“Shapes” – Season 1 Ep. 19

Ish: I sense you are different, FBI. You’re more open to Native American belief than some Native Americans. You even have an Indian name – Fox. You should be “Running Fox”, or “Sneaky Fox”.

Mulder: Just as long as it’s not “Spooky Fox”.

Written by: Marilyn Osborn

Directed by: David Nutter

Original Air Date: April 1st, 1994

Principal Setting: Browning, Montana

Episode Summary: 

In “Shapes” a Montana Native American reserve is the center of attention as Mulder and Scully investigate the strange death of a local Indian man. The men that shoot him claim he wasn’t an animal, and not quite a human. They work alongside Sheriff Charles Tskany (Michael Horse) and try to find the truth of this Native American folklore beast. The occurrences of the beast is happening around a cattle ranch owned by Lyle Parker (Ty Miller) and his son. They meet Ish (Jimmy Herman), the older, wise Native American tribe leader of the town, that gives them the history of what they call a manitou and the experience that he had with the creature. The beast is very strategic with its attacks, and it becomes very obvious who the manitou is. At the climax, they will have to have a pretty scary stand off with the beast in a dark cabin, which annoyingly keeps hiding the truth of the beast from Scully.

Personal Commentary:

After a great episode, “E.B.E.”, “Shapes” is what could have been an interesting take on a Native American folklore tale, but sifting through the bad dialogue (the “Do you ever get the creeps?” line is cringe worthy), wooden acting, and the total lack of having any mystery on the identity of the beast, makes it quite a dud. I mean c’mon, the manitou looks more like a warthog when it zooms in on its face.

Jimmy Herman makes this episode watchable, but the sporadic, unsurprising action and the uninspiring acting doesn’t make this episode a fun watch. I did laugh at a couple funny lines by Mulder.

Side note, the above episode poster is probably my favorite one so far. I love the Native American font and the image. It was designed by the very talented J.J. Lendl, who is designing a new poster for each day’s episode here: The X-Files Poster Project

Episode Grade: D+

Favorite Scene: 

Don’t have a favorite scene in this episode. If you want a taste of the cheesiness without having to watch this one, check this promo out.

Fun Facts:

• The word “manitou” doesn’t specifically mean “werewolf” in Algonquin, but more broadly signifies a spirit-being that is both tangible and conceptual; everything has its own manitou, even a machine.
• David Duchovny and Michael Horse had previously worked together on Twin Peaks

Faces You Recognize:

• Michael Horse played Deputy Tommy Hill in the TV show Twin Peaks.
• Jimmy Herman, who played Ish, was in Dances with Wolves.