Pilot

It's difficult to judge the pilot episode of a TV show, especially if the show is successful in being "picked up" by its producer. Pilot episodes for TV shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer aren't exactly great pieces of television, but it's hard to place damning on the episode if it achieves what it sets out to do. Fortunately there's no such confusion with the Pilot of The X-Files; simply put it is great television. Before reaching the complexities of the mythology in seasons 2-6, or the contrived story lines of seasons 8-9, we must remember that there was a time when The X-Files dealt with simple stories about little green men. The very first X-Files episode was one of these instances. The Pilot focuses less on plot and more on developing the show's two main protagonists; the recusant and open-minded Fox Mulder and the grounded and skeptical Dana Scully. Character development in the Pilot is fantastic; the show immediately let's us into the minds of our lead characters. Aside from excellent character work, the episode boasts intelligent dialogue and a storyline that intrigues and disturbs the viewer to the dying moments.