The List (The X-Files)

"The List"
The X-Files episode
The head of a death row prison guard named Fornier, found inside a paint can.
Episode no.	Season 3 Episode 5
Directed by	Chris Carter
Written by	Chris Carter
Production code	3X05
Original air date	October 20, 1995 (1995-10-20)
Running time	45 minutes
Guest appearances
Bokeem Woodbine as Sammon Roque Badja Djola as Napoleon "Neech" Manley John Toles-Bey as John Speranza Ken Foree as Vincent Parmelly April Grace as Danielle Manley Greg Rogers as Daniel Charez J. T. Walsh as Warden Brodeur[1] Bruce Pinard as Perry Simon, the executioner (uncredited)[2]
Episode chronology
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The X-Files season 3
List of episodes

"The List" is the fifth episode of the third season of the science fiction television series The X-Files. It was first broadcast in the United States on the Fox network on October 20, 1995. "The List" was written and directed by series creator Chris Carter. The episode is a "Monster-of-the-Week" story, a stand-alone plot which is unconnected to the series' larger mythology. "The List" received a Nielson household rating of 10.8, being watched by 16.72 million people on its initial broadcast, and 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, Mulder and Scully investigate a case where a death row inmate declares that he will be reincarnated and that as a result five men will die.

"The List" was written and directed by Carter after the success of the second season episode "Duane Barry". The art department of The X-Files was tasked with creating a death row set quickly, a feat which eventually caused the episode to go over budget. Several sequences necessitated the use of real maggots, a turn of events that was not popular with the cast, most notably with Anderson. "The List" later was nominated—and won—several International Monitor Awards.