Loved the gothic vibe in the episode, Kurtwood Smith is amazing as the eventual antagonist here. Truly one of the best X-Files episodes along with the Fluke Man, Eugene Tombs and the one with Brad Dourif in Season 1. I really wish they'd have more pure investigation driven episodes with Mulder as the profiler, but I guess this is as good as it gets for this type of episode. Really an A+ episode ! Great work as always !
To be fair, under most of the x-files episodes, there is always at least 1 comment saying that it's the worst episode, no matter what episode we are talking about.
This episode is really underrated and I think is actually quite good. When I was younger I didn't care for it much because it was too dark but as I've gotten older it's become one of my favorite episodes because of how dark it is and the creepy atmosphere is perfect. It's also nice seeing Kurtwood Smith in the show since I'm a huge fan of Robocop.
I think it was either film comics explained or marvelous videos that did a deep dive on this episode and brought up that exact moment as a blink and you'll miss it. But lent itself to Mulder's theory that there may have been some form possession going and that's when Redwood's character got possessed.
Haha- I thought of the haunted mask too. I appreciated the red herring in this episode where it may have been implied that Nemhauser was the newly possessed killer due to the bite on his arm- but that was actually paid off when identifying whom his arm belonged to. Thanks again. Season 3 is such a great season- so many top episodes here
I once talked X-Files guest stars with a friend and I mentioned Kurtwood Smith. We then went on about how great of an actor he is. RoboCop, That 70s Show, Star Trek…
Absolutely underrated, though, I might be biased - this sort of stuff already spoke to me back when I was a teenager watching this for the first time and, over the years, it has become one of my favorite non-mythology episodes. Besides, I also enjoyed Jacob's Ladder and Millenium.
Patterson was SUCH a jerk! But I kinda did feel sorry for him at the end. I can't think of anything more awful than doing something like that and not even remembering you did it. That's why I've never been drunk or taken drugs. The thought of not being in control of myself and hurting/killing someone and not even knowing it was always a horrifying thought to me. Wow. That got heavy. But it's true.
This is an episode that I heard about through the fandom for years. But I didn't get to see until years later, when it FINALLY came up in reruns. I think it's fantastically creepy and horrifying. Profiler!Mulder is one of my favorite things. I wish we'd seen that more often. Although, yeah, he absolutely would have lost himself. Look how he got after just a few days/weeks. My heart goes out to the real life people who have to submerge themselves in this darkness and evil solve these horrific cases. It's enough to drive anyone insane.
Mulder being a toddler again ! Scully - "Mulder its your bedtime" Mulder- " No, I wanna draw scary pictures and chase a Goosebumps reject around an abandoned factory".
But I don't want to think as the viewer! I like the blue filter to make it look dark but I think watching the episode on old CRT vs LCD makes a difference. On the old TVs it was brighter even at dark scenes but eerily so.
14:08-Should said “…unless you’ve been living under a rock, he played the antagonist in the critically acclaimed ROBOCOP!” Completely ignoring That 70s Show! 😂
I really liked this episode when I watched it. The fact that it's a lot darker than other episodes and ditches any potential campiness to play the subject straight, which makes it all the more unsettling. My guess is, is that this episode sadly lives in the shadows of other like Squeeze and Irresistible.
I do enjoy this episode and to me I think you hit on the best aspect of this episode what us your interpretation of it, because there really isn't a wrong answer. Yes the original killer was formally in an asylum but maybe that made him easier to possess. Paterson while serious and intelligent does sound like from his partner's standpoint really go down the rabbit hole and either go crazy or was possessed the moment he grabbed ahold of the box cutter. I think Mulder was getting close to it. Also the fact we as the audience and Mulder do see Patterson not only take on the shape of a monster at different times but also have the ability to sculpt some pretty good gargoyles leads me to go it was more than likely some type of spirit. But again I don't think there's a wrong answer to this one.
apparently it's a church in Scotland, the Paisley Abbey and from what I found it looks like it was added in the early 90's when they were doing restorations.
Keep up the good work. Can’t wait to not watch these episodes and watch these recaps instead. But if I really want to see a portion I just go on Hulu since the whole series is there.
@@JBSpookyReview you do it pretty well honestly. Perfect blend of getting the whole story and highlights. I know it’s meant to be quirky but I recommend not putting the clips on a tv screen, kinda want hard to see but if it’s for copyright reasons I get it.
