Those unfamiliar with The X-Files often view all the fuss with the same skepticism with which Scully first regards her new partner's ideas. But just as she comes to realize the uncanny accuracy of Mulder's outlandish theories, newcomers to The X-Files who sample a few episodes in this boxed set will likely find themselves riveted to their television late into the night. And undoubtedly, the shadows and creaking noises in the house that evening will seem more menacing than usual. --Eugene Wei

Relive those magic (and sometimes goofy) moments with this new box set. Sure, half of it has already been released on VHS - but this set includes some gems that the first couple waves of home video ignored.

Remember the eternally creepy "Young At Heart", or a few unintenionally silly episodes like "Space" or "Ghost in the Machine"? Or Nicholas Lea's first X-Files appearance (although not as Krycek)? How about "Roland" or "Born Again", which represent some of the finest moments from the first season? They're all here, alongside other popular episodes like "The Erlenmeyer Flask", "Deep Throat", "E.B.E.", "Darkness Falls" and "Ice" (which is essentially a remake of John Carpenter's The Thing - but the X-Files does it better)!

For the first time in the U.S., you can finally buy a TV program season by season. And plus - these discs give you trailers, interviews and even some cool DVD-ROM content.

If only Paramount would do their Star Trek discs this way!


X-1   July 13, 2002
 243 out of 267 found this review helpful

In the first season of The X-Files, we are introduced to the Lone Gunman, Scully's father dies, Deep Throat is killed, and the X-Files are closed.

All 24 episodes are on 7 discs, with documentaries, deleted scenes, etc.

Episodes:
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1) The X-Files (pilot) - This is the episode where Scully is assigned to be Mulder's partner. Her assignment is to apply a scientific look at Mulder's "discovers." In their 1st assignment they travel to Oregon where it appears several teenagers have been abducted by aliens.

2) Deep Throat - Mulder meets with Deep Throat who is willing to provide information concerning UFOs and government conspiracies.

3) Squeeze - Mulder and Scully meet Eugene Tooms who can squeeze his body through any space. It appears that every 30 years he comes out of hibernation and eats the liver of 5 people.

4) Conduit - Mulder and Scully learn of a teenage girl who apparently been abducted and during the investigation they discover the girl's mother may have also been abducted in her youth.

5) The Jersey Devil - Mulder and Scully travel to New Jersey to investigate the legend of a beast that has been stalking people.

6) Shadows - Mulder and Scully investigate a woman who appears to be under the protection of a ghost.

7) Ghost in the Machine - Mulder is contacted by Deep Throat and informs him that the DoD is seeking a computer whiz.

8) Ice - Mulder and Scully travel to Alaska after all communications are cut off. While there, they discover a worm like "alien."

9) Space - Mulder and Scully are told that sabotage attempts are being made against NASA's Space Shuttles. A former astronaut and head of the program appears to be possessed by an alien ghost.

10) Fallen Angel - Mulder has less than a day to prove that a space ship has crashed.

11) Eve - Mulder and Scully investigate the murder of two men, one in California, and the other in Connecticut. Their daughters appear to be identical twins.

12) Fire - Mulder and an old British girlfriend investigate what appears to be a man that can create fire with his mind.

13) Beyond the Sea - Luther Boggs, claiming to be a psychic, says he will help Mulder and Scully solve a kidnapping crime if he can get his death sentence change to life. Scully is dealing with the death of her father and it appears Boggs has contact with his spirit.

14) Genderbender - Mulder and Scully investigate the Kindred, who appear to have the ability to switch gender and may in fact be aliens.

15) Lazarus - Scully and Jack Willis are involved in a shootout with a bank robber. Jack and the bank robber are shot but at the hospital, Jack dies and the bank robber appears to leap into his body.

16) Young at Heart - Mulder finds himself looking for John Barnett, someone he had put into prison many years ago. Barnett, who supposedly died in prison, was part of a genetic experience to reverse the aging process.

