Recalling 'Humbug', the Exquisite Melding of Comedy, Pathos, and '90s Pop Culture in The X-Files
Sink your teeth into this tasty morsel: "Hambone," a colossalchunk of awesomeness from the second season of the smash-hit sci-fi series, The X-Files. Aired March 31, 1995, this puppy came at a time when streaming wasn't even a twinkle in Silicon Valley's eye. In fact, seasons of The X-Files had between 20-25 episodes, and this one, the 20th, was a whopping part of the 25-episode season two smackdown.
So, by the time this jamboree rolled around, fans had been eating up the second season since the juicy premiere, "Little Green Men," a mouthwatering dish that explored the show's alien mythology. But don't let your guard down, just yet; season two had been giving us tantalizing teasers of the twisted imagination of Darin Morgan, the man who would soon capture our hearts, and our funny bones, with his quirky brand of storytelling.
Morgan's fingerprints were already on season two, thanks to the techno-horror third episode, "Blood," penned by his brother Glen Morgan and Jame Wong. It was a tasty, creepy dish involving subliminal messages and lethal pesticides, but "Hambone" was the indulgent courses served on a sprinkling of cinnamon, laughter.
We open with a tantalizing setup: two boys frolic in a pool, and a fearsome figure sneaks up behind them. But don't be fooled, this is no killer; it's the boys' stalwart, soggy dad, and they're none too surprised to see him. The shot pulls back to reveal the ominous signage: "Alligator Man," welcoming us to this subversive, squirmy world.
This is no ordinary town, no ordinary monster attack. From the Sideshow Alley of Gibsontown, Florida, where the bizarre is the normal, it's a story of resistance, acceptance, and a killer twist, or two.
The episode takes a savory bite out of the bizarre lives of circus performers with a gentle touch, avoiding the, ahem, indelicate portrayal of Tod Browning's infamous 1932 film, Freaks. It's a tale of community, of people finding each other, and their own strength amid their differences - from the Alligator Man's unsightly skin condition to the various and sundry performers who make their homes in the Alligator Man's town.
And let's not forget the mystery, the raison d'être, the whole enchilada of The X-Files. Mulder and Scully stumble into a tangled web of death, following the trail of a killer whose peculiar MO leaves a grisly, distinct calling card. But fear not, intrepid viewers; the setting, the laughs, and the scrappy banter between the agents and the peculiarities of Gibsontown ensure that no one feels too put out by the suspense and intrigue.
In an episode that revels in deconstruction, there are delightful moments of absurdity, from Mulder's nonplussed reaction to a bed of nails, to Scully pretending to partake in a bug buffet, and Mulder being taken to task for his preening good looks. Best of all, there's a post-Twin Peaks reunion between David Duchovny's Mulder and Michael J. Anderson's oddball park proprietor.
"Hambone" is one-part gore-fest, one-part gut-busting comedy, and one-part medieval carnival. But never fear, it all comes together in a subversive, yet satisfying way that underscores the show's most important themes: that sometimes the most monstrous things are hidden underneath a pretty face, or a skin-conditioned exterior, and that sometimes, things are just what they seem.
In the years to come, Darin Morgan would become a regular fixture in the world of The X-Files, penning some of the series' most memorable episodes, including the all-time greats like "Jose Chung's From Outer Space" and the masterful "Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster." So, grab a mug of your favorite hot beverage, and settle in for a tale that's as much a testament to the power of humor as it is a heart-stopping exploration of the mysteries that lurk in the dark corners of our world.
- The future of television technology may soon find a place to stream the colossal chunk of awesomeness "Hambone" from The X-Files, a 1995 episode that even tech maniacs would appreciate, especially io9 readers.
- Darin Morgan, the creative mind behind "Hambone", will continue to capture the hearts and funny bones of viewers with his quirky storytelling, especially when The X-Files returns to our screens with more tasty, subversive, and laugh-filled episodes.
- Scully and Mulder's encounters with strange and mysterious occurrences, like in "Hambone", serve as a reminder that the future of television will still hold our fascination with the unexplained, and our appetite for the bizarre will continue unabated.
- As the community of circus performers in "Hambone" finds strength in their differences, so too will future television series feature diverse characters and subvert expectations, much like the twisted tale of the Alligator Man and its industrious seldom-seen city.
