The X-Files: The Complete Ninth Season DVD

10 Comments

1. 
   Lee 06. Sep, 2010 at 8:12 am #

   Review by Lee for The X-Files: The Complete Ninth Season
   Rating:
   Sure, the ninth and final season of The X-Files was probably its weakest season, but here’s the deal: The X-Files at its worst is much better than most TV shows out there today. This season retained excpetionally high production values and looking back, actually had some standout episodes, including the spectacular 2-hour finale that could never satisfactorily wrap up such a long-running series but did have a feel of the classic mythology episodes from the show’s glory days. This season tries to pass the baton to Agents Doggett and Reyes, a partnership that is very solid but would never ever have the appeal of Mulder and Scully. Scully is present all season in a somewhat annoying advisory role, only occasionally getting her feet muddy. Towards the end of the season though, she steps into the spotlight much more. David Duchovny’s return for the 2-hour finale isn’t handled perfectly, but it’s so satisfying to see David and Gillian together on screen that you can all but forgive the fact that he left. The DVD presentation is simply superb, as we have come to expect from this show. Spread over 7 dvds as opposed to the 6 dvd sets of recent seasons, this set has fantastic extras. But here’s the deal: the real gem on this set is the hour long documentary, The Making of The Truth. Ever since the show started I’ve wanted to see something like this and never have until now. It takes you into the production meetings, location scouts and then the production itself, and it gives you a real sense of how hard working every member of the crew was and how much they loved working on it. It’s an extremely thorough making of, not the usual puff-piece you see on DVDs. Another little treat is “Reflections on The X-Files”, in which various guest stars discuss in new interviews what it was like to be a part of the show. Cher, Seth Green, Ed Asner, the Dust Brothers, Burt Reynolds are some of the participants. Other behind the scenes documentaries include Secrets of The X-Files and More Secrets of The X-Files, two shallow 45-minute shows from the heydey of the show. Nothing special but they do take you back to when the show was omnipresent. Also included are the usual promo spots, and a couple of decent new documentaries on Season 9 as a whole and also “Reflections on The Truth”, which features key crew members talking about working on the last episodes. It’s nice that the show’s editors get a voice here. There are a couple of commentaries, one from Chris Carter on the episode “Improbable”. They’re very matter-of-fact but are very interesting and frank. One thing I cannot forgive about this season is the fact that even though the show’s producers knew this was the last season well before the end, they did not use the last, say, 5 or 6 episodes to wrap up the show. Instead they wrapped up a couple of plot points quickly in one (good) episode (directed by David Duchovny), and then give us some mediocre stand alone episodes. And the biggest slap in the face is that the penultimate episode ever is wasted on a silly story involving the Brady Bunch. Oh well, too late now. The show has passed up so many opportunities for true geatness in its nine-year run, but like I said before, it remains one of the best TV shows ever.Recent press reports indicate that a second movie is likely to go ahead. So, now’s a good time to start familiarising yourself with the show’s last year. It feels great to put this up there with the previous eight seasons and see the entire collection on one shelf. It’s hard not to get all warm and fuzzy inside knowing you own every episode of this groundbreaking series. And you can’t argue with the price for this beautiful set!
2. 
   Just Bill 06. Sep, 2010 at 8:32 am #

