When The X-Files returns to FOX on January 24, 2016, what
can we expect? A six-episode mythology arc or a half-dozen all-new monsters to
make us hide under our FBI-issued trench coats? I’d wager that Chris Carter is
going to give us the former, and I will definitely watch it even though my
favorite episodes of his investigative sci-fi/horror series were
the ones that freaked us out with one-off parasite men, robotic cockroaches,
and inbred families. Personally, I’m a Monster of the Week guy.
Classic X-Files MOW’s such as “The Host”, “War of the
Coprophages”, and “Home” need no introduction to casual X-Files fans. They
are regularly praised in “Best Episodes Ever!” features in print and online
publications such as Empire, Entertainment Weekly, the AV Club, Vanity Fair, and Hollywood Reporter. But
what about the less known, less celebrated monsters of the week? Monsters need
love to. Didn’t we learn anything from Frankenstein,
or more on-topic, the monstrously overrated “Postmodern Prometheus” episode of The X-Files that James Whale’s movie inspired? Well, that’s what this post is
all about, Spooky!
After eliminating all the shows covered in the
aforementioned publications, I came to a few sobering realizations. There
aren’t quite 21 “great” underrated Monster-of-the-Week episodes, and there
isn’t a single underrated episode written by Darin Morgan. That wasn’t too much
of a surprise since Morgan gets my vote for the series’ greatest writer (sorry,
Vince!), but I was still hoping to give the man a little love in this piece.
So—for the record—I love you, Darin Morgan.
But enough about the love between a lowly blog writer and a
wonderfully talented TV writer. Let’s shift our love focus to the “ship”
between “I’ll believe anything!” FBI wackadoo Fox Mulder and “It isn’t
scientifically plausible!” FBI scientist Dana Scully. We’re also going to focus
on getting you, dear reader, to fall in love with these 21 Underrated Episodes
of The X-Files You Need to Watch Now!
