User Reviews

It's difficult to judge the pilot episode of a TV show, especially if the show is successful in being "picked up" by its producer. Pilot episodes for TV shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer aren't exactly great pieces of television, but it's hard to place damning on the episode if it achieves what it sets out to do. Fortunately there's no such confusion with the Pilot of The X-Files; simply put it is great television. Before reaching the complexities of the mythology in seasons 2-6, or the contrived story lines of seasons 8-9, we must remember that there was a time when The X-Files dealt with simple stories about little green men. The very first X-Files episode was one of these instances. The Pilot focuses less on plot and more on developing the show's two main protagonists; the recusant and open-minded Fox Mulder and the grounded and skeptical Dana Scully. Character development in the Pilot is fantastic; the show immediately let's us into the minds of our lead characters. Aside from excellent character work, the episode boasts intelligent dialogue and a storyline that intrigues and disturbs the viewer to the dying moments.

"Agent Mulder. I'm Dana Scully, I've been assigned to work with you." "Oh, really? I was under the impression that you were sent to spy on me." That classic exchange marks the beginning of one of the most intriguing small-screen partnerships of all time, and also of one of the most influential and accomplished genre shows since The Twilight Zone.

The collaboration between Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) isn't born out of the best circumstances: as he implies, she has in fact been asked to spy on him. They're both highly qualified FBI agents, but whereas Scully uses her medical abilities to boost her career, Mulder has seemingly thrown away his potential (he's one of the Bureau's best profilers) to pursue his own paranoid projects. He is now in charge of the X-files, i.e. all those unsolved cases which have been dismissed as unexplainable. He, of course, is convinced that there is an explanation for each of them, no matter how extravagant his theories might get. What else to expect from a man whose office (basically an FBI basement) is filled with newspaper articles about the Roswell incident, aliens and whatnot, not to mention a poster with a flying saucer and the phrase "I want to believe" written on it?

The duo's first assignment is classic X-Files: a series of bizarre teenage deaths in a small-town community. All the bodies present two unidentified pink marks, and when the exhumation of one of the corpses reveals there's more to the case than meets the eye, it's no wonder Mulder asks Scully: "Do you believe in the existence of extraterrestrials?" Meanwhile, back in Washington D.C., the mysterious Cigarette-Smoking Man (William B. Davis) might know more about these events than anyone at the Bureau is willing to admit.

This pilot episode is a virtually seamless blend of the two kinds of stories that marked the show over the course of its nine-year run: on the one hand, it's a standalone tale with the main function of introducing the protagonists and the basic structure of the series' narrative - weird case, wild theory, investigation, possible rational solution (or not); on the other, it inserts the first small hints of the program's more complex story lines, the so-called mythology or "mytharc", at the beginning and at the end of the episode (the presence of the Smoking Man is the clearest evidence of this). In doing so, series creator Chris Carter ensures casual viewers might feel compelled to give it another try without the obvious cliffhanger gimmick, while those who pay more attention to details will find enough reasons to follow the slow, gripping unfolding of the conspiracy-style subplot.

Besides, the thriller-like plotting is the only major ongoing story that takes place in the series, or at least in the early seasons: one of the main pleasures of watching Mulder and Scully together, aside from the palpable chemistry between Duchovny and Anderson, has to do with the fact that whatever sexual tension there is between them, they're too busy chasing little green men to respond to those urges. If there has to be a deeper discussion about anything, it will have to do with the everlasting debate: faith or science? This episode, like the show in general, doesn't give a straight answer, and that's just another ingredient that makes The X-Files such an exquisite televised dish.

I was just a teenager when it first aired and as many other viewers I was mesmerized by its so many brilliant ideas and fascinating elements. Fifteen years have passed since I first saw it and all I can say is that it hasn't aged. But now it's even more interesting because you can relate it to the great productions that haven't been released in the past few years. For example I only discovered Twin Peaks later so watching it I was able to compare their music and visuals for example. The efforts done to make The X-Files fictional world believable is really impressive. But of course all the work would be wasted without the most important and appreciated element in the series, its characters. Dana Scully and Fox Mulder are as charismatic and likable as they used to be. From their very first scenes you can already feel the chemistry between Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny. Moreover the time has passed but our memories haven't faded as seeing the "I Want To Believe" poster, the X mark and other fan goodies is as delightful as it used to be. The dialogs are also pure candies for viewers interested in decrypting everything single words as they contribute to clearly identify the characters. Scully is the skeptical and rational scientist and Mulder is the freaky but brilliant FBI agent opened to most paranormal and conspiracy theories. In fact they reminded me of the duality between Jack Sheppard and John Locke from Lost, science versus faith. It's quite fascinating as it demonstrates how much influence the series had on a generation of artists, writers and directors for example, eager to develop their creativity and open their mind to new realms of wonders. The contrast between Scully and Mulder is also further developed thanks to the recurring jokes the second always say in the less expected scenes. I also greatly appreciated their investigation as the puzzle to solve didn't seem like it could be. Scully always had a rational theory and was looking for evidences when Mulder kept fast forwarding. However they both walked in the fog and events were so broken that you never knew what would happened next. So even if the story wasn't that original, even back in 1993, I think all these elements greatly contributed to make this pilot a model of its kind. Last but not least you couldn't write such a review without mentioning the Cigarette Smoking Man. From the very first minutes you could feel his dark and enigmatic presence at every corner. Moreover the last scene he's featured in was really a smart move as it opened a book full of myths, driving the experience even further and convincing the few skeptical viewers to stick around a little more.

