| "Duane Barry" | |
|---|---|
| The X-Files episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 5 |
| Directed by | Chris Carter |
| Written by | Chris Carter |
| Cinematography by | John Bartley |
| Production code | 2X05 |
| Original air date | October 14, 1994 |
| Running time | 45 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Duane Barry" is the fifth episode of the second season and 29th episode overall of the science fiction television series The X-Files, premiering in the United States and Canada on October 14, 1994. The episode was written and directed by executive producer Chris Carter. "Duane Barry" received a Nielsen rating of 8.9 and was viewed by 8.5 million households. The episode received largely 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. In the episode, Mulder becomes involved in a hostage situation with an escaped psychiatric patient, named Duane Barry (Steve Railsback), who claims to be terrified of frequent alien abductions.
The episode marked Carter's debut as a director. While never having directed before, he would go on to direct such episodes as "The List", "The Post-Modern Prometheus", "Triangle", and "Improbable", as well as the second feature film, The X-Files: I Want to Believe, and three episodes of the tenth season. The storyline was inspired by the true story of Phineas Gage, a 19th-century medical case.