The Ultimate X-Files Series Guide: Skip It or Watch It

Okay, let’s dive into “The X-Files.” This guide has been around for a while in eBook form, helping fans navigate this iconic series. But with its enduring appeal and new viewers discovering it, now is the perfect time to make it widely available. Because let’s be honest, not every single one of the 201 episodes of “The X-Files” is a masterpiece. This groundbreaking show, full of thrilling mysteries, definitely had its ups and downs across nine seasons (and beyond!).

Consider this your friendly map through the迷宫 (maze) of “The X-Files” universe.

But before we get started, a quick disclaimer: This guide is purely subjective. It’s shaped by my own personal journey with the show. Think of it as a fan’s perspective. It’s got a soft spot for Mulder and maybe a little less enthusiasm for Reyes. A good chunk of this guide is dedicated to spotting those Mulder and Scully moments of undeniable chemistry, while also steering clear of the truly bizarre missteps. And for the record, we’re pretending The X-Files: I Want to Believe doesn’t exist.

This guide is here to be your helpful companion.

UPDATE: Celebrating the 30th anniversary of “The X-Files” (September 10th, 2023!), Seasons 10 and 11 have been added! Prepare for more episodes to skip than to watch in these later seasons.

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SEASON 1

1. “Pilot”: Must see. Repeat after me: YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO WATCH THE PILOT. And this one is truly exceptional. It’s a fantastic introduction to Mulder and Scully, setting the stage for everything to come, with a healthy dose of 90s nostalgia (it’s 1993, after all!). Plus, it’s a solid 8 on the Flirt-o-meter. Seriously, it’s one of the best TV pilots ever made.

2. “Deep Throat”: Watch it. Conspiracy theories galore! A key character is introduced! And Mulder, in true Mulder fashion, does something reckless and gets arrested. (A tradition is born).

3. “Squeeze”: Watch it. Another “X-Files” staple begins here – the monster-of-the-week episode! Tooms, our stretchy friend, kicks things off with a memorable debut.

4. “Conduit”: Watch it. The central mystery might not be the most gripping, but this episode delves into Mulder’s character in significant ways, revealing more about his motivations.

5. “The Jersey Devil”: Maybe skip it. I have a soft spot for this slightly cheesy episode. Scully goes on a date! Mulder, predictably, gets arrested again! But ultimately, it’s not crucial to the overall “X-Files” experience.

6. “Shadows”: Skip it. My go-to test for skippable episodes: Can I even remember what happened? “Shadows” perfectly fits this rule. Even after refreshing my memory with a plot summary, it remains stubbornly unmemorable. We’ll be using the “Shadows” rule quite a bit moving forward.

7. “Ghost in the Machine”: Skip it. I do remember this one. And it wasn’t good. Save yourself the time.

8. “Ice”: Watch it. This is a standout episode. And not just because Felicity Huffman makes an appearance and it’s a clear homage to “The Thing.” It’s genuinely suspenseful and chilling.

9. “Space”: Skip it. Nope. Just, absolutely not.

10. “Fallen Angel”: Watch it. Mulder gets arrested again! Plus, we meet a recurring character and get important pieces of the mythology puzzle.

11. “Eve”: Watch it. A compelling mystery with some satisfying twists and turns.

12. “Fire”: Maybe skip it. Reasons to watch: Mark Sheppard guest stars; Mulder’s ex-girlfriend appears, making Scully adorably jealous; and Mulder in a tuxedo AND silk boxers. Reasons to skip: it’s a bit ridiculous. Your call.

13. “Beyond the Sea”: Must see. A pivotal episode for Scully, and a solid, unsettling serial killer story. Definitely worth your time.

14. “Gender Bender”: Skip it. Just…meh. Unless you have a serious thing for Nicholas Lea (Agent Krycek), and don’t worry, there’s plenty more Nicholas Lea to come.

15. “Lazarus”: Skip it. Unless you are deeply invested in Scully’s past romantic relationships.

16. “Young at Heart”: Skip it. Another forgettable monster-of-the-week episode.