Man, network television in the 90s ruled. You could see anything, Monday Night Raw and Nitro (on cable), X-Files (which could have literally any genre) Twin Peaks, Simpsons, and all the cool stuff MTV used to air. Now TV is a joke and content caters to the most offended people in human history 🥴
Another episode I tend to forget about. It's good but not one of my favorites. Speaking of gargoyles, have you seen Tales from the Darkside (the movie)? Great anthology with a gargoyle segment that is just fantastic
Not on my list of faves, mainly because Patterson never threatened to put his foot up Mulder’s ass. Also, you thought you were real slick with that subliminal at 8:36 huh? 😂
I think it had potential, but fell short for me, I just didn't feel the "X File" of it all. Not a bad episode, but not one I look forward to rewatching.
One of those espisodes where nothing definitely supernatural happens, unless you count Scully’s teleportation, as you noted. Grotesque is one of the most visually powerful episodes and also one of the least credible. There are certain character developments that 40 minutes of TV just don’t manage to fully convince us. I mean, did anyone actually think Mulder was committing those crimes? What was Scully’s actual role in it? What was really at stake? The lives of a few extras? Who cares? I loved this episode back then, but these days I am convinced Syzygy should have been directed by Manners and this one by Bowman. Maybe this would have improved some of the panache of it all. All in all, this is a rather typical Howard Gordon episode. Interesting and competent but not particularly fun - see Fallen Angel, Kadish, Fresh Bones, Firewalker or anything out of 24 or Homeland, for that matter. And in retrospect I think this would have been better if the villain was more clearly a demon or whatever, although Gordon NEVER writes that type of show because he is clearly more of a procedural kind of guy and it must have SUCKED to be in the same room as weirdness GODS such as Morgan and Wong. And the other Morgan, of course. That guy is WEIRD. But fine. Grotesque is inherently flawed. Not overrated nor underrated. It’s a midlevel season 3 episode, which from my perspective is a good enough hour of television. And please don’t take my investment in being grumpy as anything but an incentive to keep up the good work of going through these classic era episodes of one of the best shows of all time. By season 6 we’re going to start to have some problems, though. Also that tree episode in season 5. You know the one. I know you do. I mean, trees, man. Goddamn it. I’ll take gargoyles any time.
I don't take anything you say as grumpy. I've had people comment before asking if I even like the series. You're apparently not allowed to be critical of something you enjoy these days. You're right though, season 6 and especially season 7 and on will be interesting to cover because that's when things start to get really rough.
Want to know how I got these scars? This is one of those episodes that would have been better as a Millennium episode . Might have been some of the reasoning to come up with the different shows. Keeping the alien and demonic /conspiracy separate. Made my comment before finishing the vid. Get out of my head. I have a gargoyle on my utility shed.
@@JBSpookyReview Yup was a garden statue but when I moved to a big rural property I didn't have a garden that it suited so on a big post of the shed up he goes. His name is Erwin.
Definitely my least favourite episode, and an easy skip on any re-watch, but it does have its uses. Much like the Tim Burton version of Willy Wonka, and the 3rd Pirates of the Caribbean movie, I cannot watch either without falling asleep. I hate the style (dark and dreary), I hate the pacing (agonisingly slow in the middle), I hate the story (completely meh premise). There's just no redeeming qualities, for me. It's an episode that was made. I've seen it. I wont get those minutes of life back again. I refuse to give it anymore!
"Bitches, leave!" dub from RoboCop was awesome.
I had to, it's my favorite line of his.
The Goosebumps TV show also filmed in Canada
in the fall of 1995. so its possible CARLEY BETH wandered on to the wrong set lol
🤣🤣🤣
I really want that to be true.
This is one of the darkest episode in X Files. And that end quote is spooky as hell.
It is rather unsettling.
Great episode, who would've thought it could be Red Foreman!
Definitely not me.
Loved the gothic vibe in the episode, Kurtwood Smith is amazing as the eventual antagonist here. Truly one of the best X-Files episodes along with the Fluke Man, Eugene Tombs and the one with Brad Dourif in Season 1. I really wish they'd have more pure investigation driven episodes with Mulder as the profiler, but I guess this is as good as it gets for this type of episode. Really an A+ episode ! Great work as always !
Yeah I really enjoy the darker tone of this episode.
Thank you so much for watching I really appreciate it.
@@JBSpookyReview Keep 'em coming !
I've actually seen Grotesque listed many times on some fans' "worst episodes list", which is mindboggling to me.
To be fair, under most of the x-files episodes, there is always at least 1 comment saying that it's the worst episode, no matter what episode we are talking about.
Everyone has differing opinions, but I could imagine putting this anywhere near the bottom, especially when Fight Club exists.
