Gillian Anderson's Favorite Episodes Of The X-Files
Sept 30, 2021 0:15:27 GMT -5
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Post by SpnFanJackie on Sept 30, 2021 0:15:27 GMT -5
Gillian Anderson played Dana Scully on The X-Files; we look at her favorite episodes of the classic sci-fi TV show (& explain why they're great).
Gillian Anderson appeared in almost every episode of The X-Files as Dana Scully, so it's only natural she would have some favorites. Anderson selected six of the episodes she liked the best for a live-stream promoting season 11, and there are some interesting selections [via Comicbook.com]. In particular, Anderson appears to be one of many admirers of X-Files writer Darin Morgan, placing two of his episodes on her list.
Anderson's portrayal of Scully during The X-Files' initial run catapulted Anderson to fame, earning her an Emmy award. Scully's skeptical agent was typically the counterbalance to true believer Mulder, and could have easily been a drag on the sci-fi elements — but Anderson depicted Scully as a likable and nuanced character. As the series went on, it fleshed out elements of Scully's personality such as her religious faith and complicated relationship with her family.
Since then, Gillian Anderson has played Margaret Thatcher in The Crown, Jean in Sex Education, Lily Bart in The House of Mirth, and many other roles on screen and stage. Anderson's choices for her favorite episodes could be a sign of which parts of The X-Files she enjoyed filming the most, or just a reflection of her personal tastes. The selections suggest that she preferred episodes that broke with the show's usual format.
"Ice" (Season 1, Episode 8)
Mulder and Scully pull their guns in paranoia in The X-Files episode "Ice"
The earliest episode that Anderson lists is "Ice", a tightly contained episode about an Arctic research team that is driven into a paranoid rage by alien organisms. "Ice" was praised for many fans and critics for its tense atmosphere and themes of trust and conspiracy — themes that would become central to The X-Files more broadly. The episode was inspired by a real-life excavation in Greenland as well as John W. Campbell's novella Who Goes There, and also may have been connected to The X-Files' ongoing black oil conspiracy plotline.
"Ice" was one of the first episodes that showcased Mulder and Scully as an effective team instead of rivals arguing about belief in the paranormal. Their trust stands in contrast to the suspicion that the research team shows towards each other. Anderson may have selected this episode as a showcase of the Mulder/Scully dynamic, or she could have, like fans, appreciated the taught script and bleak ending.
"Humbug" (Season 2, Episode 20)
David Douchovny speaking to performer in Humbug X-Files
The first Morgan-penned episode Anderson selected is "Humbug", an episode that sees Mulder and Scully investigating a string of murders in a community of circus performers. The episode guest stars several real-life sideshow performers, and finds tremendous humanity in the world of "freaks." It was also one of the first explicitly comedic X-Files episodes, showing that the series could adopt a wide range of tones, particularly in Darin Morgan's more comedic X-Files scripts.
Anderson may have related to the episode for the same reason many critics responded positively to it, such as its compassionate portrayal of social outsiders. Anderson's selections suggest that she also enjoyed a chance to be in a more comedic setting, even if her character was usually the straight woman. Critics have also pointed out that Morgan portrayed the Scully character more sympathetically and in-depth than most other X-Files writers while making Mulder appear somewhat ridiculous, which Anderson could have enjoyed as a change of pace.
"Jose Chung’s From Outer Space" (Season 3, Episode 20)
"Jose Chung's From Outer Space" is another more comedic X-Files episode written by Darin Morgan. In the story, Mulder and Scully investigate an alien abduction, but the investigation turns strange when the eponymous Jose Chung, a thriller novelist played by Charles Nelson Reilly, writes a book based on the incident. The episode demonstrates how the truth can be uncertain, with everyone having a different account of the abduction, and ends on a poignant Mulder voice-over on why people are compelled to believe in the supernatural. "Jose Chung's" also involves cameos from Jesse Ventura and Alex Trebek as mysterious men in black. After becoming a fan favorite, the episode also had a semi-sequel in The X-Files' companion series Millennium.
Anderson has spoken in the past about how much she enjoyed filming "Jose Chung's", being quoted in The Complete X-Files as saying that filming the episode was "like dessert" after a lengthy season and saying "That's what kept it fun and that's what kept it worth doing all the time." This is another case of Anderson enjoying one of the series' lighter episodes.
