Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Monsters, aliens, deformed freaks...the 5 best 'X-Files' episodes ever



In honor of Fox announcing on Tuesday that The X-Files -- TV's best sci-fi drama ever -- will return as a limited, six-episode series (yay for me!!!!), here's a look at my top five episodes during the show's memorable nine-year run.

1. "SQUEEZE" 
The story: A liver-eating serial killer (Eugene Victor Tooms) is on the loose after a 30-year hibernation. 
Why it's a classic: The X-Files boasted many unforgettable genetic mutants, but none of 'em were more memorable than the soft-spoken Tooms (a superbly cast Doug Hutchison) who exudes a chilling menace without uttering a word. Remains the show's best stand-alone monster episode. 




2. "HOME"
The story: The Peacocks, a hideously deformed family big on inbreeding, goes on a murderous rampage in their idyllic hometown.
Why it's a classic: The most intense -- and frightening -- X-Files episode ever. It was so intense, Fox initially refused to repeat it. 




3. "ICE" 
The story: FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) are trapped in a remote Alaskan outpost...with a worm-like parasitic life form. 

Why it's a classic: Yeah, I know, the episode is basically a TV version of John Carpenter's The Thing, but it's still claustrophobic and wonderfully creepy. 




4. "PILOT" 
The story: The one that started it all. Scully, a low-key medical doctor is teamed with "Spooky" Mulder, a dry-witted UFO believer, to debunk Mulder's out there paranormal theories.

Why it's a classic: Brilliantly sets up the dense mythology to follow in upcoming seasons and instantly showcases the palpable chemistry between Mulder and Scully. Can't forget a then silent Cigarette-Smoking Man (William B. Davis) intensely puffing away in a cameo appearance. 



5. "MUSINGS OF A CIGARETTE SMOKING MAN"
The story: We learn more about the mysterious CSM, the sinister government figure who often keeps our intrepid agents from uncovering the truth about alien existence.
Why it's a classic: The brilliantly penned episode by Glenn Morgan peels back the layers of CSM's character, who we learn was a failed novelist and who grew up in several orphanages after his communist spy father was executed and his mom died of cancer. Perhaps that explains why he killed JFK and framed Lee Harvey Oswald for it.



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