The X-Files Season 7

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1990's, 2000's, David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mimi Rogers, Mitch Pileggi, Nicholas Lea, The X-Files, The X-Files Season 7, William B. Davis

Season 6 of The X-Files may have suffered from a few signs of tiredness and some feelings of rehash, but it was still entertaining as anything and kept you gripped. With Season 7, there are still some creative episodes to be found, but the focus seems a bit off the boil. It knows how to grip, but something about Season 7 doesn’t quite gel and it emerges as probably the weakest season so far. Spoilers will be following in this review.

Mulder(David Duchovny) is still in a state of delirium and confinement after suffering mental disintegration relating to markings he came into contact with from a presumed alien spaceship. As his condition worsens, a desperate Scully(Gillian Anderson) travels to North Africa where she discovers the ship and begins to investigate it. She isn’t prepared for what she discovers as it appears that the markings on the ship could very well prove that the human race descended from aliens and possibly more answers on burning philosophical questions. As Mulder slips into a coma and Skinner(Mitch Pileggi) attempts to help while having his hand twisted behind his back, the mysterious Cigarette Smoking Man(William B. Davis) takes Mulder to a facility to have him experimented on, while also revealing that he could be Mulder’s father( it’s up to us to determine that one). It emerges that when Mulder was infected with the alien virus years before, it lay dormant before being activated by contact with the strange markings. These events put the duplicitous Fowley(Mimi Rogers) in a compromising position as her loyalties are called into question and she chooses to help Mulder just as he is experimented on. Scully manages to save Mulder and he soon returns to seemingly fine health, though because of her betrayal, Fowley is murdered. Back on the cases of unusual phenomena, Mulder finds himself immersed in the case of missing children, that bears resemblance to his sister’s disappearance that has haunted him from the beginning. After his mother leaves a cryptic message regarding his sister before committing suicide due to her descent into ill-health, Mulder teams up with a psychic who finally allows him to discover the truth about Samantha. She wasn’t taken by aliens as he first thought, but was taken away from harm by walk in spirits who protect children from. Mulder has closure when he discovers that his sister is at peace and he can now finally close the wound that has been with him for all this time. Skinner begins to buckle under the pressure of the manipulation put on him by crafty Krycek(Nicholas Lea), who is possibly up to dirty tricks once more(or is he?). And with a dying Cigarette Smoking Man trying to resurrect plans of old, it is a dangerous time for all involved.

The thing is the new mythology of the origin of life is intriguing, but it doesn’t measure up to the original conspiracy that made the show addictive. There is still the possibility of the alien colonization being brought back and it is hinted at, mainly from Cigarette Smoking Man, but the main focus is the newer mythology which can’t quite compete with the one of old. It is far from bad and I found some of it intriguing, mainly the whole concept of where life originated, but other parts felt a bit tacked on. There are many other episodes that feel a bit rehashed from previous stories that were told a lot more successfully. Season 7 in a word is inconsistent; when it’s really good it soars, but when it flounders it becomes a bit uninteresting. It seems to veer from one point to another without a second thought, when control is put actually put on however some fine television can be seen.

Given that Season 7 is a bit all over the place in terms of coherence and quality, there are still some fantastic episodes and moments to be found that still show that The X-Files even when not at full strength can still be very good. The two-part season opener is a very good way to put us back into the continuation of events leading from the spaceship discovery in the last season. ‘Hungry’, told from the point of view of a creature(that takes on the appearance) that has a compulsion to eat brains and wanting to change may sound strange on paper, but with classic style it is fashioned into an emotional story of someone trying to fit into society and how people can often fight against who they really are. ‘Millennium’ may not vintage X-Files, but it has a moment that many were waiting for; Mulder and Scully’s kiss. For years their relationship has built and grown into a trustworthy one with traces of romance. The way that the kiss is put in is to celebrate the millennium, and because of their connection the moment doesn’t appear false or forced in the slightest. It’s a really sweet moment.

There is the creepy ‘Orison’ in which the evil Donnie Pfaster returns after a chaplain with the power of hypnosis who believes he’s doing God’s work helps him escape, but realizes too late he has unleashed something deadly. Pfaster, who appeared in Season 2 and kidnapped Scully, goes down this path again as Scully was the one who got away from his death fetishism. Once more, his very presence is enough to induce nightmares and we witness how the trauma of his previous attack still looms over Scully as it strikes again. The highly emotional ‘Closure’ that finally reveals Samantha’s fate is so beautifully constructed and gives Mulder the answer he always wanted as well as the peace he has yearned for. It is X-Files at its most moving and completes a story that has provided the heart of many of Mulder’s quests in the past. And though the episode All Things, which was written and directed by Gillian Anderson was somewhat derided upon airing, I actually found it a very personal and emotion filled episode. We watch Scully reexamine her life and the choices she has made after discovering a former lover of hers is ill and somehow fate leads her there. Posing philosophical and existential questions combined with mysticism and faith, you got to hand it to Gillian Anderson for her ambition and execution of this personal voyage for Scully to contend with. The final episode ‘Requiem’ more than makes up for some of Season Seven’s flaws with intrigue and good direction.

Whatever flaws or inconsistencies this season has, the same can’t be said of the acting which is once more top-notch. As Mulder, David Duchovny fits the role like a glove with his sarcastic humour that’s combined with a serious and often worrying devotion that borders on obsession to finding out what is hidden. So much has happened to Mulder over the years and Duchovny shows all the changes that his journeys have had on him and how each has shaped him as his quest for the truth has brought him both pain and closure. And with this being the last season that he appears as a full-time regular on the original run of the show, Duchovny more than stamps his mark on the character. Gillian Anderson invests Scully with an emotional core and steadfast persona that has grown in her for a while. There is something about Anderson’s delivery that I’ve always found to be subtly moving and it is very much at play here in the well-rounded character of Scully. I like seeing Scully in more believer territory as there are just some things she can’t comprehend or rationalize. Anderson has truly taken Scully on a journey from skeptic to slowly growing believer. She may not say that she truly believes and can nitpick at the logic in some cases in true skeptical style, but I think this is the season when Scully finally comes around after all she has witnessed, judging by her inability to fully comprehend the strange phenomena she has encountered. The connections between Mulder and Scully have deepened and the hints of love are realistic but not too in your face. Mitch Pileggi stretches his legs more as the buttoned-up Skinner, caught between a rock and a hard place but determined to be as loyal as can be. Injecting some sympathy into the evil character of Cigarette Smoking Man, William B. Davis shows off another side to the antagonist that hints at pathos but still reminds us that he is a very dangerous man capable of indescribable evil. While only seen briefly, both Mimi Rogers and Nicholas Lea make the best impressions they can with their characters.

