Favourite X-Files Stand-Alones (no myth-arc)
by LogicalDaydreamer | created - 22 Nov 2013 | updated - 29 May 2020 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Pilot
(1993)
TV-14 | 48 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Agent Dana Scully is instructed to debunk an FBI project dubbed "The X-Files," paranormal cases that have been reopened by Agent Fox Mulder.
Director: Robert Mandel | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Charles Cioffi, Cliff De Young
Votes: 12,809
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.
2.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Squeeze
(1993)
TV-14 | 43 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Mulder and Scully search for a humanoid killer whose savage murder spree reoccurs every 30 years.
Director: Harry Longstreet | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Doug Hutchison, Donal Logue
Votes: 8,488
3.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Ice
(1993)
TV-14 | 46 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Mulder 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.
Director: David Nutter | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Xander Berkeley, Felicity Huffman
Votes: 8,222
4.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Beyond the Sea
(1994)
TV-14 | 46 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Scully believes that the psychic predictions of a death row inmate are the only hope in the kidnapping of two college students.
Director: David Nutter | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Brad Dourif, Don S. Davis
Votes: 7,195
5.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Tooms
(1994)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Eugene Tooms, a supernatural killer whom Mulder helped incarcerate, is released on parole.
Director: David Nutter | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Doug Hutchison, Paul Ben-Victor
Votes: 6,014
6.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
The Host
(1994)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Mulder pursues a humanoid, parasitic organism that uses sewage systems as its home.
Director: Daniel Sackheim | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, Darin Morgan
Votes: 5,892
7.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Irresistible
(1995)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Scully and Mulder hunt down a fetishist who collects pieces of the dead.
Director: David Nutter | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Bruce Weitz, Nick Chinlund
Votes: 5,228
8.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Die Hand Die Verletzt
(1995)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The agents investigate a murder in a small town populated by devil worshippers.
Director: Kim Manners | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Dan Butler, Susan Blommaert
Votes: 5,355
9.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Humbug
(1995)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The agents search for a killer in a Florida town inhabited by sideshow performers.
Director: Kim Manners | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Jim Rose, Wayne Grace
Votes: 5,938
First "wow" ?
10.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
F. Emasculata
(1995)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
As Scully investigates the spread of a deadly contagion at a prison, Mulder tracks down two escaped convicts infected with the disease.
Director: Rob Bowman | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Charles Martin Smith, Dean Norris
Votes: 4,600
11.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose
(1995)
TV-PG | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A 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.
Director: David Nutter | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Peter Boyle, Stuart Charno
Votes: 7,436
12.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
War of the Coprophages
(1996)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
While 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.
Director: Kim Manners | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Bobbie Phillips, Raye Birk
Votes: 5,733
13.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Pusher
(1996)
TV-14 | 44 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A 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.
Director: Rob Bowman | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, Robert Wisden
Votes: 4,935
Notable for the first really good VG writing credit.
Also, fun WGA freelancer regulations/TV history, see Sanguinarium review for details.
14.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Jose Chung's 'From Outer Space'
(1996)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Scully 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 Millennium: Jose Chung's 'Doomsday Defense' (1997).
Director: Rob Bowman | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Charles Nelson Reilly, William Lucking
Votes: 6,567
15.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Quagmire
(1996)
TV-14 | 43 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Mulder 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.
Director: Kim Manners | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Chris Ellis, Timothy Webber
Votes: 4,525
Good MOTW episode, redeemed especially by some really nice character work. Include? Discuss.
16.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Home
(1996)
TV-MA | 44 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The 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.
Director: Kim Manners | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Tucker Smallwood, Chris Nelson Norris
Votes: 6,641
17.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Unruhe
(1996)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Photos 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.
Director: Rob Bowman | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Walter Marsh
Votes: 4,436
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.
18.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man
(1996)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The 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.
Director: James Wong | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, William B. Davis, Morgan Weisser
Votes: 5,672
"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.
19.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Paper Hearts
(1996)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
An incarcerated serial killer claims Mulder's sister was one of his many victims.
Director: Rob Bowman | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, Tom Noonan
Votes: 4,729
20.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Leonard Betts
(1997)
TV-14 | 44 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A 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.
Director: Kim Manners | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Paul McCrane, Marjorie Lovett
Votes: 4,304
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.
21.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Never Again
(1997)
TV-14 | 44 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Mulder 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.
Director: Rob Bowman | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Rodney Rowland, Jodie Foster
Votes: 4,221
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...
22.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Memento Mori
(1997)
TV-14 | 44 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Scully 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.
Director: Rob Bowman | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, William B. Davis
Votes: 4,175
23.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Small Potatoes
(1997)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Five 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.
Director: Cliff Bole | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, Darin Morgan
Votes: 5,224
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.
24.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Redux II
(1997)
TV-14 | 46 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Scully 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.
Director: Kim Manners | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, William B. Davis
Votes: 4,337
Prefix with overview of past few episodes.
25.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Detour
(1997)
TV-14 | 44 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
In 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.
Director: Brett Dowler | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Colleen Flynn, J.C. Wendel
Votes: 4,410
26.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
The Post-Modern Prometheus
(1997)
TV-14 | 46 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
in 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.
Director: Chris Carter | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, John O'Hurley, Pattie Tierce
Votes: 5,699
27.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Bad Blood
(1998)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Scully 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.
Director: Cliff Bole | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, Luke Wilson
Votes: 6,753
28.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
The Pine Bluff Variant
(1998)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Mulder 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.
Director: Rob Bowman | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, Daniel von Bargen
Votes: 3,547
29.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Folie a Deux
(1998)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Paranoid 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.
Director: Kim Manners | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, Brian Markinson
Votes: 4,141
30.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Drive
(1998)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A 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.
Director: Rob Bowman | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Bryan Cranston, Michael O'Neill
Votes: 4,338
31.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Triangle
(1998)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Mulder 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.
Director: Chris Carter | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, William B. Davis, Chris Owens
Votes: 4,988
32.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
How the Ghosts Stole Christmas
(1998)
TV-14 | 44 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
On 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.
Director: Chris Carter | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Lily Tomlin, Edward Asner
Votes: 4,485
33.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Tithonus
(1999)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A 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.
Director: Michael W. Watkins | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Geoffrey Lewis, Richard Ruccolo
Votes: 3,741
34.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Monday
(1999)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A 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.
Director: Kim Manners | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, Carrie Hamilton
Votes: 4,564
35.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Milagro
(1999)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A 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.
Director: Kim Manners | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, John Hawkes, Nestor Serrano
Votes: 4,070
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.
36.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
The Unnatural
(1999)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Searching 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 ... See full summary »
Director: David Duchovny | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Jesse L. Martin, Fredric Lehne
Votes: 4,394
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!
37.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
Field Trip
(1999)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The 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.
Director: Kim Manners | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, Robyn Lively
Votes: 3,974
38.
The X-Files (1993–2018)
Episode:
X-Cops
(2000)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The investigation of a neighborhood monster isn't too weird for the crew of Cops (1989) to follow around Mulder and Scully.
Director: Michael W. Watkins | Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Judson Mills, Dee Freeman
Votes: 4,351
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