The X-Filesundoubtedly has a lot of great episodes, and longtime fans of the series each have their own reasons for connecting with specific ones, but there are a few episodes that are widely considered the best.The X-Filesis one of themost influential sci-fi showsof all time, and it has more than earned that label.
Dealing with everything from government conspiracies to misunderstood monsters,Mulder and Scully’s investigations contain something for everyone. WhilesomeX-Filesepisodes missedthe mark, the majority still hold up years later, but these 10 are especially perfect outings for the series.
10"Jose Chung’s From Outer Space"
Season 3, Episode 20
When thinking ofThe X-Files' more comedic episodes, “Jose Chung’s From Outer Space” is one of the first that comes to mind.The episode deals with the events of an alien abduction case that author Jose Chung is writing about, but he hears conflicting stories from his interviewees.
“Jose Chung’s From Outer Space” perfectlyblends the show’s alien abduction elements with the humor created by the event’s unreliable narratorsand skepticism about UFOs more generally. Charles Nelson Reilly makes a great guest star as Jose Chung, bringing a sardonic tone to his concerns about even Dana Scully’s version of events.
9"Musings Of A Cigarette Smoking Man"
Season 4, Episode 7
Where the majority ofThe X-Files' episodes understandably center on Mulder and Scully, “Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man” shifts focus to the aptly-named character, giving him a speculative backstory that is chock-full of conspiracies.This hypothetical influence over historical events works perfectly for the seriesprecisely because it is so over the top.
Beyond having a great story, “Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man” was also the first time the series was nominated for an Outstanding Directing Emmy Award for James Wong.
The X-Filesleans into both real and fictional conspiracy theories at times, but “Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man” does so more than any other episode,both mocking the practice and cementing the importance of the character. The fact that the speculation is all coming from The Lone Gunmen is just the cherry on top.
8"The Erlenmeyer Flask"
Season 1, Episode 24
“The Erlenmeyer Flask” is everything that a season 1 finale needs to be. The episode builds on the show’s mythology, while setting up plenty of bigger questions for the next season. Likewise, the death of Deep Throat confirms just how dangerous the territory Scully and Mulder are entering is.
On a character level, “The Erlenmeyer Flask” is also a big deal forGillian Anderson’s Dana Scullybecausethe character is put in the position of having real, undeniable evidence of extraterrestrial life in front of her for the first time. From the story to the performances to the direction, there is nothing wrong with this episode.
7"Paper Hearts"
Season 4, Episode 10
The season 4 episode “Paper Hearts” works well as a standalone episode about a serial killer, butit works even better within the broader mythology of the series and the character of Fox Mulder. The episode centers on a killer who Mulder discovers had more victims than previously assumed, including potentially his sister Samantha.
David Duchovny is particularly great in the episode as a man attempting to come to terms with the differences between his own memories and long-standing beliefs and the potential facts of the case. In all,“Paper Hearts” has a really strong emotional corethat is well-balanced with the unfolding plot of the individual case.
6"Triangle"
Season 6, Episode 3
Even amongThe X-Files' many unusual and creative episodes, “Triangle” feels special.The episode sees Mulder get lost at sea and travel back in timeto a Nazi-infested ship where the show’s characters all play alternate roles, leaving it unclear whether the events were fully imagined by Mulder.
The episode has long been praised for Chris Carter’s directorial style, which mimics the look of several long single takes. The unique direction and the familiar faces in unfamiliar roles give the episode a dreamlike quality, supporting the idea that it was all in Mulder’s head, but the beauty ofThe X-Filesis that we’ll never really know.
5"Anasazi"
Season 2, Episode 25
“Anasazi” is one of the show’s highest-rated episodes, coming in at a 9.1 approval rating onIMDb. It is easy to see why, thanks to the episode’s story and everything it set up for the future of the monumental series. “Anasazi” is the season 2 finale, and it is continued by season 3 episodes 1 and 2.
“Anasazi” is the perfect example of what makesThe X-Files’mythology episodes fun.