   Review by Just Bill for The X-Files: The Complete Ninth Season
   Rating:
   Thanks to only catching a few episodes on TV when it aired — not to mention the plethora of negative reviews — I was all set to dislike Season 9 of The X-Files when I sat down to watch it from start to finish.But I can’t. No way.Season 9 is actually quite good. A few episodes in particular are superb. “Release,” for example, the episode in which Agent Doggett learns the truth about his son’s death and puts the past behind him. My wife and I were stunned by that episode. It had “Wow Factor” written all over it. Great acting by Robert Patrick. Intriguing story line.The final episode (titled “The Truth”) was only so-so when I watched it on TV. But that was because I hadn’t seen the rest of the season (or Seasons 7 and 8 leading up to it) in context. When I watched all of Season 9 back to back, I discovered “The Truth” to be a powerful way to end the series. It was great to have Fox Mulder back, but — to be honest — we didn’t really consider the show to be about Mulder any more.Blasphemy? Am I do for a tarring and feathering?Don’t think so. True, The X-Files started out as a show about Mulder and his partner Dana Scully. And the show endeared itself to millions of fans worldwide because of that pairing.But when David Duchovny (Mulder) left the show at the end of Season 7, just appeared in a handful of episodes in Season 8, and only appeared in the final episode of Season 9, the show changed. But not necessarily for the worse. The other characters stepped up to the plate. Doggett and Monica Reyes were fascinating characters. Each brought depth and strength to the roles.The X-Files was a show about the unexplained, the paranormal, the out-there-ness of Truth. As such, it was a show that was constantly filled with surprises, twists, turns and even dead-ends.When people get hung up on keeping the show exactly the same — with Mulder and Scully in every episode — they fail to see the point of the series: the unexpected.If the show would have gone downhill without Mulder, *then* I could see justification for all the bellyaching. But it didn’t. The writers and directors rose to the challenge. Season 8 is one of the best of the series, in my opinion. And Season 9 is far from the worst.One thing we noticed, however: there was a distinct lack of character continuity from episode to episode. Plus, it seems like one or the other of Doggett and Reyes was always hovering on the brink of death — with the healthy partner watching, praying and hoping for a complete recovery. When the recovery happened, emotions ran high. It seemed like things would change. But, in the very next episode the characters were back to the way they were before the crisis.In other words, when Reyes almost died in the hospital, Doggett was in tears. He felt deep emotion — far beyond that felt for a partner in the FBI — and couldn’t wait until she recovered to tell her. But when she recovered, he didn’t. Nothing changed.Those kinds of inconsistencies hampered Season 9. If the writers were true to the characters, changes would have occured from crisis to crisis. They would have siezed the opportunity to get more involved emotionally.Ditto for the episode in which Scully has to give up William for adoption. In that episode, she’s racked with emotion. Yet, in the very next episode, she’s composed and emotion-free. Like the adoption never happened. How is that possible? Scully lived for William in virtually every episode. Yet in the very next one after she gives him up for adoption, she doesn’t shed a tear and, if memory serves, doesn’t even mention him.As large as those kinds of character consistencies seem, I don’t think they completely derail Season 9. The build-up to the end — combined with a few truly stellar episodes — make Season 9 well worth having if you’re an X-Files fan.Oh, and let’s not forget the bonus material. Two full DVDs of bonus material — including a wonderful behind-the-scenes peek at the making of “The Truth.”My advice? Don’t listen to the naysayers who slam Season 9 and call it the worst. There really isn’t a “worst” when it comes to The X-Files. Every season is excellent in its own way.
3. 
   Ian K. Hughes 06. Sep, 2010 at 9:20 am #

   Review by Ian K. Hughes for The X-Files: The Complete Ninth Season
   Rating:
   The 9th (and final) season of THE X FILES (2001-02) stands, along with Season 6, as the most consistent of all the years filmed in Los Angeles and exhibits a number of unique qualities.

   First and foremost, the loss of David Duchovny’s participation created the necessity to play off (as in Season his absence. While the (not insignificant) feeling of contrivance concerning yet another Mulder disappearance was unfortunate, the writers made full creative use of this (business related) circumstance. Specifically, through scripts (mostly “stand alone”) that fleshed out new characters (Agents John Doggett & Monica Reyes) and through the mythology arc, in which themes from the previous year (and the series as a whole) were developed.

   Secondly, the show regained a sense of equilibrium, its structure a throwback to the Vancouver years, where the (uniformly interesting) “mythology” episodes were aired at specific points: early, mid, and late season. This well-planned strategy mitigated the effect of some of the more routine “stand alone” efforts while moving inexorably towards a conclusion illuminating much of Chris Carter’s “underground project”.

   STAND ALONE EPISODES:

   There were several efforts by writers ( relatively ) new to THE X FILES:

   An ambitious attempt to marry characterization to storyline appears in two of Steven Meada’s scripts: both “4-D” and “Audrey Pauley” share similar sci-fi plots against a backdrop of (implied) romantic affection shared by Agents Doggett and Reyes. “Audrey Pauley” in particular, benefits from excellent writing as well as fine performances from the principles (esp Annabeth Gish) and guests (the actress playing Audrey was previously seen in the 3rd Season masterpiece “Oubliette”).