17. “E.B.E.”: Watch it. Packed with mythology elements and introduces the Lone Gunmen, who are simply the best.

18. “Miracle Man”: Skip it. Rule of thumb: episodes centered around religious cults are usually not great. You can skip this one without missing much.

19. “Shapes”: Skip it. The “Shadows” rule applies here again.

20. “Darkness Falls”: Watch it. A monster-of-the-week episode that I distinctly remember enjoying. You might too!

21. “Tooms”: Watch it. Our stretchy friend Tooms is back! I appreciate how this episode directly follows up on “Squeeze.” This kind of continuity becomes less common in later seasons, so let’s appreciate it here.

22. “Born Again”: Skip it. This season has way too many reincarnation-themed episodes. Enough already!

23. “Roland”: Skip it. A telepathically controlled janitor? Seriously?

24. “The Erlenmeyer Flask”: Must see. Big things happen! “X-Files” season finales are consistently impactful, and this one is particularly exciting.

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SEASON 2

1. “Little Green Men”: Watch it. Picks up right where “Erlenmeyer Flask” left off, with exciting action in Puerto Rico!

2. “The Host”: Watch it. One of the most infamous monster-of-the-week episodes, with a delightfully high gross-out factor.

3. “Blood”: Maybe skip it. Some memorable moments, but ultimately non-essential to the overall narrative.

4. “Sleepless”: Watch it. Meet Agent Krycek for the first time! And a reminder that 20 years ago, Vietnam vets were considerably younger than they are now. Except for the last scene, it’s a standard monster-of-the-week, elevated by some classic Scully sarcasm.

5/6. “Duane Barry”/”Ascension”: Must see. This two-parter is incredibly important. I won’t give anything away, but trust me, it’s DAMN good.

7. “3”: Skip it. I enjoy a bit of mopey Mulder as much as anyone, but vampire cultists? Let’s move on.

8. “One Breath”: Must see. Essentially a sequel to “Duane Barry” and “Ascension,” and features 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. Which is definitely a good thing.

10. “Red Museum”: Watch it. This is the iconic episode where Mulder wipes barbecue sauce off Scully’s chin! Plus, a solid mystery interwoven with mythology elements. (Thanks to Mike for reminding me about this one).

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

12. “Aubrey”: Skip it. Meh.

13. “Irresistible”: Watch it. This episode is genuinely disturbing, especially for 1995 network TV – in a good, unsettling way.

14. “Die Hand die Verletzt”: Watch it. This episode gave me nightmares for weeks after watching it. Seriously terrifying. You’ll enjoy it.

15. “Fresh Bones”: Skip it. The Haitian voodoo episode. Pretty inconsequential.

16/17. “Colony”/”End Game”: Must see. A pattern emerges in Season 2: while most episodes are standalone, two-parters in the fall and spring deliver major plot developments. This one is no exception. Exciting things happen!

18. “Fearful Symmetry”: Skip it. “Invisible elephant rampage.” Need I say more? Pass.

19. “Dod Kalm”: Maybe watch it. The old age makeup is laughably bad, but there’s some great Mulder and Scully bonding moments, so I’m tempted to recommend it.

20. “Humbug”: Watch it. The first episode written by Darin Morgan for the show. If you don’t know the name, learn it. Darin Morgan episodes are unique gems.

21. “The Calusari”: Skip it. Invoking the “Shadows” rule yet again.

22. “F. Emasculata”: Watch it. The exploding boils episode! I vividly remember it! So gross, but in an awesome way! If you’re not a fan of exploding boils, maybe skip this one.

23. “Soft Light”: Skip it. “Shadows” rule strikes again, even on an episode apparently about living shadows. Sorry, Tony Shalhoub.

24. “Our Town”: Maybe watch it. A prime example of early “X-Files” embracing the gross and weird in a fun way. Not essential, but enjoyably bizarre.

25. “Anasazi”: Must see. Hooray for finales! Especially the totally insane, cliffhanger finales.

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SEASON 3

1/2. “The Blessing Way”/”Paper Clip”: Must see. Time to resolve those cliffhangers and delve even deeper into the show’s mythology.

