X- Files - season 2 reviews

Episode 1 – Little Green Men

The X-files has been closed. Mulder is on routine wire tap surveillance and Scully is teaching at Quantico. There appears to be contact from extra-terrestrials as a message sent on the Voyager spacecraft is returned to a now closed centre in Puerto Rico. They sometimes meet under cover, but don’t even speak in the corridors of the FBI headquarters. We see a flashback to the moment when Mulder’s sister was abducted. Mulder visits Senator Mattheson, who seems to have funded some of the X-Files work. He tells Mulder to go to Puerto Rico to investigate the contact from space. He needs to hurry to get there first. As Mulder disappears from his duties, Scully is questioned about his whereabouts. At the observatory in Puerto Rico, Mulder encounters a scared local man, who may have seen an alien. As a storm picks up, the man runs off only to be found dead by Mulder, apparently scared to death. Meanwhile, Scully has tracked Mulder down and manages to avoid the many agents following her as she flies to Puerto Rico. At the observatory and Mulder experiences something similar to the night his sister was taken. He thinks he sees an alien but wakes up to Scully. Did he really see something or was he delusional? As the military retrieval team arrive, Mulder and Scully escape, taking the recording with them. They manage to get away, but back in Skinner’s office, find the tape has been wiped. CSM threatens Mulder’s career, but Skinner throws him out after finding out her had Mulder’s phone tapped.

This first episode of a new series does not disappoint. We finally get to see the event that shaped Mulder’s obsession and it is good to see a beefed up role for Skinner. There is some indication that he may not be as against the X-Files as he initially seemed. The relationship between Mulder and Scully is played out well, particularly in the early meeting between them. There is a clear increase in budget this series, with a well executed chase scene near the end.

Episode 2 – Host

On a Russian ship, off the coast of New Jersey, a man is pulled into the sewage tank by an unseen creature. Mulder is sent by Skinner to investigate the man’s body when it is found in the sewers and manages to get Scully’s help. Though he initially thinks it is just a routine case, Mulder soon realises that there is more to it, particularly after he is contacted by ‘a friend at the FBI’. Another man is attacked in the sewers and during the autopsy Scully finds a fluke worm. A large, humanoid worm is then caught at a sewage treatment. Mulder presents the case to Skinner who seems happy with the rather unusual conclusions. He implies that he wants the X-files reopened. As the monster is being transferred, it escapes, only for Mulder to find and kill it. Scully’s research shows that it was a mutant parasite, a result of the Chernobyl disaster. At the end we see that there may be another still in the sewers.

Though this plays out as a stand alone episode, there is important plot progression with the introduction of a new inside informant. This introduction adds some interest but it makes me question why they killed off Deepthroat if they are just to replace him with a new but similar character. The scenes in Skinner’s office are particularly good and show how much Duchovny has now got into Mulder’s character. This is a fairly gruesome episode and the monster effects are not very pretty – not for the faint-hearted.

Episode 3 – Blood

People in a Franklin, Pennsyllvania are going on unexplained murder/suicide sprees, despite the small towns peaceful history. It appears that electronic machines are giving people messages to kill. One man, Ed, is getting these messages but seems to be resisting them. The sight of blood appears to be a trigger. Muder discovers the connection is an insecticide that has been sprayed throughout the town. With help from The Lone Gunmen, he finds this chemical enhances paranoia and phobias. They begin to test the town but are too late to stop Ed who climbs up a clock tower at the college and starts shooting. Mulder gets to him before he kills anyone and he is taken away.

This is one of those episodes that starts intriguingly but just isn’t capable of carrying off the high concept. The exaggerated fears is an excellent idea but the electronic interference is rather less well explained. Why are some more prone to being affected than others? Why, as a true paranoid, does Mulder not suffer any affects when he comes into contact with the spray? Scully continues to takes something of a back seat, though she makes important contributions.