It is mind boggling. Fantastic Episode.
@@JBSpookyReviewCathy Griffen is the WORST
It's all of the ppl who watched this one while tripping on mushrooms, myself included
This episode is really underrated and I think is actually quite good. When I was younger I didn't care for it much because it was too dark but as I've gotten older it's become one of my favorite episodes because of how dark it is and the creepy atmosphere is perfect. It's also nice seeing Kurtwood Smith in the show since I'm a huge fan of Robocop.
Yeah the vibe with this one is much different from the rest. Robocop is such a great movie.
its s creepy when Patterson picks up the utility knife for the first time .
URGE TO KILL, RISING !
I think they were definitely trying to hint at something.
I think it was either film comics explained or marvelous videos that did a deep dive on this episode and brought up that exact moment as a blink and you'll miss it. But lent itself to Mulder's theory that there may have been some form possession going and that's when Redwood's character got possessed.
Grotesque is one of my all time fave eps. 10 out of 10!!!
It is really good.
Haha- I thought of the haunted mask too.
I appreciated the red herring in this episode where it may have been implied that Nemhauser was the newly possessed killer due to the bite on his arm- but that was actually paid off when identifying whom his arm belonged to.
Thanks again. Season 3 is such a great season- so many top episodes here
Yeah they dropped a lot of neat little nuggets throughout.
I once talked X-Files guest stars with a friend and I mentioned Kurtwood Smith.
We then went on about how great of an actor he is. RoboCop, That 70s Show, Star Trek…
He's pretty good in everything he does.
I remember disliking this back then and never revisited it, but it's always pleasant to watch your episodes on The X-Files.
I've seen this one many times.
Absolutely underrated, though, I might be biased - this sort of stuff already spoke to me back when I was a teenager watching this for the first time and, over the years, it has become one of my favorite non-mythology episodes.
Besides, I also enjoyed Jacob's Ladder and Millenium.
I've only watched the first episode of Millennium. I have the series on DVD so I don't know what I'm waiting for.
I watched this one last night. Another great video bro.
Thank you so much.
Patterson was SUCH a jerk! But I kinda did feel sorry for him at the end. I can't think of anything more awful than doing something like that and not even remembering you did it. That's why I've never been drunk or taken drugs. The thought of not being in control of myself and hurting/killing someone and not even knowing it was always a horrifying thought to me. Wow. That got heavy. But it's true.
I got high once and hated it and I don't drink for pretty much the same reasons as you. I don't like not being in control of my body.
This is an episode that I heard about through the fandom for years. But I didn't get to see until years later, when it FINALLY came up in reruns. I think it's fantastically creepy and horrifying. Profiler!Mulder is one of my favorite things. I wish we'd seen that more often. Although, yeah, he absolutely would have lost himself. Look how he got after just a few days/weeks. My heart goes out to the real life people who have to submerge themselves in this darkness and evil solve these horrific cases. It's enough to drive anyone insane.
I don't know how people can do it. I know I don't have the mental fortitude.
@@JBSpookyReview Same.
He almost destroyed the timeacape in Star trek he framed Mulder and... he'll kick your ass. Kurt Wood Smith
Haha I've seen like 2 episodes of Star Trek, but I did know he was on it.
I really loved this one… and my 12year old selv got its first x- files based nightmare from it 🙈🙈🙈
Oh I had many nightmares because of this damn show haha.
Mulder being a toddler again !
Scully - "Mulder its your bedtime"
Mulder- " No, I wanna draw scary pictures and chase a Goosebumps reject around an abandoned factory".
Hahahaha pretty much.
You have such an amazing voice. Like a TV personality.
Wow I appreciate that. I think I have a face for radio and a voice for print hahaha.
Great episode! Didn't fully appreciate this one till my 2nd viewing years later. Had completely forgotten it...somehow.
It's one of those episodes that just flies under the radar.
Love the sarcasm bro, you got a sub
I appreciate it. It's hard not to talk about my favorite show and not have a little fun with it.
One of the absolute best episodes in the series - John S Bartley went crazy on this one.
He did a great job.
Grotesque has an incredible atmosphere.
you can almost feel the clay on your hands
I can't disagree with how you put that.
Wow, I have zero memory of this episode. I think I have always skipped over it thinking it was Irresistible, which I have seen a dozen times.
It's good, you should watch it again.
Ahhha new X-Files review from our boy JB, what an awesome way to spend a Sunday night
I hope you enjoyed it.
👍🏾 Perfect Timing as Always
Haha I try.