3. “D.P.O.”: Maybe skip it. Features young Jack Black and Giovanni Ribisi, but it’s a pretty standard monster-of-the-week, and Mulder and Scully don’t have any particularly charming moments.

4. “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose”: Must see. Darin Morgan strikes again! This episode won an Emmy for writing, and Peter Boyle won an Emmy for being Peter Boyle. It’s simply an outstanding hour of television.

5. “The List”: Skip it. Yawn, possessed serial killers on death row, yawn.

6. “2Shy”: Skip it. Yawn, fat-sucking serial killer, yawn.

7. “The Walk”: Skip it. Yawn, quadruple-amputee vengeance killing, yawn.

8. “Oubliette”: Watch it. A monster-of-the-week, but emotionally resonant. Guest starring Jewel Staite (Kaylee from Firefly!).

9/10. “Nisei”/”731”: Watch it. Sets up major mythology plot points for Season 4. And Mulder jumps onto a moving train!

11. “Revelations”: Maybe skip it. Unless you’re really into an episode focused on Scully grappling with her religious beliefs. Personally, I could skip it.

12. “War of the Coprophages”: Watch it. Darin Morgan, you genius. The brilliance of Darin Morgan episodes is their humor. By Season 3, this becomes a truly valuable asset.

13. “Syzygy”: Watch it. This episode is silly, but it makes me laugh. Mulder and Scully being incredibly petty with each other is comedy gold. And a very young Ryan Reynolds makes a brief appearance!

14. “Grotesque”: Watch it. Initially dismissed it as “the gargoyle serial killer” episode, but revisiting it (per Mike’s suggestion), it’s a dark, complex mystery with interesting backstory for Mulder. Mulder does a lot of intense staring in this one, though. Be prepared.

15/16. “Piper Maru”/”Apocrypha”: Watch it. Mythology two-parters are generally “Watch it”s, and this one introduces some key elements.

17. “Pusher”: Must see. This might be one of my all-time favorite episodes. It’s the episode that solidified my love for the show. The last ten minutes are incredibly intense.

18. “Teso Dos Bichos”: Skip it. The episode where Scully gets attacked by a rabid cat. Let’s just forget this one.

19. “Hell Money”: Skip it. Largely because it borders on being pretty racist.

20. “Jose Chung’s From Outer Space”: Must see. Darin Morgan keeps delivering! This might be a perfect hour of television. Brilliant, funny, sad, and perfect.

21. “Avatar”: Skip it. Unless you are really invested in A.D. Skinner’s sex life. Those people exist, but I’m not one of them.

22. “Quagmire”: Watch it. Some great moments in this episode – likely because Darin Morgan contributed to the script. Anchored by a defining scene between Mulder and Scully that captures their relationship perfectly. Also, sea monsters!

23. “Wetwired”: Watch it. Similar to “Blood” from Season 2, but with a bit of mythology and significantly more Scully, making it far superior.

24. “Talitha Cumi”: Watch it. Arguably the least exciting season finale in “X-Files” history, but it does set up some future storylines.

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SEASON 4

1. “Herrenvolk”: Watch it. Not the most thrilling, but it introduces the Consortium’s use of bees – AKA MY MORTAL ENEMIES. (Bees, I hate bees).

2. “Home”: Watch it. One of the show’s most infamous episodes, mainly for its disturbing content. It will definitely stay with you.

3. “Teliko”: Skip it. Black people are being “de-pigmented”? Yeah, hard pass.

4. “Unruhe”: Maybe skip it. Oh, Scully, serial killers just love kidnapping you. A somewhat interesting X-File, though.

5. “The Field Where I Died”: Skip it. I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen this episode, and based on what I hear, I’m not missing much. Past life regression and cult suicides. And someone claims Scully isn’t Mulder’s soulmate! (Mike thinks I should watch it because it’s “amazingly bad,” making me question our friendship or think he understands my taste in bad TV too well).

