Pilot (The X-Files)

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“Pilot”
The X-Files episode

Scully and Mulder
Episode no. Season 1
Episode 1X79
Written by Chris Carter
Directed by Robert Mandel
Guest stars Charles Cioffi,
Cliff De Young,
Sarah Koskoff,
Leon Russom,
Zachary Ansley
Production no. 01-101
Original airdate September 10, 1993 (Fox)
Episode chronology
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– "Deep Throat"

"Pilot" was the original series pilot for The X-Files science-fiction television series created by Chris Carter. Its main theme was alien abduction.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Agent Dana Scully is assigned to work with Agent Fox Mulder on the X-Files in an attempt to debunk his left-field work. Their first case has them traveling to fictional Bellefleur and Raymon County, Oregon to investigate a series of deaths within a single high-school class, which later appear to be alien abductions. A near comatose man, Billy Miles, is taking his classmates, including Theresa Nemman, into the woods, where they disappear into a bright light. In the end, Billy wakes up from his "waking coma". Under hypnosis, he explains that aliens abducted him and his classmates when they were in the woods celebrating their graduation. The aliens tracked the students through small metal devices planted up their noses, one of which Mulder and Scully recovered. In an effort to hide the incident, the motel that Mulder is staying at is burned to the ground, destroying all of his photographs and research. While reporting to her superiors, however, Scully shows them the metal device, which she kept with her and tells them that it was never seen before. Her superiors take it and promise to look into it; however, the episode ends with a mysterious Cigarette Smoking Man placing the device in a box inside a warehouse within the Pentagon, with other devices of the same kind.

[edit] Significance

In addition to setting the tone for the show, the episode sets up several character and story arcs. "Pilot" marks the first appearance of the Cigarette Smoking Man, who will go on to become the series' signature villain; although he has no lines his ominous background presence is established. Several other characters who will later return, including Chief Scott Blevins, Theresa Nemman, Detective Miles, Billy Miles, and Dr. Heitz Werber also appear for the first time. The events of the episode are revisited in the seventh-season finale, "Requiem", while the episode's conclusion is referenced in the first-season finale, "The Erlenmeyer Flask".

[edit] Production details

Chris Carter's initial pitch for The X-Files was rejected by Fox. He fleshed out the concept and returned a few weeks later, leading to the commission of the pilot.[1] Gillian Anderson commented, regarding her early work on the show, "It's a complete learning experience for me-the pilot was only the second time I'd been in front of a camera."[1]

[edit] Guests

  • Charles Cioffi as Division Chief Scott Blevins
  • Cliff DeYoung as Dr. Jay Nemman
  • Sarah Koskoff as Theresa Nemman
  • Leon Russom as Detective Miles
  • Zachary Ansley as Billy Miles
  • Stephen E. Miller as Coroner John Truitt
  • Jim Jansen as Dr. Heitz Werber
  • Malcolm Stewart as Dr. Glass
  • Alexandra Stewart as The Orderly
  • Ken Camroux as Third Man in Blevin's Office
  • Doug Abrams as Patrolman # 1
  • Katya Gardener as Peggy O'Dell
  • J.B. Bivens as Truck Driver
  • William B. Davis as Cigarette Smoking Man
  • Ric Reid as Assistant Coroner
  • Lesley Ewen as Receptionist

[edit] Reception

The episode was generally well-received by fans[2] and critics alike. Variety criticized the episode for "using reworked concepts", but praised the production and noted its potential.[3] Of the acting, the magazine stated, "Duchovny's delineation of a serious scientist with a sense of humor should win him partisans, and Anderson's wavering doubter connects well. They're a solid team...". Variety also praised the writing and direction: "Mandel's cool direction of Carter's ingenious script and the artful presentation itself give TVsci-fi a boost." The magazine concluded, "Carter's dialogue is fresh without being self-conscious, and the characters are involving. Series kicks off with drive and imagination, both innovative in recent TV."

Entertainment Weekly noted that Scully "was set up as a scoffing skeptic" in the pilot but progressed toward belief throughout the season.[4] After the airing of just four episodes, the magazine called The X-Files "the most paranoid, subversive show on TV",[5] noting the "marvelous tension between Anderson-who is dubious about these events-and Duchovny, who has the haunted, imploring look of a true believer".[4]

[edit] Awards

The pilot was nominated for an ASC award.[6]

[edit] Trivia

  • The X-Files opening/closing theme music is not used in this episode.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "X APPEAL: 'THE X-FILES' BUILDS A CULT FOLLOWING BY FOLLOWING THE OCCULT". Entertainment Weekly (Mar 18, 1994).
  2. ^ The X-Files Top Episodes. TV.com.
  3. ^ The X-Files Fri.. Variety (Sep. 10, 1993).
  4. ^ a b "'X' MARKS WHAT'S HOT: WITH A QUIRKY SENSE OF HUMOR AND A GENEROUS HELPING OF THE PARAMORMAL, FOX'S "X-FILES' SLYLY ALTERS THE TIME-TESTED RECIPE FOR MYSTERY-SOLVING.". Entertainment Weekly (Jan 21, 1994).
  5. ^ "ALIEN NATION: FBI AGENTS BATTLE UNEARTHLY BOOGEYMEN IN 'THE X-FILES'". Entertainment Weekly (Oct 08, 1993).
  6. ^ ASC awards

[edit] External links

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The X-Files Season 1
Episode List | Official Website