Since this is the pilot episode, I'll briefly review the series as a whole.

Before I saw the X-Files, my only exposure to extra-terrestrials was shows like Star Wars and Star Trek. But these were in distant galaxies. It's true that E.T. visited our planet, but he was just a lone visitor who tried to return home as soon as possible. The X-Files dealt with aliens visiting our planet, but with a more sinister purpose in mind. To discover what, how and why they were doing what they were doing was the driving force for this show. What made this show unique though were the characters, especially Mulder and Scully. You knew you were in for something different right from the start when they referred to each other by their last names only. The intelligent and witty dialogue between the two is captivating.

Now, just for the pilot:

It's interesting to note that right away Scully has an uncomfortable reaction to Cigarette Smoking Man(CSM). Maybe she can already sense his evilness.

The music in the pilot is quite different from the rest of the series. It's a little bit corny, actually.

I like how Mulder gets right to work and tests Scully to see what her reaction will be. Mulder continues to challenge her "science" throughout the episode, but she stands firm.

Although she is serious, we see that Scully has a sense of humor when she smiles at Mulder's "plausible" joke. Also, later in the cemetery scene, she smiles and laughs at Mulder at his "outrageous" ideas. Take note, because Scully laughter is quite rare in 'The X-Files'.

In the Pilot, we see the agents for the first and only time on an airplane. Just a little piece of trivia.

Mulder and Scully go to Oregon to investigate some alien abductions. I'll never forget my first impression when I saw that coffin open for the first time. Mulder's excitement for physical evidence of alien existence tempered by Scully's scientific rationalizations for everything they witness help establish the most unique relationship you'll see between two people. The gloomy, rainy surroundings from being shot in the Pacific Northwest make for a unique atmosphere. Put all these things together and you've got a show unlike anything you've ever seen before.

The Pilot is a great start to an unforgettable series.

The pilot episode is fantastic because it establishes the dynamic between Mulder the believer and Scully the skeptic - plus it has a great plot with an alien abduction mystery. Gillian and David already have great chemistry. They're so young here! And the 90s fashion is kind of hilarious.

It's a very quotable episode too: "Nobody down here but the FBI's most unwanted!" "Do you believe in the existence of extraterrestrials?" "We lost nine minutes!" "Time can't just disappear! It's a universal invariant!" "Not in this zip code!" "Agent Mulder believes we are not alone." and so on.

My only complaint is that the indoor scenes look like they were filmed in the dark. Overall it's one of my favorite episodes.

The X-Files became a cult phenomenom in its first season, gaining a rabid following strong enough to convince FOX to pick up the show for another year, and to sign the cast and producer Chris Carter to long-term deals. Looking beyond the commercial success and fan base rivaled only by Star Trek's "Trekkers", however, you find a serial drama that really was the most revolutionary show of the 1990's, and one of the most daring of all time. It broke all the rules - it was dark, both visually and emotionally. So dark that at times, especially during the first two seasons, the only lighting was that of flashlights held by the lead actors. It avoided stereotyping and the "sex sells" mentality of most mainstream shows (i.e. NYPD Blue). It had an incredibly strong female role model in Gillian Anderson's character of Dana Scully. It found an enemy where Hollywood had failed - instead of looking overseas and creating further false impressions of foreign nations, it pointed the finger at domestic governments. Big Brother, if you will, was back. To steal one of the show's catch phrases, the decade became the "Trust No One 90's", especially not your own government. Given the state of politics today, the show was probably right.

With an eighth season on the way, FOX has decided to issue the entire show on DVD. Season one is really the introductory year. Stars David Duchovney and Gillian Anderson look young, unsure of themselves, yet the chemistry is there. The seeds for future storylines are planted. While seasons two and five (leading up to the first feature film, with a potential of more to come) are probably the best, fans and potential fans alike should consider this boxset despite its somewhat hefty pricetag. It is a true television masterpiece.