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,” this surprisingly funny episode explores the Cigarette Smoking Man’s backstory. After four seasons of him lurking in the shadows, it’s a welcome reveal.

8/9. “Tunguska”/”Terma”: Watch it. The mid-season mythology two-parter! A pretty gripping installment. Plus, a really good Mulder and Scully hug!

10. “Paper Hearts”: Watch it. A standalone serial killer episode, but a relatively fresh one with good character development.

11. “El Mundo Gira”: Skip it. The Mexican goat sucker episode. NOPE.

12. “Leonard Betts”: Watch it. Historical note: This was the post-Super Bowl episode, a major moment for the series. It also dramatically changes the show for the rest of the season with its shocking twist ending.

13. “Never Again”: Hmmmm. A controversial episode. Here’s what you need to know if you skip it: Scully has a solo investigation and meets a guy from Space: Above And Beyond. It’s ambiguous if they sleep together, Jodie Foster voices a tattoo, and Scully and Mulder have a major fight. None of these things are ever mentioned again. (I’m kind of grateful for that).

14. “Memento Mori”: Must see. Oh my god, this episode. The fallout from “Leonard Betts” explodes here. Just watch it.

15. “Kaddish”: Skip it. Another “religious fable turned monster” episode, and not essential viewing.

16. “Unrequited”: Skip it. Yawn, invisible assassin, yawn.

17/18. “Tempus Fugit”/”Max”: Watch it. Mythology time! Mythology time! Also, Mulder gets Scully a birthday present.

19. “Synchrony”: Maybe skip it. A really weird episode – “X-Files” does time travel! The execution isn’t perfect, but the approach to time travel is intellectually intriguing. If you like unique time travel concepts, give it a shot.

20. “Small Potatoes”: Watch it. Darin Morgan alert! Well, he’s acting, not writing (Vince Gilligan wrote this one, more on him later). But still, Darin Morgan in a lighthearted shapeshifter romp with many great moments. (Though, with modern views on sexual consent, it’s a bit problematic).

21. “Zero Sum”: Watch it. Okay, Skinner fans, here’s one for you. Just this once. It sets up mythology and backstory that becomes important for The Only Movie We’ll Discuss Here.

22. “Elegy”: Maybe skip it. Vaguely ties into the ongoing narrative, but otherwise a standard standalone episode.

23. “Demons”: Maybe watch it. A bit over the top, but if you enjoy Mulder Cry Face and nurturing Scully, it’s worth watching.

24. “Gethsemane”: Watch it. So much drama and a classic “X-Files” cliffhanger. Part of me thinks you should have to endure the three-month wait we fans did back in the day between this and the Season 5 premiere. That’s the sadist in me. We’ll ignore her.

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SEASON 5

1. “Redux”: Watch it. Not a fan of the stalling tactics in this episode, but it addresses the Season 4 cliffhanger and other important plot points. Uses a lot of stock footage, unfortunately.

2. “Redux II”: Must see. Despite the terrible title, this episode is crucial for resolving old storylines and starting new ones. Plus, TWISTS! And Mulder and Scully being incredibly sweet together.

3. “Unusual Suspects”: Watch it. It’s 1989! Meet the Lone Gunmen! A delightful episode.

4. “Detour”: Watch it. Ostensibly a standalone, but worth watching for the off-the-charts flirting between Mulder and Scully. Seriously, the Flirt-o-meter breaks in this one.

5. “The Post-Modern Prometheus”: Watch it. Speaking of flirting… Oh, and Cher, monsters, black-and-white cinematography, and more. A super-weird episode, but unless you’re dead inside (or hate Cher covers of Marc Cohn songs), the ending will make you smile. (But trigger warning: consent issues similar to “Small Potatoes”).

6/7. “Christmas Carol”/”Emily”: Watch it. A depressing two-parter, but essential to the mythology. Mulder makes a funny face at one point, if you need a lighter moment.

8. “Kitsunegari”: Maybe skip it. A sequel to “Pusher,” but suffers in comparison. The ending is pretty good, though.

