The X-Files (S1.Ep19) – “Shapes”

The X-Files Season 1 – Episode 19 – “Shapes”

Director: David Nutter Writers: Chris Carter, Marilyn Osborn Cast: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Ty Miller 

A bit of a derivative episode, with a rather bland lycanthropy storyline which we might have heard so many times before, but eventually it is all saved by some pretty good direction (the ever reliable David Nutter), some of the best lighting in the whole first season (John S, Bartley who shot 64 episodes in all) which created a very tense atmosphere and a solid cast (including the sheriff played Michael Horse, once again another one from Twin Peaks). The score in this one was particularly unmemorable and actually quite bad (few annoying synthetized strings here and there, with no real theme or emotion). Scully and Mulder are both slightly sidetracked (Scully is particularly annoying with her skepticism even the the truth is right in front of her eyes) to give a bit more space to the secondary characters.

The episode is very short on surprises or anything of importance or relevance for the rest of the series.