10 X-Files Fates Worse Than Death
5. A Time Loop
Many a sci-fi show has used the idea of a time loop to convey a sense of dread.
The X-Files did this in the sixth season episode, Monday, where the main character is arguably Carrie Hamilton's Pam - the only person who actually knows what is happening.
The episode revolves around a bank robbery that Mulder and Scully are trying to prevent. Even though the events vary slightly each time they reset and Pam is determined to break the time loop, it is apparently impossible to prevent her boyfriend, Bernard Oates (played by Darren E. Burrows) from destroying the entire bank and everyone in it (usually after shooting Mulder).
Over time, Mulder is gradually able to remember that this has all happened before and eventually calls Scully, asking her to bring Pam into the bank in an effort to convince Bernard to simply walk away. Alerted by the sound of police sirens, Bernard tries to shoot Mulder, only for Pam to sacrifice her life for Mulder's, thus ending the time loop.
Still, had this not happened, it is likely that Mulder and Scully would still be repeating that Monday (what a terrible day to have to repeat)!