Gender Bender

Gender Bender' is much better episode than it gets credit for. Little different than regular X-File and the twist ending might seem far-fetched at first, but the build up is good and the episode has nice ominous atmosphere. Wonderfully haunting score helps to improve the atmospheric feel.

This episode also marks first appearance of Nicholas Lea, but not yet as agent Alex Krycek but as Michael, the victim of the gender bendering Marty.

Why are healthy young men dying after having random sex with an attractive young woman, who has a touch to die for?

You really have to hand it to the whole team, this first series is the exact opposite of formulaic, there is a breadth of story, and originality of idea, unmatched to this day in any other show.

There have been psychological thrillers, horrors, dramas, and good old fashioned science fiction, I'm not quite sure which bracket this one falls into, but who cares, Gender bender is daringly different, it combines club life, sci fi and a aerial killer all into one story, it is very well put together.

I'm surprised by some of the negativity surrounding this one, it scores highly for originality. 7/10.

If I'm a die-hard fan of "Twin peaks", "Married with children", early "Baywatch", "Mister Bean", nonetheless "X-files" is the number one because it's the more challenging. For a bachelor with a monotonous job in a conservative, old country, X-files is an incredible breath of air. With each show, it's a new setting, a new case and nearly a new example of paranormal. It's like there is an Earth-2 somewhere because UFOs, ghosts never get the headlines in my country. We may maybe add an Earth-3 as well because the black, corrupt government that hides truth form its citizens is another dark file that's never get publicized for sure. So that's the genius of this show to mix paranormal with conspiracy.

Next, X-files is a wonderful trip into America (yes i know it was shot in Vancouver...): it's the Hamish farm, the high tech building, the desert base, the dark woods, the cozy suburb. It's the same thing about people: Indians, disabled people, hobos, simple families, workers, believers, i think each minorities have the spotlight here. In other words, it's a very humanist naturalist, show that offers something else that capitalist life, eternal guns violence about bad guys.

Then, there are a terrific outstanding talented behind: the effects are amazing, simple but effective. The light is amazing. In a way, this TV show is like mini movies and the episodes are much worthy and interesting than the actual senseless blockbusters! Funnily, they can tell brilliantly in 43 minutes what the 120 minutes movie fail to entertain!

Last but not least, the cast: to put my feeling in paranormal term, i think it's because the three of us are Lions. David is from the 7th, Gilian the 9th and me, the 12th. In all cases, we are all a bit of calm with strong loud beliefs, hotly passionate with dry humor, mixing extraordinarily with some and almost close for others. So, i relate very well with this couple of loners and the sexual tension between them is the more elastic of any other show.

Now, the good question: how i discovered the show? It appears that this first season has been first aired on 1994 Sundays in France and i remember to have catch one by accident then, maybe "Tooms" or "Lazarus". It's sure that i couldn't see the end because i was with my parents then and the dinner was made for 19h! Later, I saw the first four episodes because i bought the VHS tape. Then, I know a lot of others as well ("Ice", "Darkness falls", NJ devil"). Did my brother tape them or were they a rerun, I can't remember! I'm pretty sure that this DVD session is the first time i see them all because some were totally unknown ("born again", "roland", "young at heart").

I pick this "gender bender" episode for this season just because i have always been disturbed by strange communities. One alien, one vampire, one werewolf are easy to confront but when it's the entire village that turn against you, there aren't no easy escape.

This is a really interesting episode, I really loved the gender bender plot. Amish people were a really nice touch as well. This is the first episode I ever watched and it got me hooked to the show. It's definitely my favorite from season one.

This episode from the first season slightly edges towards controversy with the whole gender bending angle.I imagine there would have been a significant amount of editing before this was finished to appease censors.

The story itself is original and well written and the directing is complemented by the fine acting.(Nicholas Lea makes his X-Files debut though not as Agent Krycek but as a victim called Michael) I especially enjoyed the built up to and the ending itself.

Its different but enjoyable.Ignore any bad reviews you may hear.Watch it for yourself and make judgement then