Directed by Win Phelps. Written by Chris Carter.

RATING:  ***

Locals in a small town vanish, and then resurface confused with either "He Is One" or "She Is One" written on their backs. Mulder and Scully arrive to help local law enforcement, and immediately investigate a mysterious local cult calling themselves The Red Museum, and led by a man known as Odin (Aliens' Mark Rolston). One of the abductees tells our heroes that he was possessed by some kind of spirit, possibly an animal one. Our heroes then have another path to go down when a local farmer informs them that a number of cows in the area have been injected by a genetically engineered growth hormone. There's plenty more going on...a plane crash, more vanishing citizens, and an appearance by Lindsay Ginter as conspiracy assassin who murdered X comrade Deep Throat last season.

A pretty solid piece of work that is absolutely overflowing with plot. Complex situations and multiple plot threads make this an episode in which you have to pay attention to every dropped clue and random piece of information. Things are not what they appear, or what you think they'll be. In fact, the episode has nearly too much going on, with perhaps one red herring too many. I personally didn't really buy into the Red Museum or their leader, but that aspect is only part of a larger story. The intriguing plot twists and strong direction make this compelling, and the menacing Ginter's appearance takes the suspense up a notch or two.

This episode actually stands out for what it almost was: This was originally devised as a cross over with David E. Kelley's superb series Picket Fences (which was as outrageous as X-Files in it's own way). Although the crossover was to feature a cameo by Duchovny on the Fences episode 'Away In A Manger', it didn't quite happen. Nevertheless, that episode did include a scene in which coroner/conspiracy buff Carter Pike (Kelly Connell) relates the events that occur in 'Red Museum'. For the record, 'Away In A Manger' has a pretty out there concept: a cow giving birth to a human baby.

R.W. Goodwin on the proposed Picket Fences/X-Files crossover: "I spent days on the phone with a producer of Picket Fences. We spent days organizing our schedules. Then at the very last minute, of course, we found out that no one had told CBS, and they said, 'Forget it. We're having enough trouble on Friday nights without publicizing The X-Files.' It's too bad."

Directed by Stephen Surjik. Written by Paul Brown.

RATING: ***

A nurse at a retirement home is seemingly tied down and raped by an unseen entity, and she believes it was somehow the work of a horny resident. Mulder and Scully show up to investigate, though Mulder doubts the sexual assault was in anyw ay supernatural. But soon, and following a pair of deaths, the agents learn the old folks may have access to a mysterious drug that gives them spiritual abilities, provided by an orderly (Sab Shimono).

Well crafted and creepy, 'Excelsius Dei' spins an interesting yarn that mixes spirituality and medical science. Although the actual story is no great shakes, there are smaller plot details that hit the nail on the head. Both Mulder and Scully's theories are compelling and convincing. There are slow patches scattered throughout, and some of the character developments don't pay off. But what makes this one really work are the visuals, as is often the case with spooky standalones. The art direction and cinematography are wonderful, and the ghostly specters seen in several scenes are terrifically eerie. The climax is pretty tense, but unfortunately its wrapped up a little too easily and flatly. Still, there's enough slick eye candy to make this a worthy show.

Directed by Rob Bowman. Written by Sara B. Charno.

RATING: **1/2

In the town of Aubrey, Missouri, detective B. J. Morrow (Deborah Strang) has uncovered the remains of famed FBI agent Sam Cheney, who went missing following his investigation into serial murders in 1942. But it's how she came across the bones that interests Mulder and Scully. When they talk to her and her superior, chief Lieutenant Brian Tillman (Terry O'Quinn), she says she discovered the bones while crossing the field after her car broke down. It's obvious to the agents that this isn't the whole truth...and Scully also believes that Tillman and Morrow are having an affair. Morrow reveals to Mulder and Scully about her recent nightmares and premonitions that led her to the skeleton. Scully studies the bones of Cheney and soon learns that the word "brother" was carved into his chest, while the original three victims in 42 had "sister" cut into them. A similar murder actually occurred in Aubrey several days before the agents arrival, according to Tillman...and there's more to come. Morrow believes that the killings are the work of Harry Cokely (Morgan Woodward)...the key suspect during Cheney's investigation 40 years earlier.

This episode actually seems better on my third viewing since it first aired back in January 95. Ultimately, it's one of the least notable installments of the season, but there's nothing wrong with it as such. There's the dead-person-still-killing routine that was done so often in the first two seasons, but it's kept afloat by a few truly interesting twists. The camera work and lighting is very good, and the pre-credits sequence is one of the most scary SOUNDING of the season. The climax is pretty effective too. Strang is three dimensional and compelling as Morrow, and Morgan Woodward hits the right notes as the 77-year old and still creepy Cokely. And of course, any time veteran actor O'Quinn shows up, there's at least one good thing about whatever you're watching. This is the first time O'Quinn made an appearance in a Chris Carter production; he went on to appear in a brief-yet-memorable part in the X-Files movie, the short-lived Harsh Realm, and best of all, as Peter Watts in the sometimes brilliant Millennium.

