X Files Episode Guide (Season 1)
Created | Updated Sep 10, 2002
The X Files has become a huge cult phenomena in all parts of the world since its launch in 1993. For the most die-hard fans it is impossible to live without knowing the names of the episodes. This guide is intended to give the titles of and information on every X File episode ever made. As you may be able to appreciate, this is a task which could take a long time and I will be doing most of it from memory, therefore mistakes may be frequent, so I ask you to bear with me - I will update it as often as I get the chance. Any corrections or additional information would be welcome - just reply to this article via the button at the bottom of the page. Thank you.
It is intended the guide will be laid out like this:
Episode Title (Production Code)
Writer Director
Brief synopsis of plot
Explanation of title (as is so often required!)
Season 1:
The X Files (1X79)
Writer: Chris Carter Director: Robert Mandel
In the depths of the J. Edgar Hoover building, a female doctor and a paranoid loser are teamed up to become the greatest sci-fi duo of all time. Their first case takes them to Oregon, and reveals the beginnings of a conspiracy to hide the truth about extra-terrestrials from the public.
"The X Files" are, of course, the cases that the FBI handles that contain elements of the paranormal or are not easily handled. They do not actually exist outside the world of the T.V. programme.
* * * * * * * * * *
Deep Throat (1X01)
Writer: Chris Carter Director: Daniel Sackheim
Mulder meets an informant who is willing to spill at least some of the beans about the on-going cover up of E.T. life - offering him as a taster a case involving a military test-pilot who has apparently been flying U.F.O.s
Deep Throat is the pseudonym that Mulder's informant uses. It was also, apparently, the pseudonym used by an informant in the J.F.K. murder trial.
* * * * * * * * * *
Squeeze (1X02)
Writers: Glen Morgan, James Wong Director: Harry Longstreet
Scully is offered a place on a case by an old friend, involving serial killings where the victim's livers have been removed and, possibly, eaten. Mulder sees this as an X File though, matching it up with records over a hundred years old - and suggests that the killer is a genetic mutant able to contort his body in order to squeeze in to tight spaces.
"Squeeze" refers to Eugene Victor Tooms' miraculous ability to fit his body through almost any gap available to him. It is also echoed by the old couple who eventually take him for rehabilitation - "It's a tight fit, but I'm sure you'll manage to squeeze in."
* * * * * * * * * *
Conduit (1X03)
Writers: Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon Director: Daniel Sackheim
A girl disappears at a campsite where, years earlier, her mother witnessed a U.F.O. Suspecting aliens, Mulder investigates, and discovers that the girl's young brother may be being used as a channel for alien information.
The title refers to the use to which Ruby Morris' young brother is apparently being put.
* * * * * * * * * *
The Jersey Devil (1X04)
Writer: Chris Carter Director: Joe Napolitano
Mulder tracks down what he suspects to be a feral human (one living in the wild with little actual contact to civilisation), but is hindered by the local authorities.
"The Jersey Devil" is a mythical creature said to inhabit the woodlands of New Jersey, USA. It is frequently referred to as being some type of winged demon. The X Files provides a totally new spin on the legend by suggesting that it is, in fact, human.
* * * * * * * * * *
Shadows (1X05)
Writers: Glen Morgan, James Wong Director: Michael Katleman
A secretary is protected by the ghost of her deceased boss, who sees her as being in imminent danger from his own successor.
In this episode Scully suggests that "we are out here chasing shadows" - meaning the ghost Mulder believes is responsible for several deaths. In Ancient Roman and Greek times, shadows were the equivalent of our demons, inhabiting the Underworld as servents of the dark powers.
* * * * * * * * * *
Ghost in the Machine (1X06)
Writers: Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon Director: Jerrold Freedman
An artificially intelligent building is threatened with closure, and it takes to murder to try and prevent this from happening. Its creator embarks on a battle against the system to extinguish its life forever.
I believe (correct me if I'm wrong - I'd appreciate any input) that a "ghost in the machine" is a term used to describe a fault in a piece of computer equipment. It serves a double purpose here, as it could also refer to the "spirit" of the artificially intelligent computer of the episode.
