The X-Files Rewatch: S01E05, The Jersey Devil 📺 👹

As usual, SPOILERs abound 🙌

A monster-of-the-week type story. Mulder and Scully investigate cannibalistic murders in New Jersey, which gives you high hopes we’re delving into cannibal horror territory but alas they end up uncovering an evolutionary throwback linked to the Jersey Devil urban legend, aka Bigfoot.

We do get to meet Scully’s sister when she attends her godson's birthday; also she goes on a hot date with a single dad she met at the party, only to ditch him at the restaurant to assist Mulder on the investigation. In a glimpse of character development, these moments reveal the personal sacrifices she makes for her job but are overshadowed by an otherwise meandering plot.

Mulder's pursuit of the creature, including a night spent in an alley and a fun chase through piles of trash and abandoned buildings, adds some humour but fails to redeem the episode that ends with an overblown climax involving some kind of SWAT team situation.

Perhaps among the worst 2-3 episodes of the first season. Will do a post with top and bottom episodes at some point after I’m done with the season rewatch.

Rating (1/5): ⭐️