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The X-Files: War of the Coprophages

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Widespread panic is caused in a small community after numerous deaths are linked to killer cockroaches and a government agricultural agency is discovered to have set up a secret experiment involving insects. Add a recap »

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Writers:: Darin Morgan

Director:: Kim Manners

Stars:: David Duchovny (Special Agent Fox Mulder); Gillian Anderson (Special Agent Dana Scully)

Guest Star:: Wren Robertz (Orderly); Tom Heaton (Resident #1); Tony Marr (Motel Manager (uncredited)); Maria Herrera (Customer #1); Shaw Allen (Customer #2); Dawn Stofer-Rupp (Customer #4); Fiona Robertz (Customer #5); Nicole Parker (Chick); A.J. Buckley (Dude); Norma Wick (Reporter); Tyler Labine (Stoner); Bobbie Phillips (Dr. Bambi Berenbaum); Raye Birk (Dr. Jeff Eckerle); Dion Anderson (Sheriff Frass); Bill Dow (Dr. Rick Newton); Alex Bruhanski (Dr Bugger); Ken Kramer (Dr Alexander Ivanov); Bobby Stewart (Resident #2)

Dr. Bambi Berenbaum is named after famous (and really funny) entomologist Dr. May Berenbaum of the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, and who also keeps live insects in her desk. edit »
The same teenagers seen in this episode experimenting with a home made drug lab appear later in the season in the episode "Quagmire." edit »
As the sheriff drives off there is a visible reflection of the boom-mic in the rear driver side window 6:55 edit »
In the hotel, just before shot goes from dead man to Mulder, the dead guy takes a breath. edit »
25:12 there is a close-up shot of the dead man's face, in hotel, his eyes are closed, but when Mulder sees him at 25:27 his eyes are open. edit »

Along with the roach running across the screen, there is a beetle chirp at the very end of the episode, just before the credits roll. edit »
Scully still has the Pomeranian from the second season episode. edit »
During Mulder's first meeting with Dr. Ivanov, an escaped cockroach can be seen crawling over the camera, making it appear that the viewer's TV has become infested. edit »
Bobbie Phillips, playing Dr. Bambi, starred alongside David Duchovny in the Showtime anthology series Red Shoe Diaries. edit »
Tyler Labine and Nicole Parker, credited as the "Stoner" and the "Chick" respectively, return later this season in Quagmire. edit »

Dr Alexander Ivanov: The interplanetary explorers of alien civilisation will likely be mechnical in nature. Yes, anyone who thinks aliens visitations will come not in the form of robots, but in living beings with big eyes and grey skin has been brainwashed by too much science fiction. edit »
Dr. Eckerle: How do I know you're not a cockroach?
Mulder: I assure I'm just as human as you are, if not more so.
(Mulder's mobile phone rings, the tone sounding similar to a cockroaches' chirp)
Dr. Eckerle: You ARE one of them! edit »
TV News Reporter: Police are asking that if you see any cockroaches, don't panic. Simply notify the local authorities and evacuate the area immediately. edit »
Mulder: (speaking on cell phone) Scully, if an alien civilization were technologically advanced enough to build and send artificially intelligent robotic probes to the farthest reaches of space, might they not have also been able to perfect the extraction of methane fuel from manure, an abundant and replenishing energy source on a planet filled with dung-producing creatures?
(Dr. Bambi looks at Mulder; Scully is stunned)
Scully: Mulder, I think you've been in this town too long. edit »
(After ducking from an explosion of fecal matter, Mulder and Scully get up from their hiding place completely covered in dung)
Mulder: Crap. edit »

Ekbom's Syndrome
Mentioned by Scully as a reference to the stoner guy's belief he has cockroaches inside him. It's a very real syndrome (sometimes known as cocaine bugs, but more medically known as Delusional Parasitosis) when people think they have parasites inside their body, usually insects or worms. It can be exacerbated by use of certain stimulant drugs, most commonly cocaine or methamphetamine. It's named after Karl Axel Ekbom who published accounts of the disease in 1937. Not to be confused with Wittmaack-Ekbom Syndrome, which is restless legs syndrome, a completely different condition, but often also called simply Ekbom's Syndrome. edit »
Thomas Crapper:
Scully: (On the phone with Mulder) Did you know that Thomas Crapper invented the flush toilet?
This is a commonly held belief, but it's not entirely true. There was a man named Thomas Crapper (1836-1910), and he did own a company that made plumbing equipment ranging from manhole covers to, yes, flush toilets, but they were based on a design patented by a man named John Giblin. Flush toilets were common in Roman cities, and evidence of their design go back 4600 years to the ancient Indus valley city of Mohenjo-Daro. The word crap has nothing to do with Mr. Crapper. edit »
Character Name: Sheriff "Frass"

Frass is the word used to refer to, specifically, caterpillar dung, or I suppose in a stretch, any insect feces. edit »
Episode Title: War of the Coprophages

This is also a play on H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds. Literally, it means "War of the Dung Eaters". edit »
Name of Town: Miller's Grove
The name of the town is a reference to Orson Welles' famous 1938 radio dramatisation of the H.G. Wells novel War of the Worlds. Welles' version of the story had the martian invaders landing in Grover's Mill, New Jersey (randomly picked off a map). The broadcast caused widespread panic among Americans who believed that the world was truly being invaded by aliens, and scenes such as the one in the convenience store actually happened. edit »

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red_cheeks
member since: Jul 5, 2007
War of the Coprophages
The Bottom Line: "Series classic"
Funny and brilliant ...Continue »
09/15/08 04:27am | report abuse
9.1
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RJNeb2
member since: Sep 11, 2005
War of the Coprophages
The Bottom Line: "A very special episode"
Bugs are fun! ...Continue »
05/31/08 02:24pm | report abuse
9.6
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seamusdd
member since: Jun 4, 2007
War of the Coprophages
The Bottom Line: "Revealing"
The one with Bambi ...Continue »
01/21/08 05:11am | report abuse
9.8
30
rockinlibrarian
member since: Jun 23, 2007
War of the Coprophages
The Bottom Line: "Well written"
Unabashedly funny and yet completely in character! ...Continue »
08/30/07 05:27pm | report abuse
10
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threenineteen
member since: Mar 27, 2007
War of the Coprophages
The Bottom Line: "Exactly why I watch this series"
"Her name is Bambi?" Killer cockroaches and a woman named Bambi ...Continue »
05/22/07 07:21am | report abuse