Everyone should watch the X-Files because the writing is superb, the acting is excellent, and the special effects will blow you away. The plots are always interesting and keep you on your toes, watch for tie-ins to other eps and numbers that keep popping up all over, special numbers. It keeps us hard core fans looking. Watch the X-Files and you will not be disappointed!

I'll admit, I was late to the party, I must have joined The X Files in about 1997, so I am watching these for the first time.

No wonder this show became the huge, long running hit that it is, the foundations were clearly very strong. This is a fantastic first episode, I can hardly find a single flaw. It explains why Mulder is such a Maverick, why he is the way he is, and why Scully is sceptical, I had no idea she was sent there to throw a spanner in the works.

It's a good story, it's not as wild as some of the later ones, but it has just the right balance of something very strange happening.

Great to see that characters have been there since the start, cigarette smoking man in particular, he's great here, very sinister. Duchovny and Anderson look so young, both look so sweet.

Very enjoyable, it's stood the test of time, 9/10.

Mulder and Scully meets each other for the first time. Scully is in her own words sent to debunk the X-Files, Mulder's current self-imposed assignment, while he's under the impression that she's sent to spy on him. Their first collaborative assignment is to investigate a series of mystical deaths where the victims have some strange marks on their lower back.

This episode shows exactly what's at the center of the X-Files and was an instant turn on that secured at least seven seasons of intensely viewing. Duchovny and Anderson hit it off from go on and this chemistry coupled with the subject of the series is what makes this series such a great success. This episode is also the first time we see the Cigarette Smoking Man, but it's only a forerunner of what is to come.

This episode gets a 9 out of 10.

This episode sets the tone for a truly groundbreaking series. Character traits are established from the get-go as well as long-running tropes fans will come to love and immediately associate with the show. So many pilot episodes miss the mark in the long run and become known as subpar in comparison with later episodes -- but not here. This episode stood the test of time for the full run of the show and the time after.

I bought the Season 1 boxset today, and it was essentially a blind-buy. When the show was on the air I was somewhere between too young and not interested, so I only watched it once or twice. Now that I'm into horror and everything, I've been wanting to check this out, and the new, cheaper boxset was too good to pass up!

Suffice to say, it was $30 well spent, based solely on the pilot. I highly enjoyed it, the characters are great, the story was creepy, the actors were very good....I loved it all-around and am looking forward to watching more in the near future. A great start to what I am sure is a great series.

This episode still stands as one of my favorite TV pilots of all time! Its so good at getting you kntrigued and hooked! I remember watching the entire show after watching this!

What really works in this show is the characters and the premise with the sense of mystery and the exploration of the unknown in search of the truth!

The characters of Mulder and Scully are charesmatic and have great chemistry! The believer and the skeptic! These two are just great characters and the open mind combined with the scientific approach works extremely well!

This show is an all time classic and this pilot really proves it!

Deffinetely worth a watch!

This pilot is 1000 times better than what i hoped it would be like. I'm hooked. The cast is great, on point. The thriller/horror/mystery element is fantastic. Can't wait to watch the other episodes

It's nice to look from the beginning now. It's really exiting! I didn't have the time then from the start to look. High qualty!

This show is absolutely incredible. Stunning imagery and creative imaginations by Chris Carter and crew help to make this the most interesting show on television. It's a pleasure to own each of the episodes from all seven seasons on videotape. The best news of all is that season one is coming to DVD in 2000. A gem like this deserves the best home video format around! Duchovny and Anderson are easily the most gifted actors on television today.

A lot of pilot episodes for TV in general are overrated (as much as I dislike that word, I think it fits here). There are exceptions of course, the Twin Peaks pilot perhaps the most obvious and best example, but I think they tend to be shaky affairs in general.

"The X-Files" pilot isn't bad by any stretch, and few fans would consider it one of the best episodes, so it isn't particularly overrated either. It is, however, a solid, involving 46 minutes. Flawed, but still quite good.

I don't think Duchovny and Anderson are quite as good here as they would later be, and I found some of the writing cringe-worthy, in addition the production and cinematography don't seem up to the standard of much of the series (granted the first season generally looks quite cheap, but John Bartley still used some inventive methods with his cinematography that Thomas Del Ruth would never bother with), and the music is often corny and very late 80's/early 90's. That said, this is still a good, solid start to the series, and a good story let down by an uneven script and some other issues.

It's quite remarkable, however, how well-developed the characters already feel after just one episode.

A couple of extra notes:

Gillian Anderson looks particularly scrumptious here, and even has a very rare gratuitous underwear scene for the guys and lesbians to enjoy. The first issue of the X-Files comics series by Topps comics was an adaptation of this episode written by Roy Thomas and featuring art by John Van Fleet, and actually sorts out a lot of the issues with the quality of the production, acting, and script in the televised version. It's worth seeking out.

