The X-Files
Australian Conne-X-ion
Episode Guide:
"The Jersey Devil"
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Episode 1X04
First screened in Australia: 10 March, 1994 Repeated: 6 December, 1995
First screened in the USA: 8 October, 1993
Title: The Jersey Devil
Credits:
Director: Joe Napolitano
Writer: Chris Carter
Starring:
Guest Stars:
- Claire Stansfield as The Jersey Devil
- Wayne Tippit as Detective Thompson
- Michael MacRae as Ranger Peter Brouillet
- Gregory Sierra as Dr Diamond
- Jill Teed as Glenna
- Tamsin Kelsey as Ellen
- Andrew Airlie as Rob
- Bill Dow as Dad
- Hrothgar Mathews as Jack
- Jayme Knox as Mom
- Scott Swanson as 1st Officer
- Sean O'Byrne as 2nd Officer
- David Lewis as Young Officer
- D. Neil Monk as SWAT Team Officer
Plot:
A cannibalised body found on the outskirts of Atlantic City leads Scully and Mulder on a quest after a very old, very hungry mystery.
Fox Media Release
My Rating: 7/10
The opening 50's flashback teaser is quite effective and sets the mood for what is to come. Sure the plot and story is quite weak but I find myself liking this episode for some unintangible reason. Maybe it's Mulder's passion in trying to track down the missing link or maybe it's Scully having a life - she goes to her godson's birthday party and then goes on a date!
The budget on this show must have been an all-time low, with no special effects to speak of, but for me it's still very atmospheric, funny (the kid in the mask running into the wall and being comforted by Scully is a hoot ... ) and compelling. Mulder's predilection for porno is also raised for the first time. Also, Michael MacRae, the actor playing the Park Ranger, does a great job in his brief role.
When I wrote this page, this episode was ranked as the 12th worst on the GEOS X-Files Episode Guide.
Notable Quotable:
Scully: "Working hard, Mulder?"
Mulder (indicating to centerfold): "This woman claims to have been taken aboard a space ship and held in an anti- gravity chamber without food and water for three days."
Scully (looking sideways at magazine): "Antigravity's right. Sorry to interrupt your serious investigation, but I just heard a story that'd just about take your knees out."
Scully: "Well, it's not hard to see why they mistook you for a vagrant."
Mulder: "You gonna rag on me or you gonna take me to get something to eat?"
Scully: "Am I buying, or did you manage to panhandle some spare change while you were at it?"
Scully: "I have a date."
Mulder: "Can you cancel?"
Scully: "Unlike you, Mulder, I would like to have a life."
Mulder: "I have a life!"
Mulder: (walking to the door): "What are you doing?"
Scully: "I'm going with you to the Smithsonian."
Mulder: "Don't you have a life Scully?"
Scully: "Keep that up Mulder and I'll hurt you like that beast woman."
Mulder: "Eight million years out of Africa..."
Scully: (holding door open for him) "Look who's holding the door."
Where Have I Seen That Face Before?
Claire Stansfield (Jersey Devil) started her career in "The Doors". Other movie roles include "Steel", "Gladiator Cop and "Drop Zone". On TV she had a recurring role of 4 episodes of "Xena: Warrior Princess" and also appeared in an episode of "Red Shoe Diaries" (narrated by David Duchovny). She also directed a movie called "The Lonely League". There is an official Claire Stansfield website.
Gregory Sierra (Dr Diamond) has appeared on TV in starring roles on "The Flying Nun", "Sanford And Son", "Barney Miller", "Soap" and "Miami Vice". Movie roles include "Beneath The Planet Of The Apes", "Getting Straight", "The Thief Who Came To Dinner", "Papillon", "The Towering Inferno", "Let's Get Harry", "Honey I Blew Up The Kids" and "Vampires".
For information on Michael MacRae (Peter Brouillet) see The Pine Bluff Variant.
Tamsin Kelsey (Ellen) has appeared in the movies "Who's Harry Crumb?" (John Candy), "Chaindance", "Needful Things", "Contagious" and "Disturbing Behavior" plus on TV in episodes of "Millennium", "Stargate SG1" and "The Commish".
The Pain Factor:
Mulder just about has his lungs ripped out when The Jersey Devil pounds on his chest.
Research:
Claire Stansfield's (pictured right) comments on this episode:
"I loved working on this show. My mother lives in Vancouver so she had a chance to visit me on the set. She wasn't sure about my make-up and wardrobe (or lack there of) but she did like sitting next to Mr. Duchovny on the set! To prepare for the part I went to the LA Zoo and spent hours watching the animals. I also rented Francois Truffaut's "Wildchild." A great film about a boy who grows up in the woods with the wolves."
From Claire Stansfield.
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