The X-Filesis one of the most popular TV shows of all time, and is particularly popular among science fiction, horror, and fantasy fans. The way in which it blends different genres and styles depending on the plot of each episode makes it one of the most unique series ever made. Fox Mulder and Dana Scully investigate all sorts of cases, from aliens, ghosts, monsters, the devil, and more.
Some of the most popular episodes of this iconic show include “The Post-Modern Prometheus,” “Bad Blood,” “Triangle,” and the more recent “Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster.” However, across eleven seasons and two movies, there’s plenty of less spoken about, yet still captivating stories set in this incredible fictional world. Here are five underrated episodes ofThe X-Files.
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“Sanguinarium” (Season 4, Episode 6)
“Sanguinarium” revolves around Mulder and Scully’s investigation into a series of gruesome deaths during planned surgery procedures at a reputable hospital. For no apparent reason, the doctors turned on the patient in the middle of these procedures and killed them, and later said that they had no control of what happened and felt like they were having an out-of-body experience.
As fans of the show will know, this case wasn’t as simple as a group of doctors gone rogue. Without too many spoilers (as it’s certainly worth a watch, even 20+ years after its initial release), the cause of these grisly deaths appeared to be directly linked to witchcraft and the occult. The story of this outing is unique and original, and the rainy and moody setting is a delight (as it is for most episodes of this show). “Sanguinarium” also features a great guest performance from Richard Beymer, also known for his roles inWest Side StoryandTwin Peaks.
“The Rain King” (Season 6, Episode 8)
“The Rain King” centers on Mulder and Scully as they travel to a small town where a person claims they can control the weather. It’s an interesting enough story, if a tad unoriginal.But in 217 episodes, the writers can’t exactly be blamed for re-purposing ideas or giving their own spin on plots seen in other movies and shows.
What’s special about “The Rain King,” and what makes ita truly memorable episode, is its ending. The ending reveals who is truly in control of the weather, and it’s certainly not the apparent con-man who claimed to be at the beginning of the episode. It was actually the TV weatherman of the town, who happens to have been secretly in love with the same woman for years. There’s an immense amount of heart in this outing, particularly with the sweet ending of this love story.
“Die Hand Die Verletz” (Season 2, Episode 14)
“Die Hand Die Verletz” is yet another memorable and entertaining outing, but on the complete opposite end of the spectrum. This episode is extremely dark, perhaps among the darkest of the entire show, as it deals with incredibly grim themes as well as the lingering presence of the devil and devil worshipers.
The devil worshipers in this episode are the teachers at the local school,which made for an interesting plotline as they were more stereotypically normal than one would expect of people with those beliefs. There are many twists and turns, and this episode is ultimately one of the scariest in the entire show.
“How The Ghosts Stole Christmas” (Season 6, Episode 6)
Most people associateThe X-Fileswith those scary, horror-derived episodes, but Season 6 features another heartwarming and relatively happy ending (at least by the standards of this show). “How The Ghosts Stole Christmas” features Mulder and Scully in an abandoned house on Christmas Eve as they attempt to spot a pair of ghosts that are said to arrive on just one day of the year.
Ed Asner guest stars with a great performance, andthe contained setting and natureof this one-off story make for an entertaining outing. The ending is particularly enjoyable as well, as Mulder and Scully escape the abandoned house and then return to his apartment to exchange Christmas gifts with one another. It’s not too often that these two heroes are given a happy ending, so this episode sticks in the memory for that moment alone.
“Sunshine Days” (Season 9, Episode 18)
The X-Filestapered off towards the end of its original run, particularly in Season 9. The lack of David Duchovny and sidelining of Gillian Anderson made it almost feel like a spin-off series, with new leads taking over the paranormal division of the FBI.
That’s not to say that Season 9 was bad in any way, as it did actually feature some great episodes. “Sunshine Days” was one of those outings, and this episode focused on a man who lived inside a house that resembled that of the characters fromThe Brady Bunch. This episodeis tragic, emotional, and heartfelt, and also sets the stage for the original finale of the show (which came a week later) by hearkening back to the core strength and heart of the series: the characters. There are also many interesting parallels to the MCU’sWandaVision, with both featuring characters that live in a self-created simulated world and the lives of classic sitcom characters to avoid the realities of their actual existence.
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