Entertainment
The X-Files Episode Secretly Inspired By A Real-Life Serial Killer
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
While The X-Files is famous for stories about aliens, monsters, and far-reaching government conspiracies, it sometimes focused on more down-to-Earth threats. This includes serial killers like Luther Lee Boggs, Gerry Schnauz, John Lee Roche, and more. Sometimes, the show had it both ways by featuring characters like Eugene Tooms and Robert Patrick Modell, who used their fantastic powers to take killing people to a whole new level.
Obviously, The X-Files is a show filled with fictional serial killers guaranteed to make your skin crawl. But one forgotten episode from early in the show’s history crafted a fictional story that took great inspiration from one of the most notorious serial killers in American history. That episode is “Aubrey,” which featured some powerful allusions to the Hillside Strangler!
A Cut Above The Other Killers
“Aubrey” is a Season 2 episode where Mulder and Scully investigate the unusual case of a woman who may have genetically inherited violent tendencies from her serial killer grandfather. At first, this manifests as a psychic vision where she is able to inexplicably discover the hidden body of an FBI agent who was murdered in 1942; later, it is revealed that she is killing people in the same way that her grandfather did, including carving words (such as “Sister” or “Brother”) into victims’ chests. Eventually, she is busted for her copycat crimes, and after killing her grandfather (the former serial killer), she is committed to a psychiatric ward.
What does this weird X-Files story have to do with a real-life serial killer? The female character in “Aubrey,” B.J., bears some surface-level similarities to Veronica Compton. If that name doesn’t ring a bell, she is someone who tried to kill a woman in 1979 in a copycat murder intended to prove the innocence of one of America’s most infamous serial killers: the Hillside Strangler!
The Ghost Of Killing Sprees Yet To Come
The original Hillside Strangler (later, his cousin was convicted of the same crimes) was Kenneth Bianchi, a man who tortured his victims before strangling them to death using a ligature. He then dumped the bodies on the wooded hillsides of Los Angeles, creating a grim tableau for the police to find. In 1979, police arrested Bianchi as well as his murderous cousin, Angelo Buono Jr. After the arrest, he began a relationship with Veronica Compton, a woman who ended up testifying for the defense at his trial. Eventually, she tried to strangle another woman to death in an attempt to make the authorities think the Strangler was still at large.
Many X-Files fans have noted that in “Aubrey,” there are several parallels to Compton and the Strangler: for example, there’s a woman committing crimes that copy the M.O. of someone who can’t have committed them (Bianchi was in prison, and B.J.’s real grandfather was extremely elderly). Also, while B.J. wasn’t consciously trying to clear Cokely’s name, her copycat methods brought more attention to his crimes, just as Compton’s copycat attempted murder revived the real killer’s legacy. Finally, both women end up in confinement: B.J. is placed in a psychiatric facility, and Compton was imprisoned for her crimes before being released in 2003.
At the end of the day, “Aubrey” is a pretty forgettable X-Files episode, and the plot’s reliance on inherited memory seems weirder and more gimmicky now than ever before. However, knowing the episode was a fictional homage to the Hillside Strangler and the woman who loved him does make it that much more interesting. Unlike the strangler himself, though, this strange episode never quite manages to take our breath away.
Entertainment
Trump admin has viral DOGE videos taken down. Theyre already back up.
Last week, viral videos of two former staffers of the Elon Musk-led government agency DOGE went viral. The videos offered a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how DOGE was run and how cuts to federal funding were determined.
On Friday, a federal judge ordered the videos be removed after a complaint from the Trump administration.
However, much to the chagrin of the U.S. government, internet archivists and forums like Reddit’s r/datahoarders have already re-uploaded backups of the videos.
The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), the American Historical Association (AHA), and the Modern Language Association (MLA) originally hosted the hours-long depositions of two former DOGE employees, Justin Fox and Nate Cavanaugh. Fox and Cavanaugh had been deposed as a result of a lawsuit from the three organizations regarding DOGE’s cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
The depositions of the two DOGE employees quickly went viral. Fox’s interview especially spread after clips were made of his inability to explain exactly what DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) was, regardless of the fact that DEI was his reasoning in cutting funding to specific projects or groups. The DOGE staffer shared how programs were flagged for cuts if they were tagged with terms such as “Black” or “LGBTQ+” but terms like “caucasian” or “heterosexual” were not flagged. Other clips showcased how the DOGE employees used ChatGPT to determine what programs to cut.
Mashable Light Speed
According to the Trump administration, the online mockery of the former DOGE staffers put the them in real, offline danger. The government told the judge that Fox specifically had been the subject of harassment and even death threats.
As a result of this request, Judge Colleen McMahon ordered that the ACLS, AHA, and MLA “take any and all possible steps to claw back” the DOGE deposition videos from the internet.
ACLS, AHA, and MLA made an argument that this was a First Amendment issue and that the videos were in the public interest as they involved “testimony from senior government officials on matters of great public concern.”
The judge denied their request and deferred the matter to a hearing on Tuesday. The hours-long depositions of Fox and Cavanaugh were removed shortly after on Friday.
However, despite the judge’s order, little could be done to remove the many viral clips from the deposition that had been uploaded all over social media.
Furthermore, internet archivists and self-described data hoarders had already ripped the entirety of both videos before they were removed from YouTube. Since their removal, the two full depositions have already been re-uploaded to sites like the Internet Archive. The subreddit r/datahoarders has also provided torrents of the two videos, so anyone who wants them can download the depositions locally to their own computers as well.
Regardless of what the judge decides at the hearing, it seems pretty clear that the internet has reached a verdict. These deposition videos of two DOGE staffers will always be available online in one form or another.
