The X-Files Episode Guide: Skip It or Watch It? – Your Essential Companion

Okay, let’s talk about “The X-Files.” This groundbreaking show, a blend of sci-fi, horror, and government conspiracy, captivated audiences for nine seasons and beyond. But with over 200 episodes, diving in can be daunting. Are you wondering which episodes are must-sees and which you can safely skip? You’re in the right place. This comprehensive X-Files episode guide is designed to help both newcomers and seasoned fans navigate the series, ensuring you experience the best of what “The X-Files” has to offer, while avoiding the occasional missteps.

Originally conceived as a handy eBook, this guide is now available for every “X-Files” enthusiast preparing for a re-watch or embarking on their first journey into the unknown. Let’s be honest, not every episode of this seminal series is a winner. There are peaks and valleys, and this guide, updated to include Seasons 10 and 11, is your compass.

Consider this your subjective, fan-fueled roadmap. It’s built on a deep love for the show, a confessed crush on Mulder, and a distinct lack of patience for Agent Reyes. Expect a healthy dose of focus on the flirtatious Mulder and Scully moments, alongside a practical approach to steering clear of the truly bizarre and, let’s face it, sometimes ridiculous episodes. And yes, for the record, we are pretending The X-Files: I Want to Believe movie never happened.

This guide is here to serve, to help you curate your perfect “X-Files” experience.

UPDATE: Celebrating the 30th anniversary of “The X-Files” (September 10th, 2023), we’ve expanded this guide to include Seasons 10 and 11. Prepare for more “skip it” recommendations than “watch it” as we venture into the revival seasons.

SEASON 1

1. “Pilot”: Must See. Rule number one: always watch the pilot. Beyond that, this pilot episode is genuinely outstanding. It perfectly sets the stage for Mulder and Scully, their dynamic, and the mysteries they will unravel. Bonus: it scores high on the Flirt-o-meter, establishing the undercurrent of romantic tension from the very beginning. A truly iconic pilot in television history.

2. “Deep Throat”: Watch It. Conspiracy theories abound! This episode introduces a key recurring character and sets the tone for government intrigue. Plus, we witness the first of many instances of Mulder’s impulsive behavior leading to his arrest – a running gag is born.

3. “Squeeze”: Watch It. The monster-of-the-week format takes off with a memorable villain: Eugene Tooms. This episode is a strong start to a classic “X-Files” trope.

4. “Conduit”: Watch It. While the central mystery might be less memorable, “Conduit” delves into Mulder’s personal history and character, offering valuable insights into his motivations.

5. “The Jersey Devil”: Maybe Skip It. A somewhat charming episode, with Scully even going on a date! Mulder, predictably, gets arrested again. However, in the grand scheme of “The X-Files,” it’s not essential viewing.

6. “Shadows”: Skip It. The “Shadows” rule: if you can’t even recall the plot after reading a synopsis, it’s skippable. “Shadows” perfectly exemplifies this rule.

7. “Ghost in the Machine”: Skip It. Memorable for all the wrong reasons – this episode is widely considered one of the weaker entries. Save yourself the time.

8. “Ice”: Watch It. A standout episode, often praised for its claustrophobic atmosphere and “The Thing” homage. Featuring a guest appearance by Felicity Huffman, “Ice” is genuinely creepy and well-crafted.

9. “Space”: Skip It. Just… no. Move along.

10. “Fallen Angel”: Watch It. Mulder being arrested? Check. Introduction of a recurring character? Check. Mythology building blocks? Check. “Fallen Angel” delivers on multiple fronts.

11. “Eve”: Watch It. A compelling mystery with intriguing twists and turns, “Eve” is a solid episode that keeps you guessing.

12. “Fire”: Maybe Skip It. Reasons to watch: Mark Sheppard’s guest appearance, Mulder’s ex-girlfriend causing Scully’s jealousy, and Mulder in a tuxedo (and silk boxers). Reasons to skip: it’s a bit silly. Your call.

13. “Beyond the Sea”: Must See. A Scully-centric episode that’s both powerful and emotionally resonant. A departure from the typical monster-of-the-week, it’s a crucial episode for understanding Scully’s character.