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

10. “Chinga”: Skip it. Stephen King co-wrote it, but that doesn’t make it essential. Scully has a nice speech about witchcraft, but you can find it on YouTube.

11. “Kill Switch”: Watch it. William Gibson co-writes an episode and it’s fantastic. A cool cyberpunk adventure.

12. “Bad Blood”: Watch it. This episode gets better with time. One of the funniest installments, featuring Luke Wilson, vampires, and the Shaft theme song.

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

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

16. “Mind’s Eye”: Skip it. We’re in a stretch of episodes where Mulder and Scully are mostly separated due to filming X-Files: Fight the Future. Not a fan, even with Lili Taylor guest-starring.

17. “All Souls”: Skip it. I have little patience for religious-themed episodes, and this is no exception. Angels, really?

18. “The Pine Bluff Variant”: Watch it. I enjoyed this episode! Mulder going undercover is a fresh storyline, and exciting things happen!

19. “Folie a Deux”: Watch it. Do you like standalone episodes with lots of flirting and heartfelt bedside confessions? This one’s for you!

20. “The End”: Must see. By now, you know the pattern with finales and premieres, but this one is big, setting the stage for…

THE MOVIE (THE ONLY ONE WE ACKNOWLEDGE)

The X-Files: Fight the Future: Must see. Mulder gets to swear, tons of helicopters, and the last act is hilariously weird. A huge moment for the franchise. Even if those damn bees are involved.

And then, we move on to…

SEASON 6

1. “The Beginning”: Watch it. Not Shakespeare, but it establishes the new direction for the season.

2. “Drive”: Watch it. Bryan Cranston’s appearance here paved the way for Breaking Bad (created by X-Files co-EP Vince Gilligan). Also, a tightly paced, suspenseful adventure.

3. “Triangle”: Watch it. This episode is bonkers, mostly in a good way. Cool filmmaking techniques on display.

4/5. “Dreamland”/”Dreamland II”: Watch it. Season 6 embraced more comedy, and this two-parter with Michael McKean and Nora Dunn is a prime example. Things get very strange.

5. “How the Ghosts Stole Christmas”: Maybe watch it? Ed Asner and Lily Tomlin are wonderful, and Mulder and Scully celebrating Christmas together is sweet. But mostly just talking. Not essential.

6. “Terms of Endearment”: Maybe skip it. Bruce Campbell is great, but “Rosemary’s Baby in reverse” isn’t very appealing.

7. “The Rain King”: Watch it. A charmingly weird episode, with lots of fun Mulder and Scully moments. Even Victoria Jackson can’t ruin it.

8. “S.R. 819”: Maybe watch it. My Skinner interest is low, but this is a big Skinner episode with mythology implications, so maybe you should care.

9. “Tithonus”: Watch it. A cool X-File, with good Mulder/Scully interaction.

10/11. “Two Fathers”/”One Son”: Watch it. Mythology time again, with a significant status quo change by the end.

11. “Agua Mala”: Skip it. Just meh, even with Darren McGavin’s reappearance.

12. “Monday”: Watch it. This episode is great. In the tradition of Star Trek: TNG’s “Cause and Effect,” expect some… DEJA VU? (Jokes!). Solid execution.

13. “Arcadia”: Watch it. Took until Season 6 for a “Mulder and Scully go undercover as a married couple” episode, but it was worth the wait. For me, anyway.

14. “Alpha”: Maybe skip it. How much do you enjoy dog puns? Because Mulder doesn’t stop with them in this one. Some clever dialogue, but the only notable thing is Mulder getting a new “I Want To Believe” poster.

15. “Trevor”: Maybe watch it. Upgraded this one after rewatching! Cute banter and more entertaining than I remembered.

16. “Milagro”: Maybe watch it. About a murderous novelist, features Deadwood’s John Hawkes, but also some of Chris Carter’s silliest writing. Lots of gooey Mulder/Scully moments, though. Watchable, but occasionally laugh-inducing.

17. “The Unnatural”: Watch it. David Duchovny directed this one. While the main mystery isn’t the most engaging, the Mulder/Scully scenes are delightful.