Entertainment
The best Hulu deals and bundles in March 2026
HULU BUNDLES: Hulu is offering a range of bundle deals so you can stream from its impressive library without breaking the bank.
The best Hulu deals and bundles in March 2026:
There’s a wide range of excellent shows and films to watch on Hulu. From Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere to season two of Paradise, it’s a library that’s full of options to keep you entertained this spring.
If these have caught your eye and have you itching to sign up for Hulu, we’re here to help you get the best deal. Outside of the standard ad-supported and ad free plans, there are quite a few bundle deals available with Hulu that are worth exploring if you’re looking to save some cash. This includes a great limited-time deal on the Disney+ and Hulu Bundle, which is offering the first three months for just $4.99 per month. This offer only runs until March 24, so now is the time to sign up.
Considering Hulu and Disney Plus have recently increased their prices, there’s no better time than now to find a way to save through bundles. Below you can find details on Hulu’s best bundles at the moment — alongside information on both its ad-supported and ad free plans, if you just want the basics — offering you a way to save on the service without going overboard on spending.
Best Disney+ bundle deal
Get your first three months for $4.99 per month
Why we like it
For those interested in the ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu Bundle, there’s a limited-time offer that runs until March 24. Both new and eligible returning subscribers can get the first three months of the plan for $4.99 per month. Usually it costs $12.99, and your plan will automatically renew at that price after the promotional period comes to an end. You can cancel this function at anytime though:
Unfortunately, this deal does not apply to the Premium ad-free version of this plan. This option is still available for $19.99 per month, as usual.
Best HBO Max bundle deal
$19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free
Why we like it
This is one of the best Hulu bundles available at the moment. Starting at $19.99 per month, this bundle grants you access to Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max’s streaming services for a much lower price than what you’d pay for the three of them separately. It’s an incredible deal to take advantage of, especially if you’ve already got Disney+ and HBO Max subscriptions. There are two plans to choose from with this bundle, and they are:
Best student deal
Hulu with ads for $1.99/month
Why we like it
If you’re a student enrolled at a university, you can score a Hulu (with ads) plan for even lower than the above bundles. Hulu’s Student Deal gives eligible college students the ability to buy a Hulu (with ads) plan for just $1.99 per month. Hulu notes that the deal lasts “so long as student enrollment status remains verified,” then it goes back up to the standard monthly price.
Best ESPN bundle deal
Why we like it
Alongside the big Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max bundle, Hulu also has plans for sports fans that throw in ESPN Select or ESPN Unlimited. According to ESPN, “ESPN Select includes ESPN+ content only. Fans who want ESPN+ exclusively may subscribe to the ESPN Select plan. ESPN Unlimited includes all of the ESPN networks and services, including ESPN+.”
The Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle, which has ads, is available for $35.99 per month. The Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited premium bundle without ads is available for $44.99 per month.
Mashable Deals
Hulu’s monthly plans
If you’re just looking to jump straight into Hulu’s library without any fancy bundles, there are a couple of subscription options to consider. The ad-supported tier comes in at $11.99 per month, but you’ll get your first month free, which is a great way to test the waters and see if it’s the right fit for you. If you want to go ad free, that’ll cost you $18.99 per month. Unfortunately, this plan does not offer a free trial like its ad-supported sibling.
If you really want to go big on a streaming investment, there’s the Hulu + Live TV plan. This costs a whopping $89.99 per month for its ad-supported plan, but comes with plenty to keep you busy. Hulu + Live TV (with ads) gets you access to 95+ channels, unlimited DVR, Disney+ (with ads), ESPN Select (with ads), and Hulu (with ads). If you want to go even bigger with the ad-free plan — which offers Hulu (no ads), Disney+ (no ads), and ESPN Select (with ads) alongside Live TV — it’ll cost you $99.99 per month. The ad-supported plan also offers a free trial, but for just three days instead.
Wondering what to watch once you get set up with a Hulu plan or bundle? We’re here to help with that as well. Have a look at our roundups of the 30 best comedies on Hulu, the 25 best sci-fi movies on Hulu, and the 26 best horror movies on Hulu to start building your watchlist. And if you’re in the mood to binge-watch a show, check out our breakdown of the 25 best shows on Hulu.
Entertainment
Turn 15 minutes into personal growth with this summary app
TL;DR: Learn something new in just 15 minutes with a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium, now $50.99 with code MARCH15 until March 29.
$50.99
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Want to expand your mind without having to totally rearrange your day? Headway Premium can help, allowing you to digest the key concepts from nonfiction books in just 15 minutes so you can learn new things on your lunch break. Right now, you can secure a lifetime subscription for only $50.99 with code MARCH15 through March 29.
We’ve all got jam-packed schedules, so finding time to finish an entire book can feel like a luxury. Headway Premium knows that, and instead makes it easy to learn key ideas and insights from the world’s best sellers in just 15 minutes. You can even pick between reading and listening to professionally narrated summaries, depending on what works best with your day.
Mashable Deals
More than 15 million people are already taking advantage of self-growth with Headway Premium. While these concise summaries don’t replace reading that whole book, they’re an excellent way to learn something new and discover topics you’d like to explore further.
Choose between summaries on business strategies, personal development, health and wellness, and more. With over 2,000 summaries available — and new ones added every month — you’ll never run out of content.
Headway’s gamified learning process makes it easy to add these summaries to your routine. It tracks your progress and incentivizes learning with quizzes and trivia to check your understanding.
Get a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium, now $50.99 with code MARCH15 through March 29.
Mashable Deals
Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
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