Ghost in the Machine
The X-Files: One Shot
1x06: Season 1, Episode 7 (October 8, 1993)
(Director of Photography: John S. Bartley)
There are striking elements in even the weakest X-Files episode. Sometimes you gotta go searching, though, as with this pedestrian A.I.-run-amok tale, which is mainly notable for an exposition-heavy second appearance by Mulder’s Season One informant, Deep Throat (Jerry Hardin), as well as a nice turn by Blu Mankuma — seen above in the far background — as a systems engineer/government mole. Scully’s shattered reflection has a bit of Picasso about it, and I like how her eyes turn to camera here, gently breaking the fourth wall for a near-subliminal moment, right before the shot cuts.
I love these exegeses of yours. On recent rewatch it's striking how beautifully lit and composed even the least of these first 3 seasons are. This one has some gorgeous lighting. Clunky plot/story/dialogue almost doesn't matter when the visual language is this stunning.