17) E.B.E. - Deep Throat sends Mulder on a wild "UFO" chase.

18) Miracle Man - Mulder and Scully investigate Samuel who appears to have the power to heal people but lately they have been dying.

19) Shapes - Mulder and Scully travel to Montana to investigate what appears to be an Indian Manitou.

20) Darkness Falls - Mulder and Scully travel to the National Forest in Washington and discover tiny green phosphorous insects that are active in the dark and feed on human flesh.

21) Tooms - Tooms, from the Squeeze episode, is release for good behavior but go back to his old ways.

22) Born Again - Mulder and Scully investigate an 8-year-old girl who may be a reincarnated serial killer.

23) Roland - Mulder and Scully investigate Roland, an autistic, being manipulated by his dead brother who is frozen in liquid nitrogen.

24) The Erlenmeyer Flask - Mulder and Scully investigate the terminally ill that are being injected with alien DNA. Deep Throat is killed and the X-Files are closed.


14   February 19, 2001
 149 out of 162 found this review helpful

This set of 24 episodes from the third year of the X FILES represents what I think is the best overall season to date. Of course, when discussing a television show of the unprecedented high quality of the X FILES, "best" certainly is a qualified term. Every season, with the possible exception of the current one ( the jury is still out ) has maintained a high level of artistry and craftsmanship. In fact, I believe the X FILES is the single greatest show ever to be aired on television. In so many areas, whether it be writing, acting or the shear beauty of the production, this show is truly a miracle occurring in medium which, in truth, doesn't often rise above mediocrity. The credit for this phenomenon is shared amongst many dedicated individuals, most working behind the scenes ( Chris Carter obviously deserves special mention, as the creator of the show).

For many seasons Carter maintained the integrity of an artistic vision that the Fox executives were smart enough to take a gamble on. Given the "franchise" nature of the X FILES, their gamble certainly paid off. And, if parts of the last 2 seasons have been rough ( a portent that the show will not necessarily fade gloriously into the sunset ) that does not take away from Carter and company's magnificent achievement.

Although a casual awareness of the X FILES may bring to mind government conspiracy, aliens, "spooky" supernatural phenomenon, the core issues in the show are that of truth, faith, love, good and evil; those issues that have captivated mankind's imagination for as long as it has had the capacity to record its artistic, philosophical and revelatory reactions.

Another very strong part of the X FILES' appeal is obviously the complex relationship between Fox Mulder and Dana Scully; one needn't be "married" ( pardon the pun ) to the notion that the show revolves COMPLETELY around some sort of nascent romantic relationship; it's sufficient to acknowledge the respect, camaraderie and genuine love ( whether it's romantic or platonic ) the two share. Mulder and Scully, two deeply serious ( however witty ) people help "ground" each other in their respective "quest" (s).

As good as the actors and production team are, the writers are the bedrock of the X FILES. And, if irony constitutes one of the primary elements in the work of great writers, the core writing staff can at least be described as striving for greatness. The self-reflexive humor constantly on display in the central characters of Mulder and Scully, superbly acted by Duchovny and Anderson, fleshes out the nuances appropriate to the background of these committed and eccentric personalities. Also, the 1013 team delights in a playful, "embedded" concepts that recur time and time again in the background of the show. Without going into ridiculous detail ( which others can document better than I can ) there is a certain archetypal X FILES "iconography", which has developed more and more with each successive season. A fondness for neon lights or flashing sirens of ambulances and police cars; a humorously morbid fascination with the bathroom as a crime scene ( etc. ). One of the true beauties of the X FILES is that it so "layered" that one can appreciate it on any one of a number of levels. This is why it's possible to watch these episodes over and over again and not be bored.

