I completely agree with you that the "monster of the week" episodes of X-Files were much more interesting than the overarching alien storyline. Especially in later seasons when it was blatantly clear they had not planned it out and had no idea where they were going.
You know I think the "they didn't know where they were going with it" is a byproduct of the show continuing beyond the reasonable conclusion of the Movie just after season 5. They probably did not have everything hammered out ahead of time, because creators rarely do. But they had an ending in mind and then kept going. Very, "already nutted by they keep sucking" territory if you don't mind the vulgar analogy.
Actually in season two, they plotted out seasons 2-6. The problem was... half of the mythology episodes that had been planned for season six became Fight the Future. The Mulder abduction story exists because 1. Ratings were too good NOT to end the show at the end of season seven as planned. 2. David Duchovny got pissed Fox was selling syndication packages to Fox owned stations and cable networks at reduced rates, since it ate into both his and Gillian Anderson's royalties. He had a favored nations clause in his contract. Anything Anderson got, he got in theory. She had been given 2 episodes off a year since season two. He'd never used his off weeks. This allowed him to do take almost half a season off without TECHNICALLY violating his existing contract, which was set to expire at the end of season eight... and he opted not to renew.
Throwing out there that the episode where Mulder and Scully had to cooperate witn the cops from "Cops" is rather entertaining. Scully's withering look while repeating Skinner's reason, "The FBI has nothing to hide," as they get thrown under the proverbial bus is chef's kiss. "It's called "X-Cops".
That's one of my favorite episodes Mulder's smug tone every time he proves Scully's skepticism about it being supernatural wrong with Scully rolling her eyes was hilarious
My favorite part of that episode is David Duchovny completely breaking on camera during the scene with gay couple. Plus the amazing line, “I don't think it's live television, Scully. She just said *bleep.”
I own that season on DVD, and there's a note on the packaging assuring the viewer that the terrible video quality on that particular episode is intentional and not a problem with the DVD.
If I had a nickel for every time Michael Emerson played an emotionally messed up guy disguised under a fake name who killed multiple people because of people in authority manipulating him for their own ends when he actually just wanted a father figure… I mean it’s either that or a heart-of-gold inventor with a pet malinois
Nothing tops Mulder looking through Scully's window as her smart applications are trying to murder her, and he shouts "Scully, why is your house so much bigger than mine?!"
Two "Monster of the Week" type episodes come to mind. The one where Mulder finds an actual wish-granting genie ("Je Souhaite"), and the other one has highschoolers with super speed ("Rush")
I love the one about the guy who always has incredible luck, but someone else has to pay for it. He's browsing for a lottery ticket and is like "I don't need a million, don't you habe something where I can win 30,000?"
Wasn't the genie episode the last one before the series finale started? She came out of the rug. I still remember how happy Scully was about doing an autopsy on an invisible guy. His name was Anson, and why do I remember so much about this episode?
@@robertmcginty4146 I think i only saw that episode once and remember every detail. Wishing his brother back to life and hes just screaming and in pain. Mulder wishing for world peace and all humans disappear. I think it sticks with you, because so many movies and stories have been made about djinns and genies and theres that moral/ethical philosophy argument that fits in with the "what if" scenario of wishes.
Glad you’re feeling better PUR 🙂 The episode “Bad Blood” would be fun to do, it’s definitely a “Monster of the Week” story done in a somewhat comedic “whodunit?” tone, featuring Ham from The Sandlot and Luke Wilson with buck teeth 🤣 One of my faves.
The monster of the week episodes comprise the meat of the x-files. The conspiracy theory episodes were for season ender's, openers and a sprinkler in between; when they became more prominent they got Goofy and out of hand.
For me, this is as much Mytharc as Monster-of-the-Week. It’s the last episode before the series finale and the episode after Doggett’s storyline is concluded. This is an episode about the mission of the X-Files and the show itself, and, despite Bud Bundy and his friend getting yeeted, it’s really a hopeful episode. It’s the episode where Doggett becomes a true believer, which is somewhat comforting as his character had so much recent trauma. They don’t get proof for the world but they get proof for themselves. It’s really a good one.
Just posted a similar comment. Samesies, brother! Completely agree. I like to imagine this as a satisfying conclusion to the heart and themes of the series. The finale was really just accounting.
@@dirkturtle3354 I’m just now seeing this reply. I agree. The revival seasons made the finale pointless. The myth arc ended when they set the Syndicate on fire. Coincidentally I grew up on base housing near that blimp hanger which is the largest wooden structure in the world. There were two of those hangers. One burned down this year. That’s why they didn’t show anyone burned in that scene, and instead faded to black followed by sounds of screaming.
This was actually the penultimate episode of the series, and I liked how it gave the series a better sendoff vs what I felt was a very unsatisfying wrapup from the actual finale.
@@sheelaghdonaldson7100ultimately that what X-Files turned out to be with me, while watching the last two seasons recently, I realized I enjoyed watching X-Files with my stepsister every other Friday until Fox moved it to Sundays which by that time I was back at my mom’s, than actually watching the show
If I had this "Turning My Home into a Sitcom House" powers, I would just visit The Golden Girls whenever I wanted. I'll eat cheesecake instead of Bea, it's fine
Now you've got me wondering if there's a tier list of sitcom houses out there. The Brady Bunch house with its lack of toilets and two bathrooms for 9 people would definitely not be at the top of my list.
To be fair, when isn’t The X-Files flying off the rails? The episode “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose” would have potent sarcastic comedy potential for a video.
The Horse statue from The Brady Bunch and The Hare statue from Inside No.9 are best friends and hang out to discuss their shows; my personal headcanon.
Good point. Maybe someone asked around for Oliver's last name and the previous married name last name was misremembered as her maiden name (while remembering Oliver was related to Carol).
