Stephen King’s Controversial X-Files Episode Is Still Worth Revisiting

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After twenty years, not every episode of the show will appeal to all viewers. While the series, created by Chris Carter, has had many strong episodes, it’s also experienced some weaker ones, particularly after David Duchovny’s departure. Even the best seasons have included a few that didn’t quite hit the mark, despite being written by talented people.

Stephen King, the famous horror writer, penned the tenth episode of Season 5, titled “Chinga.” The episode centered around a sinister doll and a young girl named Polly. While the episode initially received a varied response from critics, looking back after thirty years reveals some worthwhile scenes.

Scully Gets to Work Her Own Case in “Chinga”

The dynamic between the two main actors is what really made The X-Files stand out. Mulder strongly believes in the paranormal, while Scully is very skeptical, and their contrasting viewpoints created a compelling relationship that worked exceptionally well – except when they agreed, which sometimes felt like a disruption. Occasionally, the show needed to challenge that balance to keep things interesting for viewers.

While Mulder has a small role in this episode, Scully gets a chance to be the main investigator. Usually, Mulder leads her on wild goose chases that don’t always pan out. As an FBI agent, she’s expected to follow the evidence, but Mulder always manages to steer them towards the strange, even when she’s hesitant. “Chinga” is a unique case where she decides to pursue a bizarre lead based on her own gut feeling – though she’s not entirely enthusiastic about it.

The episode begins with Scully taking a weekend vacation. However, her relaxation is quickly interrupted when she witnesses a distressed woman leaving a supermarket, followed soon after by other shoppers all bleeding from their eyes. Despite wanting to enjoy her time off, Scully’s professional instincts kick in, and she feels compelled to investigate.

The investigation reveals a strange doll is linked to each crime. Victims in the small town all had past problems or connections to the doll’s owner, Melissa. This episode gives viewers a different perspective, as Scully investigates the occult on her own while Mulder tries to get information from her remotely. It’s a nice change of pace from their usual back-and-forth, and Scully insists on handling the case herself while she’s on vacation.

Scully continues to show her typical hesitation throughout the episode. While some viewers might feel her actions don’t quite fit her personality, she remains the determined investigator who relentlessly seeks the truth. She pursues the case, following the evidence until it points directly to the perpetrator. It becomes clear that Chinga is responsible for the attacks, and Scully must acknowledge this fact.

In this episode, Scully is forced to acknowledge something unexplainable is happening, even though she’s still doubtful. It’s a key moment for her character, showing a shift in how she views the strange events they investigate throughout the series.

Stephen King’s X-Files Episode Is a Classic Monster-of-the-Week

Stephen King built his reputation writing scary stories, so his work on a television series in this genre is sure to be noticed. While the episode isn’t a masterpiece, it’s definitely not terrible. Though high-quality TV shows rarely have truly pointless episodes anymore, they still happen occasionally.

“Chinga” works as a monster-of-the-week episode, as many of The X-Files stories do. True to form, this episode of the series takes a well-known concept and makes it its own. It is far from the first time that the series has implemented this. The Season 1 episode, aptly entitled “Ice,” is a clear homage to . “Chinga” takes on the concept of evil dolls and does it with glee.

Movies like Child’s Play often have a campy, over-the-top quality, and it’s hard not to find some humor in a killer doll like Chucky. The doll in the X-Files episode “Chinga” is scary in a different way, though – she creates horror with very little action. Instead of physically attacking people, Chinga targets those Polly sees as threats and subjects them to supernatural torment. What makes Chinga even more frightening is that her actions seem completely senseless and without motivation.

The FBI team realizes that some mysteries don’t have simple solutions. All viewers know is that Polly’s father, a fisherman, once found a doll in the ocean and gave it to her. Sadly, he passed away just three days later. The character Chinga doesn’t seem to have any clear reasons for her actions; she simply causes pain to those around her.

The idea is unsettling, like something from a horror story. Even when Scully believes she’s destroyed the cursed doll, it reappears in a typical cliffhanger ending. Some evils are so deeply rooted that they seem impossible to eliminate.

If “Chinga” had focused only on the story and not the characters, the ending might not have been so effective. However, the episode’s strength lies in how it cleverly uses familiar tropes of the genre. While some stereotypes are present, they’re often used playfully, engaging the audience. A funny example is when Scully reacts with surprise to her local contact ordering a whole lobster, fully embracing the Maine stereotype – a nod perhaps to the influence of Stephen King.

The entire episode is a satire, even including a bizarre doll whose killing spree seems random. It’s filled with oddities, and viewers should expect a lighter tone than usual. Despite its silliness, “Chinga” actually does a good job of developing its characters in subtle ways. Plus, fans who enjoy the romantic storylines in The X-Files will find some intriguing hints about what’s to come.

The X-Files Episode Delivers on Mulder and Scully’s Relationship

It’s widely understood now, but the question of whether Mulder and Scully had romantic feelings for each other was a major topic of debate during the show’s fifth season. The strong connection between David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson was clear on screen, and fans loved even the smallest moments of connection between their characters, often analyzing them for seasons.

The episode ‘Chinga’ reveals a deeper connection between the characters than just professional admiration. While it definitely leans into playful exaggeration, some moments should be understood sincerely. Notably, Mulder is largely relegated to a supporting role throughout most of the story, and while the case unfolds, he’s stuck working from his basement office.

Throughout most of the episode, he only communicates with his partner through phone calls, giving her helpful advice even though he’s far from the crime scene. This is clearly frustrating for the FBI agent, as Mulder thrives on being directly involved in bizarre and disturbing investigations.

It’s so obvious he misses Scully when she’s not around! He gets restless and silly, like when he starts tossing pencils and just finds excuses to call her and chat. Honestly, all the teasing feels like it’s about her, not the actual cases they’re working on. It’s clear they just function better as a team, and it was actually really sweet – and a little impulsive – when he proposed to her over the phone. You can really see how much he cares for her.

The conversation starts with Scully casually sharing her thoughts. Mulder playfully responds with a marriage proposal, which Scully promptly dismisses by hanging up. But this seemingly lighthearted exchange hints at deeper feelings. Those familiar with the show and films understand that Scully and Mulder’s connection has always been something special, going beyond just being colleagues.

Both Mulder and his counterpart exist within the same fictional world, and this episode, “Chinga,” explores the consequences when they aren’t working together. Although the episode has some flaws, they actually highlight what makes the show strong. At its heart, The X-Files is a story about the connection between its main characters, regardless of the distance between them.

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2026-03-23 02:00