Entertainment
The X-Files Episode Secretly Inspired By A Real-Life Serial Killer
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published

While The X-Files is famous for stories about aliens, monsters, and far-reaching government conspiracies, it sometimes focused on more down-to-Earth threats. This includes serial killers like Luther Lee Boggs, Gerry Schnauz, John Lee Roche, and more. Sometimes, the show had it both ways by featuring characters like Eugene Tooms and Robert Patrick Modell, who used their fantastic powers to take killing people to a whole new level.
Obviously, The X-Files is a show filled with fictional serial killers guaranteed to make your skin crawl. But one forgotten episode from early in the show’s history crafted a fictional story that took great inspiration from one of the most notorious serial killers in American history. That episode is “Aubrey,” which featured some powerful allusions to the Hillside Strangler!
A Cut Above The Other Killers

“Aubrey” is a Season 2 episode where Mulder and Scully investigate the unusual case of a woman who may have genetically inherited violent tendencies from her serial killer grandfather. At first, this manifests as a psychic vision where she is able to inexplicably discover the hidden body of an FBI agent who was murdered in 1942; later, it is revealed that she is killing people in the same way that her grandfather did, including carving words (such as “Sister” or “Brother”) into victims’ chests. Eventually, she is busted for her copycat crimes, and after killing her grandfather (the former serial killer), she is committed to a psychiatric ward.
What does this weird X-Files story have to do with a real-life serial killer? The female character in “Aubrey,” B.J., bears some surface-level similarities to Veronica Compton. If that name doesn’t ring a bell, she is someone who tried to kill a woman in 1979 in a copycat murder intended to prove the innocence of one of America’s most infamous serial killers: the Hillside Strangler!
The Ghost Of Killing Sprees Yet To Come

The original Hillside Strangler (later, his cousin was convicted of the same crimes) was Kenneth Bianchi, a man who tortured his victims before strangling them to death using a ligature. He then dumped the bodies on the wooded hillsides of Los Angeles, creating a grim tableau for the police to find. In 1979, police arrested Bianchi as well as his murderous cousin, Angelo Buono Jr. After the arrest, he began a relationship with Veronica Compton, a woman who ended up testifying for the defense at his trial. Eventually, she tried to strangle another woman to death in an attempt to make the authorities think the Strangler was still at large.
Many X-Files fans have noted that in “Aubrey,” there are several parallels to Compton and the Strangler: for example, there’s a woman committing crimes that copy the M.O. of someone who can’t have committed them (Bianchi was in prison, and B.J.’s real grandfather was extremely elderly). Also, while B.J. wasn’t consciously trying to clear Cokely’s name, her copycat methods brought more attention to his crimes, just as Compton’s copycat attempted murder revived the real killer’s legacy. Finally, both women end up in confinement: B.J. is placed in a psychiatric facility, and Compton was imprisoned for her crimes before being released in 2003.

