Case 01, File 09: Space

AKA: Space Core's Favorite Episode

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Wha-what? Oh right, the review. Ahem. I don't bring it up much, but I do research the production history of each episode when I review it. I'll bring it up as I find it appropriate,but in this case, I feel it's exceptionally appropriate, since this episode came about from studio mandate to have an episode come in under budget, and was therefore written to use a ton of cheap stock footage.

Hilariously enough, the NASA set went over budget and the episode wound up the most expensive of season 1.

Case 01, File 08: Ice

AKA: John Carpen-who?

It is inevitable that, over the course of The X-Files' epic 9 season run, that it would repeat itself. That's not a complaint, not really. There are over 200 episodes, and it's really unavoidable that scenes and concepts would pop up multiple times, even unintentionally, or from entirely different writers. This has the unfortunate side effect of meaning that episodes that might be pretty good or even great on their own merits tend to get overlooked because their best scenes were done better in other episodes.

Case 01, File 07: Ghost in the Machine

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Case 01, File 06: Shadows

AKA: Surrogate Daddy Issues From Beyond the Grave

One well I seem to remember The X-Files returning to a lot was the 'Revenge from the grave' well. It's a reliable enough well, as many movies, books and TV shows have used it in the past, but the flip side of that is that most elements of it have been covered already. As such these episodes tend toward being samey at worst, and kind of unoriginal at best. There are a couple that work though, so don't take my opinion on these episodes as given.

Case 01, File 05: The Jersey Devil

AKA: Eat Me Tonight in Atlantic City

Over the course of the next 9 seasons, The X-Files will draw inspiration for its monsters from dozens of different sources, from folklore, to urban legends to their own bizarre imaginations. The problem with drawing on existing folklore and legends, even recent ones, is that the time and budget constraints of TV can mean there isn't enough time to properly research the legend in question and you can wind up screwing it up. When the episode is good, people will brush it off, but if it isn't, well screwing up the source can become the main point of discussion.

Case 01, File 04: The Conduit

AKA: The Title Doesn't Come Up Much

It's worth pointing out that, while one generally associates the alien episodes with being part of the larger Myth arc, that's not always the case. Some of the alien based episodes are so self contained and apart from the conspiracy, especially in the early seasons, that they basically amount to a Monster of the Week episode. And while that could technically apply to Deep Throat, I feel like it applies much more strongly to this episode.

Case 01, File 03: Squeeze

AKA: Why Did I Think There Was a Rubber Man?

I don't think it's particularly controversial to say that I'm much more into the various Monster of the Week episodes than I am in the larger Myth Arc. Not that I don't enjoy the Myth Arc, but overall there's generally more enjoyment to be found in tuning in to see two characters I like tracking down weird monsters. And goddamn did The X-Files have some weird monsters.