X-COPS

Season 7, Episode 12, Aired
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Episode Summary

A Los Angeles police officer who is being filmed for the show COPS is attacked by a strange monster and Mulder and Scully are investigating the case. Scully is wary of having their faces put on national television but Mulder welcomes the publicity.
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Fan Episode Reviews (16)

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  • "Cops" clashes with "X-Files"

    9.2
    "Superb"
    By JaCkKbAuEr2424, May 13, 2011 Report Abuse
    Maybe it's because "The X-Files" has so few classic episodes anymore throughout the sixth and seventh season, or maybe because it's just a good hour of TV.. I'm not sure, all I know is that this episode was one of the better installments I've seen of the show. It was creative and a precursor to the way that certain TV shows would resort to documentary formats for their own shows.

    I loved the way we got a creative new way to follow Scully and Mulder on one of their cases.. it was hilarious to see the way that the cops all were excited to have possible armed suspects, only for us to learn that it was just the two FBI agents. Meanwhile, the thing that they were chasing reminded me of something that Supernatural would do nowadays, which is a good thing.. it kept us on our toes as we tried figuring out where the show was going and who the bad guy would be.

    I also thought Vince Gilligan, Chris Carter and the rest of the crew did a great job of capturing that "Cops" feel without losing the feel for "The X-Files." You still had all the typical push/pull between Mulder and Scully, just in a different format. It was a clever episode, one that's much needed in the show at this point in time.moreless

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  • The following is a special episode of the X-Files...

    8.4
    "Great"
    By CaptainHarkness, Dec 18, 2010 Report Abuse
    Now here's two shows that you probably never imagined crossing paths. That is what I like about the X-Files writers they can come up with something new and different and still make people like it. The whole episode just felt like I was watching COPS. I guess I was and I wasn't. The intro to this special episode was very hilarious as well. I loved the "bad boys" music. As I said before the producers and writers just keep coming up with stuff that surprises us and they really keep the show fresh. I think Skinner would have been great in this episode. Great job on this silly episode.moreless

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  • A wonderful treat for X-Files fans. Our favorite FBI agents find themselves being filmed for a COPS episode while hunting down a supernatural monster.

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By johndoe70, Dec 18, 2010 Report Abuse
    One of my favorite episodes. True X-File/Sci-Fi fans are able to enjoy some good nature parody, this being a prime example. When a supernatural monster attacks the crew of COPS, our favorite FBI agents find themselves being filmed for the series as they track down the monster, before it kills anyone else.

    Everything about this episode is a homage to the COPS series and, to some extent, independent horror films such as the Blair Witch Project. Its funny, but also provides a creepy and well written storyline that works within the X-Files world.

    This episode also features the first gay couple in the series. The interracial gay couple might be in response to previous complaints about how the issue of gender identity was dealt with in 'Gender Bender'.moreless

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    2 0

  • When Good Shows Go Bad

    4.0
    "Poor"
    By Anon67683, Jun 29, 2010 Report Abuse
    I'm dumfounded by the sheer badness of this episode, which is easily the worst since Season One's "Space." I'm also amazed by all the love this episode seems to attract. The producers give up ALL pretense of what the X-Files are supposed to be about in favor of a smirking parody of a second-rate Fox reality show. The mind boggles at how this concept got past the drunken party-talk stage to become an actual episode.

    Sure, it's fun to watch Mulder and Scully mug for the cameras, at least the first dozen or so times. Then you realize that the entire episode is nothing more than a goof, a filler episode that is so disposable that Duchovny actually breaks character several times to laugh at the lines he is supposed to recite. Seriously.

    There isn't even any monster to be seen, nor any proper X-File for that matter. Instead, all we get are a few conflicting eyewitness "accounts" of the monster that are about as dramatic as the evening news. We also get a lot of cops running around. Oh, and a couple shots of the full moon. Spooky.

    It's interesting how stiffly both Duchovny and Anderson come across as actors without the benefit of careful setups and editing. Their performances in this episode are just awful, which is saying a lot since they are both very fine actors. I suppose one can argue that it is intended that their performances come across badly, but the acting is SO bad that it pulls one out of the storyline.moreless

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    0 8

  • The X-files go reality TV!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By velvet_fox, Apr 13, 2010 Report Abuse
    Now I've come to the conclusion after reading varying different reviews that this episode is like Marmite - you either love it or hate it. Its safe to say (like marmite) that I love this episode and fail to understand (like marmite) how anyone can dislike the episode, the whole concept of it is genius and imo its superbly executed as it takes a very .fictional and unreal story and makes it realistic. I haven't felt so enthusiastic for an episode since the likes of "Jose Chung's from outer space", "The Post-Modern Prometheus" or "Small Potatoes"!