   Writer Thomas Schnauz also turned in two scripts: “Lord of the Flies” (the season’s only overtly comedic take) is a clever but at times strained affair. The main attraction is really for diehard X-philes, since the episode is full of playful allusions to writer Darin Morgan’s classic 3rd season script “War of the Copraphages”. More effective is Schnauz’ “Scary Monsters”; while its surface story is purposely borrowed from THE TWILIGHT ZONE, the whimsical “Mulder vs Doggett” subplot is a fun spoof. Agent Scully’s impromptu “kitchen autopsy” is also a great bit, harkening back to the classic comedy of the series’ golden years.

   Three more scripts, in what could be termed the “Exorcist File” vein, were seen in Season 9:

   “Daemonicus” (written & directed by Frank Spotnitz) features some eerily creative camera work and a “Hannibal Lechter” type villain while adding further details to the character of Agent Doggett. The graphically violent “Hellbound” outlines writer David Amann’s deliberately odd theological juxtaposition: Calvinist predestination and Buddhist reincarnation. John Shiban’s “Underneath” is a disaster; easily the worst episode of the season.

   Chris Carter wrote and directed the superb “Improbable”, the latest in a long line of quirkily humerous yet serious scripts (a la Darin Morgan) that deal with perennial philosophical issues (free will/determinism good/evil, et al ). The episode features an excellent performance by Burt Reynolds; the brilliantly shot street scenes (and music) are a Carterian homage to Italian “cinema dell’arte”.

   Longtime staff writer Vince Gilligan’s two contributions are mixed affairs: the sepia-tone cinematography of “John Doe”, coupled with Robert Patrick’s fine acting make this episode enjoyable up until the oddly strained “crash and bang” finale. “Sunshine Days” is one of Gilligan’s rare missteps; a re-tread of his “Je Souhaite” (Season 7) with an unfortunate undercurrent of saccharine sentimentality.

   The ongoing subplot (treated in various episodes of Seasons 8-9) relating to Agent Doggett’s personal tragedy was resolved in “Release” ( particularly beautiful music by Mark Snow ). It is a testament to the quality of THE X FILES that in their last season the staff writers (John Shiban & David Amann) would prepare so properly respectful a vehicle for Robert Patrick, whose performances were so vitally important for the series in its final years.

   “Jump the Shark” was neither the best nor worst treatment that could have been prepared as the swan song of the beloved Lone Gunmen. However flawed the script, the heroic efforts of the three misfits in this episode were a necessary correction to the idiotic mischaracterization that shot through the (mercifully short-lived) series (Spring 2001) that bore their name. In “Jump the Shark” some of the eccentric nobility of the Lone Gunmen was restored.

   MYTHOLOGY EPISODES:

   The symbiotic partnership between Chris Carter & Frank Spotnitz continued with their co-writing of 6 of the 7 myth arc episodes airing in Season 9 (the finale was penned by Carter alone).

   The ambitious 2-part opener (“Nothing Important Happened Today I/II”) fuses the familiar “alien hybrid” concept with the newer (logically consistent) element of “supersoldiers”.

   The Orwellian/Kafkaesque atmosphere of “Trust No1″ is a compellingly well-framed continuation of the myth arc as well as a dark commentary on certain governmental strictures enacted in the wake of 9/11.

   An extraordinary degree of openly religious (Christian) symbolism (in terms of plot, dialogue and cinematography) pervades the mid season 2-parter titled “Provenance/Providence”.

   “William” is taut episode creatively directed (and co-written) by David Duchovny; the clever double twist ending has dramatic ramifications that extend backward and forward in time. Gillian Anderson puts forth a customarily moving performance emphasizing Scully’s unique qualities of nobility and loving self-sacrifice.