As far as this DVD box is concerned, the 3rd season's consistency episode to episode is magnificent. The "mythology" two-parters are tightly written, beautifully produced ( amazing stunts and cinematography ). "NISEI / 731" and "PIPER MARU/APOCRYPHA" are really "mini movies". I'm still flabbergasted that these episodes could actually be prepared for television.

The "stand alone" ( or "monster of the week" ) episodes are equally well done. "OUBLIETTE" has a tremendously strong performance from David Duchovny and the guest actress; a real heartbreaker, this superior episode strikes me as a precursor to the more acclaimed 4th season "PAPER HEARTS".

The ongoing exploration of Scully's conflicted inner feelings ( manifested in her two "contesting" traits, scientific rationalism and religious faith )are nicely portrayed in "REVELATIONS".

"PUSHER" deserves its reputation as one of the most popular "stand alone" episodes. Its famous villain, Robert Patrick Modell, has a favored place among the most memorable evil characters from the show ( Eugene Victor Tooms and Donnie Pfaster also come to mind ).

"QUAGMIRE" fits into a sort of outdoor or "forest" X FILES sub-genre ( first seen in Season 1's "DARKNESS FALLS" and continuing in Season 5's "DETOUR" ). All these "forest" episodes were hellishly difficult to film in Vancouver's rainy woods but the results are yet another of the series' delights; the location shooting is spectacular. In particular, the scene in "QUAGMIRE" with the "stranded" Mulder and Scully is priceless.

Then there are writer Darin Morgan's three masterpieces, quirky and self-mocking yet at the same time strangely touching. In particular, "CLYDE BRUCKMAN'S FINAL REPOSE" and "JOSE CHUNG'S `FROM OUTER SPACE' are two of the finest individual episodes in the entire history of the X FILES.

Inevitably, even in such a strong season, there are "clunkers". To a certain degree, "DPO" and "2 SHY" fit this category but I consider "HELL MONEY and especially "TESO DOS BICHOS" as the worst of the 3rd season ( however, these two episodes, judged by the standards of other television programs, would be graded more leniently ).

The season closing cliffhanger,. "TALITHA CUMI", displays the type of writing, acting and production strengths exhibited throughout most of the glorious third season. This was from a time when the myth arc was fresh and excitement among fans at a fever pitch waiting through the summer for the next developments.

Fnally, while it is legitimate to argue that Season 4 offered more opportunities for Gillian Anderson to develop the character of Dana Scully, Season 3 still ranks at the top for me. I'm partial to the variety and freshness of the stand alone episodes and the excitement of the mythology arc was never topped.


3rd Season   May 12, 2002
 86 out of 96 found this review helpful

In the third season of The X-Files, we learn more about Cigarette-Smoking Man (CSM), Mulderys father, and a few other goodies.

All 24 episodes are on 7 discs, with documentaries, deleted scenes, etc.

Episodes:
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1) The Blessing Way y Mulder lies somewhere between life and death. His spirit goes through a Navajo healing ceremony and his father and Deep Throat visit his spirit. Scully is searching for the MJ documents and the Well-Manicured Man delivers her a warning.

2) Paper Clip y In this episode, the Navajos return Mulder to health. Mulder and Scully find their way to a mine in West Virginia where Mulder see a UFO take off and Scully see a ygroup of aliens.y Scully see rows and rows of cabinets, which contain medical records and DNA samples (there is one dating back to her abduction in season two).

3) D.P.O. y Mulder and Scully investigate a teenager that has the power/ability to control lighting.

4) Clyde Bruckmanys Final Response y Mulder and Scully are contacted by an insurance salesman that has the ability to foresee how people will die.

5) The List y Mulder and Scully are called in on a case of a man executed that swears he will seek vengeance from beyond the grave.

6) 2Shy - Mulder and Scully investigate a case where lonely, overweight women are contacted over the Internet. The ykillery has the ability to suck the fat from the womenys bodies.

7) The Walk y Mulder and Scully investigate a number of Gulf War veterans who have tried to kill themselves but canyt. The investigation leads to a quadruple amputee.

