War of the Coprophages

With Clyde Bruckmann, this is the goofiest, funnest, most inventive storytelling in the show.

It takes a new and unusual approach like this to illustrate what an absurdly narrow experience it has all been so far. By this point, we've had about 45 hours of the same thing: our pair enter a sci-fi movie, have a few strange encounters and leave with some generally unambiguous glimpse of more cosmic machinations. Then we cleanly start anew in the next one swapping say the werewolf with a telepathic killer or mysterious virus, except of course in the sporadic myth arch which features a different set of laws.

Adolescently conceived and targeted, we have precious little about the overall world, the time and urges of these people outside a case, because apparently that would be boring whereas sewage monsters and vampire cults 'thrill'. Put that aside a second and imagine: Mulder and Scully come and go daily from their office, and the only person that we know is onedimensional Skipper doing the same disapproving frown.

Anyway, this isn't great but it registers because it bends the norm. Every story element is memorable, that's for sure. The overall thrust is silly, deliberately so: killer roaches. This branches off in several directions, all skewering the sexlessness, seriousness, and paranoia of previous stuff.

The house with 'flowing' walls and sexy (almost a bimbo) entomologist in shorts who Mulder hits on. The suspicion of a secret government experiment shrugged off for practical reasons. The on and off talks with Scully on the phone. The sense of a weary acceptance in Mulder as he runs from one incredulous death to the other. The sedentary crippled scientist and his robots. Scully finally entering the case to find a small town gripped in mass hysteria. The roaches tied (of course!) to alien space travel. It ends with our pair covered in dung and Mulder telling Scully that she smells.

Probably the funniest "X-Files" episode so far, "War of the Coprophages" is a hilarious (and disgusting if you don't like cockroaches) affair from second one.

Mulder is taking a break from his UFO searching when he gets wind of a series of deaths that seem to be related to cockroaches. He goes to investigate, while constantly calling Scully for help. Scully keeps giving him logical and sound reasons for the different deaths, but Mulder is not sold on her reasoning and continues to investigate.

Everything in the episode is great. The pace is high, the direction keeps things happening non-stop, and the plot is full of funny twists and great one liners. It helps that everyone is in on the game, especially David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, who deliver their dialogue with great glee, their constant banter bringing laughs the the viewer. And Mulder's infatuation with entomologist Bambi is hilarious, with Duchovny's face being the expression of awestruck. Just seeing him looking at Bambi will bring a smile to the viewer.

It is all played with so much tongue-in-cheek that it is impossible not to enjoy this episode.

I am going back and watching all the seasons before the new movie comes out and I must say that in the first three seasons this episode stands out like no other. It's a throwback to old science fiction movies and the playful banter between Scully and Mulder is reminiscent of early season one. This episode was funny and a nice depart from the myth/arc episodes and the MOTW episodes. I always love the dynamic between Mulder and Scully and it's really showcased here. It's meant to be a light-hearted venture rather than the serious intense episodes of late or even some of the weaker MOTW episodes. Kick back and relax. I give it 10/10 for being a much welcomed surprise.

Oh boy, this was good.

I really don't like insects, I have a real phobia of large insects, so for me, this episode is up there with Emasculata, this really did gross me out.

Imagine Midnight Express with a sci fi twist...

It's almost funny at parts, you have Scully constantly being cut off, and almost.travelling, and of course you have Bambi, and her heaving bosom. The first meeting between her and Mulder is very funny.

The term Katsaridaphobia may not be on the tip of everyone's tongues, but it's a rational, common fear of the little critters, it applies here.

The writing is great, the direction is terrific, I love the interplay between Mulder and Scully, both are at their very best.

'This is not place for an entomologist,' such a great line.

This was great, 9/10.

In the list of the best episodes of this show, this one is in the top 5.

Seeing Scully at home doing her routine outside of investigate work is well thought of, her cleverness is well written, and their interactions are fun and funny.

We see the horny side of Mulder which is fun too, and bambi is a character that should have reappeared throughout the entire series.

This episode is proof that a silly plot can be really well written and this is one of the first episodes that showed us that the XFiles knew how to make fun of itself.

Note for those who don't have the dvd box set: when scully arrives at the supermarket and the cars crash, this wasn't actually scripted, you can see it in Gillian Anderson 's face.