* * * * * * * * * *
Ice (1X07)
Writers: Glen Morgan, James Wong Director: David Nutter
A team drilling ice cores in Alaska, trying to reach the greatest depths ever acheived by such an operation, turn up some odd worm-like creatures, which quickly escape and, burrowing deep inside the members of the team, make them homicidally - and suicidally - insane. When Mulder and scully are sent to investigate a storm cuts off their route home, and they are trapped in a research station with two other scientists - and one of them is infected with the worm.
"Ice" refers simply to the ice samples the team were drilling for, and the snowy landscape Mulder and Scully find themselves trapped in.
* * * * * * * * * *
Space (1X08)
Writer: Chris Carter Director: William Graham
The Space Programme is being sabotaged - and no-one knows who by or how they could possibly cause the damage they do. One man though - a one-time astronaut has visions of an extra-terrestrial which appears to have malicious intent.
Thought by many to be the least noteworthy episode of the first series for its lack of action, "Space" is still excellent television. The episode name refers only to space itself, where the alien has come from, and the astronauts may well be trapped.
* * * * * * * * * *
Fallen Angel (1X09)
Writers: Howard Gordon, Alex Gansa Director: Larry Shaw
The military launch an attempt to recover a downed UFO whose alien inhabitant has escaped and is offering free incineration to anyone who gets in its path. Mulder sneaks on to the crash site and is arrested, and whilst in prison meets a previous abductee for whom things are about to take a more dangerous turn.
"Fallen Angel" is apparently the name the military give (at least in The X File universe) to crashed UFOs. The original fallen angel was, of course, the devil of the Christian religion.
NB Max Fenig first appears in this episode, and turns up later in fourt season episodes "Tempus Fugit" and "Max" - yet at the end of the episode we are given the impression he is dead - McGrath reports that they "found Max Fenig's body in a dumpster" at the end of Fallen Angel.
* * * * * * * * * *
Eve (1X10)
Writers: Kenneth Biller, Chris Bracanto Director: Fred Gerber
When a man appears to have been exsanguinated (drained of blood) by extra-terrestrials, Mulder is right on the case - but what he finds is far darker and more down-to-Earth than aliens.
"Eve" is the name given to each of the cloned girls in this episode (the boys were called Adam). This is, of course, the name given to the first woman made by God in the Christian old testament of the Bible. In this case, the clones are supposed to be themselves the beginning of a new super race.
* * * * * * * * * *
Fire (1X11)
Writer: Chris Carter Director: Larry Shaw
Mulder's university girlfriend appears (all the way from England - so of course she needs a ridiculously thick "English" accent!) to tell Mulder that an arsonist is burning alive British aristocrats, but doesn't seem to be using any accelerant other than the victims' bodies - and the next murder might be on American soil.
"Fire" gets its title for obvious reasons, but it also seems to be the only thing Mulder is deathly afraid of, so this is a big episode for him.
* * * * * * * * * *
Beyond the Sea (1X12)
Writers:Glen Morgan, James Wong Director: David Nutter
Scully suffers an unexpected trauma when her father dies after a visit to her house. When Mulder then introduces her to a Death Row prisoner who claims to be psychic, it seems she may have one last chance to make her peace with her father - but Mulder claims the man is a fraud and is toying with Scully and that she is too wrapped up in grief to see it.
"Beyond The Sea" is the song that was supposedly played at the Scully's wedding, and also at Bill Scully's funeral. It is supposed to have reminded him and his wife of the time Bill was a Captain during the Second World War, as it is explained "this song was playing when his boat came in to the harbour."
* * * * * * * * * *
Genderbender (1X13)
Writers: Larry Barber, Paul Barber Director: Rob Bowman
A man is lured in to bed by a strangely irresistable woman after a trip to a nightclub. When he is found dead in his hotel room, the security videos are scanned for the woman who could have killed him - but the only person who seems to have left the victim's room is most definitely male...
A "genderbender" is, I believe, a type of connection that can be used to connect "male" pins to other "male" pins (or even the "female" equivalent) on a computer. In the context of the episode it refers to Brother Marty's amazing ability to bend "his" own gender.
As most X Philes know, this episode is the first to feature Nick Lea, who later returns to the series in a different guise - as traitorous Alex Krycek.
