Ep 9. Space

In The X-Files season 1 episode 9, titled "Space," Mulder and Scully investigate a decommissioned space shuttle, the Cerulean, after all communication is lost with the craft. The ship's mission had been to repair and refuel a satellite orbiting above Earth, but it appears something went wrong soon after takeoff. The investigation begins with Mulder examining a recovered video feed from the craft's crew, which reveals an eerie image of a crew member floating lifelessly in zero gravity.

The situation takes a more ominous turn when two of the astronauts from Cerulean are found, both with their bodies frozen stiff. The medical examiner suggests that the extreme conditions of space could have caused the rapid freeze, but the fact that their blood has turned into a chalk-like substance surprises the duo. As Mulder and Scully continue to dig deeper into the incident, they realize that the space mission was not an official one and certain classified objects were delivered to the commissioner of the project.

As they speak with the higher authorities, the duo learn that the space mission had been launched as a cover-up for a crash site of an extraterrestrial spacecraft, which had been found by the US government a long time ago. The classified objects delivered aboard the Cerulean were parts of the extraterrestrial craft. As they unravel the mystery of the Cerulean's true mission, our agents begin to uncover a web of deceit, lies and murders, all committed to keep the government’s knowledge of extraterrestrial life secret.

Mulder becomes obsessed with the idea of discovering what was on the crashed extraterrestrial ship, a possible government conspiracy, and Scully dismisses his theories as impossible. The two often clash on their individual beliefs throughout the episode, but it never dampens their persistence on finding out the truth. Meanwhile, they face the extraterrestrial life, and the aliens are, unsurprisingly, hostile to human beings. They are shown in a terrifying visual manifestation of alien life and the performances by the leads lend credence to the entire situation.

One of the most striking aspects of episode 9 is its cinematography which uses visually striking effects to depict the events of the investigation's various twists and turns. The flashbacks to the Cerulean mission are beautifully shot, particularly the eerie image of the floating crew member, which is both memorable and visually impressive. Besides this, the CGI effect of the extraterrestrial life forms is incredibly impressive for the time, considering the episode originally aired in the early '90s.

The direction, along with a powerful script, also takes the viewer on a journey of anxiety and panic that slowly builds up with the progression of the episode. The story is tightly woven, leading to a fascinating culmination that raises questions about the potential of extraterrestrial life and the dangers of government secrets.

Overall, this episode is a classic example of why the X-Files is hailed as one of the most iconic sci-fi shows of all time. The mixture of suspense, drama, and horror coupled with an exceptionally well-executed script makes this episode a must-watch. With its stunning visuals and creative storytelling, "Space" is an episode that leaves a lasting impression on the viewer, making it a must-see for any fan of the show or science fiction in general.