The Most Devastating The X-Files Story Is Secretly a Christmas Episode (And Features a Horror Legend)

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Many fans consider the episode ‘Home’ to be one of the very best of The X-Files. What makes it special is that, despite being subtly set during Christmas, it also features a cameo by a famous horror movie actor. Beyond that, the episode cleverly puts a spooky twist on the Freaky Friday concept, allowing stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson to deliver particularly entertaining performances as their characters, Mulder and Scully.

The episode is “Beyond the Sea,” which originally aired on January 7, 1994, as the thirteenth installment of the first season of The X-Files. While the title comes from a popular song by Bobby Darin, the episode is packed with hidden references and details beyond just that.

The X-Files’ “Beyond the Sea” Episode Is a Christmas Story

Many fans of The X-Files don’t realize the episode “Beyond the Sea” takes place around Christmas. The story opens with Scully having a belated Christmas visit with her parents, Captain William Scully and Margaret Scully. Later that night, Scully falls asleep on the couch and wakes up to find her father silently sitting across from her. He disappears when she answers a phone call from her mother, who informs her that her father has passed away.

While not explicitly a Christmas episode, “Beyond the Sea” shares themes with Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Like Scrooge being visited by ghosts, Scully experiences visions of her father and encounters a personification of death, both of which challenge her typically skeptical perspective.

Unlike Scrooge, Scully remains steadfast and doesn’t falter when challenged. Similar to the most compelling X-Files episodes, the story isn’t really about whether psychic or supernatural events are real; instead, it focuses on how Scully deals with the situation internally – her thoughts, feelings, and even her spiritual journey – which is the core of the narrative.

X-Files‘ “Beyond the Sea” Features A Horror Icon

While still grieving her father’s death, Scully investigates the kidnapping of a couple by someone posing as a police officer. Meanwhile, Mulder faces a difficult choice: a former adversary, serial killer Luther Lee Boggs, claims to have psychic abilities that could lead them to the hostages, but he’ll only share this information if his death sentence is commuted. Mulder refuses to bargain with a killer, determined to solve the case independently. However, Scully experiences another unsettling vision of her father, leading her to wonder if Boggs’s claims are genuine and if he possesses extraordinary powers, prompting her to investigate his story further.

As a huge fan of both horror and sci-fi, I always appreciated Brad Dourif’s performance as Luther Lee Boggs on The X-Files. Dourif is a legend, of course – best known as the voice and performer behind Chucky, the killer doll. It was clever how the show played with that, letting him be a much more subtle, unnerving villain. Instead of the over-the-top mania of Chucky, Boggs was cunning and manipulative, but still smart enough to really challenge Scully when she was at her most vulnerable. It was a fantastic role that showed off Dourif’s incredible range as an actor – a range that, I think, ultimately helped him land the role of Grima Wormtongue in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films, The Two Towers and The Return of the King. He’s just brilliant.

“Beyond the Sea” Was A Freaky Friday Story Few Fans Noticed

The core of The X-Files began with the contrasting personalities of Mulder, who enthusiastically believed in the paranormal and aliens, and Scully, who approached everything with scientific skepticism. This tension was central to the show, especially in its first few seasons, before the overarching storyline became overly complicated. However, the episode “Beyond the Sea” uniquely reversed their typical roles.

Scully’s father’s death isn’t used to dramatically change her character. Instead, the writers and director used her grief and meeting with Boggs to briefly challenge her strong skepticism. Still hurting from the loss of her father, Scully is open to the possibility that Boggs might be psychic and notices when his predictions come true, hoping there’s more beyond death. Interestingly, Mulder, who usually embraces strange possibilities, dismisses Boggs entirely due to their difficult past.

The episode “Beyond the Sea” cleverly handles the role reversal between Mulder and Scully by pushing both characters to their limits. Mulder’s skepticism and attempts to manipulate Boggs lead to him being shot during a rescue operation and confined to a hospital bed. Scully faces a different challenge: Boggs offers to reveal her deceased father’s final words, but only if she supports him during his execution. Ultimately, Scully triumphs emotionally by refusing his request, realizing she doesn’t need a supernatural connection to know what her father would have wanted to say. Her existing bond with him provides the answers she needs.

As a huge fan of The X-Files, I always loved when the show delved into the personal lives of Mulder and Scully. It didn’t happen often, especially with Scully, who was usually so level-headed and logical. But this episode really let Gillian Anderson shine – it’s easy to see why she’s become such a big star in TV and movies, even now!

You can now watch The X-Files on Hulu and Disney+. What are your thoughts? Share them in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-12-24 22:42