The Erlenmeyer Flask
- Episode aired May 13, 1994
- TV-14
- 46m
Deep Throat tips Mulder to a critically important case involving a missing fugitive and the cloning of extraterrestrial viruses.Deep Throat tips Mulder to a critically important case involving a missing fugitive and the cloning of extraterrestrial viruses.Deep Throat tips Mulder to a critically important case involving a missing fugitive and the cloning of extraterrestrial viruses.
- Captain Roy Lacerio
- (as Jim Leard)
- 2nd Uniformed Cop
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe lab on Pandora Street is a clear reference of the myth of Pandora's Box, where all humanity's evils were contained and then unleashed.
- GoofsAfter waking Scully up, Dr. Carpenter then goes on to explain the basics of genes and base pairs. As a medical doctor, Scully would already know about this, as it's basic high school biology.
- Quotes
[last lines]
Mulder: They're shutting us down, Scully.
Scully: What?
Mulder: They called me in tonight and they said they're going to reassign us to other sections.
Scully: Who told you that?
Mulder: Skinner. He said word came down from the top of the Executive Branch.
Scully: Mulder...
Mulder: It's over, Scully.
Scully: Well, you have to lodge a protest. They can't...
Mulder: Yes they can.
Scully: What are you going to do?
Mulder: I'm... not going to give up. I can't give up. Not as long as the truth is out there.
- Crazy creditsThe line at the end of the opening sequence that usually reads "The Truth Is Out There" is instead "Trust No One."
- ConnectionsFeatured in The X-Files: The Truth (2002)
- SoundtracksThe X-Files
(Credited)
Written by Mark Snow
Performed by John Beal
It has been a little difficult to figure out what the show's endgame was for its freshman year. However, as it went on, it became more clear that the show would bring our protagonists to a place where there would be no doubt anymore that there was actually extraterrestrial life out there. It sets up a lot of interesting directions for the show to follow in the near future, but it also closes out certain storylines, including the "Deep Throat" character and his arc. In many ways, the episode actually provides the real introduction into the mythology of this show, which would then result in a couple of great seasons coming down the pipeline for all of us. The chemistry between Mulder and Scully reached an all-time high as the season came to a close, and it's nice to finally see them being on the same wavelength when it comes to some of the more unbelievable elements of the show. The show also goes away from the monster-of-the-week with this final episode, mostly focusing on those unfinished plot elements, not necessarily finishing all of them but setting up future events that we'll likely see the result of in future seasons. It feels like this episode really bid into the fear that people had at the times, and in a time where people are constantly bringing up alien lifeforms and UFOs, it brings a lot of those familiar scares back today. It's exciting to see if it will continue as strong as it was here.
"The Erlenmeyer Flask" answers some burning questions, but also leaves a lot to be explored in future seasons, which is also very exciting for audiences. The season really culminated a lot of the storylines we've been going down and provided some great character development to its leads, as well as featuring all-time great performances from them.
- lassegalsgaard
- Jan 1, 2024
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