   The grand 2 hour finale (“The Truth”) exudes a special glow, starting out (“in media res”) with the return of Mulder, lagging a bit during the lengthy court-room trial scenes and ending with a fireworks flourish in which director Kim Manners pulls out all the stops. The final scene of THE X FILES is a quiet coda; a truly beautiful moment between Mulder and Scully as they share their mutual belief that, in spite of all appearances, hope is not lost and that “the light shines in the darkness” .
4. 
   Wayne Klein 06. Sep, 2010 at 9:49 am #

   Review by Wayne Klein for The X-Files: The Complete Ninth Season
   Rating:
   The 9th season of “The X-Files” was announced as the last and, as such, Chris Carter, Frank Spotnitz, Vince Gilligan and Kim Manners tried to imbue the last season with the top notch writing quality that had been a hallmark of the first 6 seasons. Unfortunately, the series didn’t quite live up to its potential during the 9th season. With the fate of Mulder, Scully and their baby still hanging along with too many loose ends from the mythology arc (and a new mythology arc that was begun during season 8)the show had to juggle too many balls with too few hands. Still, the last season had some diamonds in the rough and a strong cast to polish them. The show looks extremely good in this DVD set and the boxed set is a lot smaller than the previous set because of the use of the thinpak holders.

   “Underneath”, “Scary Monsters” (an interesting variation on the same themes and material as Jerome Bixby’s story “It’s a Good Life”), “4-D”, Sunshine Days” and most of the stand alone episodes are better than many of the mythology arc episodes particularly the finale “The Truth” which crams the previous seasons loose ends into a mishmash that doesn’t quite work. “The Truth” in fact feels like it was setting us up for a sequel that has yet to be made (although Carter is reportedly working on a screenplay for a film)particularly since William disappears from the lives of Scully and Mulder for his safety. “Release” is a pivotal episode from this season and provides Robert Patrick with an opportunity to shine as well as Cary Elwes and Annabeth Gish.

   Carter and his crew would have done better to play wrap up the season over five or six episodes and dropping some of the weaker episodes in the season. “Jump the Shark” where the Lone Gunmen meet their fate is either brave or incredibly stupid depending upon which fan you talk to. It also ticked off a lot of fans that these quirky and enjoyable characters finally meet (SPOILER)

   their end.

   The thinpak boxed set has all 19 episodes. Despite comments to the contrary some extras ARE included for this set including the commentary track for “Improbable” by Carter, writers Gilligan, John Shiban and Spotnitz on “Jump the Shark” and director Kim Manners on “The Truth”. Deleted scenes are also included for episodes and can be reintegrated through the main menu (a small X will appear in the corner noting which are deleted scenes). The shows are presented in anamorphic widescreen with exceptional transfers. During some of the darker scenes in a couple of episodes the transfer turns murky for a brief period of time but that’s few and far between. The Dolby Digital Surround tracks are nicely used to create atmosphere and add to the tension for the best episodes.

   What’s missing? The documentary on the making of “The Truth”, the deleted scenes that were grouped together on the last discs, the profiles, featurettes and the DVD-ROM game “The Truth”. While it would have been nice to have these on this set they are hardly essential for fans that want the shows themselves.

   Personally I felt that the show could have continued if they had eased out Mulder and Scully in season 8 as the characters of Doggett (Robert Patrick) with his hardnosed approach and Reyes (Annabeth Gish)with her new age, quirky personality would have made for an interesting series by itself. Perhaps they should have kept the characters for a spin-off outside of “The X-Files” either way the two actors had nice chemistry together and Patrick had a dynamic screen presence that would have insured an intersting show. Deputy Director Kersh (James Pickens Jr) and Cary Elwes’ Brad Folmer made gret foils/allies during this season. Elwes’ Forlmer was a complex villian and he does a terrific job of keeping the character intersting throughout the season. Either way it was time for Carter to wrap up the tattered ends of the mythology and the relationship for Scully, Mulder and William their baby William.
5. 
   Anonymous 06. Sep, 2010 at 9:59 am #

   Review by for The X-Files: The Complete Ninth Season
   Rating:
   Despite its problems, I will always insist that Season 9 is just as good as past seasons, but in a very different way. There are a few stinkers, namely Lord of the Flies and Underneath, but despite being nine years old the creative team managed to come up with great episodes.The likes of John Doe, 4-D, Improbable and Audrey Pauley are strikingly different to other X-Files episodes, and this approach should be applauded. Rather than complain that the show isn’t what it was, surely people should welcome a fresh perspective on the X-Files? All four of these episodes, as well as Release, Hellbound, and Daemonicus compare very favourably with past episodes. William and Jump The Shark, although controversial, are good dramatic episodes. Scary Monsters is a pretty average episode, whilst Lord of the Flies and Underneath are plain terrible. The mythology this season is a mixed bag. Nothing Important Happened Today I&II and Provenance/Providence were both written before the decision was made to end the show this year. As such, they offer few answers and raise more questions to fuel a potential myth arc for the next couple of seasons. As such, NIHT is pretty poor, and P/P are excellent episodes but serve little purpose. The Truth, the final episode, is great – but not as great as it could have been. It recaps the show’s mythology, but relies too heavily on this. The final half-hour is as good as ever, with the final scene being the only imagineable way to end the series – with Mulder and Scully together.There will be people who will never take Season 9 seriously, and I admit, it does seem to be something of an acquired taste. However, that won’t stop me from singing its praises.
6. 
   K. Wyatt 06. Sep, 2010 at 10:26 am #

