Ghost in The Machine (The X-Files) - Broadcast and Reception

Broadcast and Reception

"Moreover, there really is a sense of mystery and suspense lacking so far. From the very beginning of this episode, it’s clear that the machine is behind the murders, which makes the scenes where Mulder and Scully are interrogating the computer’s creator rather pointless."

–Den of Geek's Matt Haigh reviewing "Ghost in the Machine".

"Ghost in the Machine" premiered on the Fox network on October 29, 1993, and was first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on November 3, 1994. Following its initial American broadcast, the episode earned a Nielsen household rating of 5.9, with an 11 share—meaning that roughly 5.9 percent of all television-equipped households, and 11 percent of households watching television, were tuned in to the episode. It was viewed by 5.6 million households.

In a retrospective of the first season in Entertainment Weekly, "Ghost in the Machine" was rated a D+. The episode's premise and the COS system were described as "unacknowledged 2001 rip-offs", whilst the presence of Deep Throat was called "gratuitous"; with both cited, along with an "absence of humor", as the episode's main detractions. Keith Phipps, writing for The A.V. Club, was more favourable to the episode, rating it a B-. He felt that the similarities to 2001: A Space Odyssey and Demon Seed were effective, adding however, that although the plot worked well, it had dated poorly. Matt Haigh, writing for Den of Geek, reviewed the episode negatively, feeling that the plot was "formulaic", and that it "simply not stood the test of time". However, Haigh felt that Deep Throat's appearance was a highlight of the episode, and praised Mark Snow's score as "extremely atmospheric". The plot for "Ghost in the Machine" was also adapted as a novel for young adults in 1997 by Les Martin.