"The Erlenmeyer Flask" was written as both a season and series finale, I believe, as the ratings for much of season one were far from the dazzling level of popularity much of "The X-Files" experienced and the writers/producers were unsure if they were going to get another season just yet, so this is sort of a real finale for all the mythology episodes in season one rather than a first part of two/three sort of thing like "Anasazi" but oddly enough is also the birth of what the X-Files mythology arc would actually become later on. This is the first episode in which we really see the extent of the conspiracy, and it is the first we see of the human/alien hybrids and some other iconic imagery.
There are lots of good observations on this comments page to which I have nothing to add, so I'll just say that this is a really phenomenal script to open the water-cooler aspect of "The X-Files", packed with all sorts of catchphrases, iconic moments, and intrigue, and a fair amount of excellent character interaction. "Trust... Trust No One". This one is an action-packed, massively entertaining, and particularly iconic episode.
10/10
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Season 1 Review: Although many disagree with me, many also agree that season one is far from the best season, and actually lacking in many ways. Not only is it dated and lacking in the sort of brilliant visual flair many of the later episodes had, but it is also quite repetitive and unimaginative, with numerous episodes ending up as middling anthology show sort of stuff, hardly as good as it could have been.
That said, as awkward as much of this season is, there are some brilliant episodes here. "E.B.E." and "The Erlenmeyer Flask" are really great early mythology episodes, "Beyond the Sea" is a stunning character piece and phenomenally involving, and features a brilliant guest performance from Brad Dourif, "Darkness Falls" is one of the most enjoyable pure horror/thriller episodes, and one of the most atmospheric, the Glen Morgan/James Wong episodes "Ice", "Squeeze", and "Tooms" are all a lot of fun. There are some really rotten episodes as I mentioned earlier though: "Born Again", "Space", and "Ghost in the Machine" are especially tiresome.
Season One is hardly an indication of what's to come. There are flashes of brilliance but much of it lacks confidence and skill (although not talent, mind you, even some of the worse episodes), and looks dated and cheap.
Average Rating: 6.33/10
