“Darkness Falls” – Season 1 Ep. 20

Mulder: Take a good look, Scully.

Scully: What am I looking at?

Mulder: Thirty loggers working a clear-cutting contract in Washington State. Rugged, manly men in the full bloom of their manhood.

Scully: Right, but what am I looking for?

Mulder: Anything strange, unexplainable, unlikely… a boyfriend?

Written by: Chris Carter

Directed by: Joe Napolitano

Original Air Date: April 15th, 1994

Principal Setting: Olympia National Forest, Washington State

Episode Summary: 

Mulder and Scully visit the Washington State forest after reports of loggers going missing. A similar event had happened back in the 1930’s. The agents meet two forest rangers, Larry Moore and Steve Humphreys, that bring them deep into the forest, but get a flat from a spike in the road planted by an environmental extremist group. They meet a member of the group, Doug Spinney (Titus Welliver), and he tells them about the killings that happen only when it’s dark.

When looking at a very old tree that was cut down, they see a green ring that no one recognizes. Humphreys believes that Spinney is the killer and wants to take him in. Spinney claims these killings are happening at night by a swarm of green bugs and the only way to survive is to stay in the light. A body they find wrapped in a bug cocoon seems to bear out his claim. With no way to communicate with the outside world and with the gas for the generator running low, they have to find a way to survive.

Personal Commentary:

“Darkness Falls” is one of my favorites from Season 1, due mainly to resembling so closely to the other fantastic episode “Ice”. It’s unlike any other monster of the week episodes, because the bugs aren’t killing by choice but by a necessity to survive. You really feel the sense of dread awaiting Mulder and Scully as the generator slowly dies and they have no choice but to escape in the dark.

Spoiler…This episode is also very thrilling because of how closely Mulder and Scully nearly don’t make it out alive after they are attacked and spun in the bugs web. It’s one of the few episodes that they are both in such peril of dying with no obvious way out.

Episode Grade: A

Favorite Scene: 

Some of the best scenes in the whole series are when Mulder and Scully are together cracking jokes and the viewer gets to enjoy their great chemistry. This is one of those scenes.

Fun Facts:

• During this episode, Gillian Anderson was often sick due to her pregnancy. No wonder she wears such baggy clothes.
• Jason Beghe is one of David Duchovny’s best friends. They studied together and worked together as bartenders and he was a big part of getting Duchovny into acting.

Faces You Recognize:

• Titus Welliver many famous roles including The Black Man in Lost and Bates in Argo.
• Jason Beghe plays the lead in Chicago P.D. and roles in G.I. Jane and The Next Three Days.