Episode 4 – Sleepless

Two men are killed in unexplained circumstances. Though one seems to have died by fire and the other by shooting, according to internal examination, there are no external wounds or damages associated with these modes of death. Mulder connects the two men to sleep studies and a platoon of soldiers during the Vietnam War. Mulder is assisted by a new partner, Agent Alex Krycek, whom he is not too keen on getting help from. With assistance from Mulders new informant, Mr. X, the culprit is tracked down as Augustus Cole, a member of the platoon who were operated on in order to completely eradicate their need for sleep. The plat9oon had gone off the radar and commited numerous atrocities under the influence of extreme insomnia, and Cole is attempting to seek redemption by killing all those involved. He is somehow capable of making people hallucinate so severely that even their bodies feel the hallucination. Mulder and Krycek corner Cole but he forces Kyrcek to shoot him dead. At the end of the episode we see that Krycek is spying on Mulder. There are concerns about Scully and something is agreed to be done about her.

This is a strong episode and the Wes Craven influences are clear, from the dream induced deaths to Tony Todd’s involvement as the insomniac killer. We finally get to meet Mr. X and he appears a lot less warm and friendly than Deepthroat was. Krycek’s introduction at this stage is crucial though his future role through the show is not yet evident. Scully again works in the background as the makers of the show work to explain her absence due to Gillian Anderson’s pregnancy.

Episode 5 – Duane Barry

Mulder is called in to help negotiate with a man who has taken 5 people hostage. The man is Duane Barry, an ex FBI agent who claims to have had multiple encounters with UFOs and aliens. He has escaped from a psychiatric hospital and taken a doctor hostage. Mulder swaps himself with an injured hostage and gains Duane’s trust by discussing details of his sister’s abduction. Meanwhile, Scully has looked into Duane’s background and finds he was shot in the head, causing serious brain damage that makes him a pathological liar. She warns Mulder not to trust or believe him. Mulder tricks Duane into going to the doorway where he is shot by a sniper and injured. He is taken to hospital where they find small metal implants and drill holes in his teeth – just like the stories he told. Scully has one of the pieces of metal and finds a barcode like etching in it. When in a supermarket, she tries scanning the shard of metal only for it to send the electronics wild. Duane wakes up in hospital and sees himself surrounded by alien figures. He flees. Meanwhile, Scully ;eaves Mulder an answering machine message about the barcode. When Scully hears a noise and goes to investigate, she pulls back the blinds to reveal Duane. We hear a window break and Scully scream for Mulder’s help...

With great performances and tense direction this is The X-Files at its best. You can see just how far it has come in quality simply since the first season. The scenes of Duane’s abduction and torture are disturbing and eerily shot and the ending is edge of your seat stuff. This is a hugely important episode in the whole X-Files mythology and is completely absorbing.

Episode 6 – Ascension

As Mulder chases Duane Barry in an attempt to rescue Scully, Krycek tries to stop him. He reaches Scully just too late, as she is taken away – possibly in a helicopter, possibly in a spaceship. Duane Barry dies in custody, probably poisoned by Krycek. Skinner reopens the X-files after discovering Agent Krycek’s betrayals.

Another excellent episode with a great action sequence and a lot of intrigue. We get to see the true nature of Krycek and the series is certainly going to face some changes as Scully becomes absent for a while. It is good to see Skinner become something of a reluctant ally of Mulder at the end.

Episode 7 – 3

A bit of a filler this one. It is something of a break from the intensity of the plot from the last few episodes, but it fails to match up to them in standards of writing and execution. A different, but ultimately unengaging take on the vampire story. It is the first time we actually see Mulder involved with another woman. However, Scully’s absence from this episode means it fails to reach the same quality of character development..