1. The Sixth Extinction – B
2. The Sixth Extinction II: Amor Fati – A
3. Hungry – A+
4. Millennium – C
5. Rush – C-
6. The Goldberg Variation – D-
7. Orison – A
8. The Amazing Maleeni – B+
9. Signs and Wonders – C+
10. Sein und Zeit – A
11. Closure – A+
12. X-Cops – B
13. First Person Shooter – E
14. Theef – B+
15. En Ami – C
16. Chimera – B+
17. All Things – A
18. Brand X – D
19. Hollywood A.D. – C
20. Fight Club – D-
21. Je Souhaite – B-
22. Requiem – A

Despite it being the weakest season so far, Season 7 at least entertains and holds enough interest near the end to make me curious about what more the show can offer. I mean any X-Files is better than none at all, right?

The X-Files Season 6

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1990's, Chris Owens, David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mimi Rogers, Mitch Pileggi, Nicholas Lea, The X-Files, The X-Files Season 6, Veronica Cartwright, William B. Davis

Continuing after the shock ending of Season 5 and the events of the movie, Season 6 of The X-Files is still a very enjoyable season that knows how to thrill. It has its fair share of flaws here and there, sometimes with the tone, but all in all it is still extremely watchable and thrilling, with some neat tricks involving the conspiracy. Spoilers will be following in my review of this sixth season.

Mulder(David Duchovny) and Scully(Gillian Anderson) are back from the finale in Antarctica of the feature-length movie. Their discoveries regarding alien life forms gestating in humans because of The Syndicate’s plans are discredited because of a lack of evidence. They are also taken from under the eye of Skinner(Mitch Pileggi), even though he tries to help them, despite it being against policy. And though The X-Files are reopened after Cigarette Smoking Man(William B. Davis) burned them down , there is a shock in store for the agents. The X-Files have been reassigned to Agent Jeffrey Spender(Chris Owens) and Diana Fowley(Mimi Rogers), much to the chagrin of Mulder who sees Spender as opportunistic and a non-believer and old acquaintance Diana as a backstabber( which isn’t far off the truth). He is right about Spender in one respect, but he is also being used by his father The Cigarette Smoking Man who pushes him to tip Mulder over the edge, but is he having some second thoughts. Skinner is poisoned by a deadly form of nanotechnology controlled by none other than slimy Krycek(Nicholas Lea) , who continues to manipulate him for his own gain. With the prospect of colonization now turning to full on take over of the human species, doomsday is around the corner. The return of Cassandra Spender(Veronica Cartwright), who is now a hybrid after being tested on, heralds The Syndicate’s plans for colonization, which don’t go to plan. Alien rebels, who we have glimpsed in the past seasons, put a stop to the plan and kill the Syndicate members. Cigarette Smoking Man and Diana manage to escape, while Cassandra, as an alien-human hybrid perishes. Cigarette Smoking Man gets enraged when he sees that Spender has betrayed him after realizing that his father has been using him all along and Spender is seemingly killed by his father. Mulder and Scully are eventually assigned back to The X-Files, but not without danger. Although the Syndicate’s plans have failed, the discovery of more alien life forms and activity involving a new mythology puts both agents on a course filled with surprises, especially in a dangerous case for Mulder.

I think that with Season 5 and the movie, The X-Files was at its peak and nothing could touch it. Season 6 is still very enjoyable, but you can begin to see some signs of fatigue in it, which is only to be expected because a show can’t run for such a long time and not expect to hit a road bump or two. For starters, I do usually like the way The X-Files has a controlled sense of humour, but there are numerous occasions here where it veers out of control and becomes too much. Some of the plots of certain episodes also feel a bit rehashed and uninspired, like ‘Alpha’ and ‘Trevor’ that don’t really show the series in the best and most engaging light.

And now I’ll discuss the positives that Season 6 has to offer, which is still numerous and inventive. I particularly enjoyed the conclusion to the main conspiracy, as everything was built up so effectively and the ringing together of it all was done with excellence. And the fact that a new conspiracy is born is further reason to keep watching as it can open up,a whole other set of possibilities. There is some excellent plotting and writing to be found and when it works, it really works wonders. Season 6 has no shortage of ambitions and various episodes are deserving of praise. ‘Triangle’ represents the show at some of its most inventive and spellbinding as Mulder finds himself journeying back in time to the war on a doomed ship caught in the Bermuda Triangle, where he encounters people who resemble modern counterparts such as Scully and Cigarette Smoking Man. Employing ambitious editing and camerawork that gives the appearance of many continuing shots that never seem to cut, it gives the episode the required dreamlike effect that is just outstanding. An accidental body swap for Mulder and a government brought on by an investigation into Area 51 has a real wit to it in the two parts of ‘Dreamland’. The mid-season two parts of ‘Two Fathers’ and ‘One Son’ are unforgettable as they draw the Syndicate mythology that has been built so well to a close with betrayals, shocks and answers all given. The wonderfully structured and remarkably tense ‘Monday’ centres on a time loop that only one woman seems to know of as she tries to warn Mulder and Scully of imminent death before the day repeats itself again. ‘Milagro’ uses an unique concept of an obsessed writer’s work coming to murderous life and becoming entwined with desire for an unsuspecting Scully to fashion a creepy and inventive episode.

The cast is once more delivering stellar work, having grown so much into the characters by this point in the show’s run. David Duchovny rocks it as Mulder, whose humour and often questionable antics are balanced with a serious and undying determination, that could very well lead to something bad for him. Likability is definitely on the side of Duchovny as it shines through in his work here. Gillian Anderson continues to shine as the pragmatic and plucky Scully, who is a lot more open to possibilities than ever before, yet still retaining scepticism when required. Imbued with an undercurrent of emotion and filled with a steely strength and resolve, Anderson captures the character of Scully so well, even showing us a fun side that is very delightful to see. The chemistry between the two is palpable as anything. I love the way that they can just look at each other and without words convey so much emotions that you feel the special bond between them that has been growing since the day they met. There are more than a few hints that a romantic connection is being formed, without either acknowledging it which makes it more intriguing to watch their interactions with one another.Mitch Pileggi as Skinner is featured a lot more and used for an intriguing story of him being manipulated by Krycek, with the fear that he can just flick a switch and render him near dead in a matter of seconds. It was great to see one of my favourite characters having something very integral to do and Pileggi presents Skinner’s plight with assurance and credibility. As the used and easily lead Spender, Chris Owens is marvellous at showing how he is so heavily manipulated and a such an unsuspecting victim in all of this that he will eventually meet a possibly bad end. As usual, William B. Davis cuts a fine figure as the main villain, and he still has the sinister presence that burns into the mind whenever he appears. Nicholas Lea is somewhat underused this time around as the nefarious Krycek, and I would have liked to have scene more of the weasel like character that is a continuous thorn in everyone’s side. Hopefully Season 7 can give him more to do. Thankfully in the backstabbing stakes there is Mimi Rogers as the sultry and double-crossing Fowley, who Scully is right not to trust from the very beginning but is still good at turning Mulder’s head. And I can’t forget to mention the wonderful Veronica Cartwright who reappears as Cassandra and gives her a tragic impact that is deeply felt.