7/10

The pilot of "The X-Files" is not a particularly great episode, but with the benefit of knowing how huge and influential the show was, you can't help but seeing it in a particular light. The episode does a good job in introducing the characters and some of its most important story lines: Fox's sister abduction or the ones in the government that may (or may be not) be working with the ones out there. It also introduces some very famous quotes and, of course, two iconic characters.

As Fox Mulder, David Duchovny looks very young to be so famous in the department, but he does a good job selling the I-look-crazy-but-I-am-not character. The episode, though, belongs to Gillian Anderson's Dana Scully, who starts thinking she has to debunk Fox's theories, but soon starts to wonder. It all happens a little bit too fast, but in a 50-minute long episode, it is bound to happen.

The episode goes around some young people being killed and Fox and Scully going to investigate. Things start getting weird pretty soon and we get to see some interesting surprises. The pace is a little bit shaky (trying to introduce too many things in one episode) and the story of the week not particularly interesting, but it holds the viewer's attention and shows that "The X-Files" has potential. As an introductory episode, it covers the bases.

The X-Files is honestly my favorite science fiction television series of all time. The first season is my favorite season of the show all time. My favorite best episodes are Pilot and Deep Throat I love those two episodes to death! Season One kicks ass and is definitely my favorite best season in the series because here the X-Files opened it and it all began. The first four seasons are my favorite seasons: Season 1,3,4 and than 2 in order are my favorite Seasons I can enjoy them. Season One I love to death, I love almost all episodes in here that I can watch them over and over again.

The X-Files involves aliens visiting our planet, but with a more sinister purpose in mind. There is about a government conspiracy and how government everything denied the truth. The season introduced the series' main concept, revolving around the investigation of paranormal or supernatural cases, known as X-Files, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; it also began to lay the groundwork for the series' overarching mythology.

Here we meet two brilliant interesting characters Mulder and Scully they where awesome! I love Mulder (David Duchovny) to death! He is the hero of the show for me. I have enjoyed him much more than I did Scully. Gillian Anderson was terrific as Dana Scully FBI agent and David Duchovny was incredible. This show was a hit in the 90's and after 14 years they bring back this show for tent season of the X-Files. I have personally enjoyed the mythology episodes and the first two episodes are incredible.

Plot: Agent Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) is assigned to work with Agent Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) on the X-Files in an attempt to debunk his work on the paranormal. Their first case has them investigating apparent alien abductions. A near comatose man, Billy Miles (Zachary Ansley), is taking his classmates, including Theresa Nemman (Sarah Koskoff), into the woods, where they are killed in a flash of bright light. Also guest stars Cliff DeYoung, Leon Russom, and Alexandra Stewart.

The plot and the pilot is brilliant it is fast paced and it is a hook on edge from the beginning till end. This episodes starts in 1992 when we meet young Mulder and Scully we are introduced in to their characters and the X-Files cases when they fly to Oregon to investigate the disappearance and murder of the fourth high school girl from her class who died under mysterious circumstances.

For me this episode felt real and it really scared me, like aliens are really abducting young graduate teenage girls.

In the Pilot, we see the agents for the first and only time on an airplane. I love the chemistry between the two leads I and love the background more about Mulder and Scully.

I love this episode and I love this flick to death! This episode get's 10 out of 10 from me. I love it.

The first season of the science fiction television series The X-Files commenced airing on the Fox network in the United States on September 10, 1993, and concluded on the same channel on May 13, 1994, after airing all 24 episodes.

"Pilot" is the pilot episode of the science fiction television series The X-Files. The episode aired on September 10, 1993 on the Fox network in the United States and Canada, and subsequently aired in the United Kingdom and Ireland on Sky1. The episode was written by series creator Chris Carter, and directed by Robert Mandel.

10/10 Grade: Bad Ass Seal Of Approval Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Starring: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Charles Cioffi, Cliff De Young, William B. Davis, Katya Gardner, Sarah Koskoff, Zachary Ansley Director: Robert Mandel Producers: Chris Carter, Daniel Sackheim Screenplay: Chris Carter Rated: R Running Time: 48 minutes

Dark, Gothic and gritty from beginning to end. This episode is the glorious start of the greatest television series ever made. The Pilot has an ominous feeling to it, its magic. Mulder and Scully are introduced to each other, the chemistry is there between David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. We see cancer man right from the beginning, he speaks no lines, he is just there watching over everyone. The whirlwind special effect in this episode is really good and cool. The ending was really well made. I love the graveyard scene.

This show must be watched.

Mulder: So, who did you tick off to get stuck with this detail, Scully