Episode 8 – One Breath

Scully’s body is mysteriously returned to a hospital, but she is in a coma and may never wake up. As her family try to decide whether to switch off her life support, Mulder investigates how she got there. Mulder is led to CSM with help, probably from Skinner but lets him live, presumably to try to get to the truth. Reluctantly, Mr. X tells Mulder that those responsible for Scully’s abduction will break into his apartment to get evidence. He tells Mulder he must kill them. Though his initial intentions are to carry this out, a conversation with Scully’s sister makes him change his mind and go to the hospital to be with Scully. She wakes up the next day.

A fine return to form – and of course a fine return for Scully. Mulder seems to get no closer to the truth but we find out more about those who help him – in a shocking sequence with Mr. X , and those who hinder him – in a cracking showdown with CSM. Skinner’s role is gradually beefed up and he has a couple of excellent scenes – one showing his power struggle with CSM and one genuinely moving scene between him and Mulder. This is also a visually striking episode – with Mulder in a ‘dark’ place as he seeks revenge for Scully’s abduction in stark contrast to scenes set in Scully’s consciousness. We also meet Scully’s sister, Melissa for the first time and see a return for her father.

X-Files - season 2 reviews

X-Files Season One Closing comments

It is easy to see how this show became such a phenomenon. At the time, the combination of dark storylines, scary scenes and strong character development was just non-existent on our screens. Watching this 15 years later and the impact is somewhat lessened, but the high quality is still evident. Despite a few average episodes, the standard is consistently high throughout the series and it is stunning to see just what the programme makers did on a limited budget. It is easy to forget that without this show and its ability to make the most of its 45 minute episodes, we would not have the current slew of big budget television programmes such as 24, Heroes and Prison Break. The ‘mythology’ behind the X-Files only gets a very limited development here, but that is part of the brilliance of the writing. By the end of the 24 episodes, we have more questions than answers and we want to watch more.

Season 1 best episodes

Eve

Beyond the Sea

E.B.E.

Tooms

The Erlenmeyer Flask

Season 1 worst episodes

Ghost in the Machine

Shapes

Space

Young at Heart

X-Files - Season 1 - last part

I have been steadily watching away but have not posted for a while. Here is the remainder of the first season of episodes.

Episode 20 – Darkness Falls

A group of loggers in Washington State mysteriously vanish from the same place that a similar incident happened 60 years earlier. The logging company believe eco-terrorists are responsible and Mulder and Scully head into the woods with a local sheriff and logging company representative. Caught by the saboteurs trap, they end up with two flat tyres and have to hike the rest of the distance. Once at the cabin, they soon find a body cocooned in the woods. Then one of the saboteurs appears saying his friends have been eaten alive by bugs that come out at night. The man from the company does not believe him and heads back to the truck to radio for help, where he is killed by the bugs. Meanwhile, the rest are stuck with only the generator to keep the place light. The next morning, Spinney, the Saboteur takes the remaining petrol and promises to return with help. After only one more night of fuel, the remaining three head back to the truck only to find the cocooned body. They are rescued just in time by Spinney but they get another puncture trying to escape. Spinney is killed by the bugs and the others are attacked. The next morning help arrives and our agents have just survived.

This is an atmospheric and creepy episode with some great action sequences. However, it is spoilt by some rather poor decision making at times by the characters. Why go back to the truck but forget to take a key, why doesn’t Mulder realise he is letting Spinney take all the remaining fuel? The end is also a bit of a cop-out where they are rescued just in time. However, there is some good tension between Mulder and Scully and some fairly gruesome scenes.

Episode 21 – Tooms

Eugene Tooms is released from psychiatric hospital despite Mulder’s best efforts. Mulder is convinced he will attack again but Scully tries to hold him back. She has been approached by Assistant Director Skinner and CSM to ensure they use more orthodox investigative methods. Mulder becomes rather obsessed by Tooms as Scully investigates past cases. Tooms fakes an assault by Mulder in order to get him off his case, and then attacks his doctor. He heads back to his ‘nest’, now a shopping centre, to hibernate. Mulder and Scully find him there and manage to kill him. Scully passes her report to Skinner, much to his disapproval. CSM believes it however. Mulder warns Scully that they are trying to close the X-Files down.