At the end of the day, “Aubrey” is a pretty forgettable X-Files episode, and the plot’s reliance on inherited memory seems weirder and more gimmicky now than ever before. However, knowing the episode was a fictional homage to the Hillside Strangler and the woman who loved him does make it that much more interesting. Unlike the strangler himself, though, this strange episode never quite manages to take our breath away.
Entertainment
The best and worst moments from the 2026 Oscars
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“Thank you, Emily.”
Entertainment
Wins “Best Actor” At 2026 Oscars
Social media users are dropping strong reactions after Michael B. Jordan won “Best Actor” over Timothée Chalamet at the 2026 Oscars, also known as the 98th Academy Awards.
RELATED: Awww! Michael B. Jordan Stepped Out Alongside His Mom For Critics’ Choice Awards & Folks Are Calling Them Twins! (PHOTOS)
Michael B. Jordan Wins “Best Actor” Over Timothée Chalamet At The 2026 Oscars
According to Firstpost, the Oscars 2026 culminated in a showdown between Michael B. Jordan and Timothée Chalamet for the title and award of “Best Actor.” Per the outlet, Chalamet served as an “early frontrunner” for the award. This, by way of his December 2025 role in ‘Marty Supreme.’ A film that follows the life of 23-year-old Marty Mauser, who pursued a relentless career in table tennis. Meanwhile, Michael B. Jordan seemed to trail Chalamet’s lead with his dual role in the April 2025-released film, ‘Sinners.’ This film was set in 1932 and followed twin brothers as they returned to their hometown and encountered supernatural spirits.
Per the outlet, Chalamet secured the “Best Actor” award at the recent Golden Globes. Additionally, he also won “Best Actor” at the recent Critics’ Choice Awards. However, Michael B. Jordan recently took home the “Best Actor” award at the 32nd Annual Actor Awards.
Ultimately, at tonight’s Oscars awards, fans decided that Michael B. Jordan deserved the win!
Social Media Reacts
Social media users reacted to Michael B. Jordan’s win in TSR’s comment section.
Instagram user @dallasthamav wrote, “I’m so glad they got it right! 🔥🔥🔥”
While Instagram user @thewildwestwhit added, “I ain’t gonna have no voice tomorrow!!!!!!! Yessssssssssss!!!!!!!!”
Instagram user @zorihya wrote, “as he should !! we did it yall 🥹🥳”
While Instagram user @som3bodysdaddy added, “I stood up and clapped like I was in the audience!”
Instagram user @beautiinbravery wrote, “HE WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 I’m so happy for him.”
While Instagram user @almcfoster added, “HE DID ITTTTTTTTT!!! 🙌🏾💯🍾 This win is for ALL of us. Started from the bottom NOW WE HERE!! 🥂😎🔥 Let’s go MBJ! 💪🏾 #ActorLife#Sinners“
Instagram user @_deebendavis_ wrote, “I’m literally fckn crying real tears !!!! 😭😭😭😭”
Before He ______ “Best Actor” Over Timotheé Chalamet At The 2026 Oscars, Michael B. Jordan Was Making Headlines By Way Of His Brother
Before Michael B. Jordan _____ the “Best Actor” award at the 2026 Oscars, he was making headlines by way of his brother, Khalid Jordan. As The Shade Room previously reported, earlier this month, Khalid took to his Instagram to share a hilarious clip, which included him doing a voiceover. In the clip, the audio was spoken by someone who was bragging about their famous and well-endowed older sibling.
Ultimately, the clip of Khalid doing the voiceover and seemingly speaking about his brother left social media users in stitches.
RELATED: Oh, He Got Jokes! Clip Posted By Michael B. Jordan’s Brother Khalid Has Social Media Crackin’ UP
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
“Moulin Rouge”'s Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor break into song at 2026 Oscars ahead of film's 25th anniversary
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The Baz Luhrmann-directed pop cultural phenomenon received eight Academy Award nods after it was released in June 2001.
Entertainment
“Sinners” cinematographer becomes first woman to ever win Oscars category
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Autumn Durald Arkapaw is the fourth woman to ever be nominated within the category.
Entertainment
Rosamund Pike Reflects on Pregnancy After Gone Girl Success
Rosamund Pike is recalling her decision to get pregnant immediately after her Gone Girl success.
“I’m not very strategic in terms of career, making sure I am in the right place, meeting the right people,” the actress, 47, admitted during an interview with The Sunday Times published on Saturday, March 14. “I made Gone Girl, I got pregnant, I wasn’t there to do all the schmoozing and ride the whole shebang. I could have been so much more strategic.”
She continued, “I was at a point where I could have got a lot of jobs but took myself out of the running for 18 months, which was sort of insane.”
Pike starred in the 2014 psychological thriller, directed by David Fincher, alongside Ben Affleck, Neil Patrick Harris, Carrie Coon and Emily Ratajkowski. The film made over $369 million worldwide against a $61 million budget, making it one of Fincher’s most successful and lucrative films of his career.
The actress also welcomed her two sons, Solo and Atom, in 2012 and 2014, respectfully. She shares her boys with longtime boyfriend Robie Uniacke, a businessman the actress has been linked to since 2009. (Uniacke, 65, has four children from previous relationships.)

Rosamund Pike Getty Images
“I’ve got my kids homeschooling me,” Pike said during a 2021 interview on The Graham Norton Show, revealing that her partner learned Mandarin so their sons could grow up bilingual.
“[Uniacke’s] basically talking to them in a language I don’t understand,” she continued, “so I thought maybe [the Covid-19] lockdown was a good opportunity for me to catch up.”
During a 2015 appearance on the now-defunct The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Pike opened up about life as a mom of two, admitting that she was taking her youngest to business meetings while trying to balance her work and parenting responsibilities.
“I am just taking him around with me,” she said of her son Atom. “It has a very interesting effect on people because they don’t expect it. I’m turning up to meetings because what do you do — you’re a mom and you got a baby who needs to eat.”
When speaking to The Sunday Times, Pike said the fact that her career took a hit as a result of her pregnancy is “absolutely” a testament to how unequal the entertainment industry treats men and women.
“This is the part of the interview where I get uncomfortable,” she quickly added. “Yes, it’s a churning feeling. I start to feel a bit ashamed.”
Entertainment
Lindsey Vonn’s Skiing ‘Future’ Is Not Up for Discussion
Lindsey Vonn isn’t interested in discussing her skiing future after suffering a devastating leg injury at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.
“No, I’m not ready to discuss my future in skiing,” Vonn, 41, wrote via X on Sunday, March 15. “My focus has been on recovering from my injury and getting back to normal life. I was already retired for 6 years and have an amazing life outside of skiing. It was incredible to be #1 in the world again at 41 years old and set new records in my sport, but at my age, I’m the only one that will decide my future.”
The athlete continued, “I don’t need anyone’s permission to do what makes me happy. Maybe that means racing again, maybe that doesn’t. Only time will tell. Please stop telling me what I should or should not do. I’ll let you know when I decide.”
Vonn’s public declaration comes just days after she shared a brutal video of her injured leg on Friday, March 13. In the clip shared via the Olympian’s Instagram Story, Vonn could be seen breathing heavily as a physical therapist pushed her injured leg down for just a few seconds. Vonn then grimaced in pain and bit her lip as the therapist began counting during the exercise.
“Had to do this…,” Vonn captioned the video, simultaneously giving fans and followers a glimpse at two separate surgery spots on her leg, covered by large bandages.
The difficult-to-watch video was followed by a second clip of her physical therapy, showing the athlete happily riding a recovery bike and pedaling smoothly.

