"Miracle Man" | |
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The X-Files episode | |
Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 18 |
Directed by | Michael Lange |
Written by | Chris Carter Howard Gordon |
Production code | 1X17 |
Original air date | March 18, 1994 |
Running time | 45 minutes |
Guest appearances | |
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"Miracle Man" is the eighteenth episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series The X-Files, premiering on the Fox network on March 18, 1994. It was written by Howard Gordon and series creator Chris Carter, directed by Michael Lange, and featured guest appearances by R. D. Call and Scott Bairstow. The episode is a "Monster-of-the-Week" story, unconnected to the series' wider mythology, although plot elements relate to the abduction of Mulder's sister Samantha. It is one of several season one episodes that establish the centrality of the childhood trauma to Mulder's character. "Miracle Man" earned a Nielsen household rating of 7.5, being watched by 7.1 million households in its initial broadcast; and received mixed reviews from critics.
The show centers on FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) who work on cases linked to the paranormal, called X-Files. When Mulder and Scully receive a video tape of a faith healer whose latest patient died mysteriously, the agents come to believe the healer's ministry may be covering up several murders.
"Miracle Man" was the first episode of The X-Files written by Gordon without the aid of his long-term collaborator Alex Gansa. Carter helped Gordon flesh out the details of the episode. Exterior shots for the episode were filmed on location in Steveson, British Columbia, Canada—a location which had previously been used in the earlier first season episode "Gender Bender".