18. “Three of a Kind”: Watch it. Expecting a follow-up to Season 5’s “Unusual Suspects”? Probably not! But here it is.

19. “Field Trip”: Watch it. Initially hesitant, but rewatching it, I found it charming! A surprisingly subtle and sweet character study.

20. “Biogenesis”: Watch it. Oh, hey, a finale. Of course, you’re going to watch it, right?

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SEASON 7

1/2. “The Sixth Extinction”/”The Sixth Extinction II: Amor Fati”: Watch it. Be warned – “Amor Fati” gets ridiculous. (Chris Carter’s Jesus metaphor phase begins here, and it gets over the top quickly). But it’s the premiere. We can forgive some things.

3. “Hungry”: Watch it. A standalone, but an interesting POV experiment.

4. “Millennium”: Watch it. Technically, a coda to Chris Carter’s other series of the same name. Even if you didn’t watch Millennium, it’s a decent zombie adventure. And the ending is top-notch.

5. “Rush”: Maybe skip it. Flirt-o-meter gets a workout, but otherwise, a pretty average standalone.

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

7. “Orison”: Skip it. Ugh. Another attempt to bring back an old villain, resulting in an episode that pales in comparison to its predecessor.

8. “The Amazing Maleeni”: Watch it. I like magic, I like Ricky Jay, I’m recommending it.

9. “Signs and Wonders”: Skip it. Ugh, another religious cult episode. There’s a cute Mulder teasing Scully about “snake handling,” but not worth it.

10/11. “Sein und Zeit”/”Closure”: Watch it. Mythology time, and as Part 2’s title suggests, these episodes resolve a major mystery: What happened to Mulder’s sister? (Note: the resolution may not be satisfying, but it’s the closest you’ll get to an answer).

11. “X-Cops”: Maybe skip it. Interesting form experiment, but gets a bit silly.

12. “First Person Shooter”: Watch it. Kind of a follow-up to “Kill Switch,” also written by William Gibson. Weird, but some cool video game elements and Scully kicks butt.

13. “Theef”: Skip it. The…ass genie episode. NOPE NOPE NOPE. I WAS WRONG ABOUT THIS ONE. Can’t even remember what happened. “Shadows” rule.

14. “En Ami”: Skip it. “Smoking Man pervs out on Scully” episode, doesn’t add anything to the narrative.

15. “Chimera”: Skip it. Nothing good happens when Mulder and Scully are separated. (Prepare for this to be a Season 8 theme).

16. “all things”: Watch it. Hope you like Moby, because you’ll hear a lot of Moby in this episode! Written and directed by Gillian Anderson. Hard to explain, but if you’ve come this far on the Mulder/Scully romance train, you might as well see it through.

17. “Brand X”: Skip it. Not terrible, but not great either.

18. “Hollywood A.D.”: Watch it. David Duchovny’s second writing/directing gig, a bit self-indulgent, but ridiculously fun. Worth it just for Scully running in heels.

19. “Fight Club”: Skip it. HATE THIS EPISODE. THE WORST.

20. “Je Souhaite”: Watch it. A sweet standalone – not essential, but I like it.

21. “Requiem”: Must see. The episode that ruined my summer of 2000. Definitely essential viewing, though.

SEASON 8

Note: I don’t really care about Doggett. If you care about Doggett, you might want a different guide.

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

3. “Patience”: Skip it. MANBAT NOPE.

4. “Roadrunners”: Maybe watch it. Standalone, religious cult (bad sign), and a very weird phenomenon. But Mike says give it another chance, and it’s not badly done. If a Scully-centric episode with some fun gross-out moments appeals, check it out.

5. “Invocation”: Maybe watch it. No banana slug second coming, but Doggett is mopey about his dead son. If you’re interested in Doggett, maybe watch it?

6. “Redrum”: Maybe watch it. Joe Morton and a timey-wimey murder mystery! Could be worse.

7. “Via Negativa”: Skip it. OH BOY ANOTHER RELIGIOUS CULT.

8. “Surekill”: Skip it. “Shadows” rule applies.