    Using the style of a docu drama it really gives the episode a feeling that it actually did happen like a true documentary. For the most part I often forgot that what I was watching wasn't just a fictional story, as it unravelled in a natural and what seemed to be an almost unscripted way. However this brings me to one of the few flaws I found in this episode and that was the Mulder/Scully interaction. Unlike the scenes with the supporting cast (who were all excellent and greatly believable in their roles) DD and GA did not do the greatest of acting when sharing a scene together and I'm putting it down to the fact of having the usual brightly colourful dialogue that they always share in the normal episodes of the X Files. Of course I usually love it, but with this type of episode it didn't quite work, it didn't seem natural, and unlike the rest of the scenes and interactions very scripted indeed, not quite giving the illusion of reality or of the chaotic style of the story, which was the whole intention of X Cops, it was all too polished. That being said there were a few gems between them like Mulder's teasing of Scully's hair - how it would look good as bubblegum pink - and Scully's far from amused silence.

    GA and DDs acting was not a total wash out as they did have wonderful scenes with the other characters. Loved it when the female officer said to Mulder: "What the $^&* are you talking about!?" after hearing one of his crazy theories (something I've personally wondered why no one has asked before) that was great! Scully's annoyance with the camera crew as well was wonderful, I totally cracked up into hysterics after the "The FBI has nothing to hide" line and loved the disgruntled glares she kept throwing their way, that was brilliant from GA.

    Moving on though the actual X files of the episode (the "monster") was again a great idea. Having it kill by playing on your greatest fear was a quite horrific concept and also interesting, especially to see what it would turn up as next, even if we never actually got to see it - which just added to the sense of horror as it was unknown as to what exactly we were dealing with. I think this "monster" while working effectively in this episode would also have been very intriguing in say your average X files episode. Its just the whole idea of fear effectively being the monster which is really clever and original. I always love it when the X files comes up with something original, it reminds me so much of why I love this show. So the "monster of the week" certainly didn't disappoint.

    Overall the episode while having a small hiccup with the Mulder/Scully dynamic, was superb! I've given a 10 on the basis that I came away feeling so entertained by the 45 minutes of television put before me that I just have the impulse to watch over and over again. Its something I'm so relieved to feel once more in the X-files because as much as I loved season 6 and the beginning of this season, I just never had that feeling the enthusiasm. So thank you X Cops for rejuvenating my great love and passion for this show! Its just a shame the episode is followed by "First Person Shooter".moreless

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    1 1
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • When Deputy Wetzel is cutting the crime seal at the crack house, the wording on the seal says Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. This is incorrect. The actual name is the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Edit
    • When Mulder is trying to break up the fight between Steve and Edy, he sits down and says "Let's all relax." During this scene, David Duchovny starts to laugh but manages to regain his composure and finish the scene. Edit
    • When Mulder says something like "We have to find this Chantara," you can tell he starts to mess up his line and begins to laugh. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • As always, Vince finds a way to get his girlfriend's name (Holly) into his episodes. In this case, the police first find Mulder and Scully on Holly Street. Edit

  • Quotes

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    • Edy: I'm ready for my close up. (Smiles and poses for the camera) Edit
    • Mulder: (To Steve and Edy) Have either of you seen anything like this? (Shows them the sketch of the werewolf) Edy: Ooh, no! Mulder: Or this? (Shows them the sketch of Freddy Krueger) Edy: Ooh, no! That's goin' to give me nightmares! Edit
    • (Scully and Mulder are getting ready to drive to a crime scene, and one of the COPS camera men tries to get in the car with them) Scully: No, you go with someone else. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Edy: I'm ready for my close up. This is the well quoted line from the 1950 movie Sunset Boulevard. The actual line spoken by Norma Desmond is, "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up." and is the last line of the movie. Edit
    • Character Names: Steve and Edy
      The names of the characters Steve and Edy in this episode are a reference to Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, a husband and wife singing duo in the 60's and 70's, known popularly as just "Steve and Eydie" Edit
    • Film reference: The Blair Witch Project
      This episode appears to be an allusion to Blair Witch, not only for being filmed with a hand held camera, but also for the scene with the camera falling to the floor, the handprints on the wall, and also because we never do get to see the "monster". Edit

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