   Review by K. Wyatt for The X-Files: The Complete Sixth Season
   Rating:
   Producer Chris Carter, for various reasons, chief among them being Fox’s probable insistence, has moved the entire production to California from Vancouver. This is notable as some of the scenery for the show changes to scenes in various western states and more prominently in the availability of bigger named guest stars. On the whole though, at least for this first season out west, these changes serve as an enhancement to the outstanding experience that is “The X-Files.” Season six is another excellent season that fluidly picks up where the movie, “Fight the Future” left off.The mythology episodes:”The Beginning” An FBI committee decides that yes, the X-Files will be reopened, they will not however, include Agents Mulder and Scully. Agents Spinder and Fowler will take that role, both with a huge helping of duplicity. AD Skinner is still on their side though and leads them towards a case that involves the Alien/Syndicate conspiracy. Gibson Praise makes a return as well. “SR 819″ Krycek makes a new appearance and he targets AD Skinner with alien created nanite technology.”Two Fathers” & “One Son” Long awaited truths are finally revealed about the fifty year conspiracy between the syndicate and the aliens. The syndicate is all but destroyed by the alien rebels. Simply stated, these are the two episodes that every fan had been waiting five years for. No disappointment whatsoever.”The Unnatural” I list this as a mythology episode, as it simply does not fit as a stand alone. This episode is singularly the best episode of the season as it contains some great humor and one of the most touching endings of the season. We are treated to meeting Arthur Dale or actually his brother, as he tells Mulder the tale of when he met his first alien.”Biogenesis” As we learned in “One Son,” the Syndicate is gone and with it the Alien/Syndicate conspiracy. Now we’re treated to a new track on the mythology, as there still seems to be some sort of conspiracy evidenced by the discovery of an alien ship in Africa and Fox ending up in a loony bin. The conclusion will be on the Season Seven set.Stand alone episodes:”Drive” Our heroes run into a man who must continue moving west at a high rate of speed or his head will explode. “Triangle” a true X-Files classic as Mulder goes on a search for a ship that’s been missing from the Bermuda Triangle since prior to WWII.”Dreamland & Dreamland II” Mulder and Scully take a trip to Area 51, where they run into the “Men in Black” and they witness a UFO which literally makes Mulder switch bodies with one of the MIB’s. These are simply two of the finest and most hilarious X-Files episodes of the entire nine year run. “How the Ghosts Stole Christmas” a beautifully well written episode guest starring Ed Asner and Lily Tomlin.”Terms of Endearment” another extremely well written episode as our heroes visit Roanoke, VA and run across a bedraggled demon who is in search of a normal child. This episode has another one of those wonderfully well written ironic endings that only Chris Carter is capable of. “The Rain King” Mulder and Scully take a trip to Kansas to investigate a man who can supposedly make rain at will. This episode is replete with some of the series most hilarious lines.”Agua Mala” Mulder and Scully take a trip to Florida in the middle of a hurricane to investigate a family’s disappearance and discover a sea creature. “Monday” this is an X-Files homage to “Ground Hog Day,” that is superbly written and played. “Arcadia” in this beautiful episode our erstwhile heroes pose undercover as husband and wife to discover why three couples have disappeared from a planned community.”Alpha” Mulder and Scully are summoned by an internet friend of his to find a mysterious wild animal that has been shipped to the US that has killed two merchant marines and then disappears. “Trevor” is an intriguing episode in which Mulder and Scully set off to find a prison escapee who supposedly died in a tornado, yet he’s on the loose and exhibiting some interesting abilities.”Milagro” this is an interesting yet horrifying episode in which a writer, fascinated with Scully moves in next to Mulder and begins spying on her. Meanwhile Mulder and Scully are investigating several deaths where victims’ hearts have been removed, but there is no evidence as to how. “Three of a Kind” the quintessential “Lone Gunmen” episode that just shines with a pure brilliance that may well have been the precursor to their short lived spin off series. “Field Trip” our two heroes end up in North Carolina and run into a hallucinogenic fungal mountain. This episode definitely breeches the different barrier, even for this series!Special features – Included, as with the other season’s boxed sets, are some great special features to include my personal favorite – “Character profile on the Cigarette Smoking Man.” The cover art for the boxed set and DVD’s is fantastic as well. {ssintrepid}Episode list:The Beginning {mythology}
   Drive
   Triangle
   Dreamland
   Dreamland II
   How the Ghosts Stole Christmas
   Terms of Endearment
   The Rain King
   S.R. 819 {mythology}
   Tithonus
   Two Fathers {mythology}
   One Son {mythology}
   Agua Mala
   Monday
   Arcadia
   Alpha
   Trevor
   Milagro
   The Unnatural {mythology}
   Three of a Kind
   Field Trip
   Biogenesis {mythology}
7. 
   Wayne Klein 06. Sep, 2010 at 10:30 am #