* * * * * * * * * *
Lazarus (1X14)
Writers: Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon Director: David Nutter
A shootout at a bank leaves a colleague of Scully's fighting for his life alongside the bank robber. Eventually Agent Jack Willis is pulled back from the brink, but he has gained a tatoo and forgotten Scully's birthday - is he who he claims to be?
The name "Lazarus" does appear twice in the New Testament of the Christian Bible - most famously as that of a man whom Jesus brings back from the dead, as indeed Agent Willis appears to have escaped from death.
* * * * * * * * * *
Young at Heart (1X15)
Writers: Scott Kaufer, Chris Carter Director: Michael Lange
I'm afraid I've forgotten what this episode was about (shock-horror)! I'll fill in this field once I've re-watched my video. Apologies for the inconvenience.
* * * * * * * * * *
E.B.E. (1X16)
Writers: Glen Morgan, James Wong Director: William Graham
A UFO is shot down by an Iraqi jet, and the US move in to capture it and its occupant. Mulder is on the trail though - and everything appears to be going well until he discovers that the informant he trusts for his information - Deep Throat - may well have been lying to him.
"E.B.E." stands for "Extra-terrestrial Biological Entity" in UFOlogy jargon.
* * * * * * * * * *
Miracle Man (1X17)
Writers: Howard Gordon, Chris Carter
An entry for this episode will follow soon.
* * * * * * * * * *
Shapes (1X18)
Writer: Marilyn Osborn Director: David Nutter
A farmer shoots dead a fierce animal that seems to be preying on his stock, but when he recovers the body he discovers it to be, apparently, entirely human - and there it might end if it weren't for the fact that the man's son was injured tracking down the beast/man...
A lot of changing of shapes goes on in this episode, so the title is easy to understand.
* * * * * * * * * *
Darkness Falls (1X19)
Writer: Chris Carter Director: Joe Napolitano
Loggers in Washington's forests begin cutting down trees that collectively hold a terrible secret. When the men are never heard of again, Mulder and Scully head for the woods where they discover what really happened to the loggers - and realise they too must escape before darkness falls.
The nocturnal habits of the deadly creatures in this episode lead to its titling, dusk being the time when being in the woods becomes dangerous.
* * * * * * * * * *
Tooms (1X20)
Writers: Glen Morgan, James Wong Director: David Nutter
Eugene Victor Tooms is released on parole, but Mulder is convinced he will kill again before returning to his thirty-year slumber.
The name "Tooms" is infamous in X File history - Doug Hutchinson's character is the most infamous of the series' villains and the one everyone can name.
* * * * * * * * * *
Born Again (1X21)
Writers: Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon Director: Jerrold Freedman
A young girl appears to have managed to throw a grown man out the window of a skyscraper without even touching him. Mulder suspects possesion by a vengeful spirit to be the cause of the death, racing to find a way of stopping the ghost before it kills again.
"Born Again" suggests re-incarnation - the idea that once people die they are born again in to another body to restart their lives - usually with no knowledge of their previous life.
* * * * * * * * * *
Roland (1X22)
Writer: Chris Ruppenthal Director: David Nutter
Arthur Grable, a research scientist is dead - but someone seems to be trying to finish his work, whilst also indulging in the by-line of murdering Grable's ex-colleagues in horrific ways. All this could be fine, if the only suspect weren't a retarded janitor who surely must be incapable of executing such complicated theoretical science on his own...
"Roland" is, simply enough, the name of the janitor who plays such a large part in this episode.
* * * * * * * * * *
The Erlenmeyer Flask (1X23)
Writer: Chris Carter Director: R.W. Goodwin
Police chase a man across town, shoot him with a taser, and are extremely surprised when he removes the electrodes from his chest and jumps, dripping corrosive green "blood" on the way, in to the icy cold waters of a harbour. Mulder suspects that this "suspect" may be something more than he appears, but when he sets out to track the man down he is kidnapped and held to ransom. It's up to Scully now to get the kidnappers what they want - an alien foetus kept frozen by a project known as "Purity Control"...
"The Erlenmeyer Flask finishes Season 1 with a bang - one that Mulder's informant, Deep Throat, is unfortunately on the other end of. His final words - "Trust no one" - have gone down in X Files history.
An Erlenmeyer flask is exactly that - a flask. Scully waves one in the air as she says that memorable line "I'm telling you Mulder, if this is monkey pee, I'm giving up."