1. The Beginning – B
2. Drive – B+
3. Triangle – A+
4. Dreamland – A
5. Dreamland II – A
6. How the Ghosts Stole Christmas – B+
7. Terms of Endearment – C-
8. The Rain King – D
9. S.R. 819 – A
10. Tithonus – B
11. Two Fathers – A
12. One Son – A+
13. Agua Mala – C-
14. Monday – A
15. Arcadia – B+
16. Alpha – E
17. Trevor – E
18. Milagro – A+
19. The Unnatural – A
20. Three of a Kind – B+
21. Field Trip – B+
22. Biogenesis – B+

So while there are senses of tiredness that can be glimpsed during the unfolding events, The X-Files Season 6 continues to make for cracking and ambitiously drawn television, despite some flaws along the way. Some of it may not be vintage X-Files, but the show still knows how to hit the mark and do it with panache.

The X-Files: Fight the Future

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1990's, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Blythe Danner, David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, John Neville, Martin Landau, Mitch Pileggi, Rob Bowman, Science Fiction, The X-Files: Fight the Future, Thriller, William B. Davis

Film Title

The X-Files: Fight the Future

Director

Rob Bowman

Starring

• David Duchovny as Fox Mulder
• Gillian Anderson as Dana Scully
• Martin Landau as Dr. Alvin Kurtzweil
• William B. Davis as Cigarette Smoking Man
• John Neville as Well-Manicured Man
• Mitch Pileggi as Walter Skinner
• Armin Mueller-Stahl as Strughold
• Blythe Danner as Jana Cassidy

A cinematic outing for the hit television show, The X-Files: Fight the Future is a very successful transfer to the big screen filled with action, unusual moments and credible atmosphere, with a larger scope and budget than television can provide It proves that not all television transfers to the cinema screen are unsuccessful.

Mulder and Scully have both been reassigned since the closure of The X-Files at the end of Season 5. They are now working on a case involving a bomb threat to a federal building in Dallas. Although they manage to locate the explosive, it still goes off due to a mysterious insider. The duo is then used as scapegoats for the explosion, as it is revealed that at least five people perished. With the agency breathing down their necks and the possibility of the two being separated from working together, Mulder and Scully are in a real quandary of what to do. Meanwhile, a mysterious doctor named Kurtzweil, who claims to have known Mulder’s father gives him information that the dead bodies that were found in the explosion where in fact dead before the event. The bodies, as Mulder and Scully discover belong to a young boy and a number of firemen who encountered the Black Oil deep in Texas, which completely takes over the body and will eventually become known. Kurtzweil explains that The Syndicate covered up these deaths by staging the explosion that would make Mulder and Scully accountable. Although they aren’t supposed to be investigating, Mulder drags Scully onto this mission and what they uncover is massive. As the conspiracy builds, all the evidence begins to fall into place as the colonization plan of the nefarious Syndicate, containing the Cigarette Smoking Man, that has been unfolding becomes subtly known and more dangerously deadly than both Mulder and Scully imagined it ever would. It is something that could in essence bring about a new Armageddon. With the duo getting ever closer, the clock is ticking to discover the full extent of the conspiracy as they travel from the heat of Texas to the snowy depths of Antarctica.

There was always going to be a worry that a show as successful as The X-Files wouldn’t make the transition to the silver screen. But Rob Bowman, who has directed a number of episodes on the show, makes Fight the Future a tense, action-packed spectacle that alleviates any worries about whether the show could do it. The answer is a resounding yes as Bowman’s direction rewards the fans with some answers but makes it still a thrilling movie that non-fans can appreciate. Given a larger scope and canvas, the results are astounding and blend what is so successful about the show and gives them a healthy dose of action with the cinematic treatment. Visually, Fight the Future is a sheer winner, with production design and cinematography capturing the sense of danger, mystique and grandeur that the film requires. From an attack of infected killer bees swarming to Mulder and Scully being chased through a crop field and a cool climax within the confines of an icy Antarctica lab, Fight the Future delivers all this in spades. Now I would say that a bit of prior knowledge may be useful when watching the film as the plot is complex and convoluted. But it isn’t to an extent where people who haven’t seen the show can’t enjoy it, it can easily be seen as a well-constructed conspiracy thriller. Thanks to creator Chris Carter’s script that is filled with trademark banter between the agents, unusual events, grotesque horror and a deep sense of tangible danger, Fight the Future never loses you for a second. Composer Mark Snow contributes an eerie score, complete with the signature theme tune played in various parts in different ways that compliments the strange atmosphere of the film and gives it immense tension to burn.

As the two main characters that everyone has come to love as a team, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are brilliant as ever. David Duchovny strikes the right balance between Mulder’s wonderment and his charm, that isn’t afraid to go far beyond what he thinks he can do. Gillian Anderson fares just as well as Scully, the cool-headed but conflicted partner who tries to be rational but can’t always explain what she encounters. The chemistry is still very palpable and probably more so on the big screen as it adds yet more depth and care to the bond that they share with each other, that is under threat but as strong as ever. They are truly one of the best teams on television and now movies. Martin Landau is excellently cast as the paranoid informant Kurtzweil who puts Mulder and Scully on the tail of the conspiracy with his twitchy knowledge and mysterious appearance. Reprising his role from the show and onto the big screen is the creepy and villainous presence of William B. Davis as Cigarette Smoking Man. Just like on the show, he is a shady character who you will just love to hate. Also returning is John Neville as the now weary Well-Manicured Man, who has had a crisis of conscience at his part in the scheme and attempts to put a stop to it and make amends via Mulder. Mitch Pileggi is back as Skinner, who is trying his best to keep his agents confident in what is a dire situation for all involved. In small but memorable roles as both a questioning government official and a sinister member of The Syndicate, Blythe Danner and Armin Mueller-Stahl are well-suited to the parts.

A well-constructed cinematic venture for Mulder and Scully, The X-Files: Fight the Future is an excellent film that keeps the winning essence of the show and gives it plentiful doses of cinematic magic and spectacle.

The X-Files Season 5

Tags

1990's, David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, John Neville, Laurie Holden, Mitch Pileggi, Nicholas Lea, The X-Files, The X-Files Season 5, Veronica Cartwright, William B. Davis

Season 4 of The X-Files was stellar television and Season 5 continues in that vein, containing fantastic episodes, good switches in tone and mixture of genres. Season 5 finds the show at probably its most popular and most creative and I am so grateful to it for that. Mystery, humour, tension and emotional drama collide in what promises to be an eventful and extremely memorable season. Warning, some spoilers will follow during the review.

