season can be found online here.

And remember- The truth is out there.