Beyond the Sea

James Wong and Glen Morgan wrote some brilliant episodes for "The X-Files", but mostly just straightforward standalone thrillers. "Beyond the Sea" differs in that it is really where Scully's character comes to the forefront and where Gillian Anderson first gets a real chance to shine. It's a wonderful, intelligent, wistful, dramatic, thrilling 45 minutes of television that holds a rare degree of power and resonance.

The complexity and depth of characterization here is especially impressive, as Scully is dealing with her father's death and questioning her skeptical ways as she is confronted with an emotional connection through supposed psychic Luther Lee Boggs, played brilliantly by Brad Dourif. The questions of faith, of life and death, of moral consequences raised by this episode are legitimate and display a surprising amount of depth for a first season episode.

Thank heavens David Nutter got the directing job here. His visuals are excellent as usual and I'm sure he had something to do with Dourif's spectacular performance. What a classic episode, one I never tire of watching, and one that grows in my estimation just about every time I see it. "Ice" may have been a taut thriller of an episode, but this is the first sign of brilliance on "The X-Files".

10/10

Beyond the Sea the Limerick:

Dana Scully's dad has died.

She misses him deep down inside.

When she works on a case,

She again sees his face

On a psychic criminal, then cried.

Having watched this and Season 8's "Per Manum" back to back, the latter being the first and the former watched afterwards, the first thing I have to talk about is what a shock it was to the system of this viewer to see a much much younger and slightly chubbier Scully on a low budget film and sets. I couldn't quite get over the huge difference between Season 8 and Season 1 Scully for the first few minutes until we first meet Boggs. Then I just settled in and enjoyed the show as I would had I never noticed anything. Boggs is such an awesome character and I think is very possibly the best guest star on the show ever. Brad Dourif is so great at those overly exaggerated facial expressions and makes you really believe that this is one crazy messed up guy. I love especially the scene where he relates Scully's story of when she had her first cigarette and he is playing with his hair like a little girl, and also his face as he suppresses letting the spirit of Scully's dad talk to her unless he gets a deal. This is just such a great all around episode with amazing performances by everyone involved. 10/10

"Beyond the Sea" was the first episode to center around Scully, as precious little about her life had been known previously, and is arguably the best of the episodes that did so. The frenzied Luther Boggs, played impeccably by Brad Dourif, leaves such an imprint that every monster-of-the-week from this point forward faces the challenge of living up to him. His spotlight is shared by Gillian Anderson's Emmy-warranting performance, that peaks in a confrontation with Boggs shortly after Mulder has been shot ("no one will be able to stop me from being the one that will throw the switch and gas you out of this life for good, you son of a bitch!").

This is easily the best episode of the first season and very likely one of the best of the entire series. David Nutter's directing sheds animation at every angle, with multiple scenes feeling like something out of a David Lynch film. Although numerous episodes would tackle Scully's struggle between belief and denial, "Beyond the Sea" was the first to do so, and the on-screen chemistry between Anderson and Dourif is one of the best pairings on any X-File, if not television. The only negative thing about it is that it made me wish Boggs had been brought back in a future ep! 10/10

The pair are called in to help with two missing students, Mulder believes a Serial killer is to blame. Scully had to deal with a personal tragedy.

This is a terrific episode, no wonder it's so highly rated, and such a fan favourite. This first series has given us multiple styles, even genres. This fits into the psychological thriller bracket.

Very much a Scully central episode, she had a big story here, she's forced to admit to things against the backdrop of her father's death. Anderson is terrific.

Brad Dourif is sensational as Luther Lee Boggs, he is truly brilliant here.

It's great, 9/10.

'Beyond the Sea' is the first time where Mulder and Scully reverse their roles as believer and skeptic. But the most amazing part is the role of Brad Dourif as serial killer Luther Boggs - deep, emotional and intense. Played with nuance and bravura and without feeling one bit hammy. Probably one of the best performances great Brad Dourif has ever given. We also see other side of agent Dana Scully whose father died at the beginning of the episode. Her inner fighting and on the edge of falling apart under the pressure of psychopath Boggs who claims to own psychic powers. Tense psychological play between the two characters reminds little bit Clarice Starling and Hannibal Lecter in 'The Silence of the Lambs'. The intensity is there in both occasions. One of the best episodes and definitely the most haunting one from the season one.

Little bit of trivia - there is a cap of NICAP in the Mulder's office.