The agents search for a killer in a Florida town inhabited by sideshow performers.The agents search for a killer in a Florida town inhabited by sideshow performers.The agents search for a killer in a Florida town inhabited by sideshow performers.
- Mr. Nutt
- (as Michael Anderson)
- Hermaphrodite waitress
- (uncredited)
- Robert Glazebrook, The Oldest Son
- (uncredited)
- Lionel Glazebrook
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaGillian Anderson's character Scully was supposed to eat a cricket in front of Mulder. After Scully picked it up, the scene was to be stopped so a candy bug could replace the real one. However, before "cut" could be called, Anderson immediately placed the real bug in her mouth and ate it, and it stayed in the final cut. David Duchovny's off-screen gross out can be seen in one of the many "Making of the X-Files" featurettes.
- GoofsAfter the first victim is killed, Mulder tells Scully the victim suffered from ichthyosis. He then proceeds to explain to her what it is, however, as a doctor and pathologist, she would know about this condition. She also fails to stop him and lets him finish his explanation as if she didn't know what it was.
- Quotes
[after correcting Mulder's assumption that he was a circus performer]
Fox Mulder: I'm sorry. I meant no offense.
Mr. Nutt: Well, why should I take offense? Just because it's human nature to make assumptions about people purely on the basis of their physical appearances? Why, I've done the same thing to you, for example. I've taken in your all-American features, your dour demeanor, your unimaginative necktie design, and concluded that you work for the government... an FBI agent. But you see the tragedy? I have unconsciously reduced you to a stereotype, instead of regarding you as a specific, unique individual.
Fox Mulder: But I am an FBI agent.
- ConnectionsFeatured in No Small Parts: Vincent Schiavelli (2014)
Here is an episode that relies entirely on its writing (admittedly with some pretty good guest actors appearing all the same) to achieve its success. It's funny, it's weird, it's a monster of the week, and it delivers everything you want from The X-Files. Of course it's always easier to note what doesn't work when reviewing a bad episode, than to recognize what does work when reviewing a good episode, but at least I can tell you, it does work.
Unlike the invisible elephant episode, new characters don't pile on pointless sub-plots or miscellaneous information, they're just there to entertain. The mid-episode revelation that the town sheriff was once a popular dog boy merely leads to Mulder and Scully feeling embarrassed about digging up his magical potato. And the real killer reveal is exactly what you were hoping for, ridiculously stupid sure, but so fun and awesome, and in sticking with the episodes theme, that it works perfectly.
Episodes like Beyond the Sea were great by leaning on acting talent, episodes like Young at Heart were good by relying on a police procedural formula competently executed, but this episode is the first episode that really reminded me of the feeling I get when somebody mentions The X-Files.
- frankelee
- Jul 13, 2023