The X-Files
Australian Conne-X-ion
Episode Guide:
"Travelers"
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Episode 5X15
First screened in Australia: 3 June, 1998
First screened in the USA: 28 March, 1998
Title: Travelers
Credits:
Director: William A Graham
Writers: John Shiban and Frank Spotnitz
Starring:
Guest Stars:
- Darren McGavin as Agent Arthur Dales
- Mitchell Kosterman as Sheriff
- J. Douglas Stewart as Landlord
- Garret Dillahunt as Edward Skur
- Brian Leckner as Hayes Michel
- Fredric Lane as Young Arthur Dales
- Eileen Pedde as Mrs. Skur
- David Moreland as Roy Cohn
- Jane Perry as Dorothy Bahnsen
- Dean Aylesworth as Young Bill Mulder
- Eric Gilder as old Edward Skur
- Dean Barrett as Cohn's Assistant
- Roger Haskett as Coroner
- David Fredericks as The Director
- Cory Dagg as Bartender
Plot:
A bizarre murder leads Agent Mulder to question a former FBI Agent who investigated one of the first X-Files dating back to the 1950s - a case which may have involved Mulder's father.
My Rating: 4/10
Oh how I wanted to like this episode - after all it starred Darren McGavin who was Carl Kolchak in The Night Stalker - but it came across as a second rate episode of "Dark Skies". Disappointing ain't the word. The only reason it gets 4/10 instead of maybe 2 or 3 (and it's a big stretch) is the fact that it explains why they're called X Files! No, I'm not telling, so if you missed it you'll have to re-watch the episode. Like that'll happen! Interesting point - it shows Mulder (for the second time in season five) with a wedding ring in a flashback scene.
Note: Scully does not appear in this episode and Mulder has a minimal role.
When I wrote this review, this episode was ranked as the 10th worst on the GEOS X-Files Episode Guide.
Notable Quotable:
Dales: "How long have you been in the bureau? Do you know what an x-file is?"
Mulder: "It's, uh... it's an unsolved case."
Dales: "No. It's a case that's been designated unsolved."
Cohn: "You wanna test me, see how fast I can pull the chain and flush you? You want to see your name on a list? Are you now, or have you ever been...?"
Dales: "What are you talking about? I'm no communist."
Cohn: "You are, if I say you are. This is a matter of national security. Take this body out of here. Get it out. (to Dales) See? You're a patriot again."
Dorothy: "... It's in an X-file."
Dales: "An 'X-file'?"
Dorothy: "Yes, unsolved cases. I file them under 'x.' "
Dales: "Why don't you file them under "u" for "unsolved"?"
Dorothy: "That's what I did until I ran out of room. Plenty of room in the "X's."
Dales: "Who decides when a case gets an "X"?"
Dorothy: "The director's office. It's, uh... it's kind of a dead end. No one's supposed to see them, but it makes for interesting reading.
Oh there ... that'll save you having to watch the episode again!
Where Have I Seen That Face Before?
Darren McGavin (Arthur Dales) was the star of "Kolchak: The Night Stalker", Chris Carter's admitted inspiration for "The X-Files". He also had a guest role on Chris Carter's other program, "Millennium" as Frank Black's (Lance Henriksen) father.
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