Travelers is an interesting episode. Interesting mainly because the story not only takes place in 1990 but the actual story takes place back in the late 40's. The best part about this episode is that we get to learn about the origin of the X-Files. X for unexplained. Why not U? Well there's plenty of room in the X-files for all the many unexplained cases that would fit with all the other U files. Interesting. As for the actual case I don't know that it was all that interesting. Basically its about a guy that has some kind of spider crab thing in his stomach that kills other people. I don't know I didn't really follow it too well. But we still get points for Arthur Dales. Both actors that play him are great. Not much else to say about this episode for me except I think its interesting that Mulder's father is the first "deep throat" syndicate source for the X-Files agent. I give it an 8 out of 10.
8 Reviews
"You keep digging through the X-Files, and they'll bury you too."
classicsoncall14 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Shades of The Night Stalker! - Darren McGavin is one of the most natural choices you could think of to appear in an X-Files story, having dealt with a fair share of his own supernatural tales in the mid-Seventies TV series 'Kolchak: The Night Stalker'. Only problem is, his character here was on screen more as a younger version of former FBI Agent Arthur Dales, whereas McGavin bookended the story as the narrator of his association with Fox Mulder's father in the bad old days of the 1950's.
I enjoyed this story harking back to the days of the House Un-American Activities hearings, with portrayals of Roy Cohn (David Moreland) and J.Edgar Hoover (David Fredericks) himself, even though the actor playing him is listed in the credits as The Director. Seriously, who else could it be? You have to wonder why they did that. I could just picture Hoover saying something like "We must do those things which even our enemies would be ashamed to do."
So now, what's the deal with that State Department guy named Skur (Garrett Dillahunt)? The story goes on to explain that the scorpion-like entity in his body was the result of 'xenotransplantation', the grafting of another species into the human body. And here I thought the more logical explanation was that he was some other example of a weird alien/hybrid experiment, or that his body was taken over by the strange looking creature. Well, who can say what's logical with the X-Files, the confusion and obfuscation just escalates the further into the series you go.
The best bit here had to go to Arthur Dale's secretary explaining the original filing system for the X-Files. Since they ran out of space under the letter 'U' for 'Unsolved Cases', they started using the 'X' folder because it had plenty of room. Sounds logical, and if you think about it, how many people do you think would tune into a program called the 'U-Files'?
I enjoyed this story harking back to the days of the House Un-American Activities hearings, with portrayals of Roy Cohn (David Moreland) and J.Edgar Hoover (David Fredericks) himself, even though the actor playing him is listed in the credits as The Director. Seriously, who else could it be? You have to wonder why they did that. I could just picture Hoover saying something like "We must do those things which even our enemies would be ashamed to do."
So now, what's the deal with that State Department guy named Skur (Garrett Dillahunt)? The story goes on to explain that the scorpion-like entity in his body was the result of 'xenotransplantation', the grafting of another species into the human body. And here I thought the more logical explanation was that he was some other example of a weird alien/hybrid experiment, or that his body was taken over by the strange looking creature. Well, who can say what's logical with the X-Files, the confusion and obfuscation just escalates the further into the series you go.
The best bit here had to go to Arthur Dale's secretary explaining the original filing system for the X-Files. Since they ran out of space under the letter 'U' for 'Unsolved Cases', they started using the 'X' folder because it had plenty of room. Sounds logical, and if you think about it, how many people do you think would tune into a program called the 'U-Files'?
Not my favorite episode, but interesting I guess
degrimstead-130 January 2024
I found it a little boring, but of course it was interesting to see Cancer Man plus Mulder's dad when they were younger. But here's my question: What was Mulder doing with a wedding ring on?? Was this just a mistake by the wardrobe people? I'm guessing the actor was married to Teo Leoni at that time, but it surprises me if the writers wanted us to think he was married before. Don't we always think of him as a loner? I don't recall any other reference in the show to his ever being a husband! He'd be a whole other character. (Of course those of us with a crush on Duchovny always wanted to think of him as being available. ;o)
X Files set in the Forties with guest appearance by Kolchak
joncamaney7 February 2009
In a brilliant season of The X Files, this episode stands out because of the guest appearance of Darren McGavin, who might be one of the biggest cult TV stars ever, because of his role as Kolchak. In the 1970s, McGavin starred as Kolchak in The Night Stalker and The Night Strangler, a role which he later reprised for a short lived TV series, which was not really of the same quality as the previous TV movies, but became a fan favorite nonetheless. McGavin played the charismatic newspaper journalist Kolchak, who faced supernatural threats, and of course skepticism of everybody. Shades of Fox Mulder. Therefore it was a brilliant touch to have Darren McGavin play Arthur Dales, the FBI agent who actually initiated the X Files. Only complaint is that McGavin has too little screen time as most of the episode is a flashback. But the flashback story is eerie and disturbing, featuring appearances by Fox Mulder's father, and by the infamous Roy Cohn. The young Dales is ably played by Fredric Lane. The creepy Alien like story is gory and grotesque, and made more so by the glossy and picturesque 50s setting of suburban America. Great X Files origin story and a well deserved homage to McGavin, a very fine actor.