Easily one of the best episodes of the season. It is great to see Tooms again and Doug Hutchison puts in an even more terrifying performance than in ‘Squeeze’. This is also an interesting episode visually, with Tooms’ vision being displayed in black ad white, with only his potential victims illuminated in colour. There are some tender scenes between Mulder and Scully, where the ‘will they, won’t they’ debate really kicks off. It is also good to see the first scene in Skinner’s office – and get a bit more from CSM. This does feel like the beginning of the end for the X-Files!

Episode 22 – Born Again

A little girl is founding in a side street in New York. She is put in an interview room but the policeman questioning her appears t o jump from through the window, killing himself. The girl, Miichelle, describes another man as being in the room, but her description is matched to another policeman who died several years before. Mulder initially suspects Michelle of telekenisis but it turns out that she is the reincarnation (of sorts) of the dead policeman, who is getting revenge on his former colleagues after they had killed him after they had all stolen drug money. Once the truth is out, his spirit seems to leave Michelle and things seem to get back to normal.

Not really much worth commenting on in this episode other than an appearance from ‘Oh. My. God.’ Janice from Friends and a decent spooky child performance. The plot takes some predictable turns and there is little character development. After the brilliance of the last episode and the teaser at the end, we are left wanting more than this run of the mill work.

Episode 23 – Roland

A researcher working on jet engines dies after the autistic caretaker locks him in the wind tunnel. Roland, the caretaker has a low IQ, but seems to be capable of carrying out complex calculations. When another scientist is killed, Roland is the chief suspect but things do not add up. Mulder and Scully discover that Roland is the twin brother of one of the scientists, killed in a car crasjh but cryogenically frozen. His spirit seems to be inside Roland but they manage to stop him just before he kills again.

This episode boasts a fine performance from Zeljko Ivanek (recognisable from TV classics such as Oz, 24 and Damages). The story shows some promise but I can’t help thinking it would have been more interesting if they had not taken the ‘possession’ route again. The episode can however claim the best death scene of series 1 as a man’s head is shattered by process of liquid nitrogen.

Episode 24 – The Erlenmeyer Flask

A man is being pursued in a massive police chase. He shows unusual strength as he fights off a number of police, then is unaffected when shot by a taser. As he runs towards a harbour, he is shot, but he jumps in the sea and disappears. All that is left is some spots of green blood. Deepthroat contacts Mulder and tells him to watch the news report on television. Mulder is convinced that there is important information to get though Scully is more sceptical about Deepthroat’s clues. Mulder and Scully follow clues to a laboratory where a doctor is carrying out genetic experiments. The pursued man had worked at the lab. When the doctor in charge of the laboratory is killed by a mysterious agent, Mulder and Scully know there is a wider conspiracy. Mulder finds a flask in the lab marked ‘purity control’ that he asks Scully to analyse. It has unusual genetic properties and could only be of extra-terrestrial origin – the strongest evidence Scully has yet seen. The escaped doctor is found injured and picked up by paramedics. However, his wounds seem to give off a toxic gas and the man escapes again. Following more clues, Mulder finds a warehouse with 5 bodies floating in tanks. However, as he leaves the warehouse, he is pursued, but manages to escape. When he takes Scully to the warehouse, it has been emptied. They both meet Deepthroat who tells them of attempts to create alien/human hybrids using alien DNA. The escaped doctor is the results of one of those experiments. Mulder manages to find the doctor, only for the other agent t o show up and shoot him. Mulder is knocked out by the toxic gas from the wound and taken hostage. They want the evidence that Scully has. Deepthroat leads Scully to a high containment facility where she finds a alien embryo. She takes it to a meeting for exchange with Mulder, but despite the fact that Mulder is handed over, Deepthroat is shot and killed. As he recovers, Mulder contacts Scully and tells her the X-Files are being closed down. We finally see CSM as he takes the embryo and stores it in the same warehouse as we saw in the pilot.

