# In 1998, Stephen King wrote an episode of the biggest show on TV. 21 million people watched it, but he still wasn’t happy

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-1998-stephen-king-wrote-an-episode-of-the-biggest-show-on-tv-21-million-people-watched-it-but-he-still-wasnt-happy/
- Published: 2026-11-11T15:15:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T16:50:37+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/stephen-king-wrote-episode-biggest-show-on-tv-21-still-wasnt-happy/
- Topics: Entertainment, TV

## Key points

- King approached The X-Files to write an episode.
- “Chinga” attracted more than 21 million US viewers.
- Extensive rewrites left King feeling it was no longer his work.

## Summary

Stephen King wrote “Chinga”, a 1998 episode of The X-Files, after approaching creator Chris Carter because he was a fan of the series. The episode drew more than 21 million US viewers, but King felt his work had been rewritten so extensively that he no longer regarded it as his creation.

The story follows Scully investigating a cursed doll and a series of disturbing incidents while Mulder assists from elsewhere. Carter said King was unfamiliar with writing for Mulder and Scully; director Kim Manners later recalled that little of King’s work remained, describing the finished episode as largely Carter’s script.

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