9. “Salvage”: Skip it. A cyborg episode? Really?

10. “Badlaa”: Skip it. Eight seasons for a legless Indian mystic? Shocking.

11. “The Gift”: Watch it. Mulder’s back! In flashbacks, but still. And an episode with Doggett! Fair and balanced, see?

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

13. “Per Manum”: Watch it. Don’t even know how to describe this episode, but it’s essential for Mulder/Scully shippers.

14/15. “This is Not Happening”/”DeadAlive”: Must see. Season 8 is ridiculous. These episodes bend space and time to insanity. But you’re at Season 8, so you’re committed now.

15. “Three Words”: Watch it. Not “I love you, Scully, let’s run away.” But Mulder’s back, so watch him do stuff, and more mythology drops.

16. “Empedocles”: Watch it. More Doggett’s son, more Reyes (ugh), but Mulder investigates, so maybe it’s okay.

17. “Vienen”: Maybe watch it. “Mulder and Doggett investigate” isn’t thrilling, but some plotting happens.

18. “Alone”: Watch it. The meta fan service episode! Maybe not SUPER meta, but meta enough, especially the ending.

19/20. “Essence”/”Existence”: Must see. Someone’s having a baby! Welcome to the new “X-Files,” in all its glory.

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SEASON 9

Note: Let the skipping truly begin…

1/2. “Nothing Important Happened Today”/”Nothing Important Happened Today II”: Maybe watch it. Lucy Lawless is here! David Duchovny isn’t. Super-soldiers are introduced and painfully overused.

3. “Dæmonicus”: Skip it. Satanic ritual murders? How original.

4. “4-D”: Skip it. I love Cary Elwes, but time hasn’t been kind.

5. “Lord of the Flies”: Skip it. Wikipedia: “killer flies hidden in the victim’s brain.” NOPE.

6. “Trust No 1”: Watch it. Mulder might show up! Weird stuff happens. Ridiculous email alert!

7. “John Doe”: Maybe skip it. An entire Doggett episode! But Michelle MacLaren’s directorial debut, visually interesting. MAYBE watchable. MAYBE.

8. “Hellbound”: Skip it. Even better, an entire Reyes episode!

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

10. “Audrey Pauley”: Watch it. I actually like this episode, even with Doggett/Reyes. It’s sweet.

11. “Underneath”: Skip it. “Shadows” rule in effect.

12. “Improbable”: Maybe skip it. Missed it originally? Burt Reynolds plays God? Sure, fine, whatever.

13. “Scary Monsters”: Skip it. Liked the junior agent from “Alone,” but not enough for another episode with her.

14. “Jump the Shark”: Watch it. Will make you sad. But you have to watch it.

15. “William”: Watch it. So you’re not confused about the magic baby.

16. “Release”: Skip it. Unless you’re invested in Doggett’s dead son. Unlikely.

17. “Sunshine Days”: Maybe watch it. Penultimate episode of The X-Files. Brady Bunch homage? Seriously. Almost worth watching to see it for yourself.

18/19. “The Truth”: Must see. Want to see how it ends? Nonsensical writing? Chris Carter trying to make nine years of convoluted mythology make sense?

Pour yourself some wine or moonshine. You deserve it.

Editor’s Note (Sept. 10th, 2023): 2023 update time!

OKAY, LET’S TALK ABOUT THE OTHER MOVIE

The X-Files: I Want to Believe: Skip it. Laughably bad. Terrible in many ways. Chris Carter forgot how people talk, especially in important character scenes. Really, really bad. The mid-credits scene is nonsensical fan service that my brain rejects. Regret watching it both times.

SEASON 10

1. “My Struggle”: Skip it. Four episodes titled “My Struggle” form the mythology arc of these seasons. All terrible. Skip them all. Mythology held together with paper clips and chewing gum in later seasons? Now, Chris Carter’s out of paper clips and gum. Clip montages can’t explain the convoluted ideas.

2. “Founder’s Mutation”: Maybe watch it. James Wong wrote and directed, not great, but feels like an X-Files episode compared to the premiere. Properly gross moments.

