The X-Files (TV Series) The List (1995) User Reviews

A woman gets lonely sometimes she can't wait around for a man to be reincarnated

[DWilliams1089 · 7/10 · 3 December 2010]

"The List" is a competent but ultimately less-than-memorable episode from the early part of season three. Although it holds its own as a relatively straightforward revenge drama, the episode is perhaps most notable for its adroit direction, helmed by Chris Carter himself, who had previously proved to be a capable cameraman in last season's "Duane Barry." Much like that episode, this one profits from tightly-packed claustrophobic settings: the corridors of a prison that appear to be as humid as a rainforest, a dark house with a similar ambiance that, instead of cell bars, is caged in Venetian blinds. Certainly in terms of look this is one of the most impressive excursions in the series up to this point.

Unfortunately the story doesn't quite live up to the visuals. More specifically, everything that happens in the teaser more or less spells out what's going to happen in the next forty-something minutes. Neech Manley (who, though seen only scarcely, is played powerfully by the late Badja Djola), a prisoner on death row, vows to return from the dead and seek retribution to five men who have wronged him. When a prison guard inexplicably turns up dead in Neech's cell, Mulder and Scully are called on to solve the case.

The problem is they never really solve anything. This is one of those infamous episodes (though far from the more egregious offenders) that relegates Mulder and Scully to audience members instead of participants. So while both provide insightful theories of their own to the nature of the crimes, neither of them walk away having learned anything (On a side note, if anyone can paraphrase that loquacious discussion at the end, please let me know just what the hell is going on!). Poetically speaking the script is as much of a prison as the plot's environs - we know, since this is of course The X-Files, that we probably haven't seen the last of Manley and that five men probably will end up dead by the episode's end. In the end it's all a matter of getting from point A to point B.

So what we end up with is an impeccably-acted, exquisitely-directed hour of television that's just a bit too linear to stand up to the upper echelons of the series's catalog. That this episode immediately follows "Bruckman," widely regarded as the pinnacle of the show's nine-year run, doesn't do it any favors. Still, "The List" is enjoyable, nice to look at, features a better-than-average cast, and gets better with repeated viewings. Carter would write better episodes as the series progressed, but in terms of aesthetics, this may be very well be his opus. 7/10

An underrated episode

[n-town-smash · 7/10 · 18 June 2008]

Marred by comparisons to "Duane Barry", Chris Carter's previous directorial effort, "The List" used to get a bum rap. It's not perfect, by any means, but there are some nice ideas here.

The basic concept, of the reincarnation of a death row inmate, possibly involving flies although we're not entirely sure how or why, is fairly standard X-Files fair, and not particularly any great advance upon the first series episode "Born Again". Indeed, it's not hard to see this as "Born Again II", but it's a far more considered product.

The green of the prison scenes, compared to the more "normal" lighting and colour of the outside world, creates a nice sense of two worlds, one kept separate and inferior to the other in every possible way, and foreshadows the brutality and nastiness of J.T. Walsh's character, one of those genuinely love-to-hateable figures that can make episodic TV so appealing. Where some X-Files are, intentionally or not, a little more morally ambiguous, "The List" works in binary, sledgehammer strokes.

It's a little obvious, perhaps. Almost from the second Walsh appears on-screen, you know he's going to be "the bad guy". Almost as soon as we see Neech (the condemned), we know that he's not going to be a clear-cut bad guy. We know how the show works by now. But really, all this means is that the show is about Walsh, and his desperate attempts to prevent his own imminent demise, his fear and horror. We know what's going to happen to him, there's never any doubt, and there's an appeal to our dark sides as we watch him panic and bargain and generally refuse to accept that he might have it coming.

If there's one thing that "The List" really gets across, it's how much of a loss J.T. Walsh was to television. For this alone, it should never be dismissed.

Tense and atmospheric

[bigblue123 · 7/10 · 4 September 2010]

'The List' is a great episode from Season 3 and the reason it works so well is because of the wonderfully creepy atmosphere it creates.

An inmate at a prison is about to be executed but promises that he will return to kill five people who he feels have wronged him in some way (these five people form the list of the title). Then, as foretold, people affiliated with the prison in some way being to die under mysterious circumstances. Mulder and Scully are sent to investigate, but the sadistic warden also conducts his own investigation which results in further deaths. As a result, this episode has quite a high death toll!