"Eve" from the first season has always struck me as the perfect X-Files monster-of-the-week ep; it's not metatheatrical or goofy, but it's a nifty, suspenseful hour of TV with unexpectedly strong rewatch value. Might be interesting to look at in this context. Alternatively, it occurs to me that David Copperfield's TV specials from the '80s and '90s might merit this sort of attention.
America won’t have heard of this show, but I think Rob Grant’s The Strangerers (correct spelling) would be a perfect fit for this channel. It’s about a pair of aliens in human form attempting to hide on Earth and usually failing or getting utterly confused with wacky hijinx. It was a British comedy show from the early 2000s and is available on RUclips.
Kind of ironic that Robert Patrick's character assumes that the guy fell out of a helicopter, when in Reacher season 2 he plays a character that throws people out of helicopters. : )
@@helenl3193 All of it. Riding the bike off/out of the building, climbing in the helicopter, tossing the pilot out, growing extra body parts... He could do it all, a man of many talents. 😁
I remember watching this episode when it came out and thinking that the focus on Cousin Oliver was a not-so-subtle dig at Doggett having a similar position on the X-Files itself.
Your reviews are so nice - you don't pretend to hate everything to be funny, you're just like "well that was weird! Here's some trivia" and I really dig it.
the oboe solo you reference at around 3:33 is not actually an oboe, but a bassoon, a very similar instrument that is in a much lower register, the oboe is much higher-pitched. (band kid instincts still going strong)
@@adrianordonez8800 I think he was behind "The Lone Gunmen" spinoff that failed. May have done some other work later. I don't know. I haven't seen anything else from him.
I didn't see "Lost", so Michael Emerson will always be Harold Finch for me; from "Person of Interest". 👍 I'm guessing that Finch and the Machine would be quite a good match up for the T-1000.
The "What, with fresh plaster, why would I do that?" line made me spit my coffee out from laughing. I did that twice already from the Ze Fank video on Eels that came out today. No more coffee for me.
@@jacobharvey2946 That's the thing with character actors. They tend to be in a lot of stuff and trying to place where you know that person from kinda short circuits our brains. It's fun explaining William Sanderson to people the first time they see him in something like Bladerunner.
@@TheoRae8289 one of my favorite things is to find celebrities in old commercials. @80sCommercialVault is great for that every week. They call some out, but not everyone.
"You've been on this show a few seasons, how are you JUST getting the hang of it now?" Are you kidding? I'd still be feeling underwater after 20 years of trying to do a real X-files, when the weirdest real cases popped up.
I love Doggett. Obviously, he can't replace Muder, but that's because he was never supposed to. Plus, I have convinced myself his name is a play on "dogged detective" and is therefore fun
This is my go-to episode when I explain to people how *weird* the later seasons got. The image of gravity-flipped Dogget jumping up and down on the ceiling will forever stay with me.
I’m so happy to see another X-Files review! The Lost Art of Forehead Sweat (11x4) is a very bonkers episode from Darin Morgan, even by his standards. I’d love to see that covered. It even references the Twilight Zone in that one.
When it comes to government agents investigating weird stuff I think I prefer Warehouse 13. But I don't regret having watched the whole X-Files series as it had many fun episodes.
Odd timing that I just watched the Brady Bunch movie again last night! Haven’t rewatched many XFiles but definitely recall this one now 😂 You have a great sense of humor, Roses. Never stop!
“Martin” was Carol Brady’s first married name as she was married to Daniel Martin. Oliver was a cousin to the Brady kids on Carol’s side as he was her brother’s son, which means Tyler (as in Oliver Tyler) would have been Carol’s maiden name. The writers of that episode must have made a mistake and assumed “Martin” was actually Carol’s maiden name, thus we get “Oliver Martin.”
YOOOO! This was basically my first episode of X-FIles. I watched as a kid, but this was the first one I saw as an adult (after the fact) and brought me back to re-watch. Oh and "Home" as a suggested episode. It's the scariest one and I'm pretty sure they stopped airing it on TV.
WHAT THE HELL!? I literally watched an interview with Micheal Emerson right before this because I’ve been obsessed with Lost. Amazing to see him in this episode. Crazy.
Great episode, as always! I would LOVE to see your take on X-Files' Bad Blood! A vampire episode being told from two POVs (Mulder, then Scully). Seeing the minor differences between their take on things is very amusing and, all in all, I think it's a good episode. Bonus points for a hunky 90s Sheriff Luke Wilson!
I think X-Files could have a ton more “Off the Rails” videos given some of the insane episodes they made; don’t forget the “Hills Have Eyes” like episode, that one is so messed up
You know what, props to them. At the start of this episode, I had no idea how all this was gonna come together, but they managed to pull off this very, very strange concept for a crossover in a creative way that felt faithful to the themes of X-Files. Good for them.
Coming off 'Humbug' and 'Post Modern Prometheus' (two of the absolute finest eps of the X Files) to a late period season 9 ep must have been rough. If you want some more excellent comedic X Files Eps, 'Bad Blood' (Comedy Rashomon with rural vampires), 'Hollywood AD' (Hollywood gets the rights to make an X-Files film), 'Jose Chung's "From Outer Space"' and 'Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose' (so funny, beautiful and god damned brilliant they defy description. When Darrin Morgan was on form he was unstoppable) are def worth a review...
My favourite line from Doggett is an episode where they're trying to track down a man who can become metal, and he says "A metal man, Agent Scully? Only in the movies".
I absolutely hate it when movies and shows try to look clever for doing that. It's always been an immersion killer for me - it's a reminder that, since _x_ situation or _y_ creature exists in their world, then they are, in fact, in the type of fictional world they're decrying. I've only seen it done well a handful of times, and most of those were already self-aware, fourth wall breaking satirical parodies like Deadpool, though one instance came from (of all things) a Star Trek novel where a character found out another character had a collection of novels based on a popular in-universe holovid program and commented, "Why would anyone want to read novels based on a fictional show?"
