Empedocles (The X-Files)

"Empedocles"
The X-Files episode
Jeb Dukes hallucinates that fire is beneath his skin. The elaborate effect was created via green screen technology.
Episode no.	Season 8 Episode 17
Directed by	Barry K. Thomas
Written by	Greg Walker
Production code	8ABX17
Original air date	April 22, 2001
Running time	44 minutes
Guest appearance(s)
Annabeth Gish as Monica Reyes Dayna Beilenson as Roberta Toews Veronica Brown as Payphone Woman Ron Canada as Franklin Potter Denise Crosby as Dr. Mary Speake Devlin Elliott as Pizza Delivery Man Amanda and Caitlin Fein as Mia Dukes Jake Fritz as Luke John Doggett Wendy Gazelle as Katha Dukes Jennifer Hammon as Nurse Cheryl Francis Harrington as Nurse Louise Melilli as Distraught Woman Jay Underwood as Jeb Larold Dukes Bruce Wright as Gary Garber
Episode chronology
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List of The X-Files episodes

"Empedocles" is the seventeenth episode of the eighth season of the American science fiction television series The X-Files. It premiered on the Fox network on April 22, 2001. The episode was written by Greg Walker and directed by Barry K. Thomas. "Empedocles" is a "Monster-of-the-Week" story, unconnected to the series' wider mythology. The episode received a Nielsen rating of 7.3 and was viewed by 7.46 million households and over 12.46 million viewers. Overall, the episode received mixed reviews from critics.

The show centers on FBI special agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny), Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) and John Doggett (Robert Patrick), who work on cases linked to the paranormal, called X-Files. In this episode, Monica Reyes (Annabeth Gish) enlists Mulder’s help investigating a killer’s connection to the unsolved murder of Doggett’s son, but Mulder soon finds himself clashing with Doggett.

"Empedocles" was named after the famed Greek pre-Socratic philosopher of the same name. The episode marked the return of Special Agent Monica Reyes, who was first introduced in the earlier season eight episode "This is Not Happening". Reyes would later become Doggett's partner, in the show's ninth season. The episode included an elaborate special effects sequence wherein actor Jay Underwood rips off his face to reveal fire underneath his skin, which was created via green screen technology.