This episode reminded me a bit of 'Fresh Bones' but is far superior. There are lots of little sub-plots going on and they come together nicely to create a tense and mysterious episode. The acting by all the supporting players is top notch (the always underrated J.T. Walsh is superb as the sadistic warden)and the ending is brilliant.

One, Two, Neech Is Coming For You...

[Muldernscully · 7/10 · 27 May 2006]

The List is an entertaining episode from season three. However it lacks a little something to make it a great episode. This episode is the second episode directed by Chris Carter. His first one was Duane Barry. You can tell you he is still a little bit green when it comes to directing. He gets better later on. For some reason he decided to give the prison a bit of a greenish glow to it. I have no idea why, I just think it is interesting. J.T. Walsh gives a mean prison warden performance in this episode. Writing is Chris Carter's stronger point, and it is usually showcased through Mulder and Scully's clever dialogue. For example, Mulder asks Scully what it would be like to be able to avenge yourself on five people and who would they be. Scully says, "I only get five?" To which Mulder replies, "I remembered your birthday this year, didn't I, Scully?" Later, Carter does an interesting slanted shot of Mulder and Scully as they leave Danielle's house which he slowly levels out. I don't why, I just noticed it. This episode lacks a powerful climax. It just kind of ends. Like I said before, 'The List' is a good episode, just not great.

"How does it feel to be on death row, Warden?"

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 7 June 2017]

Mulder's suspicion about the identity of the real murderer is confirmed by the end of the story, but in one of those rare instances that makes some X-Files episodes frustrating, the case he and Scully were working on is never technically solved. The justice angle was served for those viewers who like to see things wrapped up with the bad guys getting their due, but what was Scully or Mulder going to put in their summation of the case - the killer was a ghost who came back from the dead for revenge?

The set up for the story was pretty good though. I was intrigued by the name of the inmate who was executed to kick off the story, I know a salesman who's nickname is Neech, and quite coincidentally he performs magic tricks as a hobby. Hmm, I wonder if he ever tried one making objects appear from the great beyond.

The one thing that Scully and Mulder never keyed in on was that all the victims who were dispatched by the spirit of Neech were accompanied by the appearance of insects - maggots for the already dead ones, and flies for the ones about to be deceased. Well, I guess they couldn't have known about those pesky flies, but for the viewer, those were an interesting tie-in to the murders. Come to think of it though, there were no maggots OR flies around the Warden's victim Roque (Bokeem Woodbine). That should have set off a light bulb for the FBI agents.

Well every good series has a clunker in the mix, and I wouldn't even go so far as to call this one a clunker. But it does score somewhat lower than a lot of the X-Files episodes here on IMDb, and in general it seems the viewers get it right most of the time.

Neech's list got one man left to die.

[Sanpaco13 · 6/10 · 12 October 2009]

The List isn't a terrible episode but it fails to live up to the quality of other episodes in Season 3. I found myself thinking about how many different ways through the course of the series, the writers came up with some revenge beyond the grave storyline, always enabled by either ghosts or reincarnation. The good moments of The List are some of the darker scenes such as the teaser where Neech Manley is taken to the electric chair and then some of the brutal ways the people on his list are killed, like the guy being eaten by maggots and the guard having his head cut off at the jaw. But then some of the deaths that are actually shown on camera are just him showing up and smothering the lawyer and then making the warden crash his car. Lame. I find it interesting that pretty much every prisoner in the episode is black. I think this episode has to have the highest African American to Caucasian actor ratio of any other episode. I'm not making any racial commentary or anything, I just found it interesting. As for the story, I didn't really find anything mysterious about it and its only appeal was some of the content which didn't quite live up to what it needed to in order for me to enjoy the episode. I give it a 6 out of 10.

"Howz it feel to be on death row warden?" Season 3 thriller!

[Dorian-Kellaway · 8/10 · 6 December 2006]

The list is one of the best episodes of season 3 possibly the best season in X files history.

It tells the story of Napoleon Neech Manley a man on death row convicted under dubious circumstances of double murder. Its clear Neech is a powerful is only influential man within the prison and much anticipation and perhaps fear surrounds his execution. As he is taken to the electric chair he vows to seek revenge in a decidedly cold manner on five men that have wronged him.