Odd coincidence that I have been watching "Evil" where Michael Emerson (Oliver here) is the central recurring antagonist. I highly recommend the show as it is an excellent mystery/supernatural thriller show.
Between this video, Evil’s final season airing, l LOST being put onto Netflix, and his episode in the Fallout TV show, Michael Emerson is really having a moment! And he deserves it too, the guy acts everyone else out of the water no matter what show he’s in
It is fun to find actors before their "look" caught on, seeing Micheal Emmerson as Oliver just brought back memories of Persons of Interest, and the "head" in the recent Fallout show
I remember this episode! Funnily enough they did a tv show recently where they did renovations to make the interior of the Brady House look like the actual set. I think it was called ‘A Very Brady Renovation’
I always loved the silly vampire episode, "Bad Blood," but I don't remember if you've covered it or not. I just think it's hilarious and worth a watch regardless.
I don't have anything valuable to say except how much I love these episode reviews every time. Speaking like a real person makes brings me great joy. 💯
I totally agree with preferring monster of the week X-Files to the alien conspiracy ones. I mean there are a few multi-part stories about aliens that are good, but the monster of the week episodes have that fun quality where you can watch one and not have to remember key details for later. Plus, let's be real, the alien conspiracy wound up being really boring as an actual plot. It was just "UFOs crashed and some shadow government agency tried to create alien-human hybrid super soldiers," which even during the original run of the show, is a bit of a sci-fi cliche.
Yeah, overall I feel like they kinda dropped the ball on developing the alien subplot, then attempted to tie it in with the movie, and it just never went anywhere that interesting.
100% of your work absolutely rocks. The old, the new, the games, the Murder She Wrote. You have a great voice, your videos are engaging and fun. Thanks! I hope its all worthwhile for you.
I've seen basically nothing about the brady bunch, but man is that house aggressively 70s. I'm sure it was highly fashionable at the time, but it just makes me think about how all these beige houses are going to age in 30 years. Or maybe interior decorating is changing so rapidly that it will be impossible to pinpoint a specific decade.
That style of interior design was actually the new hotness in the late '50s/early '60s, you just think of it as '70s because the Brady Bunch started in 1969 (so that decor was still in fashion at the time), and IRL the styles lasted a good 15-20 years after being built/updated, especially that style, for reasons to be explained below. Actual designed-in-the-'70s interior design was HORRENDOUS.
It'd be pretty impossible to prosecute, anyway. Convincing a jury, beyond reasonable doubt, that one reclusive man intentionally launched two dudes through his roof, with zero credible evidence of how he did it? Besides (and I haven't seen the episode, so this might be wrong) isn't it possible that he didn't intentionally hurt them, and his powers simply went haywire when he felt threatened?
@Dargonhuman there is a great comic called Astro City with an arc about a lawyer defending a rich kid who killed a woman in a crowded club. Since they live in a superhero setting the lawyer takes a wild shot with 'Yes. Dozens of witnesses saw it was him and forensics confirm it but....what if it was his evil double from another planet?'
Another episode you may want to consider is “Bad Blood.” (S.5, ep. 12) I love the the Monster of the Week episodes so much better than the alien mess. And, almost any episode that Kim Manners had a hand in are almost always THE BEST! (He worked on some great “Supernatural” episodes, too.) Thanks so much for all your TV recaps! ❤️
I like it when shows know that they are about to end and the creators can just let loose with the maddest ideas they have. This episode was originally intended to be the penultimate episode, so the themes of someone not letting go of their favourite TV show, and Scully almost finding vindication but letting it go so that the person with super powers could live and be happy were quite touching. I also agree that Robert Patrick was pretty good as Agent Doggett and the character is under rated.
Yay Michael Emmerson, I always love that actor! And it took me a moment to remember when I saw Reyes' actress, turns out she's in the Flannagan shows, Hill House/Midnight Mass/Fall of House Usher!
Things this episode made me think of: - X-File Oliver's real first name (Anthony) is the same as the boy's name in the Twilight Zone: The Movie segment where Anthony can change reality with a though - That field made me think of a darker version of the default Windows XP backdrop - Real name Anthony, calls himself Oliver- does anyone remember Oliver Anthony Music, the guy who sang about corrupt politicians (on both sides) in DC?
Took me over 5 minutes of scrolling through the comments to find somebody mention Anthony from the Twilight Zone. It’s clearly an homage to that character.
I agree. I looked for a couple minutes myself before posting. I wonder if someone will recognize the field similarity to XP next, or maybe I'm just weird in that regard, as I probably am with my third point which is of course just a coincidence.
"That Time The X-Files Flew Off The Rails" Do you have the slightest idea how little that narrows it down? Also, having Zep Hindle show up as a guest star in any episode of any show is guaranteed to make him the villain of the week. Seriously, that is the same actor who played Zep Hindle from the Saw movie series.
oh shit you're right. 🤣 I've been watching CZ'sWorld's horror history on the Saw franchise. I never could get into them after my cousin walked in right as the scene was being set in the first movie and blurted out the ending like the lil shit he is.
Glad you’re doing more x-files. Some suggestions - Funny: Arcadia, Bad Blood Wtf: Jose Chung's From Outer Space, The Host Kinda bad but I like it anyways: First Person Shooter, War of the Coprophages Actually Scary: Home, unruhue, Die Hand Die Verletzt I love it: Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose
This was one of my favorite "late" X-Files episodes - most of the Doggett/Reyes episodes were kind of blah, but this one somehow hit the weird X-Files mark. If you want another "off the rails" one, there's an even more recent episode about AI called "Rm9sbG93ZXJz" (actual title) that was a real treat in the most recent run.
"That Time The X-Files Flew Off The Rails"
My dearest Roses, you're gonna have to be more specific!