PLEASE READ THESE NOTICES!!!
IMPORTANT!!! To make this guide easier to read and search through, I now intend to have each season as a separate page. Search for "X Files Episode Guide" and pick the season you want to know about. Thank you.
R25968
It is intended the guide will be laid out like this:
Episode Title (Production Code)
Writer Director
Brief synopsis of plot
Explanation of title (as is so often required!)
Season 1:
The X Files (1X79)
Writer: Chris Carter Director: Robert Mandel
In the depths of the J. Edgar Hoover building, a female doctor and a paranoid loser are teamed up to become the greatest sci-fi duo of all time. Their first case takes them to Oregon, and reveals the beginnings of a conspiracy to hide the truth about extra-terrestrials from the public.
"The X Files" are, of course, the cases that the FBI handles that contain elements of the paranormal or are not easily handled. They do not actually exist outside the world of the T.V. programme.
* * * * * * * * * *
Deep Throat (1X01)
Writer: Chris Carter Director: Daniel Sackheim
Mulder meets an informant who is willing to spill at least some of the beans about the on-going cover up of E.T. life - offering him as a taster a case involving a military test-pilot who has apparently been flying U.F.O.s
Deep Throat is the pseudonym that Mulder's informant uses. It was also, apparently, the pseudonym used by an informant in the J.F.K. murder trial.
* * * * * * * * * *
Squeeze (1X02)
Writers: Glen Morgan, James Wong Director: Harry Longstreet
Scully is offered a place on a case by an old friend, involving serial killings where the victim's livers have been removed and, possibly, eaten. Mulder sees this as an X File though, matching it up with records over a hundred years old - and suggests that the killer is a genetic mutant able to contort his body in order to squeeze in to tight spaces.
"Squeeze" refers to Eugene Victor Tooms' miraculous ability to fit his body through almost any gap available to him. It is also echoed by the old couple who eventually take him for rehabilitation - "It's a tight fit, but I'm sure you'll manage to squeeze in."
* * * * * * * * * *
Conduit (1X03)
Writers: Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon Director: Daniel Sackheim
A girl disappears at a campsite where, years earlier, her mother witnessed a U.F.O. Suspecting aliens, Mulder investigates, and discovers that the girl's young brother may be being used as a channel for alien information.
The title refers to the use to which Ruby Morris' young brother is apparently being put.
* * * * * * * * * *
The Jersey Devil (1X04)
Writer: Chris Carter Director: Joe Napolitano
Mulder tracks down what he suspects to be a feral human (one living in the wild with little actual contact to civilisation), but is hindered by the local authorities.
"The Jersey Devil" is a mythical creature said to inhabit the woodlands of New Jersey, USA. It is frequently referred to as being some type of winged demon. The X Files provides a totally new spin on the legend by suggesting that it is, in fact, human.
* * * * * * * * * *
Shadows (1X05)
Writers: Glen Morgan, James Wong Director: Michael Katleman
A secretary is protected by the ghost of her deceased boss, who sees her as being in imminent danger from his own successor.
In this episode Scully suggests that "we are out here chasing shadows" - meaning the ghost Mulder believes is responsible for several deaths. In Ancient Roman and Greek times, shadows were the equivalent of our demons, inhabiting the Underworld as servents of the dark powers.
* * * * * * * * * *
Ghost in the Machine (1X06)
Writers: Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon Director: Jerrold Freedman
An artificially intelligent building is threatened with closure, and it takes to murder to try and prevent this from happening. Its creator embarks on a battle against the system to extinguish its life forever.
I believe (correct me if I'm wrong - I'd appreciate any input) that a "ghost in the machine" is a term used to describe a fault in a piece of computer equipment. It serves a double purpose here, as it could also refer to the "spirit" of the artificially intelligent computer of the episode.
* * * * * * * * * *
Ice (1X07)
Writers: Glen Morgan, James Wong Director: David Nutter
A team drilling ice cores in Alaska, trying to reach the greatest depths ever acheived by such an operation, turn up some odd worm-like creatures, which quickly escape and, burrowing deep inside the members of the team, make them homicidally - and suicidally - insane. When Mulder and scully are sent to investigate a storm cuts off their route home, and they are trapped in a research station with two other scientists - and one of them is infected with the worm.
