I’m Certain These are The 3 Best The X-Files Episodes About Actual Monsters

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Many monsters in The X-Files are simply human individuals with supernatural powers or insidious minds, but the series introduces a number of genuine creatures either based on real-world legends or newly created for the show. The following three X-Files episodes brought the most terrifying monsters to the screen and are still revered for their top-notch quality.

3) “Quagmire”

The X-Files Season 3, Episode 22, titled “Quagmire” takes Scully and Mulder to a town in Georgia, where several residents have died under mysterious circumstances near a lake. Reminiscent of the Loch Ness Monster, the suspected killer lurks beneath the water, awaiting a victim to munch on. The dinosaur-like creature known as Big Blue attacks and mutilates a Boy Scout leader, a diver, and even Scully’s dog, both in the lake and close to shore. The agents pursue Big Blue, and just when they believe to have caught the monster, it’s revealed that an alligator has been the one causing chaos around the lake. But, like in many other episodes of The X-Files, the truth isn’t quite what it seems at the end of “Quagmire.” The final scene depicts Big Blue swimming in the lake as Scully and Mulder depart, implying that the mythical creature has managed to terrorize the town without being noticed.

Even though Big Blue doesn’t appear much in “Quagmire,” the mere idea of the monster’s presence generates an unsettling atmosphere. The episode’s intriguing reference to the Loch Ness Monster urban legend resonated with audiences, and that ending likely induced many nightmares. Aside from the creepiness of “Quagmire,” the episode succeeds largely thanks to Scully and Mulder’s dynamic. The two face the uphill battle of proving that their work is worth something. Mulder’s obsession with uncovering Big Blue clashes with Scully’s uncertainty and criticism of his approach. Overall, “Quagmire” delivers the eerie monster-themed entertainment X-Files fans love while producing some memorable character moments.

2) “The Post-Modern Prometheus”

The X-Files could not resist basing one of its episodes on Frankenstein, and the result was outstanding. Season 5, Episode 5, “The Post-Modern Prometheus” offers a fascinating take on the famous novel. Filmed in black-and-white, the episode starts with a woman from Indiana writing to Mulder about how an unknown creature raped her on two occasions. When Scully and Mulder arrive in town, they learn that this disfigured monster is called The Great Mutato (Chris Owens). They then meet a local geneticist, Dr. Francis Pollidori (John O’Hurley), who secretly created Mutato similarly to how Victor Frankenstein made his monster from various unsavory experiments.

Dr. Pollidori’s mistake leads to murder and chaos in the town, and the episode ends with everyone attending a Cher concert after it’s revealed that Dr. Pollidori’s father had assaulted the woman in an attempt to produce a counterpart for Mutato. The goofiness and absurdity of “The Post-Modern Prometheus” is unnerving due to its subject material, but the episode brings an irresistible charm to The X-Files. There are creepier monsters than The Great Mutato, though the character’s likeness to Frankenstein’s monster makes for a compelling X-Files story that pays tribute to old Frankenstein movies.

1) “The Host”

The X-Files, Season 2, Episode 2 features one of the show’s scariest monsters. “The Host” centers on Flukeman (Darin Morgan), a human-worm hybrid parasite that occupies the New Jersey Sewers and consumes anyone who enters. Flukeman pulls his victims under the water and leaves a four-pointed wound typical of a flukeworm. Those who escape become hosts to smaller flukeworms and soon meet their demise, as the episode depicts. Flukeman is absolutely horrifying, and it’s a staggering moment when his monstrous appearance is finally revealed. After breaking free from law enforcement’s custody once, Mulder ends up dealing a fatal blow to Flukeman at the end of “The Host.”

This ghastly episode of The X-Files is the epitome of great monster TV. Not only does “The Host” boast a terrifying antagonist, but it also establishes tension and builds up to its big moments at a steady pace. As a result, audiences grow frightened at the thought of Flukeman before he fully emerges from the sewage. “The Host” is an engrossing and chilling Monster of the Week episode, and fans of The X-Files are right to rank it as one of the series’ best installments.

All seasons of The X-Files are available to stream on Hulu.