The X-Files episode is a dark parody of Forrest Gump, and it’s excellent

According to Jonathan Klotz
| Published 31 seconds ago

During its original run, The X-Files dared the unsuspecting public to believe in aliens, government conspiracies and other monsters that go bump in the night. However, behind it all was the mysterious Cigarette Smoking Man, who went from the background of Season 1 to become the main villain of the show. According to the Season 4 episode “Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man”, he is also a twisted Forrest Gump, influencing world events not with naive optimism, but with his own ideas about keeping the world safe.

The Secret History of the Man Who Smokes Cigarettes

“Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man” gave fans the best look into the mysterious history of the dark mastermind expertly portrayed by William B. Davis, with Chris Owens appearing in the episode as a younger version of the key man behind the plot. While meeting with Mulder and Scully, The Lone Gunman’s Melvin Frohike reveals that he has discovered the true history of the Cigarette Smoking Man, who happens to be eavesdropping on the meeting from behind a sniper rifle. In a long series of flashbacks, we see real history unfold, or at least the show makes us think it’s real history.

In 1962, we learn that the Cigarette Smoking Man is friends with Mulder’s father, Bill, and that he was commissioned by the US military to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. “Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man” gives us the origin of his smoking habit, as he indulged in a gift he received from Lee Harvey Oswald after he framed him for murder. This is just the first example of X-Files history being shaped by his influence, and his worst deeds were yet to come.

From planning the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. after orchestrating the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” and, worst of all, keeping the Bills from winning the Super Bowl, “Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man” has fun reimagining world history. . Yet it also makes for one of the most heartless, overtly evil characters science fiction history is strangely sympathetic.

A frustrated novelist

In between shaping world events, “Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man” shows him working on a novel, Take Chance: A Jack Colquitt Adventureand in the present day of 1996, he is ready to give up work and smoking to celebrate the publication of his science fiction novel. Until he realizes he’s been double-touched by an editor, and while sitting on a park bench he gives his own speech about “life is like a box of chocolates” before returning to a life of villainy. It’s a rare moment The X-Files original run that humanizes him, but that might not even be true.

In the closing moments of “Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man”, Frohike admits that he made it all up, but the Cigarette Smoking Man nevertheless closes the episode by quoting the last line of his novel: “I can kill you whenever I want.” but not today.” This led fans to question exactly how much of the episode was fictional and how much of it was real secret history The X-Files the most mysterious character.

One of the best episodes of The X-Files

At the time the episode aired, the lack of clear distinction divided critics and fans, but as time went on, “Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man” became a fan favorite. Written by Glen Morgan and directed by James Wong, the exemplary duo behind most of the show’s best episodes as well as the underrated sci-fi franchise. Space: Above and Beyondin fact, it was one of the first episodes they wrote after their other show was canceled. Although they never intended to say that this was the definitive Cigarette Smoking Man history, many fans thought so, overlooking the fun the episode had and reimagining world events.

“Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man” doesn’t have to answer any questions, including the most pressing one, which is when did “The Red and the Black”‘s adorable log cabin go shopping? Argument for best episode The X-Files may be endless, and controversial decisions made in the revival series ruined some of the original run, but Cigarette Smoking Man’s secret history has only gotten better over time.