The X-Files: Darkness Falls/The Erlenmeyer Flask (1993)

More explanation is needed as to how the problems are solved, for example why do Scully and Mulder survive

The first episode, "Darkness Falls" opens with a group of loggers at a remote camp making the decision to abandon the camp and flee on foot for their lives. None of them makes it, so Scully and Mulder travel to that very remote logging camp. A local forest ranger and the head of security of the company that owns the logging camp accompany them. A group of environmental activists called "monkey wrenches" that sabotages logging operations has been active in the area.
When they arrive, they find the camp deserted and from the food still sitting on the table, it is clear that the crew left very hastily. They make contact with a monkey wrench that is fearful of their lives and they find a human body cocooned in a tree. An unusual species of insect is responsible and the antagonists must somehow work together in order to survive.
This episode ends rather poorly; Scully and Mulder survive an attack by the insects, when others do not. Their survival is not explained. Also, there is a hint of other disappearances decades earlier, yet for reasons that are not in any way addressed, at that time the insects never seemed to extend the threat beyond that local region of the forest.
"The Erlenmeyer Flask" opens with a man that is apparently human in a car fleeing from the police. The man is clearly superhuman; he easily overcomes several police officers armed with batons and even though shot twice, manages to flee and dive into the water and never surfaces. The mysterious informant that talks to Mulder contacts him and encourages him to take an interest in the situation. In a very short time, this becomes another case of an extremely secret government program to create some form of hybrid super being. As Scully and Mulder carry out their investigation, everyone that gives them information is killed and they also become the targets of the assassins However, for reasons that are not explained, the government agents that are otherwise so ruthless seem to have qualms about killing Mulder and Scully.
While it is obvious why Scully and Mulder cannot be killed, it is a very weak point of the plot. When this level of ruthlessness is achieved, the lives of a couple of FBI agents would also be considered just as expendable. Scully discovers a very small pickled alien body and learns that the DNA of that species is being combined with human DNA to create powerful beings. The man of the police pursuit that opens the episode is a product of that experiment. The episode closes with Scully and Mulder resolving to continue their investigations, which provides fodder for future episodes.
One of the recurring weaknesses of "The X-Files" is the fact that the government agents suppressing the evidence of alien involvement are on the one hand ruthless yet always seem to lose that trait when dealing with Scully and Mulder.
November 23, 2008

almost perfect, but the erlenmeyer flask braught it down.

well if it wasnt for the erlenmeyer flask this tape would be perfect, but i didnt find the episode that great. But darkness falls is great. Its about some type of bugs that are killing people in the forest. and of course mulder and scully along with a park ranger and some other guy go up to the forest to investigate and....well you probably know what the story developes into. February 12, 2001

i loved this tape

i am a late x fiels fan joing the show in seaon three sumer reruns. i wached this episod in the milde of season four. i rented it than brought it. erlihymer flask is one of the most importent myhtos episodes. i loved the mulder deep thoguht relaitonship. i wishj cancer amnw as more used than he was. darkes falls is so lovible epsidoes. i lvoe mulder and sculy in the woods. this is a most have January 25, 1999

It's what got me hooked

I love Darkness falls, I have been trying so hard to get it on video. Other than the Bermuda Triangle season 6 episode, Darkness falls is my favorite. December 26, 1998

The two stories change the episodes viewer history forever.

Darkness Falls is a personal favorite, I videotaped it and bought the book, a class A episode.

The Erlenmeyer Flask is a favorite of mine because the ending becomes significant in the future of the show, I believe anyway. END October 16, 1998

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