That was my exact thought the moment I saw the title!
Yeah, when was it ON the rails?
"The fsck are rails?" -- X-Files, prolly
It had rails to begin with?
"Oh this isn't the incest rednecks episode...."
I completely agree with you that the "monster of the week" episodes of X-Files were much more interesting than the overarching alien storyline. Especially in later seasons when it was blatantly clear they had not planned it out and had no idea where they were going.
SAME
You know I think the "they didn't know where they were going with it" is a byproduct of the show continuing beyond the reasonable conclusion of the Movie just after season 5.
They probably did not have everything hammered out ahead of time, because creators rarely do. But they had an ending in mind and then kept going.
Very, "already nutted by they keep sucking" territory if you don't mind the vulgar analogy.
They INTENDED it to be vague and nebulous as a Conspiracy, a byproduct of the mistrust and confusion created by the Watergate scandal.
Actually in season two, they plotted out seasons 2-6. The problem was... half of the mythology episodes that had been planned for season six became Fight the Future. The Mulder abduction story exists because 1. Ratings were too good NOT to end the show at the end of season seven as planned. 2. David Duchovny got pissed Fox was selling syndication packages to Fox owned stations and cable networks at reduced rates, since it ate into both his and Gillian Anderson's royalties. He had a favored nations clause in his contract. Anything Anderson got, he got in theory. She had been given 2 episodes off a year since season two. He'd never used his off weeks. This allowed him to do take almost half a season off without TECHNICALLY violating his existing contract, which was set to expire at the end of season eight... and he opted not to renew.
@@jessewilley531❤
Throwing out there that the episode where Mulder and Scully had to cooperate witn the cops from "Cops" is rather entertaining. Scully's withering look while repeating Skinner's reason, "The FBI has nothing to hide," as they get thrown under the proverbial bus is chef's kiss. "It's called "X-Cops".
That's one of my favorite episodes
Mulder's smug tone every time he proves Scully's skepticism about it being supernatural wrong with Scully rolling her eyes was hilarious
I love the characters Steve and Edy. And the line "I don't think it's live television, Scully. She just said *bleep*"
My favorite part of that episode is David Duchovny completely breaking on camera during the scene with gay couple. Plus the amazing line, “I don't think it's live television, Scully. She just said *bleep.”
Such a good episode - especially watching it back when it came out when both shows were still at their peak popularity.
I own that season on DVD, and there's a note on the packaging assuring the viewer that the terrible video quality on that particular episode is intentional and not a problem with the DVD.
If I had a nickel for every time Michael Emerson played an emotionally messed up guy disguised under a fake name who killed multiple people because of people in authority manipulating him for their own ends when he actually just wanted a father figure…
I mean it’s either that or a heart-of-gold inventor with a pet malinois
I was disappointed how thinly painted his character was in Fallout. Talk about clichés run amok. Nothing on that show made any sense.
@@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017 It all made perfect sense
@@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017I was just sad he was in one episode, when he should rightfully be a recurring (alive) character
@@FoxMulder-FBI Sure it did. Keep telling yourself that. Bad writing is the norm in Hollywood anymore.
@@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017 was it too woke for you?
See that guys first mistake was being in a creepy empty house at night, seeing two kids holding hands in a hallway and deciding to FOLLOW THEM.
"Come play with us. Forever and ever."
@@dragon1130 Want some redrum
One of my favorite x-files quotes ever with zero context
"Her name is Bambi?!"
I never thought I'd say this to you, Scully, but you smell bad
Mulder, I'm coming up there."
"Sure. Fine. Whatever."
Nothing tops Mulder looking through Scully's window as her smart applications are trying to murder her, and he shouts "Scully, why is your house so much bigger than mine?!"
I still have to say "WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT YOU?!" when TV shows have characters introduce themselves as Special Agent.
😂 I was going to suggest that episode
- When I was inside I knew I smelled fresh plaster.
- So are you going to fill me in?
What?! With plaster? No, why would I do that?! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
That one got me😂
Nearly gave me the hiccups, that one! 😂
Why did I read that as "fish plaster?" 😅
reminds of Naked Gun 80s humor
the X-files/COPS crossover was wild.
The moon did it. 🤣
What a time.
We need this one reviewed @pushinguproses !
Thought a real news report cut in!
Two "Monster of the Week" type episodes come to mind. The one where Mulder finds an actual wish-granting genie ("Je Souhaite"), and the other one has highschoolers with super speed ("Rush")
Really? Youre going to skip over the black and white Frankenstein who loves Cher episode?
I love the one about the guy who always has incredible luck, but someone else has to pay for it. He's browsing for a lottery ticket and is like "I don't need a million, don't you habe something where I can win 30,000?"
Wasn't the genie episode the last one before the series finale started? She came out of the rug. I still remember how happy Scully was about doing an autopsy on an invisible guy. His name was Anson, and why do I remember so much about this episode?
@@robertmcginty4146 I think i only saw that episode once and remember every detail. Wishing his brother back to life and hes just screaming and in pain. Mulder wishing for world peace and all humans disappear. I think it sticks with you, because so many movies and stories have been made about djinns and genies and theres that moral/ethical philosophy argument that fits in with the "what if" scenario of wishes.
The genie's wish was for "a stout hearted mule and a bag full of turnips"
My favorite X-Files will always be the Rashomon Gate style vampire episode with Luke Wilson.
Yep, Bad Blood from season 5, I enjoyed the same scene being played out multiple times from different perspectives
Thx for reminding me, one of the best things I've ever seen on TV!
I _still_ quote "Y'all must be the guv'ment people" with the exaggerated drawl to this day!
What really made me laugh in the episode was the scrawl changing as Scully names the motel, then Mulder corrects her about the name of the motel.
