E.B.E.

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.

At this point in the series only two or three mythology-related episodes had aired and the direction of the alien/conspiracy plot arc was largely indiscernible. "E.B.E.," written by Glen Morgan and James Wong (better known for their early standalone episodes), takes things up a notch as government lies and cover-ups lead Mulder to question his trust in the only person he has trusted, Deep Throat. The entire feel of the episode is a very subtle one, lacking any cheap or sudden thrills - anyone expecting to see an aptly-named E.B.E. will be sorely disappointed - but compensates for this in its paranoid overtones and character development. The scene in which Mulder ransacks his entire apartment to find a bug behind an electrical socket is a case in point of the former, and even Scully panics upon finding something similar in a ballpoint. This episode is also notable for introducing the Lone Gunmen, who would make subsequent appearances in all nine seasons. While "E.B.E." took a few views to really appreciate, I consider it to be one of the best of season one. Great writing and acting, an eerie soundtrack, and just an overall sense of paranoia not found in later episodes make this one a classic.

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.

E.B.E. kicks the mythology into high gear. This episode has everything: danger, suspense, deception, humor, wit, and action. Before this episode I had always referred to aliens as extra-terrestrials (E.T.). This was the first time I had heard the expression extra-terrestrial biological entity (E.B.E). Too bad Spielberg's film wasn't called E.B.E.. And of course, besides the excellent and exciting story, a good reason to see this episode is for the introduction of the Lone Gunmen, a trio of paranoid men who help Mulder out with their expertise from time to time. What makes this episode stand out is that previously Deep Throat has given Mulder information to help him on a case. In this episode, however, he intentionally misleads Mulder. It makes you wonder what Deep Throat's motives truly are. E.B.E. is a top-notch episode that helps you to see whether it's remotely plausible that someone might thing Scully is hot.

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.