Hungry (The X-Files)

"Hungry"
The X-Files episode
Rob Roberts reveals his true nature to Dr. Rinehart, his therapist. Actor Chad Donella, chosen because of his "subtle, interesting qualit[es]," was called a "great little actor" by Kim Manners.
Episode no.	Season 7 Episode 3
Directed by	Kim Manners
Written by	Vince Gilligan
Production code	7ABX01
Original air date	November 21, 1999
Running time	44 minutes
Guest appearance(s)
Chasen Hampton as Donald Pankow Chad Donella as Rob Roberts Mark Pellegrino as Derwood Spinks Bill Lee Brown as Mr. Rice Kerry Zook as Lucy Steve Kiziak as Private Investigator Judith Hoag as Dr. Mindy Rinehart Kevin Porter as Motivational Speaker Lois Foraker as Sylvia Jassy
Episode chronology
← Previous "The Sixth Extinction II: Amor Fati" Next → "Millennium"
List of The X-Files episodes

"Hungry" is the third episode of the seventh season of the science fiction television series The X-Files. It premiered on the Fox network in the United States on November 21, 1999. It was written by Vince Gilligan, directed by Kim Manners, and featured a guest appearance by Chad Donella. The episode is a "Monster-of-the-Week" story, unconnected to the series' wider mythology. However, unlike previous Monster-of-the-Week stories, "Hungry" is told from the monster's perspective. "Hungry" earned a Nielsen household rating of 9.6, being watched by 16.17 million people in its initial broadcast. The episode received mixed to positive reviews from critics.

The show centers on FBI special agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) who work on cases linked to the paranormal, called X-Files. Mulder is a believer in the paranormal, while the skeptical Scully has been assigned to debunk his work. In this episode, a fast-food employee with unusual cravings becomes the focus of an FBI investigation under the direction of Mulder and Scully. The victims appear with no brain and a suction hole in the forehead.

Gilligan wanted to try a "different" approach to The X-Files with "Hungry" by telling the main story through the eyes of the monster. Actor Chad Donella, who portrayed the monster, was chosen because he possessed a "subtle, interesting quality," according to casting director Rick Millikan. Manners was pleased with Donella's performance, calling him a "great little actor." Because both David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson were filming movies, Return to Me and The House of Mirth respectively, the production company decided to film "Hungry" before any of the other episodes, despite the fact that it would be aired third, after the conclusion of "The Sixth Extinction" arc.