Mulder vehemently denying that he sang the Shaft theme song
Glad you’re feeling better PUR 🙂 The episode “Bad Blood” would be fun to do, it’s definitely a “Monster of the Week” story done in a somewhat comedic “whodunit?” tone, featuring Ham from The Sandlot and Luke Wilson with buck teeth 🤣 One of my faves.
Agreed, would love to see that episode covered here; it is hilarious!
Yesss my all time favorite episode!!
I saw that episode yesterday:) Mulder stabbing a kid with a stake was a bit unexpected
The monster of the week episodes comprise the meat of the x-files. The conspiracy theory episodes were for season ender's, openers and a sprinkler in between; when they became more prominent they got Goofy and out of hand.
Bad Blood was MADE for Roses!
For me, this is as much Mytharc as Monster-of-the-Week. It’s the last episode before the series finale and the episode after Doggett’s storyline is concluded. This is an episode about the mission of the X-Files and the show itself, and, despite Bud Bundy and his friend getting yeeted, it’s really a hopeful episode. It’s the episode where Doggett becomes a true believer, which is somewhat comforting as his character had so much recent trauma. They don’t get proof for the world but they get proof for themselves. It’s really a good one.
Just posted a similar comment. Samesies, brother! Completely agree. I like to imagine this as a satisfying conclusion to the heart and themes of the series. The finale was really just accounting.
@@dirkturtle3354 I’m just now seeing this reply. I agree. The revival seasons made the finale pointless.
The myth arc ended when they set the Syndicate on fire. Coincidentally I grew up on base housing near that blimp hanger which is the largest wooden structure in the world. There were two of those hangers. One burned down this year. That’s why they didn’t show anyone burned in that scene, and instead faded to black followed by sounds of screaming.
7:18 They didn't just build the entire Brady Bunch set, they build the attic upside down just for this shot.
I like the idea of more agents trying to do their job for X-FIles and some of them would look up to Scully and Mulder
This was actually the penultimate episode of the series, and I liked how it gave the series a better sendoff vs what I felt was a very unsatisfying wrapup from the actual finale.
I agree. And I'll throw in that the message of this episode was "it's not the show but rather the people you watched it with that made you happy".
Really, the finale was the final three episodes. If you look at it like one long episode, that makes it a bit better
@@sheelaghdonaldson7100ultimately that what X-Files turned out to be with me, while watching the last two seasons recently, I realized I enjoyed watching X-Files with my stepsister every other Friday until Fox moved it to Sundays which by that time I was back at my mom’s, than actually watching the show
@@sheelaghdonaldson7100 yeah, I liked how they broke the fourth wall a tiny bit in this episode, especially at the end
@@chrismanuel9768 Nice! I’ll keep that in mind in my next rewatch (if I ever get to starting it hahaha)
My absolute favorite episode is "Jose Chung's 'From Outer Space.' " It's kind of a mix of monster of the week and big conspiracy.
That episode was perfect.
Yes! "This isn't happening... this isn't happening..."
Definitely a blanking good episode.
lord kin boat for president
"Holy bleep"
If I had this "Turning My Home into a Sitcom House" powers, I would just visit The Golden Girls whenever I wanted. I'll eat cheesecake instead of Bea, it's fine
Excellent choice. Cheesecake, laughter and friendship.
@magicmike191v2 wait. Instead of psychic yeets would intruders get driven insane by St Olaf stories or would Sophia get them?
@@AgentofLADON They'd get sent to Shady Pines (, Ma)
Now you've got me wondering if there's a tier list of sitcom houses out there. The Brady Bunch house with its lack of toilets and two bathrooms for 9 people would definitely not be at the top of my list.
Wandavision...
To be fair, when isn’t The X-Files flying off the rails?
The episode “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose” would have potent sarcastic comedy potential for a video.
I used to have that episode on VHS.
@@GothBarbie3000 A lot of scenes had to be cut for the broadcast edit of that episode for time, it’s really a shame.
Amazing episode
When did x files have rails
while you are waiting for roses (who might struggle with death acceptance episodes) sfdebris has done that ep! he's good.
The Horse statue from The Brady Bunch and The Hare statue from Inside No.9 are best friends and hang out to discuss their shows; my personal headcanon.
3:30 The house is a Dharma Station. Something about magnets in Korean.
IIRC, Carol's name prior to marrying into the Brady family was Martin, so maybe that was where the surname Martin came from?
No, it was Tyler.
@@occono3543 Carol's maiden name was Tyler but her first married name was Martin.
@@sutarikun Ah
Good point. Maybe someone asked around for Oliver's last name and the previous married name last name was misremembered as her maiden name (while remembering Oliver was related to Carol).
Yes, but they should have asked around harder
the *EMOTIONAL MANIPULATION* alarm killed me so much 😂😂😂
"Eve" from the first season has always struck me as the perfect X-Files monster-of-the-week ep; it's not metatheatrical or goofy, but it's a nifty, suspenseful hour of TV with unexpectedly strong rewatch value. Might be interesting to look at in this context.
Alternatively, it occurs to me that David Copperfield's TV specials from the '80s and '90s might merit this sort of attention.
America won’t have heard of this show, but I think Rob Grant’s The Strangerers (correct spelling) would be a perfect fit for this channel. It’s about a pair of aliens in human form attempting to hide on Earth and usually failing or getting utterly confused with wacky hijinx. It was a British comedy show from the early 2000s and is available on RUclips.
I loved this show. It’ll be great to see it covered by Roses.
Sounds like 3rd rock from the sun
@@heatherturner2366exactly what I was thinking
Kind of ironic that Robert Patrick's character assumes that the guy fell out of a helicopter, when in Reacher season 2 he plays a character that throws people out of helicopters. : )
And in T-2 he kills a police officer helicopter pilot then imitates him
Flying the helicopter by growing an extra arm, no less. Wasn't cgi, Robert Patrick just did that for real.