14. “Gender Bender”: Skip It. Unless you’re a die-hard Nicholas Lea fan (Agent Krycek is coming!), this one is easily skippable.

15. “Lazarus”: Skip It. Unless you are deeply invested in Scully’s past relationships, this episode offers little of substance.

16. “Young at Heart”: Skip It. Another forgettable monster-of-the-week episode that doesn’t leave a lasting impression.

17. “E.B.E.”: Watch It. Mythology expansion is key here, plus the introduction of the beloved Lone Gunmen. Definitely a worthwhile episode.

18. “Miracle Man”: Skip It. General rule: episodes dealing with religious cults tend to be weak. “Miracle Man” is no exception.

19. “Shapes”: Skip It. The “Shadows” rule applies again – unmemorable and easily missed.

20. “Darkness Falls”: Watch It. A monster-of-the-week episode that stands out. “Darkness Falls” is genuinely engaging and atmospheric.

21. “Tooms”: Watch It. Eugene Tooms returns! A direct sequel to “Squeeze,” showcasing a level of continuity not always seen in later seasons. Appreciate it here.

22. “Born Again”: Skip It. By this point, reincarnation themes are overdone. Enough already.

23. “Roland”: Skip It. A telepathically controlled janitor? Pass.

24. “The Erlenmeyer Flask”: Must See. Season finales in “The X-Files” are reliably impactful, and this one is no different. Major plot developments and exciting revelations abound.

SEASON 2

1. “Little Green Men”: Watch It. Picks up directly after the Season 1 finale, launching into exciting Puerto Rican adventures.

2. “The Host”: Watch It. Home to one of the most infamous and disgustingly memorable monsters-of-the-week. Embrace the grossness.

3. “Blood”: Maybe Skip It. Contains some memorable moments, but ultimately not essential to the overall narrative.

4. “Sleepless”: Watch It. Introduces Agent Krycek and a timely (for 1994) commentary on Vietnam War veterans. Standard monster-of-the-week with a scene-stealing dose of Scully’s sarcasm.

5/6. “Duane Barry”/“Ascension”: Must See. A pivotal two-parter. Super-important for the mythology. Enough said.

7. “3”: Skip It. Mopey Mulder and vampire cultists? Not a winning combination.

8. “One Breath”: Must See. A direct continuation of “Duane Barry” and “Ascension,” featuring some truly heart-wrenching Mulder crying scenes.

9. “Firewalker”: Watch It. Similar vibes to “Ice” and “Darkness Falls,” but with the added bonus of Bradley Whitford. Definitely a plus.

10. “Red Museum”: Watch It. The iconic barbecue sauce scene between Mulder and Scully, combined with a solid mystery and mythology elements.

11. “Excelsis Dei”: Skip It. The “Shadows” rule strikes again.

12. “Aubrey”: Skip It. Meh.

13. “Irresistible”: Watch It. Disturbing and genuinely unsettling, especially for 1995 network TV. In a good way.

14. “Die Hand Die Verletzt”: Watch It. Nightmare-inducing. Terrifying in the best way possible.

15. “Fresh Bones”: Skip It. The Haitian voodoo episode. Inconsequential to the larger story.

16/17. “Colony”/“End Game”: Must See. Season 2 establishes a pattern: fall and spring two-parters deliver major mythology advancements. This is a prime example.

18. “Fearful Symmetry”: Skip It. “Invisible elephant rampage.” Seriously. Skip it.

19. “Dod Kalm”: Maybe Watch It. Questionable old-age makeup, but redeemed by genuine Mulder and Scully bonding moments.

20. “Humbug”: Watch It. The first Darin Morgan-penned episode. Learn the name. Darin Morgan episodes are a breed apart – uniquely brilliant.

21. “The Calusari”: Skip It. Invoking the “Shadows” rule once more.

22. “F. Emasculata”: Watch It. The exploding boils episode! Gross and awesome in equal measure. If you have a strong stomach, this is for you.

23. “Soft Light”: Skip It. “Shadows” rule activated, even with Tony Shalhoub guest-starring in an episode about living shadows.

24. “Our Town”: Maybe Watch It. Early “X-Files” embracing gross and weird in a fun, engaging way. Not essential, but entertainingly bizarre.

25. “Anasazi”: Must See. Season finale alert! Expect a balls-to-the-wall, insane cliffhanger.

