Fallen Angel
From X-Files Wiki
| Series: | The X-Files |
| Original Airdate: | November 19, 1993 |
| Production Number: | 1x09 |
| Date(s): | Unknown |
| Written by: | Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa |
| Directed by: | Larry Shaw |
Mulder is informed about a government cover-up of a UFO crash site, but finds that a fellow UFO enthusiast is also interested in the find.
Contents |
[edit] Summary
SUMMARY
[edit] Background Information
- The last line of dialogue in this episode - Deep Throat's warning to Section Chief McGrath, "Always keep your friends close, Mr. McGrath, but keep your enemies closer" - is a paraphrased quote from the movie The Godfather Part II, in which the lead character, Michael Corleone (played by Al Pacino), says, "My father taught me many things here... he taught me in this room. He taught me, 'keep your friends close but your enemies closer'". The quote's origin is The Art of War by Sun Tzu circa 400 B.C.
- Only thin piano wires were used in the scene where Max Fenig is suspended in the air while being abducted, and no additional effects were added in post-production.
- Lynne Carrow, one of two casting directors working on The X-Files at the time this episode was made, was particularly proud of finding Canadian actor Scott Bellis for the role of Max Fenig, due to a general bias of casting actors from Los Angeles in leading roles. According to producer Howard Gordon, Bellis was cast as Max Fenig after he "came in and just knocked our socks off".
- Max Fenig returns in the Season 4 two-parter "Tempus Fugit" and "Max", but his introduction in this episode serves as a kind of precursor to the first appearance of the Lone Gunmen in the later Season 1 episode "E.B.E.". Both they and Max Fenig are rebellious characters, working against an American government who they believe is covering up the existence of extraterrestrials. Also, both Max Fenig and Richard Langly of the Lone Gunmen have long hair, glasses and are generally "scraggy" in their appearance.
- This episode also foreshadows the eventual shutdown of the X-files that takes place near the end of the Season 1 finalé, "The Erlenmeyer Flask". However, the writers "hadn't the slightest clue" that would eventually happen, according to Howard Gordon, who claims that the point was "to remind the audience what Scully was there for in the first place" - namely, to act as a skeptic compensating for Mulder's devoted belief in the paranormal and, from the FBI's perspective, to discredit his work whenever possible.
[edit] Guest Cast
[edit] Guest Starring
- Frederick Coffin as Section Chief Joseph McGrath
- Marshall Bell as Col. Calvin Henderson
- Scott Bellis as Max Fenig (First appearance)
- Jerry Hardin as Deep Throat
[edit] Co-Starring
- Brent Stait as Corp. Taylor
- Alvin Sanders as Dep. Sheriff J. Wright
- Sheila Paterson as Gina Watkins
- Tony Pantages as Lt. Fraser
- Freda Perry as Mrs. Wright
- Michael Rogers as Lt. Griffin
- William McDonald as Dr. Oppenheim
- Jane MacDougall as Laura Dalton
- Kimberly Unger as Karen Koretz
[edit] References
SEMICOLON-SEPARATED LIST OF ITEMS/LOCATIONS REFERENCED IN EPISODE (BUT NOT LINKED TO IF ALREADY LINKED IN SUMMARY OR GUEST STARS SECTIONS)
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