@@Del_S the arm bit? 😜
@@helenl3193 All of it. Riding the bike off/out of the building, climbing in the helicopter, tossing the pilot out, growing extra body parts... He could do it all, a man of many talents. 😁
@@edmundgonzalez8731James Cameron knows how to shoot awesome action set pieces
I remember watching this episode when it came out and thinking that the focus on Cousin Oliver was a not-so-subtle dig at Doggett having a similar position on the X-Files itself.
Your reviews are so nice - you don't pretend to hate everything to be funny, you're just like "well that was weird! Here's some trivia" and I really dig it.
the oboe solo you reference at around 3:33 is not actually an oboe, but a bassoon, a very similar instrument that is in a much lower register, the oboe is much higher-pitched. (band kid instincts still going strong)
Apparently written and directed by some guy called Vince Gilligan. Who was never heard of again after this episode.
SCUUUUULLLLLLEEE!!!
Nope never heard of him 😉😅
Who's that guy? Must not be worth mentioning in a 10+ minute video
@@adrianordonez8800 I think he was behind "The Lone Gunmen" spinoff that failed. May have done some other work later. I don't know. I haven't seen anything else from him.
Benjamin Linus VS the T-1000 is a match I never could have imagined.
I didn't see "Lost", so Michael Emerson will always be Harold Finch for me; from "Person of Interest". 👍 I'm guessing that Finch and the Machine would be quite a good match up for the T-1000.
@@euansmith3699to be fair, Ben Linus would also be a match for the T-1000. 😂
Yay! Welcome back Roses!
The X-Files was never entirely on the rails, but the later seasons, with Special Agent The T-1000 got weird.
I think you mean “weirder”.
Doggett
The "What, with fresh plaster, why would I do that?" line made me spit my coffee out from laughing. I did that twice already from the Ze Fank video on Eels that came out today. No more coffee for me.
I love the episode where Mulder and Scully give their different POVs, it's like a vampire episode.
"Bad Blood" and yes, from what I'm seeing in the comments, it's definitely a fan favorite, myself included.
After watching Lost, I can't watch anything with Michael Emerson without dicaprio finger pointing
Thank you, I was wondering why I wasn’t seeing any comments pointing out who Anthony/Oliver was. He’s been in so many things since.
Knew that was him when he popped up. Considering he’s done lots of TV before and after “Lost”, it’s fun to see Michael Emerson pop up
@@jacobharvey2946 That's the thing with character actors. They tend to be in a lot of stuff and trying to place where you know that person from kinda short circuits our brains. It's fun explaining William Sanderson to people the first time they see him in something like Bladerunner.
@@TheoRae8289 one of my favorite things is to find celebrities in old commercials. @80sCommercialVault is great for that every week. They call some out, but not everyone.
I didn't know I knew what Dicaprio finger pointing is.
"You've been on this show a few seasons, how are you JUST getting the hang of it now?"
Are you kidding? I'd still be feeling underwater after 20 years of trying to do a real X-files, when the weirdest real cases popped up.
That's 'a few' as in 'almost 2'.
@@jeanlafayette7152 Some words do some very heavy lifting. 🤣
I love Doggett. Obviously, he can't replace Muder, but that's because he was never supposed to. Plus, I have convinced myself his name is a play on "dogged detective" and is therefore fun
You're just my favorite, PuR. I will never tire of these reviews.
"This was a very weird episode" - Those were X-files strengths!
100%. I'd actually have more appreciation for the X-Files if they stuck with being a dark comedy monster of the week series.
That “tacky horse statue” was also central to the plot of A Very Brady Sequel
That is one of my favorite movies .
This is my go-to episode when I explain to people how *weird* the later seasons got. The image of gravity-flipped Dogget jumping up and down on the ceiling will forever stay with me.
2:24 I liked Roger Patrick in Terminator Too. He played a good Tea-4000
You always bring a new level of entertainment to old episodes. Thank you
Superb! The sarcasm never gets old; it ages like a fine wine.
Yeah, more like fine whine, amaright? /s
@@euansmith3699 Arf arf.
2:24 -Ah yes famous Terminator 2 actor Roger Patrick. He was great with Arthur Schwarzenegger in that movie.
I’m so happy to see another X-Files review!
The Lost Art of Forehead Sweat (11x4) is a very bonkers episode from Darin Morgan, even by his standards. I’d love to see that covered. It even references the Twilight Zone in that one.
When it comes to government agents investigating weird stuff I think I prefer Warehouse 13. But I don't regret having watched the whole X-Files series as it had many fun episodes.
I loved this episode and Michael Emerson's acting. With nice humor and a very sweet history.
Odd timing that I just watched the Brady Bunch movie again last night! Haven’t rewatched many XFiles but definitely recall this one now 😂 You have a great sense of humor, Roses. Never stop!
“Martin” was Carol Brady’s first married name as she was married to Daniel Martin. Oliver was a cousin to the Brady kids on Carol’s side as he was her brother’s son, which means Tyler (as in Oliver Tyler) would have been Carol’s maiden name. The writers of that episode must have made a mistake and assumed “Martin” was actually Carol’s maiden name, thus we get “Oliver Martin.”
We could take it a step farther and say that the name explanation was essentially his headcanon
YOOOO! This was basically my first episode of X-FIles. I watched as a kid, but this was the first one I saw as an adult (after the fact) and brought me back to re-watch.
Oh and "Home" as a suggested episode. It's the scariest one and I'm pretty sure they stopped airing it on TV.
Still aired after, they just added a discretionary warning for later broadcast.
Plot was basically Wrong Turn iirc
"Home"? That's rough, and no mistake. 😬
WHAT THE HELL!? I literally watched an interview with Micheal Emerson right before this because I’ve been obsessed with Lost. Amazing to see him in this episode. Crazy.
