Top 10 episodes of The X-Files: PART 1 (Season 1-5)
I've wanted to make a top 10 list for a very long time. But for an obvious reason I couldn't: haven't seen every episode. Then I got an idea. What if I made two top 10 lists for the same show? "Doesn't make sense" you might think, but it's easy. I just rank the best from each half! Top 10 from season 1-5 and top 10 from season 6-10. And since I've seen the first five seasons in full, I can make this list. So technically, this will actually be a top 20 list. But I'm still gonna call this the first top 10 instead. Now that I've explained, here we go!
NOTE: If I pick fewer episodes from some seasons, it doesn't neccessarily represent how good those seasons are or not, it's just harder to pick top 10 episodes from them.
NOTE: If I pick fewer episodes from some seasons, it doesn't neccessarily represent how good those seasons are or not, it's just harder to pick top 10 episodes from them.
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- DirectorDavid NutterStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonDoug HutchisonEugene Tooms, a supernatural killer whom Mulder helped incarcerate, is released on parole.Case of a sequel which is even better than the first. In Squeeze we are introduced to the remarkably slim Victor Tooms, who can crawl through everything, even air vents, anything to sneak up on his victims.
And now he's back; even creepier and even smarter. The first time I thought "Okay wow, this guy is pretty disturbing". In Tooms, he even scared me! The ending is shocking and not for those afraid of nightmares. - DirectorKim MannersStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonBobbie PhillipsWhile 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.This is a very comical one, and also reminds me of the final segment from Creepshow, which is definitely a positive. It gets under your skin real deep with those consarned cockroaches, but makes you laugh so hard at the same time. I love Mulder and Scully when they care about each other of course, but they are also helluva entertaining when they just pick on each other. This really is one of the funniest episodes ever, right up there with... well, you'll see.
- DirectorCliff BoleStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonMitch PileggiScully 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.Is it overrated? Only a tiny bit. But it still deserves all the praise it gets.
Hailed as the king of comedy episodes, it's a nonstop laugh riot! Which is pretty interesting, seeing as the next episode after is almost completely devoid of jokes.
The plot is not structured like your usual X-file. Mulder and Scully gotta explain a lot to Skinner, and we see both of their perspectives regarding what happened. They both make up a ton, and it's hysterical to watch. Luke Wilson turns in a hilarious guest performance as a sheriff.
To spoil the best bits would ruin the experience, but if you just want something full-on silly and not the least bit serious, Bad Blood is your game. - DirectorJim CharlestonStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonMitch PileggiSkinner, depressed over the fact that his wife is divorcing him, has a one night stand with a stranger who's found murdered in the morning. Mulder tries to prove Skinner's innocence but Skinner refuses to cooperate for some reason.Oh Skinner, what are you up to?
It's the first time we see him implicated in something really suspicious, but not the last... What's best about the episode is that unlike something like Law & Order's The Blue Wall, it's not entirely clear if he's innocent or not. How did he really get into this mess?
One of the greatest character focused ones, and by far one of season 3's best. - DirectorRob BowmanStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonMitch PileggiScully 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.Those who watch the show know what's so special about this one. But I won't spoil. Let me just say this: if you want to feel uplifted, I don't recommend you view this. It's quite possibly the most depressing episode of the series, seeing as we've seen the two main characters go through a lot of awful *beep* but this is the absolute worst that could happen to one of them. Both Duchovny and Anderson pull in performances worthy of an Emmy, if not something even bigger. The episode did win an Emmy though, and 100% deserved it was.
- DirectorMichael VejarStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonHelene ClarksonThe agents investigate when a young boy's family is plagued by a series of tragic accidents.This is one of the most underrated episodes of the show.
It has gotten criticism for being uneven and all over the place, but I can forgive all of that. It also has an amazing atmosphere, flawless directing by Michael Vejar (the directing for this series in general is some of the best I've seen for a TV show of any genre) and what REALLY makes this a masterpiece: Joel Palmer's acting. WOW. He couldn't possibly have made me feel more sorry him, as his family, convinced fully he is possessed by a demon, do horrible things to him so he can be saved! It's horrifying, and nearly made me sick.
It's far from a hated episode, but it doesn't get all the credit it should earn. - DirectorRob BowmanStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonMitch PileggiAn incarcerated serial killer claims Mulder's sister was one of his many victims.Season 4 is great, and yet not quite on par with some other. Nevertheless, it has some truly outstanding gems, and Paper Hearts is on the top!
I actually didn't think I would love this episode. I knew I would at least like it, but the story sounded odd. Oh how wrong I as.
Just like Memento Mori, it's incredibly depressing in nature. The story is somber, and one of our characters go through a terrible ordeal. In fact, it was so sad I was getting ready to cry at the end! - DirectorDavid NutterStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonMitch PileggiWith the X-Files shut down, Mulder travels to Puerto Rico on a tip from his mentor in the Senate to uncover the reason behind the sudden reactivation of a remote long abandoned SETI-like communications station.The top 3 are all season 2 episodes! I think you'll figure out now this is my favorite season.
This is a Mulder show, and the best there is. It's worth for more than just finally seeing the aliens, you get an even deeper understanding of how important investigating the paranormal is for him. Sometimes even more meaningful than Scully.
Little Green Men is not spooky or exciting, but it's also not meant to be. It's purely psychological, which is the main reason why I love it. - DirectorDavid NutterStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonWilliam SandersonMulder and Scully investigate a series of violent killings committed by seemingly normal residents of a small town."Blood? That goofy one? Really?"
Yes, really. Maybe I'm just a sucker for evil computers, but how they handle it here proves that it's not an overworn idea.
Well, except for Oblivion. Sorry!
An evil computer which pretends to be your friend is the scariest kind of all. And that's the case here, when it for instance tells a woman she'll get raped, so she suddenly kills a guy.
The X-Files can make almost anything creepy, and it's even more so when you don't know the reason behind the scares. We don't always get an explanation, and the evil computer (well okay, it's not really a computer, simply text showing up on loads of technology) is even scarier in result. Not knowing is often more effective.
This also has one of my favorite X-Files endings. Just superb. - DirectorKim MannersStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonDan ButlerThe agents investigate a murder in a small town populated by devil worshippers.Tadaaaa! Number 1!
This is X-Files when it really wants to give you the heebie-jeebies. I seriously thought I would get nightmares! Thankfully I didn't, but this is a bonafide horror movie! Particularly a day dream scene has the most disturbing imagery they could think of, not to mention Mulder and Scully are equally scared! Rarely have they gotten this perplexed over such baffling evil, and by the end they don't even know what to say. God, I love that ending.
This is without a doubt my favorite episode of the entire (first half) series, and one which you should show to friends if you want to get them hooked.