Podcast The X-Files 1994 Season 2 | Episode 3 Blood | Breakdown #podcast

JustzNatz discussing The X-Files Season 2, Episode 3 titled "Blood". This episode is a deep dive into subliminal messaging, psychological manipulation, and phobia-induced violence, with Mulder and Scully investigating a series of seemingly random murders in a small town connected by electronic devices.

[Podcast Intro – 1 minute]
Justz:
Hey, everyone! Welcome back to the JustzNatz Podcast! It’s your hosts, Justz and Natz, here to talk all things The X-Files. Today, we’re diving into Season 2, Episode 3—“Blood.” This episode is straight-up trippy, mixing phobias, mass hysteria, and a town full of murderous electronic devices. Sounds insane, right?

Natz:
Yeah, this episode is a rollercoaster! From psychotic behavior induced by electronic displays to a clock tower shootout—it’s got all the tension, weirdness, and conspiracy vibes we love about The X-Files. Let’s get into it!

[Section 1: Episode Overview – 5 minutes]
Justz:
Okay, so let’s set the stage. The episode kicks off in Franklin, Pennsylvania, where postal worker Edward Funsch is having a pretty bad day. He’s been told he’s getting laid off, and right after that, he sees the words “Kill ‘Em All” flashing on his machine’s digital display. Not exactly the kind of thing you want to see when you’re already having a rough day, right?

Natz:
Definitely not. Imagine working a regular day and then seeing that on your screen. It’s creepy enough to make anyone lose it. And that’s exactly what happens—Funsch isn’t the only one who starts seeing these violent messages on electronic displays.

Justz:
And it doesn’t end with Funsch. At the civic center, a guy gets trapped in an elevator, and the display on the elevator starts flashing “No Air,” then “Can’t Breathe,” and then—boom—“Kill ‘Em All.” And it gets even worse when this guy goes on a rampage, killing four people. Classic X-Files—everything starts off with a bizarre, seemingly unrelated event.

Natz:
Right, and that’s where Mulder and Scully come in. We get a classic X-Files investigation setup: Mulder’s thinking there’s something more to these murders, especially since every suspect has been destroying electronic devices during the killings. Scully, as always, is skeptical, but she’s starting to see something strange, too.

Justz:
And then things just spiral from there. People in the town are being manipulated by these subliminal messages—they’re killing because they’re seeing violent commands on all kinds of electronics, whether it’s ATMs, diagnostic displays, or even microwave ovens.

[Section 2: The Technology & Theories – 8 minutes]
Natz:
Let’s talk a bit about the tech side of things—because the way these subliminal messages are affecting people is wild. So, these electronic devices are more than just screens; they’re like portals for these fear-triggering messages. And the question becomes—who’s behind this? Who’s controlling what people see?

Justz:
Exactly! It’s like these devices are being hacked by an outside force to push people into these violent behaviors. And Mulder’s quick to link it to some kind of government experiment—because why not, right? I mean, he’s always got that alien or conspiracy angle in his back pocket.

Natz:
Right! Mulder starts to suspect that this town is being used as some kind of testing ground. It’s almost like they’re being exposed to a fear-inducing chemical, specifically designed to mess with their phobias. The whole thing feels like a real-world experiment with no regard for human life.

Justz:
Yeah, and that’s when Mulder gets sprayed by this crop-dusting helicopter. It turns out that the pesticide being used in the town contains a chemical that’s designed to trigger fear responses. So these messages on the devices? They're not random—they’re a tool for manipulating people's phobias and driving them to kill.

Natz:
That’s pretty terrifying when you think about it—there’s something almost biological happening, a chemical catalyst that combines with the subliminal messages, making people act out their worst fears. And the fact that the town is being subjected to it on purpose? That’s the X-Files at its creepiest.

Justz:
And it gets even more sinister when you think about it. The town is being manipulated on multiple levels. It’s not just the chemicals—it’s the way the technology is being used to trigger violent outbursts. So, is it a government conspiracy? A corporate experiment? Mulder’s on the case, and of course, Scully’s trying to make sense of it all with her science.

[Section 3: The Victims & Phobias – 7 minutes]
Natz:
Now let’s talk about the victims of this craziness—because they all have one thing in common: they’re experiencing intense phobias. It’s not just that they’re seeing these messages—it’s that they’re reacting to them in a way that’s almost out of their control.