8) Oubliette y Mulder believes there is a psychic connection between Lucy Householder, who had been kidnapped as a small child and a little girl recently kidnapped.

9) Nisei y Mulder and Scully investigate a salvage ship after Mulder receives a mail-order yalieny autopsy tape. Mulder winds up on a train that may be carrying an alien.

10) 731 y Mulder finds himself in a train car with a bomb. X shows up kills the assassin and helps Mulder escape just before the explosion.

11) Revelations y In this episode, Scully believes that there is a phenomena and Mulder believes there is a more ration explanation.

12) War of the Coprophages y Mulder and Scully go to Millerys Grove based on a report that cockroaches are overrunning the town.

13) Syzygy y Mulder and Scully arrive in a small town where it appears that a satanic cult has taken over the local high school.

14) Grotesque y Mulder and Scully work with Mulderys former mentor of the behavioral sciences unit. His mentor, Bill Patterson, arrest a serial killer obsessed with gargoyles.

15) Piper Maru y In this episode a French salvage ship finds a WW II plane at the bottom of the ocean and the pilot is still alive. The pilot was ypossessedy with an alien who finally works his way to Krycek.

16) Apocrypha y Assistant Directory Skinner in shot by the same man that shot Scullyys sister. Mulder return with Krycek, CSMys agents run them off the road and it appears that Krycek will be stuck in a spaceship forever.

17) Pusher y Mulder and Scully investigate a man that has the ability to control people with his voice.

18) Teso dos Bichos y Mulder and Scully investigate the removal of ancient archaeological artifacts from a sacred burial ground.

19) Hell Money y Mulder and Scully investigate an ancient cult where they hold a lottery in which the players wager parts of their body.

20) Jose Chungys from Outer Space y In this episode, Scully is interviewed by the famous author Jose Chung, who is trying to expose the truth about alien abductions.

21) Avatar y Assistant Directory Skinner is accused of murder when he is found in a hotel next to the corpse of a prostitute.

22) Quagmire y Mulder and Scully go to Georgia after receiving a report of Loch Ness type monster.

23) Wetwired y Mulder and Scully investigate a number of Maryland homicides and it appears the only thing these people had in common was they watch a lot of television.

24) Talitha Cumi y Jeremiah Smith heals the wounds of several shooting victims. Jeremiah is well known to CSM and it appears that CSM is working closely with the aliens. We also find out that CSM know Mulderys mother better that anyone knew.


Finally--A Collection Well-Suited for DVD!   July 6, 2000
 76 out of 82 found this review helpful

"The X-Files" is an excellent fit for DVD---beautifully shot, a mythology deep enough to keep teenagers buying background material, and a rabid fan following noted for their penchant to purchase anything "X".

Having collected several of the collector's sets on VHS, like many I was frustrated by the lack of completeness in each release, with a season represented by only 25% of its episodes. While this is acceptable for the casual fans, it proved exruciating for the true X-phile, as invariably favorite episodes were left out of the mix.

This situation has been rectified with the release of the entire first season of the show on DVD in a seven-disc collection. It is now possible to watch each episode commercial-free and in sequence in a digital-quality medium. In addition, an extras disc has been added (details are listed above), including a DVD-ROM computer game.

Having completed my viewing of the entire 1st set, several observations came to mind: - The "X-Files", almost unique in episodic television, hit the airwaves fully-formed. There is precious little difference in tone or execution between the pilot and subsequent episodes. - Whereas some of the 3rd and 4th season episodes saw a noticeable decline in quality (due to the loss of key writers and Chris Carter's focus elsewhere), the 1st season episodes are generally superbly-written.

Unfortunately, my cut of this collection did suffer from noticeable editing problems. Nothing major, typically just a couple of misaligned frames at chapter cuts, but let's face it--for this kind of money, it should be flawless.

Nonetheless, I highly recommend this collection.