We begin where Season 4 left off with it appearing that Mulder(David Duchovny) had committed suicide after he was given evidence that everything he believed was true about aliens and conspiracy was fake and as a cover for something else. Mulder does not kill himself when he realises that there is a mole in the FBI who has been orchestrating cover ups and passing covert information to The Syndicate. Faking his death with the help of loyal Scully(Gillian Anderson) who puts her job and health on the line, Mulder manages to uncover the traitor as the man who initially assigned Scully to The X-Files and discover a chip, thanks to the unlikely help of Cigarette Smoking Man(William B. Davis) that could help Scully’s cancer. After getting the chip to Scully, her cancer goes into remission and she returns to work. Also, Cigarette Smoking Man is having his own disruptions within The Syndicate due to his difference of opinion and he appears to be shot, but somehow vanishes yet survives in the most peculiar fashion. There are more hints dropped at a closeness between Mulder and CSM that prove most interesting. Mulder’s faith in something out there is now at a nadir. Scully attempts to break through to Mulder after discovering that there is some truth in extraterrestrial life forms, but in seems in vain. Thankfully, Mulder eventually returns to his old self later on as the strange cases mount up again. And the cases and conspiracy that is in fact very much true continue to unravel once Mulder gets his groove back and he and Scully venture into darker and more complicated terrain than ever before. Scully discovers that during her abduction she was impregnated and finds the child born as a result of it. Tragically the girl named Emily dies due to sickness. Meanwhile, a group of alien rebels who are against the plans for colonization begin to target former abductees and fight back in an attempt to destroy the nefarious plans the Syndicate and the other aliens has for the Earth. A woman named Cassandra Spender(an excellent guest star in Veronica Cartwright) says she was abducted and Scully becomes curious as she is starting to believe in the idea of something out there, which culminates in Cassandra eventually being abducted again. Mulder finds some way of getting Scully to remember parts of  the abduction through hypnosis as a war begins brewing. Also throw in the re-emergence of Black Oil,  The Syndicate’s attempts to control it with a vaccine and returning of slippery Krycek(Nicholas Lea), and you have an inventive and intriguing season.

In terms of quality, Season 5 is up there with the best. Everything has the feeling of expansion to it, as more mysteries open up and questions slowly get answered in cryptic fashion. And the visuals are once more a high point within the season, seriously they are absolutely marvellous. Credit to the effects department too who have created some terrifying evils that Mulder and Scully encounter, many of which will induce nightmares. Season 5 is shorter in comparison to other seasons( mainly due to the face that filming of the feature film was in production) but this doesn’t hamper proceedings. It in turn brings a striking immediacy to the fold and lets the writers explore the mythology as well as the personal dramas that affect both Mulder and Scully, whether together or apart. The arc of Mulder becoming disillusioned with the belief in extraterrestrials is fascinating as it really flips the formula. It gives the chance to see Scully becoming more convinced in alien life where as she is normally the one to think of something scientific to discredit it. The arc thankfully doesn’t go on for a long time, because if it did I think people would be getting annoyed because it is Mulder we are talking about here. And you got to hand to everyone involved for throwing in curve balls that add significantly to the mystery of the show.

There are many episodes within Season 5 that deserve a whole lot of praise for the themes they present and visual style. The two-part opener of Redux and Redux II is extremely tense and filled with drama as Mulder unearths the mole, and before this we are led to believe that it could be Skinner(Mitch Pileggi) and then manages to save Scully from a certain death. The atmospheric Detour features the duo stumbling on a seemingly unusual entity that appears to have been once human but has adapted to become part of the woods it lives in. I must say this episode is very well done and the theme of survival is observed with style. One showstopper of Season 5 is The Post-Modern Prometheus; a wonderfully done episode filmed in black and white and serves as an homage to old horror movies. In the episode, Mulder and Scully investigate claims that a creature impregnated a woman. It transpires that the creature is actually the result of an experiment who wanted to have someone to love. The being is in reality a very gentle person who the townspeople think is a freak, but in the end he is probably more human than any of them. The themes of acceptance and what makes a person human come into play in touching fashion as everyone comes to see that the deformed creature is actually just a lonely soul in want of company. There is Chinga, penned by Stephen King that is somewhat of a point of contention with fans but an episode I found supremely creepy as a china doll influences those around it to mutilate themselves. And a big favourite of mine and so far one of the best episodes in the history of the show is the humour and horror of Bad Blood. In this episode, Mulder kills what he believes to be a vampire, but then seems to be just a young man, or is it? The humour from this episode is derived from watching Mulder and Scully’s differing view points on what actually transpired and the way they both in turn observe each other. The blend of witty writing, dark humour and horror results in a classic episode. And when the alien rebels arc arrives and the two-part saga of ‘Patient X’ and ‘The Red and the Black’ comes around, a whole lot of action and mystery is to be found as it builds nearer to the climax.

Once more, the principal stars of the show David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are on hand to deliver outstanding work as the duo of Mulder and Scully. Duchovny brings a level of weariness to Mulder this time around as he feels betrayed and his beliefs are conflicted. I liked how Duchovny brought out this side to Mulder, and then eventually showcased his immersion back into the role of believer once more. As the audience, as we know ourselves that he has been lied to and that there is something out there, we all feel something of a relief when Mulder regains his old determined mojo. Gillian Anderson is on stellar form as Scully, who is at her most emotional and less skeptical this season, as she grows closer to fully believing after rejecting other possibilities for so long. Anderson imbues Scully with a level of personal detachment that withers as everything around her gets more intense and personal. Anderson really showcases both Scully’s strengths and weaknesses this season to marvellous effect. The growing relationship between the pair is of a fine quality with it being one of trust and care. There are hints of possibly more to their relationship, but these are subtle and never in your face. Mitch Pileggi is suitably authoritative as Skinner, who finds himself drawn into more unusual cases than before. William B. Davis continues his impressive run as Cigarette Smoking Man, who this time around is manipulating from the sidelines after his skirmish with The Syndicate. John Neville is featured a bit more than usual as Well Manicured Man whose gentlemanly charm and seeming niceness mask the fact that he’s a very dark person indeed. Nicholas Lea is back once more as Krycek, who sides with anyone who can be of use and Laurie Holden is used a lot better as Marita, who pays the price for going against her nefarious colleagues. Plus, special mention has to go to the wonderful Veronica Cartwright in her role as the alien abductee Cassandra.

1. Redux – A
2. Redux II – A+
3. Unusual Suspects – B+
4. Detour – A
5. The Post-Modern Prometheus – A+
6. Christmas Carol – C+
7. Emily – B+
8. Kitsunegari – B+
9. Shizogeny – D-
10. Chinga – A
11. Kill Switch – A+
12. Bad Blood – A+
13. Patient X – A
14. The Red and the Black – A+
15. Travelers – B
16. Mind’s Eye – B
17. All Souls – B+
18. The Pine Bluff Variant – A
19. Folie à Deux – A
20. The End – A

All I have left to say is that Season 5 is a thrilling ride if ever there was one in The X-Files. It is the show at the height of its powers and has me very excited for what will arrive next.