A complex but satisfying end to the first season. There are some big steps of logic and Deepthroat’s involvement is sometimes frustrating, but this gives us some of the scenes we wanted to see – and more. The image of the bodies in the warehouse is possibly the best of the series so far, and the alien baby is stunning. It is hard to see how Scully can continue with her scepticism after the evidence she has seen this episode. Deepthroat’s death is shocking and hints that perhaps no character is safe.

X-files - more season 1 reviews

Episode 11 – Eve

Two men are exsanguinated (their blood mostly drained) in identical deaths where the only witnesses are their daughters, both eerily similar. The girls are then both abducted. Initially Mulder believes alien abduction is involved, but it gradually turns out that both daughters were conceived with IVF. The doctor involved, Dr. Kendrick is one of a number of cloned ‘super soldiers’ created in the government sponsored Lichfield Experiment. She is trying to continue the cloning process. It turns out that one of the original clones is responsible for the abduction. The two girls manage to escape their captor by poisoning her. As Mulder and Scully take them back home, they try the same trick on them and attempt to escape. Mulder realises just in time and manages to recapture the girls who are then held in a ‘safe’ place. We see at the end, that the doctor attending them is Dr. Kendrick.

This was, I think, the first episode of The X-files that I ever saw, and as such, is one of my favourites so far. The story twists and turns nicely and the two girls are suitably spooky. It is interesting to see that the two girls rather strongly resemble images of Mulder's sister we see later in the series.

Episode 12 – Fire

Members of British aristocracy are being burnt alive, with no clear cause of the fires. Mulder is approached by an old flame, Phoebe Green, from his days in Oxford who wants his assistance in solving the case. They are assigned to help protect Sir Malcolm Marsden and his family as they arrive in the US. The psychotic killer, who can somehow create and control fire, has followed them and taken the place of the caretaker for their home. As he gets closer to the family, Mulder becomes drawn back into his old relationship. Mulder must overcome his fear of fire in order to rescue the family and Scully from the killer.

This episode has moments of brilliance – the special effects are impressive, and Mark Sheppard plays the psycho killer very well. It is also interesting to see how Scully’s jealousy of Mulder’s relationship with Phoebe develops. However, the ridiculously plumy ‘British’ characters, and the Mulder’s rather unnecessary phobia overcoming actions do stop this from being a classic episode.

Episode 13 – Beyond the Sea

Scully sees a vision of her father, only to receive a phone call immediately afterwards from her mother to say that he has passed away. Two teenagers are abducted by a serial killer and the only lead is Luther Lee Boggs, a killer who is days away from the gas chamber and who claims a psychic connection with the victims. He draws in Scully by claiming to have a message from her recently deceased father. Mulder has previous dealings with Boggs however, and is doubtful. Acting on initial information leads Mulder into a trap where he is shot. Scully persists though, but fails to get Boggs the clemency he wants. He does eventually hand over the information to her, and she is lead to the killer, who dies in a fall as he escapes. Scully avoids the danger after a warning from Boggs. Boggs offers Scully her father’s message if she will be a witness to his death, but she chooses to attend to Mulder instead.

This is clearly the standout episode of the series so far. It is no surprise to see Brad Dourif play an unhinged character such as Boggs, but he does it very well. It is interesting to see something of a role reversal with Mulder playing the sceptic and Scully the one who is more inclined to believe Boggs. However, this episode belongs to Gillian Anderson, who puts in an astonishing performance. Although she has done well in the series so far, there has not been anything to suggest she is as good as this The Silence of the Lambs style confrontation with Boggs is easily awards worthy.

