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Just like fans are fascinated bythe identity of The Smoking Man, the mysterious black oil inThe X-Filesis a thought-provoking part of the popular sci-fi TV series. Although some of the best episodes are part of the “Monster of the Week” format featuring Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) looking into eerie creatures, there are a few others that stand out.
Whencatching up on episodes ofThe X-Files, any episodes featuring the black oil will be particularly compelling. There’s a lot to know about this part of the show, from when the black oil is introduced to how it affects the main characters.
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What Is The Black Oil On The X-Files?
The black oil is a virus that aliens employ so they can attempt to take over the world, reproduce, and make other types of aliens sick. This virus can infect humans, and once a human is infected, aliens are in charge of them. The black oil has several other names, including “the black cancer” and “purity.”
While there were plenty ofgreat sci-fi TV shows in 2023,The X-Fileswill always stand out because of the series of episodes called “The Mythology.” The black oil is part of this story arc. A long time ago, aliens called the Colonists existed, and in the final ice age, they disappeared because they couldn’t handle the cold. Since they wanted to come back so they could take over the earth, they made sure that parts of the black oil were hidden underground. The black oil is a significant part ofThe X-Filesand one of the biggest threats to humanity. The Syndicate, a group of FBI agents, work with the Colonists, and in the 1970s, they decide that some people will become part alien, part human. The Colonists have an agenda, though, and they want aliens to take over the world.
season 10: 6 episodes aired in 2016
season 11: 10 episodes aired in 2018
The eves are a scary part ofThe X-Filesand so is the black oil. The Well-Manicured Man (John Neville) explains that before humans lived on Earth, the black oil was present. He tells Mulder:
“Your aliens, Agent Mulder. Your little green men arrived here millions of years ago. Those that didn’t leave have been lying dormant underground since the last ice age in the form of an evolved pathogen, waiting to be reconstituted by the alien race when it comes to colonise the planet - using us as hosts. Against this we have no defence, nothing but a weak vaccine. Do you see why it was kept secret? Why even the best men, men like your father, could not let the truth be known.”
There have been several times throughout history when the black oil infected people. One memorable example is Bernard Gauthier, a diver who is taken over by the virus and saved by the crew members of the Piper Maru ship. Since Gauthier was infected, he was able to escape the harmful effects of radiation that hurt the crew.
Which X-Files Episodes Feature The Black Oil?
The black oil is featured in several episodes ofThe X-Files.There is a DVD compilation called “The X-FilesMythology, Volume 2 – Black Oil” that features episodes from season 3 to season 5. Other episodes that talk about the black oil include “Piper Maru” (season 3 episode 15), “The Truth” (season 9 episodes 19 and 20), “Two Fathers” (season 6 episode 11), and “Vienen” (season 8 episode 18). In season 4, Russians work on a vaccine to stop humans from being infected with the black oil. Mulder is given the vaccine, which is how he can survive the black oil.
What Becomes Of Black Oil?
“Vienen” is one of themost underrated episodes ofThe X-Filesand also when viewers see the black oil for the last time. Crew members working on a Gulf of Mexico oil rig for the company Galpex become sick with the black oil virus when they hit a reserve of petroleum. Mulder, Scully, and FBI Special Agent John Doggett (Robert Patrick) work together to help the crew. At this point, Mulder and Scully are used to the black oil and have dealt with it a lot, but it’s still a terrifying virus. At the end of the episode, Mulder saves the day by breaking a radio and making sure that aliens can’t talk to the crew who have been taken over by the black oil.
While it might seem like the aliens will be successful in gaining control of Earth, and while they decide that they will do so in 2012, that doesn’t end up happening. The aliens decide that the earth has gotten too warm and that it doesn’t make sense for them to colonize after all. It seems like the black oil threat is over by season 8. While The X-Files has many well-written plotlines, including the episodes featuringthe Trinity Killers, the conclusion of the alien arc is a little disappointing.
