“We are not who we are. It goes no further than this. It stops right here. Right now.” – Richter.
ICE [Standalone] Aired November 5, 1993
Episode: 1×07 / 8 Overall
Director: David Nutter • Writer: Glen Morgan & James Wong
Mulder and Scully are sent to investigate when a team of geophysicists stationed at a remote Alaskan outpost are killed by a parasitic alien life form.
MOTW masters Morgan and Wong are back with their third installment for season one and it’s arguably their best yet. David Nutter also makes his directorial debut on the series with an episode that raises the bar significantly, delivering an emotionally taught thriller that’s inspired by John Carpenter’s The Thing. There is a commonly held belief amongst a wide variety of fans that the standalone MOTW episodes were the finest of the series and really conveyed what the X-Files team were capable of producing. That is, the cinematic quality of these episodes pushed the boundaries of what mainstream television was producing in the early 90’s. Ice is the first of many episodes to come that truly feels like it could have been fleshed out to span the length of a feature film.
The writing is first class, unlike previous entries in the series that contain questionable character development and plot elements, Ice captivates it’s audience through an albeit ‘fantastic’ scenario. Character choices and motivations all make sense with the verisimilitude of the story and this is all that matters in story telling, regardless of how unbelievable the situation would be in the real world. While Morgan and Wong’s script is certainly well crafted, with interesting characters and plot turns, it’s David Nutter’s direction that helps this episode to truly shine. We spend most of the time in one location, the ice core teams research base, and with a modest cast of five characters. The tension builds steadily throughout as the characters gradually lose control, becoming more and more unhinged and distrusting of one another. The pacing is handled with considerable skill as the delicate balance between scenes of erratic dialogue and drawn out, suspenseful silence keeps the audience engaged and on the edge of our seat. Unlike some episodes where the audience is given either too much or not enough information, ‘Ice’ gets the balance just right, offering up slivers of information to advance the story which serves to keep the mystery alive without leaving the audience confused. Mark snow’s score is particular memorable here, aiding in the tension and horror elements.
The character development is handled well and is aided by the inspired casting choices. The X-Files had some great supporting cast members and this episode is packed with them. The three features roles this week include Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives), Steve Hytner (Seinfeld) and Xander Berkeley (24), with a more minor role given to Jeff Kober (Sons of Anarchy). All of these actors deliver stellar performances that are an integral part of what makes this episode a stand out entry. The characters are well developed, all with their individual personalities and quirks and witnessing them slowly lose control over the course of the show is a treat to watch. We also get to see a side of Mulder and Scully we have not seen before, as this is an augmented version of reality, at least from the characters perspective, the writers were free to explore some as yet untouched character emotions. Mulder yelling at Scully, pleading her to believe him at gun point as she is forced to lock him away for what she believes is the safety of the group. A side of the two leads we haven’t experienced until now at this point in the series. Even as a scientist Scully is convinced that their only logical course of action is to destroy the parasite. While Mulder argues that there is much to be studied. In keeping with his character, Mulder is open and drawn to the unexplained, fueled by his desire to understand it, despite what could potentially be disastrous consequences. Of course his attempts prove futile as the crucial evidence is destroyed during the episodes conclusion, his search for truth thwarted yet again by an unknown government agency.
Ice is quite possibly the best standalone episode of the season so far and it certainly shows us what Morgan and Wong are capable of as a writing team. As a whole though what makes this episode work is the amalgamation of the separate elements working together; writing, directing, acting, sound production and score to deliver a memorable experience. This is what the great entries of the series all had and it’s important to acknowledge the team effort that is required to deliver a stand out show.
★★★★☆
The X-Files Retrospective Project 