Great episode, as always! I would LOVE to see your take on X-Files' Bad Blood! A vampire episode being told from two POVs (Mulder, then Scully). Seeing the minor differences between their take on things is very amusing and, all in all, I think it's a good episode. Bonus points for a hunky 90s Sheriff Luke Wilson!
Yay a X-Files episode 🎉 and yes this was a nutty episode! He tested the boy who was called Ben Linus at the time and part of the Dharma initiative.
I think X-Files could have a ton more “Off the Rails” videos given some of the insane episodes they made; don’t forget the “Hills Have Eyes” like episode, that one is so messed up
Squeeze is the only x-files episode i remember, because i think it was the only episode that actually scared me when i saw it as a kid.
Squeeze and Toomey!
I'm so excited that you did an X-Files. I loved this show and it was often ridiculous. Thank you Pushing Up Roses!
“The lost art of forehead sweat” is my all time solo episode. It’s got so much conspiracy content and it’s hilarious!
You know what, props to them. At the start of this episode, I had no idea how all this was gonna come together, but they managed to pull off this very, very strange concept for a crossover in a creative way that felt faithful to the themes of X-Files. Good for them.
Coming off 'Humbug' and 'Post Modern Prometheus' (two of the absolute finest eps of the X Files) to a late period season 9 ep must have been rough.
If you want some more excellent comedic X Files Eps, 'Bad Blood' (Comedy Rashomon with rural vampires), 'Hollywood AD' (Hollywood gets the rights to make an X-Files film), 'Jose Chung's "From Outer Space"' and 'Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose' (so funny, beautiful and god damned brilliant they defy description. When Darrin Morgan was on form he was unstoppable) are def worth a review...
Yay new X-FIles vid! If you want a suggestion for a future X-Files review, mine is "Jose Chung's From Outer Space".
Hey, it's Ben from Lost! (I know Michael Emerson's been in a bunch of things, but he'll always be Ben from Lost to me)
Or Zepp for the Saw fans 😆
The many and various roles I'm sideswiped to notice being played by Michael Emerson, modern and classic. Guy is prolific.
My favourite line from Doggett is an episode where they're trying to track down a man who can become metal, and he says "A metal man, Agent Scully? Only in the movies".
I absolutely hate it when movies and shows try to look clever for doing that. It's always been an immersion killer for me - it's a reminder that, since _x_ situation or _y_ creature exists in their world, then they are, in fact, in the type of fictional world they're decrying.
I've only seen it done well a handful of times, and most of those were already self-aware, fourth wall breaking satirical parodies like Deadpool, though one instance came from (of all things) a Star Trek novel where a character found out another character had a collection of novels based on a popular in-universe holovid program and commented, "Why would anyone want to read novels based on a fictional show?"
That episode had a stacked cast! Michael Emerson and John Aylward and David Faustino!
Odd coincidence that I have been watching "Evil" where Michael Emerson (Oliver here) is the central recurring antagonist.
I highly recommend the show as it is an excellent mystery/supernatural thriller show.
Between this video, Evil’s final season airing, l LOST being put onto Netflix, and his episode in the Fallout TV show, Michael Emerson is really having a moment!
And he deserves it too, the guy acts everyone else out of the water no matter what show he’s in
gotta love character actors
It is fun to find actors before their "look" caught on, seeing Micheal Emmerson as Oliver just brought back memories of Persons of Interest, and the "head" in the recent Fallout show
Oh shit, that was him, wasn't it? :o
Don’t knock Mullder’s pants. That’s the timeframe when Big Bad Voodoo Daddy was popular and the swing revival as a whole was at its peak 😅
I remember this episode!
Funnily enough they did a tv show recently where they did renovations to make the interior of the Brady House look like the actual set. I think it was called ‘A Very Brady Renovation’
I always loved the silly vampire episode, "Bad Blood," but I don't remember if you've covered it or not. I just think it's hilarious and worth a watch regardless.
That's my favorite episode!
That episode is EPIC
“Y’all mus’ be tha guv’mint people!” 😆
@@Gappasaurus it's amazing how X-Files was able to show that type of person and them sort of people lead a whole political party eventually
She hasn’t covered it yet, this is just the 3rd, Humbug and Postmodern Prometheus are the other two.
We’re on x-files now?! HELL YEAH! Feels good to see this. Thanks PUR!!
3:06
Holy shit it's Michael Emerson!
I don't have anything valuable to say except how much I love these episode reviews every time. Speaking like a real person makes brings me great joy. 💯
I totally agree with preferring monster of the week X-Files to the alien conspiracy ones. I mean there are a few multi-part stories about aliens that are good, but the monster of the week episodes have that fun quality where you can watch one and not have to remember key details for later.
Plus, let's be real, the alien conspiracy wound up being really boring as an actual plot. It was just "UFOs crashed and some shadow government agency tried to create alien-human hybrid super soldiers," which even during the original run of the show, is a bit of a sci-fi cliche.
Yeah, overall I feel like they kinda dropped the ball on developing the alien subplot, then attempted to tie it in with the movie, and it just never went anywhere that interesting.
@@bsadewitz didn't they admit it was just Aliens doing some reality TV arc and no one really died but was "taken away" to another dimension?
@@Chuck_ELwhoa
@@Chuck_ELIsn't that in South Park?
100% of your work absolutely rocks. The old, the new, the games, the Murder She Wrote. You have a great voice, your videos are engaging and fun. Thanks! I hope its all worthwhile for you.
I've seen basically nothing about the brady bunch, but man is that house aggressively 70s. I'm sure it was highly fashionable at the time, but it just makes me think about how all these beige houses are going to age in 30 years. Or maybe interior decorating is changing so rapidly that it will be impossible to pinpoint a specific decade.
That style of interior design was actually the new hotness in the late '50s/early '60s, you just think of it as '70s because the Brady Bunch started in 1969 (so that decor was still in fashion at the time), and IRL the styles lasted a good 15-20 years after being built/updated, especially that style, for reasons to be explained below.