Episode 14 – Gender Bender

A man picks up a woman in a club and takes her home. After they have had sex, he suddenly begins foaming at the mouth and dies. The ‘woman’ he picked up appears to morph into a man and leaves. Mulder links the case with previous ones where the victims have alternated between being male and female. The deaths have been caused by extremely strong concentrations of pheromones. Mulder finds that the deaths have originated in Massachusetts, near where an Amish style religious sect resides. The agents do not get many answers from the sect but Scully encounters a man who has a mysterious hold on her. Meanwhile, Mulder observes an odd embalming type ceremony. It turns out that one of the sect members has left and may be responsible for the deaths. Meanwhile, an escaped victim of the killer leads Mulder and Scully to him . he escapes, only to be caught by the sect members who take him away. When Mulder and Scully return to the community, they find it abandoned with only unusual crop circles left.

Much like the gender bending killer, this episode is rather confused. The sect is clearly implied to be an alien species, but can they all shift gender – and what exactly is the purpose of this? Some atmospheric scenes lift this a little but the viewer is ultimately left rather unsatisfied.

Episode 15 – Lazarus

Scully is helping a fellow officer, Jack Willis catch a serial bank robber, Warren Dupre and his wife Lula. As they attempt to apprehend Dupre, he shoots Willis and Scully returns fire, killing Dupre. As doctors rush to save Willis, there seems to be some sort of body swap as Dupre’s spirit invades Willis’ body. Scully’s previous relationship with Willis clouds her judgement as Mulder is convinced that he is possessed by the criminal. Scully is taken hostage by Willis and Lula, where it turns out that Lula had double crossed Dupre. As Mulder just gets to Scully in time, the diabetes Willis suffered from kills him.

Although this case ends up as an X-File, Scully's initial involvement is rather unclear. This episode suffers from some rather average performances from the actors playing Willis and Lula. It is a shame as the connections with Scully’s past could have thrown up some interesting situations. Unfortunately, this will just go down as one of those ‘interesting idea but average execution’ episodes.

Episode 16 – Young at Heart.

1989 – a prisoner witnesses a doctor treating another inmate, John Barnett, but the doctor threatens him and tells him the inmate is dead, although we clearly see the ‘corpse’ blink. Cut to the present day and Mulder’s past seems to come back to haunt him as the supposed ‘dead’ prisoner is recommitting crimes and threatening Mulder, who had previously testified against him. John Barnett had been treated by Dr. Ridley, who had developed an anti-aging procedure. Deepthroat reveals to Mulder that Barnett is in contact with the government and is trying to do a deal with them to hand over the anti-aging secrets. Barnett attempts to attack Scully but is shot by Mulder and dies on an operating table without handing over the secrets.

A pretty solid episode with yet more clues about Mulder’s past and present personality. We get to see maybe why he does not follow the rule book too closely in this episode. There are some good ideas about meddling with nature and we get to see a very brief appearance from CSM as he attempts to get the information about the anti-aging process from Barnett before he dies.

House of Saddam

If you haven't managed to catch this stunning portrayal of Saddam Hussein's rise and fall then you have missed out on one of the best pieces of television of the last 5 years. The story plays out like The Godfather or The Sopranos, as we follow the slightly unhinged patriarch and his family from 1979. The first episode deals with how Saddam ruthlessly took control of his country and went to war against Iran. Episode two looks at his relationships with America and the first Gulf war. Episode three follows his betrayal by his son in law and UN weapon inspections in the mid-1990s. The fourth and final episode is yet to be broadcast.
Pieced together from eyewitness testimony and historical footage, it is unclear how much dramatic licence has been taken, but the viewer certainly feels like they are watching true events unfold. Igal Naor plays Saddam brilliantly, although we never truly sympathise with him, we can feel his paranoia as those he trusts plot and betray him. Philip Arditti plays the psychotic Uday Hussain - something of a cliche villain, but terrifying nonetheless.
This BBC/HBO collaboration brings back clear memories of The Sopranos, and fans of that show will be likely to be fully drawn into this one. Where this stands out on its own is the fact that, while we could sometimes smile at Tony Sporano's violent outbursts, Saddam's similar rages may have actually happened.

X-files - Season 1 reviews

So here goes!

