Entertainment
The X-Files Episode That Was Almost Too Hot For Television
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
It’s almost impossible to overstate the sex appeal that The X-Files had back in the ‘90s…in addition to the sizzling onscreen chemistry between attractive leads David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, these two appeared in several sexy photoshoots, including the infamous cover of Rolling Stone where they are snuggling in bed. Honestly, after the photo shoot for that issue served as a sexual awakening for an entire generation, we didn’t think this show even knew the meaning of “too hot.” As it turns out, though, one episode was nearly too hot for television: “Gender Bender,” a season 1 episode whose concept and story kept changing due to concerns that the network would reject it.
Gender Bender
For the writers of The X-Files, the first season was about testing boundaries, determining what worked best for the show’s story and its characters as well as what they could get past the network censors. In “Gender Bender,” writers Larry and Paul Barber began with a simple and provocative question: how to make the sex just as scary as creepy aliens or chainsmoking government creeps? Answering this question was basically a mandate from on high, with co-executive producer Glen Morgan later saying that the creative staff demanded “an episode with more of a sexy edge.”
As the X-Files producers and writers soon figured out, this was easier said than done, and Morgan admitted that “It was difficult to find a story that shows sex as scary.” The episode “Gender Bender” was the answer to that question…sort of. The writers came up with the idea of aliens who could shift gender, but the episode went through many revisions due to concerns about how the Fox network would react to certain story beats and general concerns about how the audience would feel about an episode questioning preexisting ideas of gender and sex, especially in the ‘90s.
The Missing Parts
Even all these years later, the X-Files writers and producers haven’t opened up completely about what they had to change for “Gender Bender.” One thing we do know, though, is that they originally developed a creepy moment for the episode’s teaser in which a character’s crotch began rotting away. This emphasized the whole sexual horror angle a little too much, and co-executive producer R.W. Goodwin later offered a simple explanation of why they cut this moment out entirely: “if I was watching that episode with my kid, I’d turn it off.”
While the gender-bending elements remained thanks to some shapeshifting baddies, this X-Files episode arguably lost its original focus on sex and sexuality. As Glen Morgan put it, the concept of the final broadcast episode was the answer to a very different kind of question: “what if there are people like the Amish who are from another planet?” That answer wasn’t very engaging and “Gender Bender” is rather (ahem) limp, but it did have the upside of introducing audiences to Nicholas Lea, who would later return as fan-favorite recurring villain Alex Krycek.
As X-Files fans, we can’t look you in the eye and say that “Gender Bender” is a good episode, but the story of its development is still fascinating. It’s interesting to know that the episode began with an intent to focus on scary sexuality but that concerns about network censors and audience pushback kept the show from descending into full body horror, David Cronenberg style. Without those constraints, it’s possible we would have gotten a bleeding-edge episode where a melting crotch is probably the least freaky thing in the entire episode.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
-
Word
-
Excel
-
PowerPoint
-
Outlook
-
OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
Mashable Top Stories
Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
