No one down here but the FBI’s most unwanted. For 11 seasons on Fox—nine in its original run, two in its revival—FBI agents Mulder (David Duchovny), a believer in the paranormal, and Scully (Gillian Anderson), a skeptic and medical doctor, investigated a variety of strange, unexplained cases, from bizarre monsters and sadistic killers to alien abductions and government conspiracies, known as the show’s mythology, in The X-Files. The series, created by Chris Carter, premiered in 1993, and its original run ended in 2002. Ryan Coogler has expressed interest in rebooting the series.
Each season had its standout episodes, and it’s no surprise that many of them shared the same writers. Often, these episodes had a few things in common, whether it was the chemistry between Mulder and Scully or the nature of the case they were investigating. Each still stands as a reminder of what made the show so great, even when its quality could be inconsistent, and why fans still love it after all these years.
11
“Via Negativa”
Season 8, Episode 7 (2000)
With Scully hospitalized due to complications early in her pregnancy, Skinner and Doggett (Robert Patrick) teamed up on the case of Anthony Tipet (Keith Szarabajka), a cult leader capable of killing people in their dreams with the help of hallucinogenic drugs in “Via Negativa.” Skinner and Doggett received a little help from The Lone Gunmen, and Doggett was soon possessed by the cult leader’s essence. The episode was written by Frank Spotnitz.
Season 8 just wasn’t the same without Mulder—but it does hold up better on a rewatch. Doggett was a great character who breathed new life into the series, and “Via Negativa” in particular really gave him and actor Robert Patrick the opportunity to shine. Had the unsettling Nightmare on Elm Street-like episode come earlier in the series and featured Mulder, it would be remembered for how good it really was.
10
“John Doe”
Season 9, Episode 7 (2002)
Doggett awoke in a Mexican town and had no memory of who he was or why he was there in “John Doe.” The only memories he had were those of a young boy, his son. After a run-in with the police, he was unable to show his passport or explain who he was, resulting in his arrest. Meanwhile, Scully and Reyes raced to find him and ultimately discovered he had been the victim of a “memory vampire.”
The X-Files was running out of steam by Season 9, but “John Doe” was one of its standout episodes. It was a great opportunity for the series to focus on Doggett, and as a result, it was one of the best episodes for the character. And as one of the episodes written by Vince Gilligan, it also featured some elements and themes he would return to in his hit show Breaking Bad.
9
“The Lost Art of Forehead Sweat”
Season 11, Episode 4 (2018)
In “The Lost Art of Forehead Sweat,” Mulder and Scully explored the idea of the Mandela Effect, a term used to describe large numbers of people who share memories of events in history and pop culture that differ from what is known to be true. Mulder and Scully met a man named Reggie, who claimed he knew them and had worked on the X-Files with them. The episode was written and directed by Darin Morgan.
“The Lost Art of Forehead Sweat” continued the strength of the monster-of-the-week episodes from Season 10 and was a timely episode about a common subject of discussion online—and it also fittingly addressed the idea of what truth even is. It also had some great moments between Mulder and Scully, and, of course, Reggie. It’s no surprise the episode was one of Morgan’s, who was often responsible for the series’ highlights.
8
“Mulder & Scully Meet the Were-Monster”
Season 10, Episode 3 (2016)
After a dead body was found, eyewitnesses claimed to have seen a monster nearby in “Mulder & Scully Meet the Were-Monster,” leading the duo to investigate. Rhys Darby guest-starred as a lizard-man who turned into a human after being bitten by one. Meanwhile, Mulder was disillusioned with his work and how often such monsters turned out to be hoaxes. The episode was written and directed by Darin Morgan.
The X-Files revival may have made a mess of the mythology, but what it got right was the monster-of-the-week episodes, the best of which was “Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster.” It stood out as one of the best light-hearted episodes of the entire series and was on par with classic episodes from The X-Files’ peak, with a funny twist on monster stories. But above all, guest star Darby easily stole the show.
7
“Home”
Season 4, Episode 2 (1996)
In “Home,” Mulder and Scully head to a small town in Pennsylvania after the body of an infant with severe birth defects was found after having been buried alive in a baseball field. After meeting with Sheriff Andy Taylor (Tucker Smallwood), their investigation led them to the Peacock family, three brothers living together in an old house nearby. The episode was written by Glen Morgan and James Wong.
