The X-Files (S1.Ep6) – “Shadows”

The X-Files – (Season 1 – Episode 6) – “Shadows” 1/2

Director: Michael Katleman Writers: Chris Carter, Glen Morgan, James Wong Cast: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Barry Primus 

Here’s another generic episode which feels more like a bit of a filler rather that actually having anything substantial to say.By this time the X-Files seemed to be in constant search of its own identity as it was ticking off all the possible paranormal tropes, almost as if they were trying to see which one would work best: aliens, creepy killer, monster in a forest, poltergeist and now a ghost. The story, inspired by films like “The Entity” is pretty traditional and rather predictable. The audience is well ahead of the game right from the start, so it’s just a question of when will Mulder and Scully catch up with it? What the episode does right is to give Gillian Anderson an opportunity to be slightly more playful (her references to movies like Poltergeist and Carrie) and less of a party-pooper, however at this stage she’s still a side-kick to Mulder and hasn’t yet got the space to show her acting chops. Just like the previous episode, it’s still watchable but if you gave this a pass the only thing you’d miss if a funny line from Mulder when he asks Scully: “Do you know how difficult it is to fake your own death? Only one man has pulled it off: Elvis.”