S1 E2: Deep Throat
"Mr. Mulder, why are those like yourself, who believe in the existence of extraterrestrial life on Earth, not entirely dissuaded by all the evidence to the contrary?"
"Because...all the evidence to the contrary is not entirely dissuasive."
In this episode Mulder and Scully make their way to Ellens Air Base in Idaho to investigate a possible cover-up involving test pilots flying experimental aircraft. However before they leave Mulder is confronted by a mysterious man who warns Mulder to drop the case. (Look out for the Seth Green cameo, too!)
This is the episode where X-Files truly kicks off. Pilot did a sufficient job in setting up some important elements but Deep Throat really hammers home what the show is all about: trust no one. The introduction of Deep Throat -- a high ranking government official that aids Mulder -- adds so much to not only the scale of which Mulder and Scully are up against but the stakes as well. Everything is set up so well and is bookend by two fantastic scenes with Mulder and Deep Throat.
X-Files makes a very bold move in revealing that Mulder's hunches are correct: we are in fact not alone in the universe. While shows like Twin Peaks became a phenomenon for holding its cards -- cards presumably from One-Eyed Jack's -- very close to the vest, X-Files lays it all out there from the beginning. However the catch with X-Files is that we want to see Mulder and Scully overcome all the obstacles, knowing what they know, and not only uncover the truth but expose the corruption that permeates the government and intelligence agencies. Oh and we also want to see how these two grow as partners and occasionally fight some creepy monsters.
An interesting wrinkle to X-Files is that it's not afraid to be cheeky with the material. A show like this can quickly fall apart if it's played too straight and for the most part -- like any show it's gonna lay some eggs -- X-Files succeeds in knowing when to add levity and when to get serious.
Everything just works in this episode. The introduction of Deep Throat and his ominous warning to Mulder; Mulder and Scully sinking their teeth into a cover-up on the scale of the U.S. Military; a Seth Green cameo; Scully turning a trope on its head and rescuing Mulder for the first of many times; and finally, Mulder seeing physical evidence of extraterrestrials only to have those memories stolen from him by the military via invasive brain rewiring.
In conclusion, this episode is fantastic. I don't have any big criticisms outside of some nitpicks here and there. Scully being able to hold an official at gunpoint and Mulder not facing any serious repercussion for trespassing onto a super secret airbase definitely raises some eyebrows. My "I'm just gonna look the other way on this" explanation is that two dead FBI agents would lead to some questions being asked about an airbase that clearly isn't on the up and up. Also, with Deep Throat's interest in Mulder there's clearly someone out there looking out for Mulder and Scully. Wouldn't have much of a show if they died in the second episode I suppose.
Did I pull you guys into a rabbit hole there?
Totally Arbitrary Episode Rating: 5/5
In this episode Mulder and Scully make their way to Ellens Air Base in Idaho to investigate a possible cover-up involving test pilots flying experimental aircraft. However before they leave Mulder is confronted by a mysterious man who warns Mulder to drop the case. (Look out for the Seth Green cameo, too!)
This is the episode where X-Files truly kicks off. Pilot did a sufficient job in setting up some important elements but Deep Throat really hammers home what the show is all about: trust no one. The introduction of Deep Throat -- a high ranking government official that aids Mulder -- adds so much to not only the scale of which Mulder and Scully are up against but the stakes as well. Everything is set up so well and is bookend by two fantastic scenes with Mulder and Deep Throat.
X-Files makes a very bold move in revealing that Mulder's hunches are correct: we are in fact not alone in the universe. While shows like Twin Peaks became a phenomenon for holding its cards -- cards presumably from One-Eyed Jack's -- very close to the vest, X-Files lays it all out there from the beginning. However the catch with X-Files is that we want to see Mulder and Scully overcome all the obstacles, knowing what they know, and not only uncover the truth but expose the corruption that permeates the government and intelligence agencies. Oh and we also want to see how these two grow as partners and occasionally fight some creepy monsters.
An interesting wrinkle to X-Files is that it's not afraid to be cheeky with the material. A show like this can quickly fall apart if it's played too straight and for the most part -- like any show it's gonna lay some eggs -- X-Files succeeds in knowing when to add levity and when to get serious.
Everything just works in this episode. The introduction of Deep Throat and his ominous warning to Mulder; Mulder and Scully sinking their teeth into a cover-up on the scale of the U.S. Military; a Seth Green cameo; Scully turning a trope on its head and rescuing Mulder for the first of many times; and finally, Mulder seeing physical evidence of extraterrestrials only to have those memories stolen from him by the military via invasive brain rewiring.
In conclusion, this episode is fantastic. I don't have any big criticisms outside of some nitpicks here and there. Scully being able to hold an official at gunpoint and Mulder not facing any serious repercussion for trespassing onto a super secret airbase definitely raises some eyebrows. My "I'm just gonna look the other way on this" explanation is that two dead FBI agents would lead to some questions being asked about an airbase that clearly isn't on the up and up. Also, with Deep Throat's interest in Mulder there's clearly someone out there looking out for Mulder and Scully. Wouldn't have much of a show if they died in the second episode I suppose.
Did I pull you guys into a rabbit hole there?
Totally Arbitrary Episode Rating: 5/5
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