SEASON 3

1/2. “The Blessing Way”/“Paper Clip”: Must See. Resolving cliffhangers and diving deeper into the mythology. Essential viewing.

3. “D.P.O.”: Maybe Skip It. Features young Jack Black and Giovanni Ribisi, but a standard monster-of-the-week with minimal Mulder and Scully interaction.

4. “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose”: Must See. Darin Morgan magic again! Emmy-winning writing and Peter Boyle’s Emmy-winning performance. A truly exceptional hour of television.

5. “The List”: Skip It. Possessed serial killers on death row? Yawn.

6. “2Shy”: Skip It. Fat-sucking serial killer? Double yawn.

7. “The Walk”: Skip It. Quadruple-amputee vengeance killing? Triple yawn.

8. “Oubliette”: Watch It. A monster-of-the-week, but emotionally charged and featuring Jewel Staite (Kaylee from “Firefly”).

9/10. “Nisei”/“731”: Watch It. Sets up major mythology threads for Season 4. Plus, Mulder jumps on a moving train!

11. “Revelations”: Maybe Skip It. Unless you’re captivated by Scully’s religious angst, this one is skippable.

12. “War of the Coprophages”: Watch It. Darin Morgan brilliance continues! Humor becomes a key element of “The X-Files,” and this episode exemplifies it.

13. “Syzygy”: Watch It. Silly but hilarious. Mulder and Scully being petty and argumentative is comedy gold. Bonus: very young Ryan Reynolds cameo.

14. “Grotesque”: Watch It. Initially dismissed as “the gargoyle serial killer” episode, but re-evaluation reveals a dark, complex mystery with Mulder backstory. Prepare for intense Mulder staring.

15/16. “Piper Maru”/“Apocrypha”: Watch It. Mythology two-parters are generally must-sees, and this one introduces important elements.

17. “Pusher”: Must See. A fan favorite and arguably one of the best episodes of the entire series. The final ten minutes are incredibly intense.

18. “Teso Dos Bichos”: Skip It. The Scully-attacked-by-a-cat episode. Let’s forget this one.

19. “Hell Money”: Skip It. Potentially racist undertones make this one a definite skip.

20. “Jose Chung’s From Outer Space”: Must See. Darin Morgan delivers another masterpiece. Perfectly balanced humor, sadness, and brilliance.

21. “Avatar”: Skip It. Unless you’re fascinated by A.D. Skinner’s sex life, skip this one.

22. “Quagmire”: Watch It. Darin Morgan’s influence shines again. Features a defining Mulder and Scully scene and… sea monsters!

23. “Wetwired”: Watch It. Similar to Season 2’s “Blood,” but with mythology hints and significantly more Scully, making it superior.

24. “Talitha Cumi”: Watch It. The least exciting season finale, but still sets up future storylines.

SEASON 4

1. “Herrenvolk”: Watch It. Not thrilling, but establishes important mythology elements like the Consortium’s use of bees (Mulder’s mortal enemies).

2. “Home”: Watch It. Infamous for its disturbing and deeply unsettling content. “Home” will definitely haunt you.

3. “Teliko”: Skip It. “Black people are getting de-pigmented?” Hard pass.

4. “Unruhe”: Maybe Skip It. Scully gets kidnapped by serial killers again. A somewhat interesting X-File, though.

5. “The Field Where I Died”: Skip It. Past lives regression and cult suicides. And someone claims Scully isn’t Mulder’s soulmate! Skip it with prejudice. (Unless you enjoy “amazingly bad” TV, as per a friend’s suggestion.)

6. “Sanguinarium”: Skip It. Witchcraft and plastic surgery. Life is too short.

7. “Musings of a Cigarette-Smoking Man”: Watch It. Billed as the “anti-Forrest Gump,” a surprisingly funny backstory episode for the Cigarette-Smoking Man. Long overdue.

8/9. “Tunguska”/“Terma”: Watch It. The mid-season mythology two-parter. Gripping and features a great Mulder and Scully hug.

10. “Paper Hearts”: Watch It. A fresh serial killer stand-alone episode with strong character development.

11. “El Mundo Gira”: Skip It. The Mexican goat sucker episode. Nope.