   Review by Wayne Klein for The X-Files: The Complete Sixth Season
   Rating:
   The last truly outstanding season of “The X-Files” the complete sixth season ties up a few loose ends but the series begins to unravel in the process. The seventh season despite some fine episodes would suffer. While the eighth season would get a jolt of much needed energy from Robert Patrick the writing still wasn’t quite up to previous years. “The X-Files: Fight the Future” appeared during the summer between season five and six. The set, like the other reduced price sets from Fox, will include all the episodes from season six. You’ll be able to access special features for respective episodes such as commentary, deleted scenes and international clips.

   “The Beginning” ties into the movie although the movie could stand independently on its own (which is just as well because despite some marvelous set pieces it basically was a rehashing of a number of alien movies). Mulder and Scully have been removed from the X Files and replaced by two new agents. One of the most interesting episodes includes “SR 819″ where Assistant Director Skinner is black mailed into helping an old foe. Skinner has been infected with some mysterious organism that this other person can control to make Skinner do his bidding.

   Bruce Campbell appears as a philandering husband in “Terms of Endearment”. When his baby disappears and is apparently taken by a Demon Mulder and Scully are called in by local police to help with the case. Campbell gives an excellent performance.

   The two part “Dreamland” is terrific with a great guest performance by Michael McKean (“Spinal Tap”). A black ops agent switches bodies with Mulder freeing him from his shrewish wife and stuffy lifestyle. Suddenly Mulder becomes a wild and crazy guy.

   The humorous but suspenseful “Arcadia” plants Mulder and Scully in suburbia playing a husband and wife in one of those “planned communities” ruled by an iron fist. Houses have to be a certain color, portable basketball hoops are forbidden and residents who step out of line mysterious vanish or are killed.

   Duchovny’s “The Unnatural” is a clever tale involving Arthur Dale (here played by character actor M. Emmett Walsh when Darren McGavin wasn’t available in a truly X-files twist), racism and baseball loving aliens set before baseball was integrated. Dale is assigned to protect a African American baseball player who’s life has been threatened as they tour the South.

   “How the Ghosts Stole Christmas” is a funny and fun episode with guest appearences by Ed Asner and Lily Tomlin. Mulder decides to check out a haunted out on Christmas Eve and a reluctant Scully goes to check on him. The two get pulled into a surreal story which makes them doubt their own sanity.

   For mythology fans the two episodes “Two Fathers and “One Son” closes out the main conspiracy arc of the last five years. While threads remain (and show up in the fascinating “Biogenesis”)many of the mysteries of the last five years are nicely wrapped up until we discover that there are aliens on Earth working beside us every day. To say more would spoil it and although it’s unlikely you haven’t seen it, I’d rather not spoil the conclusion and the set up for season seven.
   
