NBC Dateline: The X files

In the Dateline NBC episode “The X Files,” the show’s crew sets out on a search for the infamous underground ecstasy chemist known as “Strike.” Following the trail of a group of reckless students and Strike himself, they eventually uncover the identity of a man named Hobart Huson, who claims to be Strike.

The episode certainly plays up the mystique and intrigue surrounding the figure of Strike, but ultimately feels somewhat underwhelming. The actual investigation feels disjointed and lacks a clear narrative arc, with the focus jumping from one lead to another without much sense of progression. The interviews with Huson, while somewhat fascinating in their own right, ultimately feel inconclusive and don’t offer much in the way of new information.

That being said, the episode does provide a glimpse into the world of underground drug manufacturing and the lengths that some people are willing to go to in order to evade the law. It also raises important questions about the dangers of drug use and the societal impact of the “war on drugs.”