The Best X-Files Episode From Every Season

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The sci-fi series The X-Files originally aired for nine seasons and was briefly revived in 2016 and 2018, adding two more seasons to its run. Many fans consider the first six seasons to be the strongest, balancing standalone ‘Monster of the Week’ episodes with a larger, ongoing alien conspiracy. The show’s quality dipped in its final seasons due to the exit of David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson’s smaller part. The revival seasons were uneven – while the main alien storyline had largely been resolved in the movies, they still featured some very enjoyable and well-made episodes with Duchovny and Anderson reprising their leading roles.

Here is a look at the best episode of each X-Files season, ranked.

11) Season 1 – “Tooms”

Okay, as a huge fan, I have to say the first season of The X-Files really hit its stride with the episode featuring Eugene Victor Tooms. It was one of those ‘Monster of the Week’ episodes, but it was special because Tooms was the first villain they brought back! This guy was seriously creepy – he ate livers and hibernated. When he got out of prison, Mulder and Scully tried to stop him from killing again, but he was always one step ahead, desperately needing organs so he could hibernate for another three decades. And the ending? It’s gross, but brilliantly so – Tooms meets a really unfortunate end involving an escalator. It’s a classic for a reason!

10) Season 2 – “End Game”

Many fans consider “End Game” to be the best episode of The X-Files‘ second season, and it’s a key installment in the show’s overarching alien abduction storyline. The episode features an alien bounty hunter who kidnaps Scully, leading Mulder to make a desperate offer: his sister, Samantha, in exchange for Scully’s release. As the second half of a two-part story that begins with “Colony,” “End Game” reveals more about the secret project involving human-alien hybrids. It’s a brilliantly crafted conclusion that perfectly captures the essence of the show’s alien mythology, standing alongside the best of the standalone ‘Monster of the Week’ episodes.

9) Season 3 – “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose”

Many fans consider “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose,” from The X-Files’ third season, to be the show’s best episode—and perhaps the best of the entire series. The episode expertly blends humor, suspense, mystery, and intelligence. Peter Boyle delivers a memorable performance as Clyde Bruckman, an insurance salesman who may be psychic, and assists Mulder and Scully in their investigation of other people with psychic abilities. While deeply moving, the episode is also pivotal in Scully’s journey toward greater belief in the paranormal, and is widely considered a landmark achievement in science fiction horror television.

8) Season 4 – “Home”

The Season 4 X-Files episode, “Home,” is considered one of the show’s most disturbing. It was so graphic that it received a viewer discretion warning – a first for the series – and would have earned a TV-MA rating if the system had been in place at the time. The episode follows Mulder and Scully as they investigate the death of a baby born with severe defects, leading them to a secluded family of inbred farmers who have been isolated for over ten years and are controlled by their mother. Despite – or perhaps because of – the complaints about its graphic content, “Home” remains popular with horror fans of The X-Files. The fact that the episode was inspired by a true story adds to its shocking nature.

7) Season 5 – “The Post-Modern Prometheus”

The fifth season of The X-Files features the episode “The Post-Modern Prometheus,” which is a loving tribute to classic science fiction and horror stories. As a self-contained ‘Monster of the Week’ episode, it draws inspiration from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein – a connection reflected in its title. The episode was notably filmed in black and white as a nod to the iconic Universal Horror films. Many fans consider the episode’s ending, set to the song “Walking in Memphis,” to be the most memorable moment of the entire series. It received seven Emmy nominations and won one award.

6) Season 6 – “Triangle”

As a huge fan, I still think about the Bermuda Triangle episode from Season 6 of The X-Files. It was such a brilliant idea to use that mystery for a time-travel story! The episode follows Mulder as he gets caught in the Triangle and winds up on a cruise ship filled with Nazis – and it’s wild seeing familiar actors playing totally different characters. What really makes it stand out, though, is the ending. It leaves you wondering if everything that happened was real, or just a bizarre dream. It’s one of the most creative and memorable episodes the show ever did.

5) Season 7 – “Requiem”

Season 7 of The X-Files wrapped up Fox Mulder’s storyline, although he wouldn’t be gone for good – he left during the eighth season. The season finale, titled “Requiem,” brought Mulder and Scully back to Oregon, the same location where their first case took place in the very first episode, “Pilot.” The episode heavily focused on the show’s alien mythology and concluded with Mulder walking into an energy field towards a UFO, where he was abducted along with everyone else. This effectively removed his character from the series, and the season ended with Scully discovering she was pregnant with his child, leaving many questions unanswered. “Requiem” was such a strong episode that it could have served as a fitting series finale if Fox hadn’t decided to bring the show back with a new partner for Scully.

4) Season 8 – “The Gift”

Season 8 of The X-Files signaled the show’s decline, largely due to David Duchovny’s exit, which disappointed many viewers. However, the season wasn’t without its highlights, particularly the episode “The Gift.” A strong point of the season was the introduction of Robert Patrick as Doggett, stepping in as Mulder’s replacement. While it felt unusual to see Scully as the one who believed and Doggett as the skeptic, it worked well in episodes focused on Mulder’s disappearance. This episode marked Duchovny’s first appearance of the season, and its emotional resonance was a standout, something relatively uncommon in the later seasons of The X-Files.

3) Season 9 – “Sunshine Days”

As a long-time X-Files fan, I have to admit the final season before the revival was a bit of a letdown. Losing David Duchovny was tough, and even Gillian Anderson wasn’t around full-time. But there was one episode that really stood out! It was directed by Vince Gilligan – the guy who brought us Breaking Bad – and featured Michael Emerson (from Lost) playing a wonderfully creepy character who’d recreated the Brady Bunch house in his own home. While John Doggett and Monica Reyes weren’t Mulder and Scully, that episode was genuinely one of the stronger ones from that last season.

2) Season 10 – “Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster”

The first season of the X-Files reboot had some hits and misses, but “Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster” was a standout. The title itself signaled a lighthearted approach, and the episode delivered a fun and creative story. Featuring guest stars Kumail Nanjiani and Rhys Darby, and written by Darin Morgan (known for “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose”), the episode centers around a lizard-like creature. But when Mulder encounters the creature, things take a decidedly strange turn. This episode was a welcome reminder of what made the original X-Files so enjoyable – its willingness to simply have fun.

1) Season 11 – “The Lost Art of Forehead Sweat”

The recent season of The X-Files had its highs and lows, but the fourth episode, “The Lost Art of Forehead Sweat,” really stood out. It was one of the funniest of the revival, cleverly using the Mandela Effect to poke fun at the show itself – a move that some fans didn’t appreciate, but was executed brilliantly. The episode introduced a new character who appeared in old cases, but no one seemed to remember, which was a hilarious concept. The line, “Where the hell are they taking Reggie?” delivered by Skinner, was the perfect comedic payoff.

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2026-02-28 01:11