3. “Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster”: Watch it. Not Darin Morgan’s best, but even lesser Darin Morgan is good TV. Fun, Kumail Nanjiani, doggos!

4. “Home Again”: Watch it. The “Scully’s Mom shows up and everything is sad and there’s a trash monster” episode. Watchable, strong character moments. Scully calls Mulder “Fox”? Rare occurrence.

5. “Babylon”: Skip it. X-Files GIFs online are mostly from this episode, thanks to Mulder’s cringe-worthy hallucination. The rest of the episode is bad too. Robbie Amell and Lauren Ambrose are introduced as potential new agents, but after seeing Chris Carter put Ambrose in bondage gear for that hallucination, maybe fewer women on The X-Files is better.

   COLD OPEN WARNING: Cliched suicide bomber opening scene. Archaic.

6. “My Struggle II”: Skip it. “My Struggle” episodes are so bad. Chris Carter admitted he ended Season 10 on a cliffhanger as a dare to Fox to renew it. Wish Fox hadn’t taken the bait.

SEASON 11

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1. “My Struggle III”: Skip it. “My Struggle” is “Mein Kampf” in English. Why invoke Hitler’s memoir multiple times? Doesn’t make sense story-wise. Should have asked Chris Carter about it, but was afraid of the answer.

2. “This”: Maybe watch it. Mulder and Scully on the run is usually good. Conspiracy-heavy. Nonsensical storyline, but Mulder and Scully have great banter. Langley is back! (Sort of.)

3. “Plus One”: Maybe watch it. Seasons 10 and 11 are graded on a curve. Like broken chips at the bottom of the bag – not great, but still some flavor. Less-than-great X-File. But Chris Carter finally acknowledges Mulder and Scully’s long-term passionate connection. Set up for series finale stuff that’s not worth discussing (yet).

4. “The Lost Art of Forehead Sweat”: Watch it. Darin Morgan’s least successful episode, heavy on nostalgia, almost alienating. But still goofy fun, especially for those who have followed this guide. Brian Huskey has a great role.

5. “Ghouli”: Skip it. Starts as a spooky casefile about creepypasta and a teen fuckboi. Then it’s revealed teen fuckboi is Mulder and Scully’s son William, making it a mythology episode. Technically important for the storyline, but you don’t want to follow this storyline. Not great. Spoilers are for your own good.

6. “Kitten”: Skip it. Skinner gets a spotlight episode with Haley Joel Osment and Vietnam War flashbacks. Not good, skip it. Worse is coming.

7. “Rm9sbG93ZXJz”: Watch it. Only Season 10 or 11 episode in my best 30 episodes ranking. Narrative experiment with no dialogue. Fun to watch.

8. “Familiar”: Maybe skip it. Spooky casefile aspects, but disconnected from mythology. Little girl named Emily, forgetting the name’s significance for Scully. Skip it – the end of the previous episode is a better series ending than the actual finale.

9. “Nothing Lasts Forever”: Skip it. Clever banter, but incredibly gross. Mulder tells Scully “You can’t know how many times I imagined a scenario where you left that basement office before I ever needed glasses”—he wore glasses when they first met. Oversight unforgivable.

10. “My Struggle IV”: Skip it. Leaves a bad taste. Gillian Anderson likely felt the same, explaining why she said it was her last time playing Scully. Huge thing from the season premiere, “Plus One” plays a role, all in the worst way. Monica Reyes is evil now? Skinner’s head explodes? Mulder goes on a murder spree? And Scully… just spare yourself. Remember The X-Files at its best. Don’t dwell on what it became.

Enjoy this guide? Want to forget the bad parts of later seasons? Check out the other Skip It/Watch It guides! Or the Liz Tells Frank Live podcasts! We have fun.

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About Liz Shannon Miller

Liz Shannon Miller is a Los Angeles-based writer and editor, talking about television on the internet since its early days. Senior TV Editor at Collider, with work in the New York Times, Vulture, Variety, the AV Club, the 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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