The 90s TV episode so dark it was banned from TV for 3 years but you can watch for free

The X-Files, the legendary show featuring FBI agents Mulder and Scully delving into unresolved mysteries, first graced our televisions in 1993.

This series is credited with instilling an entire generation with irrational fears of creatures lurking in toilets (The Fluke) or being devoured by insects (Darkness Falls), among other spine-chilling scenarios. Yet, none of these episodes hold a candle to 'Home', an instalment so unsettling it was withdrawn from reruns due to public backlash.

Even now, many streaming services opt not to feature it.

Throughout its initial nine-year stint on Fox, The X-Files continually pushed the envelope. Extraterrestrials, serial murderers, government plots, and terrifying creatures were all part of the programme's exploration of horror and mystery over 202 episodes. However, 'Home' left audiences aghast with its graphic depiction of incest and infanticide.

Glen Morgan and James Wong, the writers of the episode, drew from a documentary and Charlie Chaplin's biography to craft a story that laid bare the darker side of humanity. Following a bone-chilling opening sequence depicting the birth and burial of a malformed infant, Agents Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) are sent to the rural town of Home, Pennsylvania, after the deceased newborn is found.

Mulder and Scully, the iconic FBI agents, find themselves embroiled with local law enforcement, uncovering the dark secrets of the Peacocks, a family of three brothers dwelling in a dilapidated homestead. Buried deep in obscurity, their ancestry hints at generations of incest, according to the town sheriff, casting a grim light on their possible link to a chilling crime.

Their quiet existence is disrupted by the FBI's investigation, driving the Peacocks to a brutal response - the merciless killing of the sheriff, his spouse, and a deputy, paving the way for a jaw-dropping disclosure.

When this episode originally graced television screens, it seized the attention of its audience while stirring up a storm of controversy. Due to its graphic nature, broadcasters removed it from syndication, shrouding 'Home' in an almost mythic status among X-Files lore.

Despite modern viewers being no strangers to grisly scenes, 'Home' stands unchallenged as one of the most petrifying instalments of television history. A recent online comment encapsulated its lingering impact: "Thirty years later, and The X-Files' 'Home' is still the most disturbing episode of any show I've ever watched."

Viewers instantly took to the web to express their responses, with one saying: "That's when I quit." Another person posted: "This was the most disturbing episode of TV I have ever watched. It's hard to say it's my favourite episode because it was such a mind scramble, but I am giving it that accolade." Meanwhile, another individual confessed: "I haven't been able to sleep since."

The X-Files is available to watch on demand for free on Channel 4 including the episode Home.