Actual designed-in-the-'70s interior design was HORRENDOUS.
Thanks!
Hope you’re feeling better now.
I just went from watching X-Files for Catholics with Michael Emerson straight to a video about X-Files for Nerds with Michael Emerson.
I understood that reference. (Evil is such a good show)
Maybe the death of the two men did not get followed up on because they broke into the house and yeeting them could be seen as self defense?
Repeatedly broke in. Because they felt somehow entitled to show off a strangers house to others. They're actually kind of creepy.
@@AgentofLADONThe first guy, yes. The second guy, who was investigating his friend's murder while exposing a real supernatural occurrence? No way.
It'd be pretty impossible to prosecute, anyway. Convincing a jury, beyond reasonable doubt, that one reclusive man intentionally launched two dudes through his roof, with zero credible evidence of how he did it?
Besides (and I haven't seen the episode, so this might be wrong) isn't it possible that he didn't intentionally hurt them, and his powers simply went haywire when he felt threatened?
@@Amaritudine To be fair, that would be an absolutely _wild_ jury to sit in. The deliberations would be like a sliding door - completely unhinged.
@Dargonhuman there is a great comic called Astro City with an arc about a lawyer defending a rich kid who killed a woman in a crowded club. Since they live in a superhero setting the lawyer takes a wild shot with 'Yes. Dozens of witnesses saw it was him and forensics confirm it but....what if it was his evil double from another planet?'
A humble treat donation for Basket.
Kinda ties into the twilight zone because that kid who could warp reality was named Anthony also
good catch
Another episode you may want to consider is “Bad Blood.” (S.5, ep. 12) I love the the Monster of the Week episodes so much better than the alien mess. And, almost any episode that Kim Manners had a hand in are almost always THE BEST! (He worked on some great “Supernatural” episodes, too.) Thanks so much for all your TV recaps! ❤️
Bad Blood is still my favourite episode.
Love these. "Small Potatoes" or "Bad Blood"
There are so many 80s and 90s shows that I NEED you to cover as time goes by!
Thank you for covering X Files! Please do a video on the episode Tooms (season 1 episode 21). It’s creepy and scary.
Tooms is great, though I prefer Squeeze - same villain, but also the first-ever MotW episode
On of the scariest episodes. Scareier than Home (there i've said it). still gives me chils after all those years...
@@stephencrabtree4256 ohhh I’ve not seen Squeeze. I’ll check it out!
@@ChristophGangrel same! It was really great TV!
I like it when shows know that they are about to end and the creators can just let loose with the maddest ideas they have. This episode was originally intended to be the penultimate episode, so the themes of someone not letting go of their favourite TV show, and Scully almost finding vindication but letting it go so that the person with super powers could live and be happy were quite touching. I also agree that Robert Patrick was pretty good as Agent Doggett and the character is under rated.
2:24 you called him Roger Patrick! Don't think I didn't notice!
Yay Michael Emmerson, I always love that actor! And it took me a moment to remember when I saw Reyes' actress, turns out she's in the Flannagan shows, Hill House/Midnight Mass/Fall of House Usher!
Is that the guy from lost?
And more recently, Evil and Person of Interest
@@alansmithee.01 Thanks
"You gonna fill me in?"
"With plaster?! Why would I do that?"
I almost choked on my drink and started laughing. Thanks, Roses. =D
3:26 it's actually a bass clarinet 🤓
I wondered if anyone else caught that too
I love that I get to see you tackle two of my all time favorite shows: Murder She Wrote and X-Files!
Things this episode made me think of:
- X-File Oliver's real first name (Anthony) is the same as the boy's name in the Twilight Zone: The Movie segment where Anthony can change reality with a though
- That field made me think of a darker version of the default Windows XP backdrop
- Real name Anthony, calls himself Oliver- does anyone remember Oliver Anthony Music, the guy who sang about corrupt politicians (on both sides) in DC?
Took me over 5 minutes of scrolling through the comments to find somebody mention Anthony from the Twilight Zone. It’s clearly an homage to that character.
I agree. I looked for a couple minutes myself before posting. I wonder if someone will recognize the field similarity to XP next, or maybe I'm just weird in that regard, as I probably am with my third point which is of course just a coincidence.
We need more videos about X-files episodes! Great work!
"That Time The X-Files Flew Off The Rails"
Do you have the slightest idea how little that narrows it down? Also, having Zep Hindle show up as a guest star in any episode of any show is guaranteed to make him the villain of the week. Seriously, that is the same actor who played Zep Hindle from the Saw movie series.
oh shit you're right. 🤣 I've been watching CZ'sWorld's horror history on the Saw franchise. I never could get into them after my cousin walked in right as the scene was being set in the first movie and blurted out the ending like the lil shit he is.
Glad you’re doing more x-files. Some suggestions -
Funny: Arcadia, Bad Blood
Wtf: Jose Chung's From Outer Space, The Host
Kinda bad but I like it anyways: First Person Shooter, War of the Coprophages
Actually Scary: Home, unruhue, Die Hand Die Verletzt
I love it: Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose
It's really weird to see Michael Emerson looking younger than his default "Person of Interest" / "Lost" age, yet still exactly the same somehow.
He really does! 😮
Great review as always! Thanks PUR!
It's been so long I forgot Michael Emerson was in the X-Files...huh
I didn't realise Bryan Cranston was in one. I even rewatched X-files after Breaking Bad... and Godzilla.
This was one of my favorite "late" X-Files episodes - most of the Doggett/Reyes episodes were kind of blah, but this one somehow hit the weird X-Files mark. If you want another "off the rails" one, there's an even more recent episode about AI called "Rm9sbG93ZXJz" (actual title) that was a real treat in the most recent run.