12. “Leonard Betts”: Watch It. The post-Super Bowl episode, a watershed moment for the series. The ending twist changes everything for the rest of the season.

13. “Never Again”: Hmmmm. Controversial. Scully goes solo, meets a guy from “Space: Above and Beyond,” potential sex happens (or not), Jodie Foster voices a tattoo, and Scully and Mulder have a fight. None of it is ever mentioned again. Your choice.

14. “Memento Mori”: Must See. The fallout from “Leonard Betts” is devastating and crucial. Just watch it.

15. “Kaddish”: Skip It. Another “religious fable monster” episode. Not essential.

16. “Unrequited”: Skip It. Invisible assassin? Yawn.

17/18. “Tempus Fugit”/“Max”: Watch It. Mythology time! Mulder gives Scully a birthday present.

19. “Synchrony”: Maybe Skip It. Weird time travel episode. Execution isn’t great, but the time travel concept is unique and intellectually interesting.

20. “Small Potatoes”: Watch It. Darin Morgan acting, Vince Gilligan writing. Light-hearted shapeshifter episode with many funny moments. (Consent issues are problematic by modern standards).

21. “Zero Sum”: Watch It. Skinner-centric episode that sets up mythology and backstory relevant to the movie (the good movie).

22. “Elegy”: Maybe Skip It. Vaguely ties into the season’s narrative, but mostly a standard stand-alone.

23. “Demons”: Maybe Watch It. Over-the-top, but if you enjoy Mulder Cry Face and nurturing Scully, it’s worth a look.

24. “Gethsemane”: Watch It. Drama and a classic “X-Files” cliffhanger. Imagine waiting three months for the next episode like fans did in 1997!

SEASON 5

1. “Redux”: Watch It. Addresses the Season 4 cliffhanger and important plot points, albeit with some pacing issues and stock footage montages.

2. “Redux II”: Must See. Resolves old storylines and starts new ones. Twists and turns, and Mulder and Scully being adorable.

3. “Unusual Suspects”: Watch It. Flashback to 1989, meet the Lone Gunmen! A delightful origin story episode.

4. “Detour”: Watch It. Stand-alone, but essential for the off-the-charts flirting between Mulder and Scully. Romance levels are extreme.

5. “The Post-Modern Prometheus”: Watch It. More flirting, Cher, monsters, black-and-white cinematography. A very strange episode with a heartwarming (though potentially problematic) ending.

6/7. “Christmas Carol”/“Emily”: Watch It. A depressing two-parter, but crucial for mythology. Mulder makes a funny face, if you need a lighter moment.

8. “Kitsunegari”: Maybe Skip It. A follow-up to “Pusher” that suffers in comparison to the original. Decent ending, though.

9. “Schizogeny”: Skip It. “The Killer Tree Episode.” Enough said.

10. “Chinga”: Skip It. Stephen King co-wrote it, but it’s not essential. Scully has a brief speech about witchcraft, easily found online.

11. “Kill Switch”: Watch It. William Gibson co-writes a cyberpunk-themed episode. Radsauce.

12. “Bad Blood”: Watch It. A hilarious episode that improves with age. Luke Wilson, vampires, and the “Shaft” theme song.

13/14. “Patient X”/“The Red and the Black”: Watch It. More mythology, new characters, and big reveals.

15. “Travelers”: Skip It. Not bad, but doesn’t connect to anything significant beyond investigating “the first X-File.”

16. “Mind’s Eye”: Skip It. Mulder and Scully are separated due to filming the movie. Not a fan, even with Lili Taylor.

17. “All Souls”: Skip It. Religious themes again. Angels. Skip it.

18. “The Pine Bluff Variant”: Watch It. Mulder undercover! A refreshing storyline with exciting developments.

19. “Folie a Deux”: Watch It. Stand-alone with intense flirting and heartfelt bedside confessions. Romantic episode alert!

20. “The End”: Must See. Season finale setting up…

THE MOVIE (The only one we acknowledge)

The X-Files: Fight the Future: Must See. Mulder swears! Helicopters galore! A hilariously wacky final act. A major event for the franchise, despite the bee situation.

And onward to…

SEASON 6

1. “The Beginning”: Watch It. Not groundbreaking, but sets the new direction for Season 6.

