"The X Files" Pusher (1996)

User Rating:

8.4/10   

Director:

Rob Bowman

Writers:

Chris Carter (creator)
Vince Gilligan (written by)

TV Series:

"The X Files" (1993)

Original Air Date:

23 February 1996 (Season 3, Episode 17)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Plot:

A seemingly unmotivated murderer, who can apparently talk his victims into killing themselves is on the loose and it is up to Mulder and Scully to study the clues left to them by the person and capture him.

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title | FBI | FBI Agent | Alien | X Files

Cast

David Duchovny	...	Fox Mulder
Gillian Anderson	...	Dana Scully
Mitch Pileggi	...	Walter Skinner
Robert Wisden	...	Robert Patrick Modell
Vic Polizos	...	Agent Frank Burst
Roger R. Cross	...	Lieutenant Brophy
Steve Bacic	...	Agent Collins
Don MacKay	...	The Judge
Brent Sheppard	...	Prosecutor
D. Neil Mark	...	Deputy Scott Kerber
Meredith Bain Woodward	...	Defense Attorney Brent
Julia Arkos	...	Holly
Ernie Foort	...	Lobby Guard
Darren Lucas	...	Lead Swat Cop

Runtime:

Argentina:60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Certification:

Australia:M | Argentina:13

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

At one point during the episode, Mulder and Scully identify a phone number the Pusher had called to be a golf driving range and pro-shop, to which Scully quips, "So he's a killer and a golfer", to which Mulder replies, "Rings a bell, huh?". This is a non-too-subtle reference to O.J. Simpson, alleged murderer and avid golfer.

Goofs:

Plot holes: If the pusher's power is the power of suggestion, every person who saw his FBI pass without him talking to them would have raised the alarm.

Quotes:

[last lines] [Mulder looks at Modell, lying in a coma. Scully enters]
Scully: No telling how long he'll hang on, but he'll never regain consciousness.
Mulder: You know, we thought he was receiving treatment here, but we were wrong.
Scully: What do you mean?
Mulder: I read his chart. The MRI's were a way to gauge how much life he had left, but he consistently refused treatment. The tumor remained operable right up until the end, but he consistently refused to have it removed.
Scully: Why?
Mulder: I think it's like you said. He was always such a little man. This was finally something that made him feel big.
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Yojimbo (1961)

Soundtrack:

Misty

Cerulean Blue is a gentle breeze...

Pusher is one of if not the best Monster of the Week episodes of season 3. Pusher isn't your standard mutated human preying on people MOTW. The paranormal element is simply Robert Modell being able to impose his will on anyone through the sound of his voice. Robert Wisden does an excellent job in his guest appearance as Pusher. This episode is written by Vince Gilligan, better known for his comedy episodes of 'Small Potatoes' and 'Bad Blood'. He writes an excellent story with Pusher, the drama and suspense being at the maximum. The final confrontation between Pusher, Mulder, & Scully is one of the best moments in the x-files, period. An interesting side note: Dave Grohl, lead singer of the band 'The Foo Fighters', makes a cameo appearance, one episode after the term "Foo Fighters" was used for the first time in the x-files. Robert "Pusher" Modell ranks right up there with Eugene Tooms & Donnie Pfaster as one of the best x-files villains. You WILL watch Pusher.