Lord of the Flies

Season 9, Episode 5, Aired
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Episode Summary

When a stunt on a local cable reality show goes horribly wrong resulting in a man's death, Doggett and Reyes investigate. But when flies pour out of the victims eye sockets, they find themselves relying on Scully's expertise and they ask her to join the investigation.
7.2
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Fan Episode Reviews (7)

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  • Classic MOTW, deserves a much better rating than it has now.

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By avesnovuelan, Dec 01, 2011 Report Abuse
    This episode made me laugh. It has many characteristics of a classic monster of the week episode: A social outcast, an overbearing mother, a school bully, some weirdo hitting on agent Scully...I loved it. It really feels like an X-file, which is saying a lot about any episode without Mulder. The guest stars have depth and emotion, are well cast, act well, and make us believe it. The main characters are all at the top of their game (except at the end when Scully gives CPR to someone who clearly does not need it), and there was a good mix of humor, mystery, adventure, and grossness.moreless

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    3 0

  • This one reminds me of the good old scary ones!

    9.2
    "Superb"
    By NYCSausage, Dec 01, 2011 Report Abuse
    This episode has a really good plot in terms of a romantic, tragic tale about a teenage boy. Many things I did not see comming and liked the way all three agents worked together to solve the mystery. The whole story about the boy and his hope to date the most popular girl in school is an oldie but a goodie. You can probably say this episode has some of the fantastic scare elements of season one. It reminds me of the Ice, Darkness falls episodes which have a horror feel to them. I recommend people to see this one as it is one of the best standalone eps in the series.moreless

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    3 0

  • Effects

    8.0
    "Great"
    By a-on, Dec 01, 2011 Report Abuse
    I think this episode is pretty good. The effects are great, especially the face of the first victim that's collapsed and the following insect swarm coming from his mouth. The storyline of human-insect -hybrids is pretty unoriginal but is handled in an average X-files style. One thing that was missing from this episode was an autopsy of a human-insect -hybrid by Scully, that would have been really interesting to watch, but clearly wouldn't have been appropriate concerning other parts of the storyline. The Dumbass -clips look pretty corny, but so does Jackass at times. I don't get why season nine is said to be so bad. This episode reminds me of the early seasons, though these are a bit more serious than them.moreless

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    4 1

  • Dude, Where's My Dad?

    7.0
    "Good"
    By Anon67683, Mar 08, 2011 Report Abuse
    This is yet another teen-angst/"no one understands me" themed episode, of which there have been more than a few.

    There are echoes of Season Three's "War of the Coprophages" in this episode, what with the insect subject matter and the use of a wacky scientist who makes romantic overtures to Scully. It is not nearly as good as "Coprophages," which is an X-Files classic, but I detect a fair bit of "borrowing" from it.

    The "X-COPS" styled opening teaser is terribly misplaced and nearly made me skip this episode. It goes on for too long and only served to remind me how much I hated "X-COPS" and Season Eight in general. The death of Captain Dare is unconvincing. How did all those flies get under his helmet without anyone noticing the swarm? Since when do body lice know how to spell, as they do later on Winky's back?

    As in most episodes in Seasons Eight and Nine, the writers can't answer these types of questions because they don't care to think through their story premises in the first place.moreless

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    1 1

  • A half human/half insect? Seriously?

    6.0
    "Fair"
    By whiteraven2005, Jul 07, 2010 Report Abuse
    And I thought 'Jackass' was stupid and dangerous, this is the amateur version. I hate bugs to begin with and this was so lame, no attempt to even remotely explain it. Are they even hiring competent writers by this point or any hack will do? This is pathetic in an alarming long line of mediocre writing. I'm just hoping to finish out the season by this point and can only hope that there are some decent episodes along the way though if this is an example, I'm not holding my breath. I wonder how embarrassed the actors must be to have to act this out, heaven forbid there be some actual character development.moreless

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    0 3
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • While it is clear that Rocky held his breath in hopes that Scully would perform mouth-to-mouth on him, why is she also performing CPR? A medical doctor would know that performing CPR on a patient with a normal heartbeat is dangerous. Edit
    • Winky tries to sell the tape to FOX Network. This is a slight at FOX who ran the X-Files show and at the time were showing programs entitled "Worlds Wildest/Dumbest/Dangerous/etc. Videos". Edit
    • Although 'Rocky' thinks of himself as Scully's partner, he is actually just a scientist with specialist knowledge. When Scully and Rocky enter Dylan's house, having found the door open, in what appear to be all sorts of suspicious circumstances, it seems very odd that Scully would allow him to be responsible for looking around the ground floor whilst she takes the upstairs, especially when he's only armed with a pheromone tester! As an FBI agent, wouldn't she want to clear the house first before allowing civilians in? Or even call for backup since she's the only armed officer. Given that they know there is a definite possible danger. I know it's a funny scene, but procedurally it's more than a little suspect. It is also quite odd that they would not turn on any lights in the house! Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • The reality show is called 'Dumbass', a spin-off of MTV's 'Jackass' which is also a reality show where the cast performs dangerous and weird stunts. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Rocky: Dr. Scully? This is so exciting. I've never had a partner before. Scully: I have. Rocky: I'd like to think of it as a hymenopteran relationship. Two scientists using their special knowledge reaching higher than either of them could ever reach alone. And if I may say so, Doctor, you complete me. Scully: I got upstairs, you take down. Edit
    • Rocky: A boy ... is secreting bug pheromones? That's impossible. Preposterous. Doggett: You're the expert Dr. Bronzino. How else do you explain it, then? Scully: Rocky? Rocky: A boy is a boy, a bug is a bug. You can't have it both ways. Edit
    • Rocky: You know, when a male and female calliphorid fly mate they stay joined for up to one and a half hours. One and a half, doctor. Scully: You know, Rocky ... I'm a mother. Rocky: Mothers are women, too. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • TV show: Rocky & Bullwinkle The entomologist is Rocky Bronzino The head dumb-asses are Bill (Cap'n Dare) & David Winkle (alias Sky Commander Winky) Edit
    • Dylan is seen wearing a Syd Barrett T-shirt, talks about Barrett to Natalie, and listens to Syd's "No Good Trying" and "Terrapin" during the course of the episode. Barrett was the founder of Pink Floyd (and the subject of their "Shine On You Crazy Diamond") who left the band when mental illness (possibly caused by drug use) rendered him unreliable. Barrett's solo albums are famous for musical unpredictability and the seeming detachment from reality of their creator. It's easy to see how outsider Dylan would relate to Barrett. Also, the cover of Syd's second album (seen among many other posters on Dylan's wall) features an array of flies and other insects. Edit
    • Rocky Bronzino: Help me! Help meeee! Dr. Rocky Bronzino, an entomologist, and Scully's "partner" for the episode, says this famous quote from The Fly when he is trapped in a cocoon in the attic. Edit

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