Season 1, Episode 9—Space
While on a space mission, astronaut Lt. Col. Belt (Ed Lauter) encounters an intergalactic entity that latches onto him and follows him back to Earth. Years later, Mulder and Scully are contacted by a NASA communications commander who believes a high-profile space shuttle launch was inexplicably sabotaged—the saboteur being Belt who, under the possession of the alien spirit, was trying to discredit the space program before discovering intelligent life on other planets.
Along with “The Jersey Devil,” “Space” has the unfortunate distinction of being one of the worst episodes of the first season. In fact, I would rank it as the worst. The story is not only preposterous (even by X-Files standards), it’s also unimaginative, and downright silly. The ep also suffers from truly abysmal special effects and an overuse of NASA stock footage.
But the biggest sin “Space” commits is making Mulder and Scully obsolete in a plot that drowns in melodrama produced by powers beyond their control—M&S have nothing to do in the entire episode aside from looking bored. You’ll be bored.
Rating: 👽