"Ice" refers simply to the ice samples the team were drilling for, and the snowy landscape Mulder and Scully find themselves trapped in.
* * * * * * * * * *
Space (1X08)
Writer: Chris Carter Director: William Graham
The Space Programme is being sabotaged - and no-one knows who by or how they could possibly cause the damage they do. One man though - a one-time astronaut has visions of an extra-terrestrial which appears to have malicious intent.
Thought by many to be the least noteworthy episode of the first series for its lack of action, "Space" is still excellent television. The episode name refers only to space itself, where the alien has come from, and the astronauts may well be trapped.
* * * * * * * * * *
Fallen Angel (1X09)
Writers: Howard Gordon, Alex Gansa Director: Larry Shaw
The military launch an attempt to recover a downed UFO whose alien inhabitant has escaped and is offering free incineration to anyone who gets in its path. Mulder sneaks on to the crash site and is arrested, and whilst in prison meets a previous abductee for whom things are about to take a more dangerous turn.
"Fallen Angel" is apparently the name the military give (at least in The X File universe) to crashed UFOs. The original fallen angel was, of course, the devil of the Christian religion.
NB Max Fenig first appears in this episode, and turns up later in fourt season episodes "Tempus Fugit" and "Max" - yet at the end of the episode we are given the impression he is dead - McGrath reports that they "found Max Fenig's body in a dumpster" at the end of Fallen Angel.
* * * * * * * * * *
Eve (1X10)
Writers: Kenneth Biller, Chris Bracanto Director: Fred Gerber
When a man appears to have been exsanguinated (drained of blood) by extra-terrestrials, Mulder is right on the case - but what he finds is far darker and more down-to-Earth than aliens.
"Eve" is the name given to each of the cloned girls in this episode (the boys were called Adam). This is, of course, the name given to the first woman made by God in the Christian old testament of the Bible. In this case, the clones are supposed to be themselves the beginning of a new super race.
* * * * * * * * * *
Fire (1X11)
Writer: Chris Carter Director: Larry Shaw
Mulder's university girlfriend appears (all the way from England - so of course she needs a ridiculously thick "English" accent!) to tell Mulder that an arsonist is burning alive British aristocrats, but doesn't seem to be using any accelerant other than the victims' bodies - and the next murder might be on American soil.
"Fire" gets its title for obvious reasons, but it also seems to be the only thing Mulder is deathly afraid of, so this is a big episode for him.
* * * * * * * * * *
Beyond the Sea (1X12)
Writers:Glen Morgan, James Wong Director: David Nutter
Scully suffers an unexpected trauma when her father dies after a visit to her house. When Mulder then introduces her to a Death Row prisoner who claims to be psychic, it seems she may have one last chance to make her peace with her father - but Mulder claims the man is a fraud and is toying with Scully and that she is too wrapped up in grief to see it.
"Beyond The Sea" is the song that was supposedly played at the Scully's wedding, and also at Bill Scully's funeral. It is supposed to have reminded him and his wife of the time Bill was a Captain during the Second World War, as it is explained "this song was playing when his boat came in to the harbour."
* * * * * * * * * *
Genderbender (1X13)
Writers: Larry Barber, Paul Barber Director: Rob Bowman
A man is lured in to bed by a strangely irresistable woman after a trip to a nightclub. When he is found dead in his hotel room, the security videos are scanned for the woman who could have killed him - but the only person who seems to have left the victim's room is most definitely male...
A "genderbender" is, I believe, a type of connection that can be used to connect "male" pins to other "male" pins (or even the "female" equivalent) on a computer. In the context of the episode it refers to Brother Marty's amazing ability to bend "his" own gender.
As most X Philes know, this episode is the first to feature Nick Lea, who later returns to the series in a different guise - as traitorous Alex Krycek.
* * * * * * * * * *
Lazarus (1X14)
Writers: Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon Director: David Nutter
A shootout at a bank leaves a colleague of Scully's fighting for his life alongside the bank robber. Eventually Agent Jack Willis is pulled back from the brink, but he has gained a tatoo and forgotten Scully's birthday - is he who he claims to be?