Lindsey Vonn Courtesy of Lindsey Vonn/Instagram
“So I could do this,” Vonn wrote alongside the video, showing that — in some cases — pain really is a prerequisite for gain.
Vonn made her return to the Olympics in Italy in February, despite completely tearing her ACL during a World Cup race in Switzerland days earlier on January 30.
Just 13 seconds into her Olympic run, Vonn crashed, severely injuring the same leg. The athlete could be heard screaming in pain before she was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where she underwent four surgeries before she was able to return to the United States.
Vonn later revealed that the doctors saved her leg from a probable amputation.
“Dr. Tom Hackett saved my leg,” Vonn shared via social media on February 23. “He saved my leg from being amputated. He did what’s called a fasciotomy, where he cut open both sides of my leg and kind of filleted it open so to speak, let it breathe, and he saved me.”
Entertainment
Why wasn't Sean Penn at the Oscars? Report reveals where star was when he won Best Supporting Actor
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Penn wasn’t in attendance despite being honored for his work in “One Battle After Another.”
Entertainment
Oscars reunited Rob Reiner supergroup of 17 stars for emotional tribute: Here's who appeared on stage
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Demi Moore, Kathy Bates, Christopher Guest, and more united at the Academy Awards to honor Reiner’s life.
Entertainment
See One Piece Going Full Kill Bill In The First Great Action Scene Of The Year
By Jonathan Klotz
| Published

Netflix’s One Piece live-action series continues to outpace every other adaptation, anime or not, but Season 2 Episode 3, “Whiskey Business,” makes a strong case for the series to be one of the greatest Netflix action series of all time. For the first time this season, fans are able to see Roronoa Zoro (Mackenyu) cut loose, and the result is a non-stop swordfight from the first floor of a tavern to its roof. Zoro versus 100 Baroque Works agents may bring to mind Kill Bill’s The Bride against 100 Yakuza, except there’s a catch: One Piece did it first.
1 Vs. 100

The pairing of the serious swordsman Zoro with the Baroque Works agent Mr. 9 (Daniel Lasker) mixes oil and water. Mr. 9’s foppish crown and attempts at being an over-the-top villain make him the opposite of the taciturn Zoro, which is why, when Zoro is finally able to cut loose in his pursuit of the assassin, it’s oh so very satisfying. For the first half of the episode, the Straw Hat Pirates think the town of Whiskey Peak is a pirate-loving sanctuary, until the reveal that it’s a front for Baroque Works.
When Zoro walks into the tavern, he knows that everyone inside is a Baroque Works agent. What Mr. 9 eventually realizes is that Zoro isn’t trapped in the building with them. Baroque Works is trapped inside with Zoro. For 10 minutes, the deadliest swordsman in the East Blue carves through 98 agents, making his way up to Mr. 9, where he finally uses the Three-Sword Style. It’s as satisfying as the moment when John Wick finally made it to the top of the stairs.

One Piece’s fight choreography is a little different thanks to the Devil Fruit powers. “Whiskey Business” sticks out because Zoro doesn’t have any. He’s the best there is at what he does. The result is a grounded fight, unlike anything seen in the live-action adaptation so far. Mackenyu is up to the task, considering he’s the son of the legendary Sonny Chiabi, who you might know from dozens of martial arts shows and films over six decades, or maybe you only know him as Hanzo Hattori, the swordsmith from Kill Bill.
Zoro’s Rampage Came Before Kill Bill

It’s hard not to think of the iconic Kill Bill sword fight when watching “Whiskey Business.” Uma Thurman and Quentin Tarantino put together an iconic sword fight with a lone hero against 100 assailants, which had been done before, many times, but few were as stylish. One Piece’s Whiskey Peak arc first aired in 2001, and fans watched Zoro take down Baroque Works in Episode 65, two years before Kill Bill hit theaters. If anything, Tarantino could have been a little influenced by the anime.
The rest of the episode, which cuts out the anime’s Zoro and Luffy duel, is equally as fantastic. Baroque Works takes center stage as the villains of the season, and the Straw Hat Pirates get a new direction for their journey through the Grand Line. “Whiskey Business” will, as with the anime arc, be remembered more for Zoro getting the spotlight and redefining what fights can look like on a massive streaming budget.
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Oscars surprises with 7th tie in Academy Awards history: 'We're gonna get through this. Focus up!'
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