"The Post-Modern Prometheus" (Season 5, Episode 5)
Scully Mulder Carride Post Modern Prometheus X-Files
"The Post-Modern Prometheus" was penned by series creator Chris Carter, who typically wrote the heavy "mythology" episodes, but it has an off-beat tone similar to "Humbug" and "Jose Chung's."A modern take on the classic Frankenstein and filmed in black and white, "The Post-Modern Prometheus" tells the story of a small-town monster who gradually becomes accepted by his community. The episode concludes with a memorable fantasy sequence where the "monster" is invited onstage at a Cher concert.
RELATED:
The X-Files Almost Included Abraham Lincoln's Ghost: Why It Didn't Happen
This selection further shows Anderson's enjoyment of the more unusual and light-hearted episodes of The X-Files. Like "Humbug", "The Post-Modern Prometheus" is also a sympathetic portrayal of a seemingly monstrous outsider. Anderson isn't alone in her admiration of this episode — it received seven Emmy nominations.
"Bad Blood" (Season 5, Episode 12)
"Bad Blood" is an episode about Mulder's encounter with what he believes is a vampire, narrated through a variety of perspectives using the framing device of an FBI internal investigation. The episode uses the Rashomon-like structure that has been used in The Simpsons and many other shows to demonstrate how Mulder and Scully really see the world and each other. "Bad Blood" was written by future Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul creator Vince Gilligan and received praise from fans and critics.
In Anderson's list, "Bad Blood" is another episode that shows The X-Files' more comedic side, with both Mulder and Scully presenting a humorously caricatured take on each other. In Andy Meisler's Resist or Serve guidebook, Anderson is quoted as saying "I loved that episode. As far as I'm concerned it's one of our best ever. I think it really showed how well David and I can work together."
"Triangle" (Season 6, Episode 3)
Mulder Scully Captured By Nazis Triangle X-Files
In "Triangle," Mulder is trapped aboard a ship on the Bermuda Triangle that is stuck in 1939. While Scully races to find him, Mulder has to convince the crew to return to the infamous Devil's Triangle to prevent the Nazis from gaining control of a gifted scientist. "Triangle" was notable for its directing style, which edited scenes together to appear as if they were all part of one take, which future series like Mr. Robot and True Detective also used to gain acclaim and create a dramatic sense of momentum.
"Triangle" featured Anderson in a dual role, playing both Scully fighting through the bureaucracy of the FBI and a mysterious woman in a dress on the ship who ends up being vital to the hunt for the scientist. At one point, both of Anderson's characters are on-screen simultaneously through the use of a split-screen. This double role may be why Anderson selected the episode, or she may have just enjoyed its dramatic pacing. Either way, Gillian Anderson's choice of The X-Files episodes shows that she was generally in agreement with the fans about when the series was at its best.
Anderson's portrayal of Scully during The X-Files' initial run catapulted Anderson to fame, earning her an Emmy award. Scully's skeptical agent was typically the counterbalance to true believer Mulder, and could have easily been a drag on the sci-fi elements — but Anderson depicted Scully as a likable and nuanced character. As the series went on, it fleshed out elements of Scully's personality such as her religious faith and complicated relationship with her family.
Since then, Gillian Anderson has played Margaret Thatcher in The Crown, Jean in Sex Education, Lily Bart in The House of Mirth, and many other roles on screen and stage. Anderson's choices for her favorite episodes could be a sign of which parts of The X-Files she enjoyed filming the most, or just a reflection of her personal tastes. The selections suggest that she preferred episodes that broke with the show's usual format.
"Ice" (Season 1, Episode 8)
Mulder and Scully pull their guns in paranoia in The X-Files episode "Ice"
The earliest episode that Anderson lists is "Ice", a tightly contained episode about an Arctic research team that is driven into a paranoid rage by alien organisms. "Ice" was praised for many fans and critics for its tense atmosphere and themes of trust and conspiracy — themes that would become central to The X-Files more broadly. The episode was inspired by a real-life excavation in Greenland as well as John W. Campbell's novella Who Goes There, and also may have been connected to The X-Files' ongoing black oil conspiracy plotline.
"Ice" was one of the first episodes that showcased Mulder and Scully as an effective team instead of rivals arguing about belief in the paranormal. Their trust stands in contrast to the suspicion that the research team shows towards each other. Anderson may have selected this episode as a showcase of the Mulder/Scully dynamic, or she could have, like fans, appreciated the taught script and bleak ending.