The X-Files Season 4

Tags

1990's, David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Laurie Holden, Mitch Pileggi, Nicholas Lea, The X-Files, The X-Files Season 4, William B. Davis

The last season of The X-Files was my favourite of the show so far, so I was wondering how Season 4 would turn out. Thankfully, I can happily report that Season 4 is just as good as Season 3 and is full of emotion, horror and mystery that continues to grow. Be warned readers, spoilers will follow in my overview of the fourth season.

We begin where Season 3 left off as Mulder(David Duchovny) is trying to protect the healer Jeremiah Smith from the Alien Bounty Hunter. Jeremiah manages to get some information to Mulder about the Syndicate’s motives, which somehow links to the idea of alien colonization. Mulder is also shown various clones of his sister rekindles his determination and is also relieved when his mother begins to recover from her stroke. Jeremiah eventually runs away and escapes from the bounty hunter, but his bits of information have made an impact on Mulder in a big way. Meanwhile Scully(Gillian Anderson) has her own difficulties to contend with. She is diagnosed with terminal cancer, which Mulder comes to believe is due to her abduction in Season 2. With her health in the balance and her future uncertain, Scully continues with her work not knowing how long she will be able to. The Syndicate becomes aware of X’s betrayal and he is subsequently killed, but not before managing to point Mulder in the direction of a new informant. The new informant is Marita Covarrubias(Laurie Holden), who supplies Mulder with necessary information but keeps a distance. The Cigarette Smoking Man(William B. Davis) is still looming large with his own plans, as well as the slimy Krycek(Nicholas Lea) who pulls Mulder into one of his dangerous schemes. With more avenues of answers beginning to open regarding the alien conspiracy and many twists that get very personal for all of those involved, it’s up to Mulder and Scully to continue the search for the elusive truth, aided by the helpful Skinner(Mitch Pileggi) that could be closer than any of them think and will lead to a whole lot of danger.

Like with the visuals of Season 3, Season 4 is amazing in capturing a real sense of atmosphere and emotion that is closely tied to the stories told. There is real sharpness to the cinematography that generates some striking images and haunting ambience. Creepiness and dangerous events abound in this season, and the ante is upped to a higher level which is always good for a show like this. The scripts are top-notch. Aside from the paranoia and science fiction, there is welcome drama that is handled well and elicits strong emotions. Mordant humour can also be found in many episodes, showing how the writers, producers and directors know how to blend all these elements together to create quality television. And I can’t forget the continuing brilliance of composer Mark Snow, whose music is spellbinding and spine chilling.

One of the central highlight episodes from this season is the extremely disturbing ‘Home’. No discussion of Season 4 would be complete without covering this episode. It truly is one of the best episodes of the show so far and really lingers long in the memory. In the episode, Mulder and Scully are called into a quiet small town in Pennsylvania to investigate the unearthing of a baby that was buried alive and sported multitudes of birth defects. The trace for answers leads to the Peacock family; three brothers who live in a house without modern amenities and are shut ins. The episode gets a whole lot more disturbing as it is revealed that the brothers are the products of incest and inbreeding. And to make matters even more horrifying, their amputee mother is the one who has been impregnated many times by her sons. Violent imagery like the booby-trapped residence of the brothers, unnerving contrasts between light and dark and a lot of themes, chief among them the startling dismantlement of the American Dream, ‘Home’ is a brutal hour of television that once seen will never leave you. ‘Home’ may be the main highlight but there are a whole lot of other episodes that are of excellent quality. The haunting and gory ‘Sanguinarium’ examines the horrors of cosmetic surgery tinged with sorcery and magic. A dark mordant humour and unreliable narrator is effectively used in ‘Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man’ as the past of the villain is revealed, or is it? The tense two parts of ‘Tunguska’ and ‘Terma’ boast striking visuals and intriguing stories about the reappearance of Black Oil, along with Krycek dragging Mulder into his own revenge plan. A lot of credit must go to the chilling ‘Paper Hearts’ in which Mulder confronts an imprisoned serial killer who claims that his sister was one of his victims many years before. We watch as Mulder is drawn into the mind games of this man and how he is left to figure out what exactly did happen to his sister. It’s a spooky and atmospheric episode that does well at tapping into the psyche of Mulder and how haunting the disappearance of his sister is for him. There is the emotional ‘Memento Mori’ when Scully is diagnosed and we watch her process this information, try to remain strong but in the end be devastated and then inspired to fight it, with Mulder doing everything he can to draw lines between her abduction and her cancer. On the other end of the spectrum of emotions is humour found in ‘Small Potatoes’ in which a shape shifting man causes havoc by impersonating different men, including Mulder. This episode really shows how funny the show can be.

David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are really allowed to strut their emotional stuff this season and they do it excellently. Duchovny excels at projecting the torments of Mulder and how his desire for the truth puts him in danger that he often doesn’t stop to think about. We relate to Mulder’s quest because he is so dedicated to it, yet we like Scully, can see that it can cloud his judgement. Mulder can be a flawed character who won’t listen to reason, but Duchovny makes him an excellent character to watch as he unfolds and is put through an emotional tailspin. Gillian Anderson is no less impressive as Scully, who goes through the wringer of feelings here. We sympathise with Scully and her devastating news and get to see her let her guard down and be human. Scully always prides herself on always having the answers, but when something is this close to her, Anderson reveals Scully’s fears and insecurities and makes them palpable. Mulder and Scully have continued to grow as a pair over the past three seasons, and it is here in Season 4 when we see how really close they are. The chemistry is there but there is a deep connection formed that compliments the other and reveals how each would do anything for the other, even in the most dire circumstances. It’s wonderful to see Skinner develop more as he becomes more involved. Mitch Pileggi excellently exudes authority and graveness as he is forced to make many deals with the devil to ensure the safety of Mulder and Scully. He has truly become a very valuable ally to the duo’s quest. I enjoyed the expansion on Cigarette Smoking Man, who is played with evil relish by William B. Davis. He just has that wicked presence that you can’t help but feel unnerved by. You couldn’t have asked for a better person to portray the character because no one could come close to Davis. Nicholas Lea is back as the slithering Krycek, out for himself and no one else as he plots his own revenge against The Syndicate. New to the cast is Laurie Holden as the new contact for Mulder. While she is quite good at playing Marita as mysterious, helpful and a little distant, she doesn’t quite have the snap of Deep Throat or X. It’s not that she’s bad, she just can’t measure up to the stature of Mulder’s past informants.