a great origin episode
hoornstram5 March 2017
This was a great episode that hooked my interest in spite its lack of usual X Files cast members. Unusual Suspects features the origin of the Lone Gunman and Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man feature the origins of CSM...but we are already interested in those characters. Face it, we are following the story of Arthur Dales, a guy we don't know and yet the episode is still completely enthralling. The cheeky reference to why X Files are not stored in the "U" files for "unsolved" was a nice touch, but certainly not the highlight. Both actors portraying Dales do a great job and all of the supporting actors fill out this episode quite well with that 50's pastiche. The crab/spider thing was pretty creepy and I was fascinated by Dales' slow spiral into the X Files and how young Bill Mulder played a part in keeping Skur alive...literally that "the truth is out there" to be discovered, ironically by his son. Fans of the aforementioned episodes will not be disappointed.
A captivating episode.
Sleepin_Dragon10 September 2022
A great episode which sees Mulder pre X Files, looking back at a case which involved his dad.
Is it me, or does this show seem to get better with each and every series? There is a confidence about this episode, both in terms of a production and a part in the mythology of The X Files.
It's an episode that serves to explain in part why Mulder does what he does, and we get to learn the very origins of The X Files themselves.
Production values are off the scale here, it looks tremendous, they captured the era visually, but also in terms of spirit, the paranoia that would have very much been on people's minds at the time.
Superb acting from the whole cast, Darren McGavin and Dean Aylesworth both really stood out.
It's quite a chiller too, several scenes will have you squirming in your seat.
9/10.
Is it me, or does this show seem to get better with each and every series? There is a confidence about this episode, both in terms of a production and a part in the mythology of The X Files.
It's an episode that serves to explain in part why Mulder does what he does, and we get to learn the very origins of The X Files themselves.
Production values are off the scale here, it looks tremendous, they captured the era visually, but also in terms of spirit, the paranoia that would have very much been on people's minds at the time.
Superb acting from the whole cast, Darren McGavin and Dean Aylesworth both really stood out.
It's quite a chiller too, several scenes will have you squirming in your seat.
9/10.
Xenotransplantation. Say that 5 times fast.
Muldernscully30 November 2006
First off, Travelers is one of two episodes that I've fallen asleep watching the first time through. The teaser started off well, especially with the man muttering Mulder at the end. You don't know whether he means Fox or his father, William. Unfortunately, from there, it went downhill. Mulder kept on wiping his hair away from his eyes. That bugged me too much. Was he just trying to make sure his wedding band was seen? I tried real hard to like it more, but the show just wasn't terribly interesting. They used the cliché of a soft camera filter to show the past. I guess it's either that or black and white. I think I like Unusual Suspects because even though it's Scully-free and Mulder-lite, I still get my fill of calories with the Lone Gunmen. I don't have an invested interest in Arthur Dales and a young William Mulder making a cameo. Darren McGavin was o.k., but I much prefer him as the dad in "A Christmas Story". I did like the term "xenotransplantation" though. Cool word. The episode wasn't "bad" though. It was well acted and all. It's just mildly interesting.
A huge dissapointment coming from an X-Files fan a boring time waster
NightmareOnElmStreetFan30 June 2019
A huge dissapointment coming from an X-Files fan. Travlers and The Unnatural are my at least favorite episodes in The X-Files, I don't like em. I don't understand reviewers giving a 9/10 I'm like BRUH do people know how to rate/review episodes. This episode was boring and it was flashback in the past year 1952 which the episode is without Mulder and Scully. The third time this Season has done it whitout Scully and Mulder. I love Unusual Suspects without Scully it has action but this episode has no action nothing but borenes and not explaind murder mystery. Travelers and The Unnatural I don't like. I will never watch them again. I also I don't like show without Mulder and Scully. That is why I despised Season 9 so much and I hated Season 10 to death even with Mulder and Scully. No wonder this show it is not renewed for Season 12 so bad it was. If i want to watch Travelers I will rather watch Back to the Future (1985) miles way better time travler movie.
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