The X-Files Diaries - XF - S1, E3: Squeeze.

Deep Throat.
Written by Glen Morgan And James Wong. Directed by Harry Longstreet.

Original Airdate: September 24, 1993

It's the third episode, and the X-Files world is still expanding. Like I said before, it's the first season - we can expect this. It did strike me as odd though, that whilst the writers seem to be introducing elements of the Universe in a very methodical, check the boxes kind of way it totally works. It shouldn't. It should feel artificial, false. The fact that it doesn't shows the level of talent working on this show.

Squeeze is an important episode of The X-Files, for several reasons. You see, with X-Files you get the Mytharc episodes - the episodes which are part of the story that won't be resolved until the very end - and you get the monster of the week type episodes. Where the threat is unrelated to the Series overall arc, and Squeeze is really the first of these MOTW episodes.

Monster of the week episodes often have high levels of criticism fired at them, and a large amount of the time it's justified. Normally viewers think they detract from the series as a whole, or don't add anything to the overall story. In this case, those criticisms would be unfair. It is in this episode that we finally get a real sense of just how little regard Mulder and his work are held in. We've seen glimpses of the mocking behaviour, heard that he's kooky. But here he is openly mocked, regularly to his face and even at one point called insane. The point is that we finally understand just what Mulder has to fight against - and a nice little bit of Character development too. Mulder doesn't care.

It's also nice to see Scully standing up for Mulder, despite the fact that by doing so she harms her own chances for advancement. It shows that whilst she is still very much a sceptic, her experiences with Mulder have changed her. And that she see's something in Mulder worthwhile.

There's also a really cool performance from that guy from Grounded For Life. He plays the jackass very well (he strikes me as being a very likable guy, not that I know the slightest thing about him.)

Tooms himself, as played by Doug Hutchison is best when he's doing the low key thing. He's really quite creepy. But as soon as the guy goes into 'killing mode' and starts grunting and growling, he becomes more funny than scary. It's so overplayed it's laughable. That's the sole negative thing I have to say about this episode. Also, loved the short but central performance by Henry Beckman - despite only being in the movie briefly, it really feels to me like his story. Squeeze is an excellent episode of The X-Files. It's quite rare for a series to produce three good episodes in a row, let alone three excellent ones. Surely this level of qulity can't last....

October 2nd. Day two of the X-Files diaries.