1. Herrenvolk – A
2. Home – A+
3. Teliko – B-
4. Unruhe – B+
5. The Field Where I Died – D-
6. Sanguinarium – A
7. Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man – A+
8. Tunguska – A
9. Terma – B+
10. Paper Hearts – A+
11. El Mundo Gira – D
12. Leonard Betts – A
13. Never Again – B
14. Memento Mori – A
15. Kaddish – C+
16. Unrequited – C
17. Tempus Fugit – B+
18. Max – B+
19. Synchrony – C
20. Small Potatoes – A+
21. Zero Sum – B+
22. Elegy – A
23. Demons – B+
24. Gethsemane – A

Season 4 is an emotional and excellent season of The X-Files that is very much on par with Season 3 in terms of quality, mystery and depth.

The X-Files Season 3

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1990's, David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, John Neville, Mitch Pileggi, Nicholas Lea, Peter Boyle, Steven Williams, The X-Files, The X-Files Season 3, William B. Davis

The stellar Season 2 of The X-Files upped the stakes and continued to impress right up until its major cliffhanger. Now with Season 3, the success continues and emerges as possibly the best season so far. Crammed with mystery, superb writing and a genuinely outstanding visual palette, Season 3 is a pivotal entry into The X Files canon. Be warned, spoilers will follow.

Mulder(David Duchovny) is presumed dead after he found a crate full of alien bodies and incriminating documents in New Mexico and The Smoking Man(William B. Davis) tracked him down, before setting the place on fire. Mulder in fact survived and is nursed back to health by a Navajo guide. Meanwhile, Scully(Gillian Anderson) is questioned about her knowledge of the tape, but denies what she knows. With parts of the government trying to silence both agents from spilling what they know about shady alien experiments, it is a dangerous time for both. Thankfully, Skinner(Mitch Pileggi) helps them out and finally confronts the Smoking Man, ensuring a deal that could for the time being keep them safe from any attempts on their lives. Once reunited, Mulder and Scully also have to deal with personal grief due to Mulder’s fathers murder after he revealed he was at one point involved with the organisation known as The Syndicate. Scully’s sister is killed in a case of mistaken identity, which causes Scully to go on a quest for answers and justice. Both Mulder and Scully bury themselves in the unusual cases they investigate, but sure enough the presence of the Syndicate looms large and they grow ever closer to unearthing more shocking truths. Mulder is having to confront the fact that his father held so many secrets from him and was part of The Syndicate. While Scully battles grief and the discovery of a strange metal chip in the back of her neck, she attempts to locate her sister’s killer and an explanation for her abduction, which she can barely remember. With the traitorous Alex Krycek(Nicholas Lea) switching allegiances and being wanted by everyone, mysterious informant X(Steven Williams) returning , many more members of the nefarious syndicate introduced such as The Well-Manicured Man( John Neville), plus a lethal substance called Black Oil that jumps from host to host, it’s only a matter of time before events will become a lot more deadly and unusual than ever before.

Now the first thing I have to mention is the visuals of this season. In the past two seasons, the visual style has been on fine form. But here, the visuals are just out of this world. From shadowy lighting to the blinding sun, everything looks so cinematic and it in turn adds another dimension to Mulder and Scully’s dangerous journeys. It’s impossible to escape the evocative cinematography on display during Season 3. The writing this season is sublime, carefully managing to balance mystery, personal drama and tinges of sarcastic humour. The continuing mystery and delving into what the shady part of the government called The Syndicate is up to is given a clearer focus, yet still knows how to tease the audience and not reveal too much too soon. Mystery has always been so key to The X-Files and here it is no exception as slithering conspiracies lie under the surface, waiting to be discovered, yet what they mean is kept enigmatic.

There are some major standout episodes present in Season. The intriguing ‘Paper Clip’, explores Mulder and Scully’s digging into a national experiment designed by the syndicate to create alien-human hybrids. Just from this episode, you can see them both edging closer towards the truth in typically inventive style. ‘Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose’ is The X-Files at its finest, with an intriguing blend of mystery, drama and humour. In the episode, Mulder and Scully are called in to investigate the murders of fortune tellers. They are aided by the reluctant but gifted Clyde Bruckman, who can through psychic abilities see how people are going to die. The character of Clyde Bruckman is excellently written and the casting of Peter Boyle as him was a stroke of genius. He dominates the scenes he is in with a mixture of understatement, humour and overall sadness that is hard to forget once you’ve seen it. It is just a fantastic episode that showcases the greatness of the show and how it has grown. The tense two parts of ‘Nisei’ and ‘731’ are chock full of surprises( an excellent scene of Mulder jumping on to a moving train is a real action highlight) and more building conspiracies as Mulder investigates an alleged alien autopsy and Scully discovers more about her abduction. The intriguing Black Oil forms a very exceptional arc brimming with possibilities. I think I’ll stop waxing lyrical now about specific episodes because I know that if I continue, this post will go on forever as there are too many to discuss.

Once more, there is some really excellent work from the cast. David Duchovny delves deeper into Mulder and shows his obsessive streak and never say die attitude. There is so much determination and pain within Mulder, who is dealing with the secrets about his father and his connection to everything going on. Duchovny exudes an enthusiasm for the truth, but at the same time a deep wounded side that reveals a cauldron of hurt emotions. Gillian Anderson is equally as good as the skeptical and cautious Scully, who is beginning to open up more and discover some not so pleasant reminders of her abduction and a resolute search for her sister’s killer. We see how Scully tries to keep a cool head when faced with everything in her path and attempts to relate everything to scientific realms, but underneath is feeling the burden of personal responsibility and sadness. As was present in the past two seasons, the chemistry between the two characters is still of a stellar quality. And it only deepens more as the season progresses. They may be complete opposites but they have grown to appreciate the other and completely have each others back as they cut through conspiracy. The main thing I’ve loved is the way that the relationship is written, it just feels so real and relatable. Mitch Pileggi is on hand to deliver solid work as Skinner, who regularly puts himself on the line for Mulder and Scully. I like the part of Skinner because it reveals this time a real depth and care that he has for the two agents and how dedicated he is to his job. As played by Pileggi, Skinner has become one of my favourite characters in The X-Files universe. The sinister presence of William B. Davis is once more apparent as The Smoking Man, who orchestrates many nefarious acts through his connections in government and his own agenda. Steven Williams continues to play the mysterious X, but this time he endears himself to the audience when he saves Mulder from a tight spot. John Neville is introduced as another Syndicate member known as Well Manicured Man, and he brings a certain genteel politeness to the role that belies the dark presence of the baddie. Nicholas Lea is sliminess personified as the allegiance switching Krycek, who everyone seems to be after this season.