The name "Lazarus" does appear twice in the New Testament of the Christian Bible - most famously as that of a man whom Jesus brings back from the dead, as indeed Agent Willis appears to have escaped from death.
* * * * * * * * * *
Young at Heart (1X15)
Writers: Scott Kaufer, Chris Carter Director: Michael Lange
I'm afraid I've forgotten what this episode was about (shock-horror)! I'll fill in this field once I've re-watched my video. Apologies for the inconvenience.
* * * * * * * * * *
E.B.E. (1X16)
Writers: Glen Morgan, James Wong Director: William Graham
A UFO is shot down by an Iraqi jet, and the US move in to capture it and its occupant. Mulder is on the trail though - and everything appears to be going well until he discovers that the informant he trusts for his information - Deep Throat - may well have been lying to him.
"E.B.E." stands for "Extra-terrestrial Biological Entity" in UFOlogy jargon.
* * * * * * * * * *
Miracle Man (1X17)
Writers: Howard Gordon, Chris Carter
An entry for this episode will follow soon.
* * * * * * * * * *
Shapes (1X18)
Writer: Marilyn Osborn Director: David Nutter
A farmer shoots dead a fierce animal that seems to be preying on his stock, but when he recovers the body he discovers it to be, apparently, entirely human - and there it might end if it weren't for the fact that the man's son was injured tracking down the beast/man...
A lot of changing of shapes goes on in this episode, so the title is easy to understand.
* * * * * * * * * *
Darkness Falls (1X19)
Writer: Chris Carter Director: Joe Napolitano
Loggers in Washington's forests begin cutting down trees that collectively hold a terrible secret. When the men are never heard of again, Mulder and Scully head for the woods where they discover what really happened to the loggers - and realise they too must escape before darkness falls.
The nocturnal habits of the deadly creatures in this episode lead to its titling, dusk being the time when being in the woods becomes dangerous.
* * * * * * * * * *
Tooms (1X20)
Writers: Glen Morgan, James Wong Director: David Nutter
Eugene Victor Tooms is released on parole, but Mulder is convinced he will kill again before returning to his thirty-year slumber.
The name "Tooms" is infamous in X File history - Doug Hutchinson's character is the most infamous of the series' villains and the one everyone can name.
* * * * * * * * * *
Born Again (1X21)
Writers: Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon Director: Jerrold Freedman
A young girl appears to have managed to throw a grown man out the window of a skyscraper without even touching him. Mulder suspects possesion by a vengeful spirit to be the cause of the death, racing to find a way of stopping the ghost before it kills again.
"Born Again" suggests re-incarnation - the idea that once people die they are born again in to another body to restart their lives - usually with no knowledge of their previous life.
* * * * * * * * * *
Roland (1X22)
Writer: Chris Ruppenthal Director: David Nutter
Arthur Grable, a research scientist is dead - but someone seems to be trying to finish his work, whilst also indulging in the by-line of murdering Grable's ex-colleagues in horrific ways. All this could be fine, if the only suspect weren't a retarded janitor who surely must be incapable of executing such complicated theoretical science on his own...
"Roland" is, simply enough, the name of the janitor who plays such a large part in this episode.
* * * * * * * * * *
The Erlenmeyer Flask (1X23)
Writer: Chris Carter Director: R.W. Goodwin
Police chase a man across town, shoot him with a taser, and are extremely surprised when he removes the electrodes from his chest and jumps, dripping corrosive green "blood" on the way, in to the icy cold waters of a harbour. Mulder suspects that this "suspect" may be something more than he appears, but when he sets out to track the man down he is kidnapped and held to ransom. It's up to Scully now to get the kidnappers what they want - an alien foetus kept frozen by a project known as "Purity Control"...
"The Erlenmeyer Flask finishes Season 1 with a bang - one that Mulder's informant, Deep Throat, is unfortunately on the other end of. His final words - "Trust no one" - have gone down in X Files history.
An Erlenmeyer flask is exactly that - a flask. Scully waves one in the air as she says that memorable line "I'm telling you Mulder, if this is monkey pee, I'm giving up."
PLEASE READ THESE NOTICES!!!
IMPORTANT!!! To make this guide easier to read and search through, I now intend to have each season as a separate page. Search for "X Files Episode Guide" and pick the season you want to know about. Thank you.
R25968
