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{{Infobox Television episode
{{Infobox Television episode
| Image = [[Image:Ghost in the Machine 1x06.jpg|250px|alt=A black computer component with a small screen to one side. The screen displays nothing but distorted colors. To the other side are large letters reading 'C.O.S.' and smaller letters reading 'Central Operating System'.]]
| Image = [[Image:Ghost in the Machine 1x06.jpg|250px|alt=A black computer component with a small screen to one side. The screen displays nothing but distorted colors. To the other side are large letters reading 'C.O.S.' and smaller letters reading 'Central Operating System'.]]
| Caption = The Central Operating System
| Caption = The Central Operating System, the episode's primary antagonist. The character is representative of the episode's technology-centred premise.
| Season = 1
| Season = 1
| Episode = 7
| Episode = 7

Revision as of 01:09, 26 August 2011

"Ghost in the Machine (The X-Files)"
Running time43 min.

"Ghost in the Machine" is the seventh episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series The X-Files. It premiered on the Fox network on October 29, 1993. "Ghost in the Machine" was written by Alex Gansa and Howard Gordon and directed by Jerrold Freedman. The episode featured guest appearances by Wayne Duvall and Rob LaBelle, and saw Jerry Hardin reprise his role as Deep Throat for the first time since the character's introduction. The episode was a "Monster-of-the-Week" story, unconnected to the series' wider mythology. "Ghost in the Machine" earned a Nielsen household rating of 5.9, being watched by 5.6 million people in its initial broadcast, and received mixed reviews from critics.

When FBI special agent Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) is asked by his old partner from the Behavioral Analysis Unit to aid an investigation into a murder at a software company, he and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) uncover a malevolent artificial intelligence which has started killing to protect itself.

Plot

In the Virginia headquarters of the software company Eurisko, founder Brad Wilczek and CEO Benjamin Drake argue about downsizing measures. After Wilczek leaves, Drake writes a memo proposing to shut down the Central Operating System project, a computer that runs the building. Seeing this through a surveillance camera the COS sets up a trap, luring Drake into a bathroom and locking the door behind him. When Drake tries to use an electronic key to open it, he is fatally electrocuted.

Jerry Lamana, Mulder's former partner, approaches him and Scully for help in investigating the murder. On their way up to Drake's office, the agents' elevator stalls, causing Scully to call the front desk for help. As she identifies herself, the COS downloads her contact information. At the crime scene, the agents meet Claude Peterson, head of building security, who discovered the body.

Lamana steals Mulder's profile of the supposed killer and presents it under his name; an outraged Mulder confronts him afterwards. The agents later question Wilczek at his home. Scully initially doubts Wilczek's involvement in the murder, but finds that his voice matches a call Drake received before his death; Lamana sets out to arrest him. Meanwhile, Wilczek fails to access the COS from his home computer. Concerned, he travels to Eurisko's headquarters, followed by Lamana. There, he is still unable to access the COS, but discovers it has learned to talk. Lamana arrives, but is killed when the COS causes his elevator to crash.

Mulder meets with Deep Throat, who explains that the COS is an artificial intelligence developed by Wilczek, and that the Defense Department is trying to acquire it. Mulder also meets with Wilczek, who has falsely confessed to Lamana's murder. Mulder convinces Wilczek to develop a computer virus that can destroy the COS. Scully doesn't accept Mulder's belief that the COS is sentient, but later discovers the machine hacking into her computer. She joins Mulder at the Eurisko Building to help him destroy the machine.

The COS hinders the agents as they make their way inside. When it shuts down the building's power, Scully climbs through the air vents and is almost into a giant fan, which she destroys. Meanwhile, Mulder is permitted into the COS' control room by Peterson. However, Peterson reveals himself as a mole for the Defense Department, and tries to stop Mulder uploading the virus. Scully arrives and holds Peterson at gunpoint, allowing Mulder to upload the virus and destroy the COS.

Meeting with Deep Throat again, Mulder explains that Wilczek is being detained by the government at an undisclosed location. When Mulder asks if the COS survived, Deep Throat assures him the virus left no trace of it, and that scientists from the Defense Department have unsuccessfully examined the machine for any remaining signs of the program. At the Eurisko Building, Peterson directs a team attempting to recover the COS, but is told by his superiors to destroy the machine in six hours. Unbeknownst to Peterson, the COS comes back to life and watches as he says "I'm going to figure this thing out if it kills me".[1][2]