2. “Drive”: Watch It. Bryan Cranston’s pre-“Breaking Bad” role. Also, a tight, suspenseful episode.

3. “Triangle”: Watch It. Bonkers in a good way. Cool filmmaking techniques on display.

4/5. “Dreamland”/“Dreamland II”: Watch It. Season 6 embraces comedy. This two-parter with Michael McKean and Nora Dunn is wonderfully weird.

6. “How the Ghosts Stole Christmas”: Maybe Watch It? Ed Asner and Lily Tomlin are fantastic, and Mulder and Scully celebrating Christmas is sweet. But mostly talk, talk, talk. Not essential.

7. “Terms of Endearment”: Maybe Skip It. Bruce Campbell is great, but “Rosemary’s Baby” in reverse isn’t that appealing.

8. “The Rain King”: Watch It. Charming and quirky with great Mulder and Scully moments. Even Victoria Jackson can’t ruin it.

9. “S.R. 819”: Maybe Watch It. Skinner-focused with mythology implications. If you care about Skinner, watch it.

10. “Tithonus”: Watch It. Cool X-File with good Mulder/Scully interaction.

11/12. “Two Fathers”/“One Son”: Watch It. Mythology two-parter with a significant status quo change.

13. “Agua Mala”: Skip It. Meh, despite Darren McGavin’s reappearance.

14. “Monday”: Watch It. “Groundhog Day” in “The X-Files.” Deja vu? Solid execution.

15. “Arcadia”: Watch It. Season 6 finally delivers the “Mulder and Scully undercover as a married couple” episode. Worth the wait.

16. “Alpha”: Maybe Skip It. Dog puns. So many dog puns from Mulder. New “I Want To Believe” poster at the end, though.

17. “Trevor”: Maybe Watch It. Upgraded from skip to maybe watch! Cute banter and more entertaining than initially remembered.

18. “Milagro”: Maybe Watch It. Murderous novelist episode with John Hawkes. Silly Chris Carter writing, but gooey Mulder/Scully moments. Watch for laughs.

19. “The Unnatural”: Watch It. Directed by David Duchovny. Mystery isn’t the strongest, but Mulder/Scully scenes are delightful.

20. “Three of a Kind”: Watch It. Unexpected follow-up to Season 5’s “Unusual Suspects” featuring the Lone Gunmen.

21. “Field Trip”: Watch It. Initially on the fence, but re-watch reveals a charming and subtle character study.

22. “Biogenesis”: Watch It. Season finale – of course, watch it.

SEASON 7

1/2. “The Sixth Extinction”/“The Sixth Extinction II: Amor Fati”: Watch It. Ridiculousness ensues in “Amor Fati” (Chris Carter’s Jesus metaphor phase). But it’s the premiere. Forgivable.

3. “Hungry”: Watch It. Stand-alone, but a unique POV experiment.

4. “Millennium”: Watch It. Coda to the “Millennium” series. Decent zombie adventure, even without “Millennium” context. Great ending scene.

5. “Rush”: Maybe Skip It. Flirt-o-meter gets a workout, but otherwise average stand-alone.

6. “The Goldberg Variation”: Watch It. Rube Goldberg devices! Stanford from “Sex and the City”! Always enjoyable.

7. “Orison”: Skip It. Attempt to bring back a villain fails. Pales in comparison to the original.

8. “The Amazing Maleeni”: Watch It. Magic, Ricky Jay. Recommended.

9. “Signs and Wonders”: Skip It. Another religious cult episode. Mulder teases Scully about “snake handling,” but not worth the whole episode.

10/11. “Sein und Zeit”/“Closure”: Watch It. Mythology two-parter resolving the Mulder’s sister mystery (sort of). Not entirely satisfying, but the closest answer you’ll get.

12. “X-Cops”: Maybe Skip It. Interesting format experiment, but gets a bit silly.

13. “First Person Shooter”: Watch It. Follow-up to “Kill Switch,” also by William Gibson. Weird but cool video game elements, and Scully kicks ass.

14. “Theef”: Skip It. The “ass genie” episode. NOPE NOPE NOPE. “Shadows” rule applies – can’t even remember what happened.

