David Duchovny’s Right: ‘The X-Files’ Newcomers Should Start Controversial Episode “Home”

If you ask 100 fans of The X-Files what their favorite episode is, you’ll probably get 100 different answers. Some people loved the show’s big, overarching conspiracies, while others preferred the standalone “Monster-of-the-Week” episodes. Recently, David Duchovny was asked by Vulture where a new viewer should begin, and he suggested “Home” from Season 4 – a solid recommendation, considering his reasoning.

Written by Glen Morgan and James Wong and directed by Kim Manners, this episode of The X-Files finds Agents Mulder and Scully investigating a disturbing discovery in a small town: the buried body of a newborn baby. Scully’s examination reveals the baby was buried alive and had numerous physical abnormalities. The discovery was made near the home of the Peacock brothers, who live there after losing their parents.

Sheriff Taylor informs Mulder and Scully that the Peacock family has practiced inbreeding for generations, dating back to the Civil War. With no women in the family, the agents suspect they’ve kidnapped someone to carry on the lineage, prompting an investigation. They soon discover the brothers’ mother is still alive – Karin Konoval plays Mrs. Peacock, a quadruple amputee hidden under a bed and artificially inseminated in an attempt to continue the Peacock family line.

The Controversy of “Home”

Unlike most episodes of the series, which deal with aliens or government secrets, “Home” is truly terrifying, feeling more like a brutal horror film such as The Hills Have Eyes or The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. It starts with the Peacock brothers burying a crying baby alive, and features some of the most shockingly violent killings seen in the entire show.

This episode was particularly violent, marking the first time the series received a TV-MA rating and a viewer warning. After originally airing on October 11, 1996, it wasn’t shown again in regular broadcasts or when the series was rerun. It didn’t reappear until 1999, when it was presented as a special Halloween night broadcast.

Kumail Nanjiani Has His Own Suggestions

Fox

David Duchovny recently appeared in the film See You When I See You, directed by Jay Duplass and co-starring Kumail Nanjiani, who also produced it. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Nanjiani is a dedicated fan of The X-Files, and his enthusiasm led him to create the podcast The X-Files Files, which launched in 2014 and produced almost 60 episodes. When asked by Vulture which X-Files episode a new viewer should start with, Duchovny jokingly indicated that Kumail Nanjiani was the best person to answer.

about The X-Files than I do. Nanjiani replied:

I highly recommend starting with the pilot episode. After that, check out ‘Squeeze’ and ‘Ice.’ Once you’ve seen a few, ‘Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose’ is a great next step. Finally, when you’re ready for something really powerful, watch ‘Home’ – it’s an amazing episode, but it’s emotionally intense.

Duchovny playfully suggested viewers skip to the show’s more dramatic episodes, even joking, “Just start with the incest.”

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Black Panther and Sinners director Ryan Coogler is currently developing a new take on The X-Files.

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2026-01-29 01:18

The Controversy of “Home”

Kumail Nanjiani Has His Own Suggestions

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