Page "The X-Files (season 1)" Paragraph 14

Thematically, although the series focused heavily on alien abduction lore, the decision was made early on to allow the plots of individual episodes to branch out into different territories in order to prevent the overarching plot from running out of momentum, which led to standalone episodes such as " Squeeze " being developed.

The variety of storylines which the series has shown has led director Daniel Sackheim to note that " The X-Files has sort of found its own style in that it doesn't have a confined style to it ", adding that the series ' " fluid " approach has meant that " everybody who comes on the show attempt to make a little scary movie ".

To this end, several episodes feature varying plots, with alien-influenced storylines varying between " Ice ", a " briskly-paced " episode set in a single location, and the character-driven " Conduit ", which served to fill in background on the characters.

Elsewhere, plots focused on soul transference or reincarnation, with the episodes " Shadows ", " Born Again " and " Lazarus " sharing similar storylines.

The " tired " plot of " Ghost in the Machine " featured a malevolent artificial intelligence ; while " Shapes " introduced the first of what would become several Native American-themed episodes.