15. “En Ami”: Skip It. “Smoking Man pervs out on Scully” episode. Adds nothing to the narrative.

16. “Chimera”: Skip It. Nothing good happens when Mulder and Scully split up. Foreshadowing Season 8.

17. “all things”: Watch It. Moby soundtrack alert! Written and directed by Gillian Anderson. Indescribable, but if you’re invested in Mulder/Scully, watch it.

18. “Brand X”: Skip It. Not terrible, but not a standout episode.

19. “Hollywood A.D.”: Watch It. David Duchovny’s self-indulgent but fun writing/directing effort. Scully runs in heels!

20. “Fight Club”: Skip It. FUCK YOU EPISODE. WORST EPISODE EVER. HATE IT.

21. “Je Souhaite”: Watch It. Sweet stand-alone. Not essential, but enjoyable.

22. “Requiem”: Must See. Ruined summer 2000 for some fans. But essential viewing for the cliffhanger.

SEASON 8

Note: Doggett? Not a fan. If you are, find another guide.

1/2. “Within”/“Without”: Watch It. Meet John Doggett. Let’s get it over with.

3. “Patience”: Skip It. MANBAT. NOPE.

4. “Roadrunners”: Maybe Watch It. Stand-alone, religious cult (bad sign), weird phenomenon. But Mike says give it a second chance. Grossly fun Scully solo adventure.

5. “Invocation”: Maybe Watch It. No banana slug Jesus, but Doggett moping about his dead son. If you like Doggett, maybe watch.

6. “Redrum”: Maybe Watch It. Joe Morton and a timey-wimey murder mystery. Could be worse.

7. “Via Negativa”: Skip It. RELIGIOUS CULT. Again.

8. “Surekill”: Skip It. “Shadows” rule.

9. “Salvage”: Skip It. Cyborg episode? Seriously?

10. “Badlaa”: Skip It. Legless Indian mystic? Takes 8 seasons? Shocking.

11. “The Gift”: Watch It. Mulder appears! In flashback form, but still! And Doggett too. Fair and balanced guide.

12. “Medusa”: Skip It. “Shadows” rule!

13. “Per Manum”: Watch It. Indescribable, but essential for Mulder/Scully shippers.

14/15. “This is Not Happening”/“DeadAlive”: Must See. Ridiculous Season 8. Bends space and time. But you’re pot-committed now.

16. “Three Words”: Watch It. Not “I love you, Scully.” But Mulder’s back, and mythology drops.

17. “Empedocles”: Watch It. Doggett’s son, Reyes (ugh), but Mulder investigates. Forgivable.

18. “Vienen”: Maybe Watch It. “Mulder and Doggett investigate.” Not panty-dropping premise, but plotting happens.

19. “Alone”: Watch It. Meta fan service episode. Especially the ending.

20/21. “Essence”/“Existence”: Must See. Scully’s special delivery. Welcome to the new “X-Files.”

SEASON 9

Note: Skipping intensifies…

1/2. “Nothing Important Happened Today”/“Nothing Important Happened Today II”: Maybe Watch It. Lucy Lawless arrives. David Duchovny departs. Super-soldiers are introduced (painfully abused term).

3. “Dæmonicus”: Skip It. Satanic ritual murders? Groundbreaking. Not.

4. “4-D”: Skip It. Cary Elwes, not aged well.

5. “Lord of the Flies”: Skip It. Killer flies in the brain. NOPE.

6. “Trust No 1”: Watch It. Mulder sighting! Weird stuff happens. Ridiculous email.

7. “John Doe”: Maybe Skip It. Doggett-centric episode. Michelle MacLaren’s directorial debut, visually interesting. MAYBE watch.

8. “Hellbound”: Skip It. Reyes-centric episode. Double skip.

9/10. “Provenance”/“Providence”: Watch It. Might as well. Important plot developments.

11. “Audrey Pauley”: Watch It. Doggett/Reyes adventure, but sweet. Actually enjoyable.

12. “Underneath”: Skip It. “Shadows” rule in full effect.

13. “Improbable”: Maybe Skip It. Burt Reynolds as God? Sure, fine, whatever.

14. “Scary Monsters”: Skip It. Liked the nitpicking agent from “Alone,” but not enough for a whole episode.