Mulder and Scully are called in to investigate when a death row guard is found dead in the cell Neech used to occupy. Apparently the guard appears to have been strangled. Mulder interviews John Speranza a prison inmate who explains the power behind Neeches claims "The man was electric pure energy!" Even going so far as to say he witnessed Neech walk past his cell.

Characteristically Mulder finds the idea of Neech actually returning for revenge from beyond the grave enthralling, Scully who brilliantly by Gillian Anderson is portrayed as being uncomfortable in a male prison environment and the warden delivered with cold hypocrisy by classic on screen villain J.T Walsh are less convinced of Neeches claims.

There is much conspiring taking place throughout the episode, the warden coldly murders inmates who may be part of Neeches murders, Scully suspects a conspiracy not of inmates but of guards involving Parmelly (Ken Foree), a black prison guard who is shacking up with Neeches wife.

As More dead bodies begin to surface including some decidedly shocking images of decomposing bodies infested with maggots and beheaded corpses being placed in offices, Mulder fails in his attempt to piece together much evidence or explanation for events but is desperate to engage with the notion of reincarnation.

Chris Carter gives only his second directorial effort and succeeds in creating a most oppressive prison environment, the dark nature of the cell blocks where the murders are taking place serves as stark contrast to the strange settling sun that often occupies any action outside the prison.

The best things in this episode are the performances by some of the supporting cast, Ken Foree is suitably edgy and defencive over the matter, J.T Walsh's performance is dripping with hypocrisy something of a more violent albeit less impressive version of Bob Guntons Samuel Norton in the shawshank redemption.

On the negative the list lacks some punch for much of the third act, there is some rushed dialogue and most importantly the plot doesn't have much emotional bearing on either Mulder or Scully.

On a whole the list is a very good episode of the x files much maligned by critics it still serves consistent tension and dark atmosphere, along with one of the best actual stories of the third season. Given the subject matter it could have been one of the very very best of the shows stand alones, but still serves as a well played out dark thriller. Some people will be turned off by the lack of actual events pertaining to Neeches return whenever he is seen it is quickly shown that the character perceiving him could have been mistaken. But the X files often serves up most chills when this is the case and the final scene is in my estimation very well placed, we have Mulder and Scully both in their own frustrated ways admitting defeat in proving little, and then amidst this J.T Walsh finally meets his comeuppance the actual action could have been perfect if we had not even seen Neech Manley but just been given an implication that a glimpse of his was caught by the warden this questionable fault is made up for though by nice camera work to pan over the wardens corpse with eerier music showing that no one is in fact there with the warden at all.

This X files episode is clearly underrated and for story and creation alone should be appreciated.

The soul shall be recast, born unto new flesh.

[bombersflyup · 6/10 · 26 October 2020]

The List is about the enemies of an executed inmate dying one by one, as he foretold.

Not the most riveting of episodes, also underwritten. Mulder and Scully don't accomplish or solve anything, everybody dies. Why did Scully wander off in the jail? Why did Danielle want to kill Neech? And why'd she visit him and say those things if so. The warden killing inmates again, like in "Fresh Bones."

Why such low ratings ?

[NatashaJAmos2015 · 8/10 · 9 April 2021]

I don't get so called fans . This episode is scary and tense. What more do you want ? Sure it's not the greatest but it's not the worst and it doesn't deserve 5/10! 2shy is the one that deserves the 5/10 not this episode .

Death Row Warden

[devonbrown-90649 · 7/10 · 27 April 2023]

Great episode of a man who came from the grave and got his revenge. Still unexplained how he did it and if the people who does indirectly where in the list too.

Overall I enjoyed this case, although they got nowhere with the investigation scully and mulder did little to get the case moving. Justice was instead served from the grave.

I'm not sure exactly how neech managed to scare his wife and get her to do his bidding so the scene of her shooting the guard didn't make much sense.

Glad the guard met his maker after a making false promises and killing inmates in cold blood. His death was a fitting end to the episode.

Neech Manley Is Back....

[BreakingDawnx · 9/10 · 6 September 2008]

This is a very underrated episode. Most people compare it to Chris Carters first directed episode 'Duane Barry ' which just happens to be one of the most famous x files of all time.

