E.B.E.

Builds upon the UFO/extra terrestrial storyline seen in some episode's with a climatic finish, but also doesn't give too much away.

Now this is a turning point.

Previously, the pair of detectives had all sorts of close encounters with strange phenomena, with sundry evidence establishing proof. This is complicated here. We have the usual conspiracy and cover-up by secret government, but also we have doctored evidence, and even a whole close encounter staged to dupe the pair away from the 'real' thing.

So when in the end we have deep revelations about Roswell, and the alleged UFO at Hanoi, the narrator is unreliable and could be making up any part of what he reveals, and even the whole secret compound can be a hoax set up because it is something we would expect to discover, wanting to believe. It makes little sense why any of this should happen, but that's the series for you.

The notion is that the most convenient place to hide a lie is between truths, a statement which in our case can be both a lie and true.

Other than that, this is the most cinematic and evocative of the episodes so far.

E.B.E is a taught and suspenseful episode, teetering on the verge of paranoia. Up to this point the show's been feeling its way along, mostly aimlessly, trying to figure out where it's headed and what it's going to be about. We've got some hints and bits of disjointed and apparently unrelated events and phenomena of the overarching plot, but that's all. The producers knew it and we knew it- they had to dig up a solid theme. E.B.E. was the answer, and a good one at that.

The introduction of the Lonegunmen added yet another layer of texture and substance, broadening the show's background, bringing a refreshment and further ingenuity and, to some extent, taking some burden off Mulder and Scully's shoulders, giving them somebody to bank on every now and then.

Not showing too much was also a nice touch, raising the tension and expectations higher. We know now that the US government is in the possession of an extraterrestrial being, and later on we become privy to the government's intentions in relation to it. As the episode went along, we got one answer followed by a dozen lies, as frustration was growing stronger in Mulder on screen. It was even more successful on an emotional level that on story line, come to think of it. The lead characters were apparently becoming more and more unnerved as they realized they'd been spied on, lied to, and purposely fed misinformation.

Toward the end of the episode Deep Throat hints at Roswell Incident as being the beginning of an international agreement on destroying any E.B.E. should it establishes a contact with a particular country. This suggests that the Roswell Incident was in fact authentic, which contradicts another statement from DT later made in The Erlenmeyer Flask, dubbing it a 'smokescreen'.

But I guess that's the price you pay when you get tangled up in a plot so convoluted- it's hard to keep everything in check. Be it as it may, this episode bears enough merit as to grant it a pardon for the mistakes it made.

Main thing I can point out is that E.B.E. is a quintessential X Files episode that pretty much stands out among the crowd.

Misinformation and red herrings are thrown into the path of Mulder and Scully, as the powers that be are trying hard to throw them off a scent.

Paranoia, drama, intrigue, suspense, they are all driven to the max. This is definitely one of the best episodes from this first series, it is a terrific episode, it's a great story, impeccably delivered.

Mulder and Scully feel like a very united duo here.

We learn what the term E.B.E is, and get introduced to some of Mulder's friends. There really is so much rich content here.

Deep Throat has been a constant, and been somewhat helpful for Mulder, could this be a turning point, is he perhaps not all he's cracked up to be? Hardin is great.

This was an impressive watch, 10/10.

Another great episode from season one, and this one is also remarkable for many reasons. 'E.B.E.' was the debut episode for The Lone Gunmen, group of likable eccentrics conspiracy theorists who occasionally provide help and information for Mulder. We also get to know more backstory of Deep Throat and also more questions will be raised about his real intentions. Well written tight and tense episode which uses a lot of UFO mythology.

It was also the first time I ever heard the term E.B.E. - Extra-terrestrial Biological Entity.