Deep Throat.Written by Chris Carter. Directed by Daniel Sackheim.
Original Airdate: September 17, 1993
The second episode of The X-Files is still really an exercise in world building. It's the first season, and in a show as complicated and layered as this, there is still much to be established. I'll say straight away though, that it never get's boring or dull here. This world is an exciting one (largely, probably, because it's so much like our own. It could be our own). This episode takes one element from the pilot - the idea of Government conspiracies and cover-ups, and runs with it. It delves deeper into it, and if the first episode could be described as a 'Dark ET' this episode is a 'Dark Men In Black'.
The plot is much more simple than that of the pilot - the basic rules of the universe have been established, so it doesn't have to fit as much in. Basically it boils down to this - an air base which is using UFO technology (harvested from the Roswell crash) to build incredibly advanced aircraft - the pilots, being incapable of physically or mentally handling the aircraft, suffer breakdowns. And there's a cover-up. Simple concept, brilliant execution.
So we've established that it's a much simpler story than the first episode, but it's still incredibly important to the X-Files mythos. As I've said, this is the episode that really sets up the 'conspiracy' side of the show. We see the various methods for keeping things underwraps, from essentially kidnapping pilots to a group of Men In Black threatening our two heroes - it gives a sense of the scale of the conspiracy, and of how dangerous those behind it really are. And thus, how much danger Mulder and Scully are in. It's really well written stuff.
I like this episode. Yes, it's a bit more low-key than the first, and maybe not quite as exciting - but I feel it does it's job in emmersing you deeper into the world of Fox Mulder, Dana Scully and The X-Files. Like I've said, it's really a world building episode, continuing what was barely started in the exceptional pilot.It introduces even more characters and concepts that I'm sure will be important in the years to come. The highlight of the episode, I have to say is the title character. 'Deep Throat' - he's Mulders man on the inside. The man who can confirm that everything Mulder believes is true.
Deep Throat is fascinating, because there is this mystery attatched to him. We don't know who he is, what his place is in this world or why he is helping Mulder. He's just this guy who shows up and gives some pretty enigmatic advice, then leaves. He is awesome, and I actually dread the day I find out more about him, because I dig the mystery behind the character. I want to know more, but at the same time I don't. That's good writing for ya, that's good acting for ya.
There's also a humerous performance from Seth Green, later of Buffy and Family Guy fame. A bit of a stereotypical, one note stoner character. But he works, he's funny. Just go with it.
It's not quite as good as the pilot, in my opinion. But it's a solid episode - it builds the world, it makes it more real. It's awesome.
October 2nd. Day two of the X-Files diaries.
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