But 'The List' is a very good episode! More of a dark thriller than totally supernatural , a man who has been on death row for 11 years is finally executed , but not before saying he was going to come back and kill 5 people.

Of course in the prison Neech was held in guards start dying and Mulder and Scully are called in. Of course its not just as simple as Neech is back and is killing people. There is a much darker force at work as the prison warden appears to be beating inmates to death to force them to tell him who was on Neech's list.

This obviously pushes the body count up , and when 5 people are dead Mulder and Scully admit defeat and leave. This is the point when the evil warden finally meets his end as he is driving and catches a glimpse of Neech is his mirror. The warden then proceeds to crash into a tree in particularly gruesome style with eerie music.

There are some other bits of the story which i find a tad unnecessary eg. The whole Neech's wife and the prison guard. But anyway a great episode that is guaranteed to chill you to the bone.

Atmospheric, but lacks any punch.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 5/10 · 24 October 2020]

The List is one of the very few episodes that I simply couldn't get into, it comes as such a disappointment, particularly after the episodes that preceded it.

Yes it's very atmospheric, it has a great start, and some excellent acting, but they all seem wasted on a script which lacks life, and an episode that somehow feels Wooden. I really wish I could have seen what many of you guys saw, but I found myself not caring or having any interest for any of them.

The one particularly unpleasant character did at least get their just rewards at the end.

Maybe this is one I'll have to revisit at some point, but on first viewing, mehhh, 5/10.

I watch x files episodes like this to get lost in the thrills

[richieweisdorf · 9/10 · 14 March 2024]

These episodes are why I watch the show. I remembered this one from youth as a solid episode but upon rewatch in adulthood, it is exactly what I liked of the show.

Tense, thrilling, a mystery to get lost in, this had it all. The only thing was a rushed ending with little to no explanation.

The episode seems to borrow from Shawshank Redemption in terms of the corrupt warden and death row setting. But in content, about a executed inmate vowing revenge on 5 who did him wrong, it is very different. People begin to die, some of the 5, some not. Lots of people are suspects, guards, inmates throwing into question whether this is a case of a supernatural revenge story or something concocted by the living (which is the usual X Files ambiguity of whether to believe or not to believe).

Everything in the plot feels purposeful. Most seem to like the x files comedy episodes like War of the Cocophages or Bad Blood (an episode I have always detested); both highly rated episodes, since they relax from the show's seriousness. Oh please! I watch the X Files for what it was intended to be not for it spoofing itself and its characters.

There's likely not one funny moment in this episode. But some great lines. "Warden, how does it feel to be on death row?" Love it love it love it.

A waste of good performances and atmosphere

[Al_Scarface_Capone · 4/10 · 10 August 2010]

The List is an episode full of wasted potential. The atmosphere is incredible inside the prison with eerie colors, lights, and camera work. The supporting performances are also very strong, with the short performance of the actor who played the dead inmate Neech really standing out.

The problems come in when it comes to the plot and the pacing. The basic plot is that Neech was a death row inmate who was very interested in reincarnation, and upon his death promised to return and avenge himself by killing five people who treated him unjustly. While there are a few small twists and red herrings, this is the basic plot, and we get it in the first five minutes. The episode is intended to be a thriller, but that is where the problems lie, because unlike episodes like D.P.O, there is never a sense of danger, causing the episode to get very slow for the middle twenty minutes or so. The first fifteen minutes are good by virtue of the atmosphere still being "new" to the viewer, and the last ten are very special, and earned the episode at least one of the stars I gave it, and save this episode from being a total stinker.

After four excellent episodes, it had to go wrong

[SleepTight666 · 5/10 · 25 August 2008]

After four excellent episodes, it had to go wrong.

It's a better episode than I give it credit for, it's actually not all that bad. It has some really nice-looking scenes, I love the green-ish colors in prison. and the guest cast is quite strong.

Another thing that stands out are the really icky murder scenes. I'm not easily grossed out, but those scenes were definitely gross.

Unfortunately, the story falls flat somewhere in between the episode. I couldn't really care about any of the characters and just kept hoping that they'd all get killed off. The final scene of the episode did give the it a nice closure. But it still left my X-Files hunger unsatisfied.

TWO stars. not bad, but not good either.