"Humbug" (Season 2, Episode 20)
David Douchovny speaking to performer in Humbug X-Files
The first Morgan-penned episode Anderson selected is "Humbug", an episode that sees Mulder and Scully investigating a string of murders in a community of circus performers. The episode guest stars several real-life sideshow performers, and finds tremendous humanity in the world of "freaks." It was also one of the first explicitly comedic X-Files episodes, showing that the series could adopt a wide range of tones, particularly in Darin Morgan's more comedic X-Files scripts.
Anderson may have related to the episode for the same reason many critics responded positively to it, such as its compassionate portrayal of social outsiders. Anderson's selections suggest that she also enjoyed a chance to be in a more comedic setting, even if her character was usually the straight woman. Critics have also pointed out that Morgan portrayed the Scully character more sympathetically and in-depth than most other X-Files writers while making Mulder appear somewhat ridiculous, which Anderson could have enjoyed as a change of pace.
"Jose Chung’s From Outer Space" (Season 3, Episode 20)
"Jose Chung's From Outer Space" is another more comedic X-Files episode written by Darin Morgan. In the story, Mulder and Scully investigate an alien abduction, but the investigation turns strange when the eponymous Jose Chung, a thriller novelist played by Charles Nelson Reilly, writes a book based on the incident. The episode demonstrates how the truth can be uncertain, with everyone having a different account of the abduction, and ends on a poignant Mulder voice-over on why people are compelled to believe in the supernatural. "Jose Chung's" also involves cameos from Jesse Ventura and Alex Trebek as mysterious men in black. After becoming a fan favorite, the episode also had a semi-sequel in The X-Files' companion series Millennium.
Anderson has spoken in the past about how much she enjoyed filming "Jose Chung's", being quoted in The Complete X-Files as saying that filming the episode was "like dessert" after a lengthy season and saying "That's what kept it fun and that's what kept it worth doing all the time." This is another case of Anderson enjoying one of the series' lighter episodes.
"The Post-Modern Prometheus" (Season 5, Episode 5)
Scully Mulder Carride Post Modern Prometheus X-Files
"The Post-Modern Prometheus" was penned by series creator Chris Carter, who typically wrote the heavy "mythology" episodes, but it has an off-beat tone similar to "Humbug" and "Jose Chung's."A modern take on the classic Frankenstein and filmed in black and white, "The Post-Modern Prometheus" tells the story of a small-town monster who gradually becomes accepted by his community. The episode concludes with a memorable fantasy sequence where the "monster" is invited onstage at a Cher concert.
RELATED:
The X-Files Almost Included Abraham Lincoln's Ghost: Why It Didn't Happen
This selection further shows Anderson's enjoyment of the more unusual and light-hearted episodes of The X-Files. Like "Humbug", "The Post-Modern Prometheus" is also a sympathetic portrayal of a seemingly monstrous outsider. Anderson isn't alone in her admiration of this episode — it received seven Emmy nominations.
"Bad Blood" (Season 5, Episode 12)
"Bad Blood" is an episode about Mulder's encounter with what he believes is a vampire, narrated through a variety of perspectives using the framing device of an FBI internal investigation. The episode uses the Rashomon-like structure that has been used in The Simpsons and many other shows to demonstrate how Mulder and Scully really see the world and each other. "Bad Blood" was written by future Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul creator Vince Gilligan and received praise from fans and critics.
In Anderson's list, "Bad Blood" is another episode that shows The X-Files' more comedic side, with both Mulder and Scully presenting a humorously caricatured take on each other. In Andy Meisler's Resist or Serve guidebook, Anderson is quoted as saying "I loved that episode. As far as I'm concerned it's one of our best ever. I think it really showed how well David and I can work together."
"Triangle" (Season 6, Episode 3)
Mulder Scully Captured By Nazis Triangle X-Files
In "Triangle," Mulder is trapped aboard a ship on the Bermuda Triangle that is stuck in 1939. While Scully races to find him, Mulder has to convince the crew to return to the infamous Devil's Triangle to prevent the Nazis from gaining control of a gifted scientist. "Triangle" was notable for its directing style, which edited scenes together to appear as if they were all part of one take, which future series like Mr. Robot and True Detective also used to gain acclaim and create a dramatic sense of momentum.
"Triangle" featured Anderson in a dual role, playing both Scully fighting through the bureaucracy of the FBI and a mysterious woman in a dress on the ship who ends up being vital to the hunt for the scientist. At one point, both of Anderson's characters are on-screen simultaneously through the use of a split-screen. This double role may be why Anderson selected the episode, or she may have just enjoyed its dramatic pacing. Either way, Gillian Anderson's choice of The X-Files episodes shows that she was generally in agreement with the fans about when the series was at its best.