The episode is completely packed from start to finish, beginning with a hacker exposing secret government files about extraterrestrials and ending with Mulder seemingly dying in a boxcar full of alien corpses. “Anasazi” is the perfect example of what makesThe X-Files’mythology episodes fun.
Later mythology episodes arguably got too confusing to completely follow at times, but “Anasazi” feels clear-eyed on that front. If there was just one episode to describe what the show’s mytharc is all about, it would be this one. At the same time,it clearly sets up that there is even more for the series to explore.
4"Home"
Season 4, Episode 2
“Home” may be one ofThe X-Files' most controversial episodes, but it is also a masterpiece. The series often verged into horror with its monsters and themes, but"Home" is the clearest example ofThe X-Filespulling horror off perfectly. As a result, though, “Home” earned a viewer discretion warning.
The episode, which tackles Mulder and Scully investigating an inbred family after a dead child is discovered in a field, is unrelentingly dark but thematically rich. The Peacock family are some of the best villains in the series, andMrs. Peacock represents an intriguing subversion of the ideals of motherhood and family identity.
“Home” is an absolutely brilliant hour of television whose dark reputation is completely warranted, but all the more reason to take the episode seriously.
As the episode’s title suggests,themes of family and belonging are central to the episode’s narrative, and contrast perfectly with characters like Scully, whose identity is tied to those concepts throughout the series. “Home” is an absolutely brilliant hour of television whose dark reputation is completely warranted, but all the more reason to take the episode seriously.
3"Momento Mori"
Season 4, Episode 14
“Momento Mori” may be part ofThe X-Files’overarching mythology, but it feels completely different from many of the show’s other mytharc episodes. While there are some big reveals about the other alien abductees and their deaths,what makes the episode truly a masterpiece is how it deals with Scully’s individual story.
Gillian Anderson’s performance in the episode is one of her best in the entire series. Dana Scully’s cancer diagnosis is an emotionally heavy topic that radiates out from her into the decisions of those who care about her most. This is made clear through Mulder’s investigations and Skinner’s decision to make a deal with the Cigarette Smoking Man.
Gillian Anderson won an Emmy Award for her performance in “Momento Mori.”
Both in Scully’s own reaction to her diagnosis and choice to fight the cancer and in Mulder and Skinner’s difficulty with coming to terms with Scully’s diagnosis,the episode deals with the fact that death is both shocking and mundane. More than anything, “Momento Mori” is among The X-Files' strongest reminders of the importance of life.
Season 5, episode 12
The X-Fileshad several solid comedic episodes, butseason 5’s “Bad Blood” is widely considered the show’s funniest. Told from Mulder and Scully’s conflicting points of view, the episode recounts how Mulder ended up staking a teenage boy whom he believed was a vampire.
Vince Gilligan’s writing for the episode is hilarious, and the bits of physical comedy take it to the next level. While many episodes of the series prove how well Anderson and Duchovny work together on a dramatic level, “Bad Blood” shows that they play together comedically just as well.
Likewise,Luke Wilson and Patrick Renna are great guest stars for the episode, who easily add something fun to each of their scenes. Between exploring the dynamic and differing viewpoints of Scully and Mulder and the objectively silly town of vampires, “Bad Blood” should easily be considered one ofThe X-Files' masterpieces.
1"Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose"
Season 3, Episode 4
Widely consideredThe X-Files' best episode, “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose” is the perfect addition to an outstanding season of television.This standalone episode has everything that is great about the series, from phenomenal performances to strong writing.
“Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose” sets up a great premise and includes one of the series' most memorable characters. Peter Boyle even won an Emmy Award for his performance as the titular character, while Darin Morgan won for his writing. Arguably,Boyle’s scenes with Gillian Anderson are the most outstanding aspect of the episode.
Their interactions feel incredibly humane, especially in an episode with fairly dark subject matter. To this end,The X-Filesalso mixed in the perfect amount of humor and lightness to stop an episode about the inevitability of death from feeling downright depressing, cementing “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose” as the show’s biggest masterpiece.
