You can now stream 10 masterpiece X-Files episodes for free

Starting January 1, Pluto TV now has one of the biggest sci-fi series of the 1990s — or, ever — streaming free in its library. Even though it is famous and a cultural landmark, X-Fileswhich tells the story of a pair of FBI agents investigating the paranormal, can be a scary show to watch. After all, this game is known for having a complicated and long mythology, not all of which can be explained in a coherent or satisfying way.

Nonetheless, the show is smart, well acted, well written, sometimes scary, sometimes funny, and entertaining throughout. So, if you X-Files-Curious, but not sure how to approach the series, I’ve put together a list of 10 standalone episodes that have nothing to do with the show’s broader mythology (or what the fandom calls “Monster of the Week” episodes). The idea here is to get you into the show without having to do any homework and if, at the end of these 10 episodes you’re still digging it, I recommend watching all 218 episodes over its 11 seasons.

However, there are a few notes about what is included here: While the show is mostly known for its investigations into aliens, only a few alien-related episodes are here as most of the alien episodes tie into the broader government conspiracy mythology. I’m also limiting this selection to the first seven seasons because David Duchovny left during season 8 and didn’t return until the 2016 revival with season 10. The show is unwatchable without him, but it’s definitely not as good and requires an explanation of where he went.

And with that, the list. I want to believe you can take part in this show.

1

“Pilot” season 1, episode 1

Although the show’s first episode is a bit quiet, it’s still an excellent introduction to both characters as we see Agent Scully (Gillian Anderson), a rational, scientifically minded FBI agent with a medical background, assigned to a division known as “X-Files,” the FBI’s name for cases involving the paranormal. Scully’s job is essentially to spy on and debunk the work of Agent Fox Mulder (Duchovny), a highly respected agent who specializes in criminology, but has since become involved in the X-Files not only because of her curiosity and pursuit of the truth about the cases, but because her sister, she believes, was abducted by aliens when she was a child.

This episode also covers their first case together, which concerns the death of an Oregon teenager that Mulder believes is connected to an alien abduction. Meanwhile this episode do tying into the show’s broader mythology, since it’s the first episode, the case can’t be burdened by it and the case itself is contained within this one episode.

2

“Blackmail” season 1, episode 3

“Squeeze” is widely considered the first great episode of the show and the first episode to lean as much toward horror as it did into science fiction. For series veterans Glen Morgan and James Wong, this episode focuses on a serial killer named Eugene Victor Tooms (Is lost‘s Doug Hutchison) who, due to a genetic mutation, need to eat human livers. And, although Tooms was young, evidence showed that he had been committing these crimes for almost a century.

3

“The Host” season 2, episode 2

This is another episode that is loved by the fandom because it has a unique monster that is also very disgusting. The episode begins with the discovery of a corpse in New Jersey that has worms in its liver (the liver seems to be the worms’ favorite organ. X-Files writing staff). Soon, Mulder and Scully discover a terrifying humanoid worm. “The Host” takes place during a period in the series where the X-Files division has closed down, but Mulder and Scully are still partners and this detail can basically be ignored for the sake of this episode.

4

“Humbug” season 2, episode 20

At the end of its second season, “Humbug” introduced a new element X-Files: comedy. While the show already has some sly humor, thanks in large part to Mulder’s charm and sarcasm — and Duchovny’s deft handling of the material — this episode is the first time a case it’s funny and the door is wide open for what it is X-Files episodes could be. The story centers on a town of circus performers in Florida and investigates a series of deaths in the town. This comedy features a variety of strange people living in the town, as well as monsters that are equally deadly and ridiculous.

5

“Clyde Bruckman’s Final Rest” season 3, episode 4

This may be the greatest episode in the entire series, standalone or not. It tells the story of Clyde Bruckman — played by the very talented and very dead Peter Boyle — who can tell when people are going to die. Although he is not under investigation by Mulder and Scully, they discover his abilities during a case and ask him to help them, but he refuses to do so. This episode is funny, sad, and heartwarming and makes perfect use of its unique guest stars.

6

“Paper Hearts” season 4, episode 10

Since Mulder’s sister is believed to have been abducted by aliens, most of the episodes dealing with Mulder’s trauma surrounding the incident are steeped in the show’s mythology. An exception to that is season 4’s “Paper Hearts.” Written by Vince Gilligan, this episode looks back at a serial killer who preyed on young girls that Mulder captured years before he worked on the X-Files. Mulder comes to believe that his own sister may have been one of this man’s victims and we get to see an emotionally charged Mulder grapple with it all.

7

“Post-Modern Prometheus” season 5, episode 5

Another hilarious one, “The Post-Modern Prometheus” is the wildest example of how far the show would go in unusual directions after its first few seasons. Photographed in black and white, it adds a serious impression Frankensteinthis episode tells the story of a small town in Indiana where a woman is mysteriously impregnated by what her son believes to be a monster called “The Great Mutato,” created by local mad scientist Dr. Polidori (played to scenery-chewing perfection by John O’Hurley). Oh, and the monsters too Really to Cher.

8

“Drive” season 6, episode 2

You can thank this episode as a whole Breaking Bad when introducing Vince Gilligan to Bryan Cranston, who was a guest star. In “Drive” Cranston plays a bigoted, angry man named Patrick Crump who has an implant in his head that causes unbearable stress and the only thing that relieves it is driving west, the faster, the better. With Mulder in the front seat and Crump in the back, the story is about the two of them bonding and finding common ground, although you’d think Crump would have a complete meltdown.

9

“X-Cops” season 7, episode 12

For fear of stacking the deck with other Funnily enough, I present “X-Cops” which, as the title suggests, is basically just an episode Police starring Mulder and Scully. While such a thing could have been a gimmick in lesser hands, this is another one written by Gilligan that includes cases of monsters that can manifest themselves as man’s worst fears, like, for example, Freddy Krueger.

10

“EBE” season 1, episode 17

Although I presented the rest in order, I made an exception for “EBE” because of that do ties into the overall mythology of the series. But as a season 1 episode, it still works as a standalone episode that doesn’t require any homework. This episode centers on a crashed UFO and its dying pilot. It heavily features the character of Deepthroat (Jerry Hardin), who is Mulder’s mysterious government informant, and introduces a trio known as “The Lone Gunmen,” Mulder’s conspiracy-obsessed friends who publish a supermarket tabloid about the paranormal.

My thought is, if you’ve watched the other nine episodes and like the show, but are still hesitant to dive into the broader mythology, “EBE.” is the perfect test to see if you are ready all from what X-Files must be offered.