8. 
   Chris Boyd 06. Sep, 2010 at 10:56 am #

   Review by Chris Boyd for The X-Files: The Complete Sixth Season
   Rating:
   For five seasons, The X-Files was one of the best shows on television, and the feature film “Fight the Future” was similarly excellent. With the sixth season and the show’s move to LA, however, The X-Files became merely good, not great. In my opinion, the chief problem with Season 6 (and 7, for that matter) is the prescence of some poorly executed “humorous” episodes. In the early seasons, there would every so often be an episode that was funny and tongue-in-cheek, without losing that X-Files feel. With Season 6, however, such episodes ceased to be genuinely funny, and became simply silly and wacky, providing little laughter that isn’t forced. This season’s worst offender is “How the Ghosts Stole Christmas,” in which Mulder and Scully are trapped on Christmas Eve in a haunted mansion, whose ghostly residents wish to goad the FBI agents into a murder-suicide – by spouting pop psychology at them. Episodes that aren’t mainly spoofs are also harmed by the silliness. “Agua Mala,” in which a hurricane lets a sea monster loose in an apartment building, could have been a genuinely creepy episode, except for the fact that the building’s tenants are all trite stereotypes.While there were problems, the good outweighed the bad in this season. The mythology episodes continued to be superb, especially “Two Fathers”/”One Son,” a two-parter which essentially brings closure to the “Mytharc” running through the past five seasons. The season’s only successfully humorous episodes are also mythology-related, namely the two-part “Dreamland,” in which Mulder and an Area 51 operative switch bodies, and “The Unnatural,” which tells the story of a star baseball player who is in fact an alien. The season finale “Biogenesis,” which introduces a new stage of the mythology, is an intriguing episode, but its continuation in Season 7 is sadly disappointing.This season also featured some excellent stand-alone episodes. Especially good are “Drive,” in which a mysteriously ailing man must keep driving – or his head will explode, “Alpha,” a werewolf story with a twist, and “Field Trip,” in which Mulder and Scully are trapped by a hallucinogenic giant fungus.Casual viewers may wish to stick with the first five seasons, which constitute the best of the series. Season 6 does, however, contain some really excellent episodes, and true fans will find plenty to enjoy. For the X-Files, “not quite as good” is still most definitely good enough.
9. 
   Jose 06. Sep, 2010 at 11:36 am #

   Review by Jose for The X-Files: The Complete Sixth Season
   Rating:
   This season was amazing. After the incredible Season 5 ending, the movie gave a vision of the mythology that was very well taken in Season 6. It opens with “The Beginning”, where we see Gibson Praise again, as well as Agent Diane Fowley. It deals with the gestation of a new alien out from an infected person from the Black Oil. Although the Season has its flaws like “The Rain King” (which started so good but had such a terrible conclusion), there are episodes like “One Son” and “Biogenesis” which make this season one of the most interesting. This is a season for answers, a lot of explanation of the conspiracy, the proyect and the syndicate in some big episodes. The tendency to leve more questions than answers is left behind. The Season Finalie ends in an amazing scene where Scully has an alien spaceship infront of her adn Mulder becomes the ultimate proof of the X Files. Perhaps after this Season, the series mythology becomes more personal to Mulder and Scully, turning them into the foci of attention, but the truth is that this season is the point of no return for the mythology. Grate Answers and astonishing writting. Defenitly worht of your money.The Season 6 has 23 episodes: The Beginning
   Drive
   Triangle
   Dreamland
   Dreamland II
   Terms of Endearment
   The Rain King
   How the Ghosts Stole Christmas
   Tithonus
   S.R. 819
   Two Fathers
   One Son
   Arcadia
   Agua Mala
   Monday
   Alpha
   Trevor
   Milagro
   Three of a Kind
   The Unnatural
   Field Trip
   Biogenesis
10. 
    Michael Colvin 06. Sep, 2010 at 11:47 am #

    Review by Michael Colvin for The X-Files: The Complete Sixth Season
    Rating:
    While I won’t review each episode, I will say that Season 6 really took “The X-Files” and put in on its head. They changed the way they told stories, but without changing the show. They tweaked the formula, and it worked very well. Some of the strongest stories were told this season.The DVD quality is solid, and the extras don’t disappoint. If you’re fan, of course you’re going to buy this set. If you’re a casual viewer, you won’t be disappointed. This might be the last season worth watching as a whole.Worth giving a spin…

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