The X-Files: Season 2, Episode 9 Firewalker
(18 Nov. 1994)
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The X-Files: Season 2, Episode 9 Firewalker
(18 Nov. 1994)
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| Episode cast overview: | |||
| David Duchovny | ... | ||
| Gillian Anderson | ... | ||
| Bradley Whitford | ... |
Daniel Trepkos
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| Leland Orser | ... |
Jason Ludwig
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| Shawnee Smith | ... |
Jessie O'Neil
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| Tuck Milligan | ... |
Dr. Adam Pierce
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| Hiro Kanagawa | ... |
Peter Tanaka
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| David Kaye | ... |
Reporter
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| David Lewis | ... |
Vosberg
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Torben Rolfsen | ... |
Technician
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Mulder and Scully investigate strange occurrences at a volcano site where at least one scientist has died. A robotic video showed the scientist lying dead at the bottom of a crater where temperatures have reached 130 degrees Fahrenheit. They can then see a shadow cross the body. Once on the site, they find terrified survivors and what Mulder believes is an unknown silicon-based organism, the first of its kind. With different members of the team seemingly infected, Scully and Mulder quarantine the entire group until they know exactly what they are dealing with. Written by garykmcd
Prior to this viewing, "Firewalker" was one of only five X-Files episodes I had only seen once. I figured there was no need to watch it again, because I found it neither bad nor good, and just boring. Imagine my surprise as I re-watched "Firewalker" and found it very entertaining, and actually a very good episode in every way.
If you've read any of my comments on "The X-Files" episodes you would know that I am not a fan of Howard Gordon (who would go on to become the boss at "24", a show I'm really not a fan of), especially with his former writing partner Alex Gansa, not that I like him much on his own either. I find his scripts to be generally flat and uninspired, and the dialogue to be fairly poor, which is something you can usually expect great things from when it comes to "The X-Files". With "Firewalker" I think he's done extremely well, in spite of the inconsistencies others have pointed out. I still prefer "Ice" (which certainly is very similar to this) because it's got an absolutely classic script with memorable dialogue, but "Firewalker" is still a fine episode.
"Firewalker" actually has a much stronger atmosphere (thanks to the creepy and mysterious volcano setting) and group of guest characters than "Ice" does. Another IMDb user noticed that you could read Trepko and Jesse's characters as parallels to Mulder and Scully, which is not only a sound observation, but something I can't believe I didn't pick up on. David Nutter (who also directed "Ice") returns and does a great job of creating genuinely claustrophobic atmosphere. The guest cast is outstanding as well.
"Firewalker" is not a great episode, but it's very good, almost surprisingly so, and deserves more credit than it gets.
8/10