15. “Jump the Shark”: Watch It. Saddest faces guaranteed. But you gotta watch it.

16. “William”: Watch It. Magic baby explanation needed.

17. “Release”: Skip It. Doggett’s dead son. Still not invested.

18. “Sunshine Days”: Maybe Watch It. Penultimate episode. Brady Bunch homage. Seriously. Worth seeing for the sheer absurdity.

19/20. “The Truth”: Must See. See how it ends? Nonsensical writing? Convoluted mythology “explained”? Pour a drink and enjoy the trainwreck.

Editor’s Note (Sept. 10th, 2023): 2023 Update begins!

OKAY, THE OTHER MOVIE EXISTS (unfortunately)

The X-Files: I Want to Believe: Skip It. Laughably bad. Chris Carter forgot how people talk. Nonsensical fan service. Regretful viewing.

SEASON 10

1. “My Struggle”: Skip It. “My Struggle” episodes are all terrible. Mythology held together by no paper clips or gum. Clip montages can’t save it.

2. “Founder’s Mutation”: Maybe Watch It. James Wong directed. Doesn’t hold up great, but feels like an “X-Files” episode, with gross moments.

3. “Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster”: Watch It. Darin Morgan, not his best, but still good. Kumail Nanjiani, doggos!

4. “Home Again”: Watch It. Scully’s mom, sadness, trash monster. Watchable with strong character moments. Scully calls Mulder “Fox”? Rare.

5. “Babylon”: Skip It. “X-Files” GIFs are mostly from this episode (bad hallucination). Cringe. Bondage gear for Ambrose? Maybe fewer women on “X-Files” is better. Cold open suicide bomber cliche.

6. “My Struggle II”: Skip It. Even worse “My Struggle.” Carter admitted cliffhanger was a dare to Fox. Wish Fox hadn’t taken the bait.

SEASON 11

1. “My Struggle III”: Skip It. “My Struggle” = “Mein Kampf.” Why, Chris Carter, why? Afraid to ask.

2. “This”: Maybe Watch It. Mulder and Scully on the run, conspiracy-rich. Great banter, Langley returns (sorta).

3. “Plus One”: Maybe Watch It. Seasons 10 & 11 graded on a curve. Less-than-great X-File, but Carter finally acknowledges Mulder/Scully romance. Setting up series finale nonsense.

4. “The Lost Art of Forehead Sweat”: Watch It. Darin Morgan’s least successful, heavy nostalgia. Goofy fun, Brian Huskey shines.

5. “Ghouli”: Skip It. Creepypasta, teen fuckboi. Turns out teen is Mulder and Scully’s son William. Mythology episode in disguise. Skip it for your own good.

6. “Kitten”: Skip It. Skinner spotlight, Haley Joel Osment, Vietnam flashbacks. Not good. Worse is coming.

7. “Rm9sbG93ZXJz”: Watch It. Only S10/11 episode in “best 30” list. Dialogue-free experiment. Fun.

8. “Familiar”: Maybe Skip It. Spooky casefile, disconnected mythology. Little girl named Emily (Scully connection ignored). Previous episode ending is a better series finale. Stop here?

9. “Nothing Lasts Forever”: Skip It. Clever banter, incredibly gross. Mulder continuity error about glasses. Unforgivable oversight.

10. “My Struggle IV”: Skip It. Worst taste in your mouth. Gillian Anderson done with Scully after this. Monica Reyes evil? Skinner head pops? Mulder murders? Scully’s situation? Spare yourself. Remember “X-Files” at its best, not this.

Enjoyed this guide? Want to forget the later seasons? Check out other Skip It/Watch It guides! Or Liz Tells Frank Live podcasts!

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About Liz Shannon Miller

Liz Shannon Miller is a Los Angeles-based writer and editor, talking about TV online since the internet’s early days. Senior TV Editor at Collider, with work in the New York Times, Vulture, Variety, AV Club, Hollywood Reporter, IGN, The Verge, and Thought Catalog. Playwright, podcast host, and “X-Files” trivia expert.

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Posted on September 10, 2023, in Skip It/Watch It Guide, TV and tagged david duchovny, everything relates to the x-files, gillian anderson, skip it/watch it guide, x-files. Bookmark the permalink. 74 Comments.

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