'Aubrey' drags at times, and doesn't hit the bullseye, but is a decent enough case file.

Terry O'Quinn on 'Aubrey': "Oh man. I just remember that it was a hot show, so I did it. It was just another job. The people were nice. I really didn't communicate with Chris much on that. Chris and I don't talk a lot. If I have a question or a problem, I might give him a ring."

Directed by David Nutter. Written by Chris Carter.

RATING: ***1/2

Mulder and Scully are called in by Minneapolis-based FBI agent Moe Bocks (Bruce Weitz) when the grave of Katherine Anne Terle has been opened and her corpse been mutilated. The open minded Bocks believes aliens could be behind the incident but Mulder thinks it's something more down to Earth. Two more defiled bodies surface, and Scully finds the case extremely disturbing and difficult to stomach. Mulder's profile of the killer is of a depraved loner with a death fetish who has an interest in attractive young women. The one they're looking for is Donnie Pfaster (Con Air's Nick Chinlund) who manages to evade capture...and sets his sights on Scully herself.

Sensational episode does for Scully what season one's 'Beyond The Sea'...she goes through emotional hell while working a case, questioning herself and her the world of violence she exists in. Over the years, Anderson has proved to be an actress with tremendous talent, and it's great to see her use it back then when she was still essentially a TV rookie. She has some powerful scenes, and it logically connects to her abduction situation earlier in the season. This episode doesn't solely belong to Anderson however. Far from it; necrophiliac Pfaster is one of the most frightening characters the show has ever created, and Chinlund is absolutely perfect in the part. He gets an extra chill factor from the camera work, who closes in on him in a very creepy moment. Even more eerie is the moment in the pre-credits scene in which he walks at the camera and vanishes before the titles appear.

Duchovny gets some good stuff too...showing what a professional agent Mulder truly is while Scully starts to come apart. There's even a few comical moments for Mulder involving his desire to see a football game. Hill Street Blues vet (and Emmy winner) Weitz is also great as the local Fed, and he makes a good comrade for Mulder throughout their investigation. It's also unusual to see another law enforcement character on the show so open to all kinds of possibilities. All the tech credits are tip top here, including the cinematography and editing. There's even a few FX and makeup touches that make us...and Scully...wonder if Pfaster is not just an insane human...but perhaps something more demonic. This episode actually feels like a blue print for Carter's later series Millennium...there are certainly similarities, in style as much as subject matter.

As chilling as anything you'll see all season, 'Irresistible' is a definite hall of famer.

DIE HAND DIE VERLETZT

Directed by Kim Manners. Written by James "Chargers" Wong and Glen "Bolts, Baby!" Morgan.

RATING: ***1/2

The town of Milford Haven has a reputation for practicing devil worship and black magic, and when a high student is found dead at a satanic alter with his eyes and heart removed, Mulder and Scully arrive to investigate. Scully assumes it's a simple murder that exploits old superstitions, but Mulder suspects something more. The town is certainly unusual...water flows down the drain counter clockwise instead of clockwise, and it rains frogs. One of the teenagers who was with the deceased before he was killed tells Mulder and Scully he's afraid they may have unleashed some kind of devil onto the town...and soon there's evidence to back up his fears.

Without a doubt, this is the most intense, graphic episode of the second season, and one of the best too. Devil worship, suicide, baby killings, rape...these are all part of this superior yet grim piece. Things kick in right in the opening sequence, in which the PTA are discussing mundane topics like staging school plays, and then proceed to break out in satanic prayer. There's a shocking and moving scene in which a 15 year old girl (the impressive Heather McComb) relates her experiences with the dark cult and an array memorable gore shots. Susan Blommaert is utterly chilling as a possibly demonic teacher, and Dan Butler (famous for playing Bulldog on Frasier) does some great dramatic work.

This was Wong and Morgan's final script before heading off to make their short-lived sci-fi series Space: Above And Beyond, and they clearly decided to go out in a bang (they also came back with a bang...season four's legendary 'Home'). Note the comic credits for the writers...it's a reference to their home football team playing in the Super Bowl. In addition to all the nasty material, they also slip in some humor and give an interesting, middle-of-the-road view of Satanism.

'Die Hand Die Verletzt' is extremely mean, and it's a little surprising this one was even allowed to air way back in January 1995, but for those who can handle it...it's an absolute stunner.