But I don't want to think as the viewer! I like the blue filter to make it look dark but I think watching the episode on old CRT vs LCD makes a difference. On the old TVs it was brighter even at dark scenes but eerily so.
I can't even remember how the show looked on those older tv's at this point.
Can you fly, Bobby?
Such a great movie.
14:08-Should said “…unless you’ve been living under a rock, he played the antagonist in the critically acclaimed ROBOCOP!” Completely ignoring That 70s Show! 😂
Haha I really should have.
Ha ha ha, “Join is Carly Beth!” Great film, perfect, I never saw the similarities. I love this episode leaves just enough for interpretation
Haha he just looks like the haunted mask to me for some reason.
@@JBSpookyReview yeah you’re right and I never noticed before
I really liked this episode when I watched it. The fact that it's a lot darker than other episodes and ditches any potential campiness to play the subject straight, which makes it all the more unsettling. My guess is, is that this episode sadly lives in the shadows of other like Squeeze and Irresistible.
Yeah I think you're right. It's impossible to live up to those other episodes.
Another fantastic Video..
I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Enjoying them all. They are the Nightly Fix. Glad to have found your Channel.
I ALWAYS THINK OF THE CARLEY BETH MASK WHEN I WATCH THIS EPISODE.
It's impossible not to.
I do enjoy this episode and to me I think you hit on the best aspect of this episode what us your interpretation of it, because there really isn't a wrong answer.
Yes the original killer was formally in an asylum but maybe that made him easier to possess. Paterson while serious and intelligent does sound like from his partner's standpoint really go down the rabbit hole and either go crazy or was possessed the moment he grabbed ahold of the box cutter. I think Mulder was getting close to it. Also the fact we as the audience and Mulder do see Patterson not only take on the shape of a monster at different times but also have the ability to sculpt some pretty good gargoyles leads me to go it was more than likely some type of spirit. But again I don't think there's a wrong answer to this one.
I never thought of the box cutter being how he became possessed.
Clay over a human form reminds me old Corman film ‘Bucket of Blood’.
Nice pull.
13:01 Where is this grotesque located? Wonder if it was made before or after the Alien movie..
apparently it's a church in Scotland, the Paisley Abbey and from what I found it looks like it was added in the early 90's when they were doing restorations.
Broski. Wheres the xfiles/Cops episode? That one was scry af 😂
haha we still have quite a bit to go before we get to that one. I think that one is in season 6.
Superb score rating!
Haha I have to have fun otherwise why bother.
Keep up the good work. Can’t wait to not watch these episodes and watch these recaps instead. But if I really want to see a portion I just go on Hulu since the whole series is there.
Haha well I would hope people would still watch the show. I often leave things out on purpose.
@@JBSpookyReview you do it pretty well honestly. Perfect blend of getting the whole story and highlights. I know it’s meant to be quirky but I recommend not putting the clips on a tv screen, kinda want hard to see but if it’s for copyright reasons I get it.
Now that's what I call a sticky situation.
It was pretty damn sticky.
From Sulfer expose brought me here… FX’ s Grotesquerie
Man, network television in the 90s ruled. You could see anything, Monday Night Raw and Nitro (on cable), X-Files (which could have literally any genre) Twin Peaks, Simpsons, and all the cool stuff MTV used to air. Now TV is a joke and content caters to the most offended people in human history 🥴
Yeah t.v. peaked in the 90's if you ask me. I don't really enjoy anything that comes out these days.
@@JBSpookyReview Agreed. You really have to hunt for things these days, and really just have to depend on luck 🥴
Hell the stuff for kids was great as well Power Rangers, Goosebumps, Are You Afraid of the Dark, and the massive amount of great cartoons.
@@JBSpookyReviewEVERYTHING peaked in the 90s
@@donovanbradford8231Fraggle rock!
Another episode I tend to forget about. It's good but not one of my favorites. Speaking of gargoyles, have you seen Tales from the Darkside (the movie)? Great anthology with a gargoyle segment that is just fantastic
I have seen Tales from the Darkside and that is a fun segment.
Grotesque is 10/10. Top notch episode.
It is really good.
Is that "Red Foreman" from that 70s show?
Sure is.
I like this episode, very dark, figuratively and literally.
yeah it's a nice departure from some of the more light hearted stuff.
Not on my list of faves, mainly because Patterson never threatened to put his foot up Mulder’s ass.
Also, you thought you were real slick with that subliminal at 8:36 huh? 😂
Hahahaha I didn't think anyone would notice.
I think this episode is properly rated. Don't care for it. PS Loved JACOB's LADDER
Jacob's Ladder is an excellent movie.