Production

The scenes set at the software company Eurisko were filmed in Burnaby's Metrotower complex, a building used by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. The location was barely big enough for the actors to perform in after the crew had finished setting up the necessary equipment.[3] The scene with Dana Scully shooting the fan in the air shaft was a last minute change to the script, replacing an elevator shaft sequence that was deemed too expensive.[4] The episode's title is taken from the title of the book The Ghost in the Machine by Arthur Koestler. The Central Operating System and its actions in the episode are an homage to 2001: A Space Odyssey’s HAL 9000, who—due to conflicted programming—also became confused and killed people. The X-Files team would once again face a malevolent AI in the William Gibson-penned fifth season episode "Kill Switch".[5]

Writers Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa have admitted they were "not computer literate", and felt this was a detriment to their writing.[6] Gordon was disappointed in the episode, stating that it "still qualifies as one of my biggest disappointments", ranking it as the worst episode of the first season.[4][7] Glen Morgan flt that "parts of the episode worked. What maybe fell a little flat is that we were a little too afraid of doing HAL and, in a sense, I think that's what the building needed; to have a scary personality." James Wong had mixed feelings, saying that the episode "had some neat stuff at the end...although I think the ending was a little unsatisfying to me visually, as well as in terms of how Mulder comes to dismember the machine. Overall a fun episode." Chris Carter was more supportive of the episode, stating that the script addressed the question of what made up an X-File, and that it doesn't always have to be paranormal. He also felt positively about the episode's action scenes.[8]

Broadcast and reception

"Moreover, there really is a sense of mystery and suspense lacking so far. From the very beginning of this episode, it’s clear that the machine is behind the murders, which makes the scenes where Mulder and Scully are interrogating the computer’s creator rather pointless."

–Den of Geek's Matt Haigh reviewing "Ghost in the Machine".[9]

"Ghost in the Machine" premiered on the Fox network on October 29, 1993, and was first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on November 3, 1994.[10] Following its initial American broadcast, the episode earned a Nielsen household rating of 5.9, with an 11 share—meaning that roughly 5.9 percent of all television-equipped households, and 11 percent of households watching television, were tuned in to the episode. It was viewed by 5.6 million households.[11]

In a retrospective of the first season in Entertainment Weekly, "Ghost in the Machine" was rated a D+. The episode's premise and the COS system were described as "unacknowledged 2001 rip-offs", whilst the presence of Deep Throat was called "gratuitous"; with both cited, along with an "absence of humor", as the episode's main detractions.[12] Keith Phipps, writing for The A.V. Club, was more favourable to the episode, rating it a B-. He felt that the similarities to 2001: A Space Odyssey and Demon Seed were effective, adding however, that although the plot worked well, it had dated poorly.[13] Matt Haigh, writing for Den of Geek, reviewed the episode negatively, feeling that the plot was "formulaic", and that it "simply [has] not stood the test of time".[9] However, Haigh felt that Deep Throat's appearance was a highlight of the episode, and praised Mark Snow's score as "extremely atmospheric".[9] The plot for "Ghost in the Machine" was also adapted as a novel for young adults in 1997 by Les Martin.[14][15]

Footnotes

  1. ^ Lowry, pp.114–115
  2. ^ Lovece, pp.60–62
  3. ^ Gradnitzer and Pittson, p.37
  4. ^ a b Lowry, p.115
  5. ^ Director: Rob Bowman; Writers: William Gibson & Tom Maddox (February 15, 1998). "Kill Switch". The X-Files. Season 5. Episode 11. Fox. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Lovece, p.63
  7. ^ Edwards, p.47
  8. ^ Edwards, pp.47–48
  9. ^ a b c Haigh, Matt (October 16, 2008). "Revisiting The X-Files: Season 1 Episode 7". Den of Geek. Dennis Publishing. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  10. ^ The X-Files: The Complete First Season (Media notes). Fox. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |director= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |titlelink= ignored (|title-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |titleyear= ignored (help)
  11. ^ Lowry, p.248
  12. ^ "X Cyclopedia: The Ultimate Episode Guide, Season 1". Entertainment Weekly. November 29, 1996. Retrieved July 17, 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ Phipps, Keith (July 5, 2008). ""Ghost In The Machine" / "Ice" / "Space" | The X-Files/Millennium | TV Club | TV". The A.V. Club. Retrieved July 18, 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ Martin, Les (1997). Ghost in the Machine. HarperTrophy. ISBN 0064406784.
  15. ^ "Ghost in the machine: a novel (Book, 1997)". WorldCat. Retrieved August 10, 2011. ...based on the teleplay written by Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa

References

  • Edwards, Ted (1996). X-Files Confidential. Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 0316218081.
  • Gradnitzer, Louisa; Pittson, Todd (1999). X Marks the Spot: On Location with The X-Files. Arsenal Pulp Press. ISBN 1551520664.
  • Lovece, Frank (1996). The X-Files Declassified. Citadel Press. ISBN 080651745X.
  • Lowry, Brian (1995). The Truth is Out There: The Official Guide to the X-Files. Harper Prism. ISBN 0061053309.

External links

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