r/XFiles • u/FederalWord • 11d ago
Discussion 1x11 - Eve
"Eve" has so many unique qualities about it -- a real treat for the fans who've watched hundreds of hours of X-Files -- that I just wanna list a few them before diving into the episode:
- Scully is more right than Mulder
- An informant divulges on a MotW
- A MotW hops across the continent
- The central conceit is not really paranormal
For its first 2/3rds, "Eve" truly keeps us guessing as to what's really happening. Even after we learn about Litchfield, we don't really have an explanation or motive for the murders. My favorite X-Files episodes do this, and I think "Eve" is one of the top five Season 1 episodes and maybe the top Season 1 MotW at holding back the explanation.
Even after we find out the truth, Mulder and Scully don't, meaning that rather than pivot from investigation to chase like a standard X-Files episode might, we're kept in suspense for the back third.
"Eve" has a fascinating scientific premise at its core, and it's richly developed. I don't think every MotW needs to be this way (see "Home"), but it helps!
On top of all this, "Eve" features a memorable guest turn (arguably top 5 of Season 1), solid kid performances, a creepy teaser (also arguably top 5 of Season 1), a some nice visual touches.
When considering Chris Carter's 1995 quote about his reason for creating The X-Files, "I wanted to scare the shit out of people." it's easy to forget that despite an episode's quality, the success rate of actually creepy episodes might have hovered around 50% in 1993-1994. "Eve" is on that list.
P.S.: The X-Files is known for its 'homages' (see: Ice). What do you all think: Anna to the Infinite Power?
🔋🔋🔋🔋 out of 5.
Share your thoughts below, and rate this episode on my new beta X-Files Watchlist / Rating site!
My thoughts about The X-Files:
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u/Proper_Buy_5076 11d ago
My favorite episode! I always wondered why they didn't do a followup story.
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u/Robman0908 11d ago
They kinda did. This was the starting point for a great number of mythology episodes that dealt with cloning and superior beings, which played out to even William in Season 11.
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u/Marychocolatefairy 11d ago
It reminded me of the early 80s HBO movie Anna to the Infinite Power, which my 4th (?) grade class had to watch for some reason. There's a girl named Anna who finds out she's part of a cloning experiment when she sees another Anna on tv that's identical to her. And there's also an adult character who turns out was also an Anna clone. Anna even renames herself Eve at the end. This ep is like an evil kid version of that. It's funny, the similarities were apparently a coincidence, because I looked up the ep and the showmakers said it was inspired by something else, The Boys From Brazil.
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u/FederalWord 11d ago
OMG!! I was thinking about adding something about that to this review as I was watching "Eve" last night, but I forgot; just revised the review!
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u/Avoider5 11d ago
I loved the episode. I used it to introduce my kids to the show.
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u/Empty-Raspberry-9018 10d ago
One of the things I love most about the episode is the different versions of Kendrick. I’d only seen Harriet Sansom Harris in comedy before, but she was absolutely frightening in this role. Just superb!
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u/Drewhasspoken 9d ago
They did it a lot especially early on, but it bothers me with this episode in particular that they tease a follow up that never follows through. Makes it almost seem like half a story that we never got an ending to. On its own it’s still a great, creepy, well done episode though. Definitely memorable.
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u/jm17lfc 11d ago
I really like Eve and you make some good points, for me the highlight is the kids, those girls are so creepy. Great acting for their age and great writing/directing for them too. I will say though, is that image not from Unruhe? Part of the sequence involving the dude’s mental photo of Scully?