I think it had potential, but fell short for me, I just didn't feel the "X File" of it all. Not a bad episode, but not one I look forward to rewatching.
Hey that's fair. It does feel different compared to other episodes.
0:53 lol you got me
Hahaha I thought people would get offended. I just thought it was funny.
@@JBSpookyReview offended? nah man, we all normal here :D
8:35 BUFFY !!!!
Whoa! I had to slow it way down to catch that!
Hahah I'm surprised people are actually catching that. It's literally a single frame.
@@JBSpookyReview I spent way too much time. I had to keep playing around with slowing it down. Finally got it, at :25 speed. LOL!
@@Yesica1993 I'M THE MASTER LOL
I have a good eye lol
3:58 he was making bongs so he got taken out lol damn 90's weed laws.
Haha right!
Spooky gargoyles.
Pretty damn spooky.
4:47 ... or a little Leslie Nielsen.
Hahah that too.
Now that is a good rating system right there.
Lmao it's one of the greatest lines in cinema history.
@@JBSpookyReview oh boy is it
Jacobs ladder is a really good movie
It's really solid.
I wish Canada had Sizzlers
I always wanted to go because Bill Murray mentions it in Ghostbusters 2.
8:08 FOR REAL!!!
I always cut my mouth.
One of those espisodes where nothing definitely supernatural happens, unless you count Scully’s teleportation, as you noted.
Grotesque is one of the most visually powerful episodes and also one of the least credible. There are certain character developments that 40 minutes of TV just don’t manage to fully convince us. I mean, did anyone actually think Mulder was committing those crimes? What was Scully’s actual role in it? What was really at stake? The lives of a few extras? Who cares?
I loved this episode back then, but these days I am convinced Syzygy should have been directed by Manners and this one by Bowman. Maybe this would have improved some of the panache of it all.
All in all, this is a rather typical Howard Gordon episode. Interesting and competent but not particularly fun - see Fallen Angel, Kadish, Fresh Bones, Firewalker or anything out of 24 or Homeland, for that matter.
And in retrospect I think this would have been better if the villain was more clearly a demon or whatever, although Gordon NEVER writes that type of show because he is clearly more of a procedural kind of guy and it must have SUCKED to be in the same room as weirdness GODS such as Morgan and Wong. And the other Morgan, of course. That guy is WEIRD.
But fine. Grotesque is inherently flawed. Not overrated nor underrated. It’s a midlevel season 3 episode, which from my perspective is a good enough hour of television.
And please don’t take my investment in being grumpy as anything but an incentive to keep up the good work of going through these classic era episodes of one of the best shows of all time.
By season 6 we’re going to start to have some problems, though.
Also that tree episode in season 5. You know the one. I know you do.
I mean, trees, man. Goddamn it. I’ll take gargoyles any time.
I don't take anything you say as grumpy. I've had people comment before asking if I even like the series. You're apparently not allowed to be critical of something you enjoy these days.
You're right though, season 6 and especially season 7 and on will be interesting to cover because that's when things start to get really rough.
Levani!!!!!!!!!
The better Cher.
It's a good episode but it should have been a Frank Black story. It fits a lot better in Millennium I think.
This episode is what lead to Millennium.
Pickman's model?
I never even thought of that, but I can see it.
Want to know how I got these scars? This is one of those episodes that would have been better as a Millennium episode . Might have been some of the reasoning to come up with the different shows. Keeping the alien and demonic /conspiracy separate. Made my comment before finishing the vid. Get out of my head. I have a gargoyle on my utility shed.
Do you really have a gargoyle on your utility shed? That's kind of cool.
@@JBSpookyReview Yup was a garden statue but when I moved to a big rural property I didn't have a garden that it suited so on a big post of the shed up he goes. His name is Erwin.
That's really cool.
👌
Thank you!
Last episode Lori killed people this one red does the foremans have alot of explaining to do
And Eric killed people in the movie predators. That entire family is serial killers.
👍🖖
Thanks for watching!
@@JBSpookyReview I enjoy your Productions. Have a great day. 🖖🏽
Definitely my least favourite episode, and an easy skip on any re-watch, but it does have its uses. Much like the Tim Burton version of Willy Wonka, and the 3rd Pirates of the Caribbean movie, I cannot watch either without falling asleep. I hate the style (dark and dreary), I hate the pacing (agonisingly slow in the middle), I hate the story (completely meh premise). There's just no redeeming qualities, for me. It's an episode that was made. I've seen it. I wont get those minutes of life back again. I refuse to give it anymore!
Haha fair enough.