1. The Blessing Way – A
2. Paper Clip – A+
3. D.P.O – B
4. Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose – A+
5. The List – C –
6. 2 Shy – B+
7. The Walk – B
8. Oubliette – B+
9. Nisei – A
10. 731 – A+
11. Revelations – B-
12. War of the Coprophages – A
13. Syzygy – B
14. Grotesque – B+
15. Piper Maru – A+
16. Apocrypha – A+
17. Pusher – A+
18. Teso Dos Bichos – D-
19. Hell Money – B
20. Jose Chung’s From Outer Space – A
21. Avatar – C+
22. Quagmire – B+
23. Wetwired – B+
24. Talitha Cumi – A

I think it’s safe to say that Season 3 of The X-Files is addictive and inventive television at its best.

The X-Files Season 2

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1990's, Brian Thompson, David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, Nicholas Lea, Steven Williams, The X-Files, The X-Files Season 2, William B. Davis

Following on from the excellent first season, Season 2 of The X-Files deepens the mythology and mystery. After the first season, the only way was up and that is definitely the case this time around. Carrying on the torch lit but the set up in the debut season, this second one is a real success as the cases deepen for Mulder and Scully, introduces more memorable characters and gets a lot darker. Be warned readers, spoilers will follow in my review.

We open were the last season left off with The X-Files shut down just as both Mulder(David Duchovny) and Scully(Gillian Anderson) were growing closer to answers regarding government experiments and knowledge of extraterrestrials. Mulder and Scully have both been reassigned since, with Scully teaching at the FBI academy and Mulder assigned to wire tapping operations. Mulder has lost some of his faith in what is out there, but slowly regains it once more. Scully though reassigned continues to converse with him in secret, for fear of being watched by the powers that be. Yet danger soon awaits both of the agents in various forms. In this case, Scully and Mulder are both affected by what they experiences. Scully in particular has an interesting arc here. In it she is abducted by aliens after a psychopathic former FBI agent and abductee uses her so that aliens won’t take him again for unusual tests. Scully mysteriously returns a while after with no memory of her abduction, which only deepens the mystery for Mulder. Eventually, Assistant Director Skinner(Mitch Pileggi) re-opens The X-Files, allowing the two to work together once more and delve into more unexplained mysteries and government secrets about aliens. We also have the mysterious Smoking Man(William B. Davis) skulking around and a new informant for Mulder, known as X(Steven Williams). Plus, there is a traitorous agent called Alex Krycek(Nicholas Lea), who is initially assigned to work with Mulder and is then revealed to be in league with those most corrupt. And not forgetting a shape shifting Alien Bounty Hunter to add to the mix. Let’s just say events get a lot more creepy and mysterious as the season progresses as curious things relating to Mulder( like the whereabouts of his missing sister) are teased out in typically enigmatic fashion leading to an excellent finale.

If Season 1 was the blue print for what was to come, Season 2 is the expansion of the story and underlying mythology with a deeper intent. The story arcs here have an added depth as they explore both personal things for Mulder and Scully. I like how we as the audience can see the growth in the relationship between the two. This is most clearly evident when Scully is found comatose and Mulder, driven by anger and the desire to unearth the truth, does everything in his power to find out what happened to her. The writers really know how to explore the relationship without letting it fall into anything predictable. We sense the closeness between them but it isn’t forced and feels like a real development of caring friendship and respect. They are also adept at continuing the mythology and giving more clues about the government conspiracies, the disappearance of Mulder’s sister and the impact the abduction of Scully has on Mulder and herself. The paranoia is really cranked up this season and executed with atmospheric style and direction as government tampering and unexplained events plague the investigations of Mulder and Scully. The music provided from Mark Snow is also highly creepy and laced with unnerving tension. It’s often said that shows that have a successful first season can suffer in the second, but Season 2 of The X-Files is the exact opposite. It only gets better as it goes along. And with more darkness to the mix, it adds yet another layer of tension and suspense to the episodes. And speaking of effective episodes, many of them are in need of discussion and praise in this season. The opening episode ‘Little Green Men’ provides the first sight of a live alien and we flashback to the night Mulder’s sister Samantha was taken. The Duane Barry episodes are fantastically atmospheric and tense highlights, with the former crazed mental patient taking people hostage and speaking of his experiences of being an alien abductee. His kidnapping of Scully is a creepy scene indeed and the way it plays out gets more unusual. In the tense and emotional ‘One Breath’ as Scully’s life hangs in the balance and we watch Mulder’s quest to get answers on why she is taken. Then there’s the creepy death fetishist who sees Scully as his next victim in the horrifying ‘Irresistible’ and black magic in ‘Die Hand Die Verletzt’. and special mention has to go to the tense finale ‘Anasazi’ that finishes with one hell of a cliffhanger. It’s safe to say that Season 2 of The X-Files is chock full of exceptional episodes to watch. I could go on listing the amazing episodes, but that would go on forever and this review would become very long-winded. Not every episode can be a success because that would be impossible,  but there are so many this season that are of sterling quality and style, that build on the ground work set up in the debut season and are consistently engrossing.

Once again turning in outstanding work is David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. Duchovny impresses by imbuing Mulder with a dogged sense of drive, building obsession to expose the truth and deep care he has for Scully, evident in how he goes after who he believes responsible for her abduction. I appreciated the added depth that was given to Mulder in the exploration of how his sister’s disappearance had an impact on him and his discovery that his own estranged father may know more than he’s letting on. Gillian Anderson exudes strength and a level-headed demeanor as Scully, who finds her faith being tested significantly this season. Anderson burrows into the impact the abduction has on Scully and how she tries to repress her vulnerability and fear in order to stay grounded within her personal life and job. The chemistry between Duchovny and Anderson is once more a delight and has significant amounts of depth added that only expands the relationship between the two. Each of the two compliments the other and while they are often like the two sides of the coin, their banter and closeness shines through. I liked the expanded role given to Skinner this season and Mitch Pileggi makes the most of it. Seemingly gruff and not in favour of Mulder’s theories, Pileggi brings forth a sense of growing admiration for his work and even though he Skinner has his hands tied, he is starting to show signs of defiance to those who govern him. Steven Williams brings layers of ruthless mystery to the part of informant X, who you never quite know is on your side or not. Then there is the slimy presence of Alex Krycek, who is played wonderfully by Nicholas Lea and gives ounces of deceit and oiliness. Krycek is introduced as an energetic agent who helps Mulder, but he is really infiltrating his work while under the command of The Smoking Man and something shadowy. And speaking of The Smoking Man, William B. Davis is given more screen time this season and really makes a mark once more on the enigmatic character. Over two incredible episodes there is also Brian Thompson sending shivers down the spine as an alien bounty hunter.