After the mythology-heavy season premiere, Season 4 got off to a strong start, and Mulder and Scully got back to work on their usual cases with “Home.” The episode was a rare one, which didn’t have any supernatural ties but instead focused on the horrors humans can inflict all on their own. “Home” is now remembered as one of the most disturbing and controversial episodes of the series, so much so that Fox never aired it again after its premiere.
6
“Humbug”
Season 2, Episode 20 (1995)
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Mulder and Scully traveled to a small town in Florida occupied by sideshow performers to investigate a series of murders, in which all victims shared a specific type of wound, in “Humbug.” During their investigation, Mulder and Scully noted that they unfairly suspected some of the performers solely because of their abnormalities. The episode was written by Darin Morgan and was his first episode of the series.
“Humbug” stood out as one of the series’ earliest and best comedic episodes, thanks in large part to its dialogue. But it also had something more to say about society’s idea of “normal” and the assumptions people make based solely on appearance—here, Mulder and Scully were the odd ones out. But the episode would have been nothing without its guest stars, who played the performers to perfection.
5
“X Cops”
Season 7, Episode 12 (2000)
When the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call about a monster attack, they were accompanied by the crew of the reality show Cops in “X-Cops.” They quickly crossed paths with Mulder and Scully, who were also on the case, and eventually learned the creature they were looking for was a shape-shifting entity that preyed on people’s fear. The episode was written by Vince Gilligan.
“X-Cops” was a daring X-Files episode that made great use of its format and was filmed documentary-style, with the camera crew tagging along—it was even shot on videotape rather than film. Even the usual opening was swapped out in favor of the one from Cops. Overall, it was a wonderfully fun piece of satire, and part of what made it so great was Mulder and Scully’s vastly different reactions to being followed by a TV crew.
4
“Bad Blood”
Season 5, Episode 12 (1998)
With the FBI facing a huge lawsuit, Skinner demanded answers after an investigation into an alleged vampire in Texas took a deadly turn in “Bad Blood.” Mulder and Scully each told their version of events after Mulder drove a stake through a teenager’s heart, believing him to be a vampire. Luke Wilson guest-starred as the local sheriff, who was either charming and handsome or a redneck with buckteeth, depending on the perspective.
“Bad Blood” stood out as one of the best comedic episodes in the series, thanks in large part to how drastically different Mulder and Scully’s versions of events were—and how they saw each other, especially when they were frustrated with each other and not on their best behavior. Some of the funniest and most memorable moments from both characters came from this episode, especially for longtime fans who had been watching faithfully.
3
“Ice”
Season 1, Episode 8 (1993)
In “Ice,” a team of geophysicists working at a remote outpost in Alaska died under strange circumstances. Mulder and Scully’s investigation uncovered that the killer was a parasitic alien worm that caused its host to become paranoid and ultimately turn violent towards other people. The episode was written by the duo of Glen Morgan and James Wong and was inspired by the classic horror movie The Thing.
The inaugural season of The X-Files typically isn’t remembered as its best—the show was still hitting its stride, and the monster-of-the-week stories could be hit or miss, as opposed to the consistent quality of later seasons. But “Ice” stood out as a season highlight. It was a brilliant bottle episode that hinged more on the tension between the characters and their growing paranoia than the monster itself.
2
“Triangle”
Season 6, Episode 3 (1998)
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“Triangle” followed Mulder as he journeyed to the Bermuda Triangle to investigate the sudden appearance of the Queen Anne, a passenger ship which had gone missing during WWII. He found himself transported back in time to 1939, as Nazi soldiers attempted to seize control of the ship from its British crew. Meanwhile, in the present, Scully tries to find him. The episode was written and directed by Carter himself.
“Triangle” was an incredible episode all-around, from its high stakes for both Mulder and Scully to its glimpses of past versions of the show’s most famous characters—plus the ambiguous Wizard of Oz-like ending, which made it unclear whether the events had actually happened or were Mulder’s dream. The episode was also beautifully shot and features great long tracking shots, from the halls of the FBI to the decks of the ship.
