TheX-Files was the longest-running science fiction series on network television, originally running from 1993 until 2002. Although there are almost too many iconic episodes to count, Entertainment Weekly has recently ranked the best in the entire series.
Making the top ten is “Pusher,” a 1996 episode written by Vince Gilligan, the legendary creator of Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and Pluribus. This was the second episode he worked on for the series. It followed a killer who was able to “push” people to do what he wanted, so all their deaths were assumed to be suicides.
Related: X-Files Fans Have Spoken on the Best Episodes — and Two Are Tied at the Top
When speaking with Polygon about the episode, Gilligan discussed where the idea for the plot came from. He said, “I don’t remember where the idea for ‘Pusher’ came from, except maybe it was just something you think about: willpower. What would life be like if you could impose your will upon other people? And how hard that is to do in real life, which is probably a good thing. What we don’t need in this world are any more pushers. Although now, with the internet and social media, it’s almost like we have all these pushers all over the internet, pushing, ‘Oh, buy these shoes,’ ‘Buy this particular kind of cologne,’ whatever. Thirty years later, it’d be called ‘Influencer’ instead of ‘Pusher.’”
Gilligan went on to explain how proud he was of the episode. “After the episode aired, I was so proud of it,” he said. “In the office on Monday morning, I’m pretty sure I said to Chris [Carter], ‘That’s the best I can do for you. That’s as good as it gets.’ And I’ll never forget his reaction. He looked at me very seriously, and he said very quietly, ‘You shouldn’t say stuff like that, and I very much hope that’s not true, because this job, for all of us, is about getting better with every script.’”
Related:1961 ‘The Twilight Zone’ Episode Ranked the ‘Most Disturbing’ Was Used for the Tower of Terror Ride
A new reboot of the TheX-Files is currently in the works from Ryan Coogler, who was the writer, director, and producer of Sinners. The series will be starring Danielle Deadwyler and Himesh Patel.
This story was originally published by Parade on May 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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