1. Little Green Men – A
2. The Host – A
3. Blood – B+
4. Sleepless – B+
5. Duane Berry – A+
6. Ascension – A+
7. 3 – D
8. One Breath – A
9. Firewalker – C-
10. Red Museum – B
11. Excelsis Dei – C –
12. Aubrey – B+
13. Irresistible – A
14. Die Hand Die Verletzt – A
15. Fresh Bones – B
16. Colony – A
17. End Game – A
18. Fearful Symmetry – D
19. Død Kalm – C+
20. Humbug – A
21. The Calusari – C+
22. F. Emasculata – B+
23. Soft Light – B-
24. Our Town – B
25. Anasazi – A+

Dark, effectively told and atmospheric to boot, Season 2 of The X-Files is a resounding success that helps expand the mythology and engross the audience with its stories. I can’t wait to see what Season 3 holds if this is anything to go by.

The X-Files Season 1

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1990's, David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Jerry Hardin, Mitch Pileggi, The X-Files, The X-Files Season 1, William B. Davis

I’ll confess that I’m more than late to The X-Files party. After all, I wasn’t even born when the show began airing and by the time the show finished I was still too young to be interested. But recently after seeing that the show has been renewed, I though that I should check out the show from the start. To say that I was gripped would be an understatement and I can now see why the show is still so popular due to its inventive nature and atmosphere. So now I will review the debut season of the television phenomenon and relive the first series of adventures and mysteries of Mulder and Scully. Be warned, spoilers will follow in my review.

We begin with FBI Agent Dana Scully(Gillian Anderson), who has a background in the medical field, being assigned to work with Agent Fox Mulder(David Duchovny). She is to provide field reports on Mulder’s cases known as The X-Files, due to their unusual nature that charts alleged paranormal phenomena. Mulder is somewhat ostracized from everyone else because of his ideas his not by the book attitude. The witty Mulder himself is a firm believer in things that can’t be explained, whereas Scully bases her observations on rational ideas and science. Although she is sent at first to debunk his theories, Scully develops a close friendly relationship with Mulder as they investigate cases. We also discover that Mulder is so determined on these cases because as a child his sister was taken by what he believes to be aliens and never seen again. To say the cases they cover are out of this world and unusual is a big understatement as they delve into areas of the paranormal and unexplained, including alien abductions and encounters with morphed creatures. Yet while Mulder is always open to ideas of something out there, Scully is still hesitant but very curious to see how things turn out. As their working relationship grows stronger we watch them unearth possible cover ups by the government over corruption, conspiracy and alien activity. The presence of a mysterious man, only referred to as The Smoking Man(William B. Davis), a helpful yet cryptic informant for Mulder known only as Deep Throat(Jerry Hardin) that drops hints about corruption and the various times in which the duo is denied access to either records of such activity or visits, only heightens the determination to unearth what is really going on. Unusual occurrences and terrifying fun is to be found with the gripping first season of The X-Files.

From the very opening of the pilot episode, you know that The X-Files is going to be something special. There’s so much unusual stuff afoot and the spectre of conspiracy is a major plot point. While The X-Files is a show rooted in the paranormal, it does have a level of plausibility with its paranoid theme of cover ups within the government. I can see why the show became so much more than a show and into a cultural phenomenon. With memorable slogans and dialogue like ‘The Truth Is Out There” and that haunting theme tune, it was bound to stick in the minds of those who viewed the show in droves. And the chemistry between Mulder and Scully is a real highlight, as we witness their opposing views that lead to repartee and a close rapport with each other that evolves over the course of the season. It all neatly balances out throughout Season 1 and draws you into the growing mythology of the show. The running thread of conspiracy is gripping in every sense of the word, but I liked how this debut season also incorporated other stories into the mix that became known as Monster of the Week. Some of the standout episodes come courtesy of this formula due to their inventive stories and creepy happenings. The creepy masterpiece of ‘Squeeze’ introduces audiences to the chilling Eugene Victor Tooms, a mutant who can stretch his body to alarming proportions and uses the ability to invade the homes of innocent people and murder them, in order to extract their livers every thirty years for sustenance. The claustrophobic ‘Ice’ taps into the fear of being trapped and not being able to trust anyone, as a parasitic life form latches on to people’s anger and turns them against each other in an isolated Arctic research centre. The haunting darkness of ‘Beyond the Sea’ as Scully deals with grief for her dead father and becomes convinced that a psychopath on Death Row who claims to have psychic visions can channel her deceased dad. That episode is notable for showing how the usually unshakable Scully has her resolve and belief in logic tested for the first time and she for the first time thinks of herself as a believer in things that can’t be explained. And not forgetting the riveting finale episode that opens up many more possibilities for the show. These episodes and many more bring so much to the table and keep you glued to the screen. Yes not every episode is sterling in the first season, but the vast majority on are on a higher level of storytelling and enjoyment than some of the television I’ve seen recently.

At the centre of this season and the show are the wonderful performances from David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as the dynamic duo Mulder and Scully. You simply couldn’t have asked for better actors to play their roles, that’s how good they are. As the determined, completely not by the book, impassioned risk taker Mulder, David Duchovny essays a likable charm, fierce belief and desire that really draws you in to sympathise with him and want him to uncover whatever truth lies hidden. There is also a sarcastic wit to be found in his work, and a cheeky smile that he uses whenever in danger. In other words, Mulder is a well-crafted character who shares a great chemistry with Scully. Matching Duchovny every step of the way with an effective turn is Gillian Anderson as the initially skeptical Scully. Showing us a tough exterior and need to verify things through logic, Anderson lets us also glimpse a deep-seated vulnerability within the character that allows her to gradually as the season progresses, open up and see that there may well be things that science and medicine can’t explain away. Anderson imbues her with a strength and cool head that are tested by what she sees, but allows her to be resilient in the face of terror. The rapport Anderson shares with Duchovny is wonderful to watch as their clashing view points create tension but also kinship as they realise the only people they can trust are each other as they unearth cover ups and conspiracy. Mulder and Scully deservedly take their places as one of the best duos put on television due to their personalities and chemistry. The rest of the supporting roles are filled out very well, with Jerry Hardin very effective as the informant Deep Throat who ultimately meets his end while helping Mulder and Scully and William B. Davis as The Smoking Man, who exudes menace without barely saying a word. I’m also interested in the character of Assistant Director Walter Skinner(Mitch Pileggi), who I hope will appear more in the future.

1. Pilot – A
2. Deep Throat – B+
3. Squeeze – A+
4. Conduit – C
5. The Jersey Devil – D-
6. Shadows – C
7. Ghost in the Machine – B+
8. Ice – A+
9. Space – D-
10. Fallen Angel – C
11. Eve – B+
12. Fire – B
13. Beyond the Sea – A+
14. Gender Bender – B-
15. Lazarus – B
16. Young at Heart – B+
17. E.B.E – A
18. Miracle Man – D
19. Shapes – C
20. Darkness Falls – A
21. Tooms – A
22. Born Again – C-
23. Roland – C
24. The Erlenmeyer Flask – A+

Gripping, intriguing from the start and filled with memorable creepy and bizarre moments, the first season of The X-Files is a major triumph that has me excited for Season 2.