Episode 1 – Pilot

Scully meets Mulder for the first time as she is asked to report on the validity of his work. Together they investigate the mysterious deaths of several young people in Oregon. Mulder is convinced that they show signs of alien abduction, but Scully is more sceptical. They eventually find the man responsible to be Billy Miles, a teenager who has been in a ‘waking coma’ at hospital. He claims that he has been abducted and taken for testing on a ship. Scully’s report cannot support or refute this claim. The only evidence she has is a small metallic nasal implant that ends up in CIA hands with the Cigarette Smoking Man (CSM).

An impressive opening, it is easy to see why this was picked up for a full series. The chemistry between the leads is already significant and the show is well scripted. It has a dark, dreariness that must have been pretty original in the mid 1990’s. Acting is strong in most cases, though a bit wooden in parts. The only ‘effects’ seem a little dated, but this actually enhances the show, making clear that it is about story and character over flashiness. The idea of a wider conspiracy is toyed with and major aspects to follow including CSM and the abduction of Mulder’s sister are given to us.

Episode 2 – Deep Throat

Mulder and Scully investigate the disappearance of a test pilot in Idaho after he has been affected by a skin disorder. He suspects a military cover up. He is warned off by a mysterious man in a bar and realises his phone is tapped. Once there, he believes that UFO parts are being used by the military to build planes. After the pilot returns, apparently having had some of his memory wiped, the agents are told by the military to leave town. Mulder takes off on his own and enters the base, where he sees a UFO like plane. He is then captured and injected with an unknown substance. As he is stretchered through the base, he appears to see the UFO plane but then has his memory altered. He cannot remember what he saw when he is released. Mulder meets with the mysterious man again, who implies that what he saw was a UFO and that aliens do exist – he also tells Mulder that his and Scully’s lives could be in danger.

Apart from an abrupt change in hairstyles for the leads, this continues with the good work. Again, a major character, Deepthroat, is introduced. We also get some idea of the steps Mulder is willing to go to to prove the existences of extra-terrestrials – and how far the cover up could reach. The chemistry continues positively and there is a humorous appearance from a young Seth Green. This also sees the familiar theme tune and title for the first time,

Episode 3 – Squeeze

Scully is approached by a ruthlessly ambitious colleague to look at the case of a serial killer who takes the liver of his victims. On investigation, Mulder finds a fingerprint tying the killer to a similar cases that have happened every 30 years since 1903. They discover the killer is Eugene Tooms and that he can seemingly squeeze and stretch himself to gain access to his victims homes. As Mulder and Scully get near to catching their suspect, he attacks Scully at home. As Mulder comes to the rescue, the two agents manage to capture Tooms, though it is implied he may not be able to be kept behind bars for long.

This is the first episode that takes on a ‘horror’ style and is genuinely creepy. It is also the first 'stand-alone' episode. Tooms makes a disturbing character whose motives and origins are never fully explained. We also see some of the hostility that the other agents have towards ‘Spooky’ Mulder and the loyalty that Scully has now developed. A memorable episode that will remain one of the greats.

Episode 4 – Conduit

Sioux City Iowa – a teenage girl, Ruby, disappears while camping with her little brother. She is the daughter of a woman who claimed to have seen UFOs when younger. When Mulder and Scully investigate, they find that Ruby has a reputation for running away. The case is similar to that of Mulder’s sister’s disappearance and he becomes obsessed. Her brother appears to be channelling digital messages though, writing what seems like nonsense in binary, which, when analysed, shows significant writings, art and music. Eventually, Ruby returns, showing signs of alien abduction but her mother wants to say she had run away. The episode ends with a tape of Mulder speaking of the night his sister was abducted.

A moving episode, which showcases some strong acting from Duchovny. This sort of story will become fairly typical of the X-Files. The theme of Mulder’s true obsession is well developed in this Close Encounters influenced episode.

Episode 5 – The Jersey Devil

A man is dragged into the woods and eaten alive in New Jersey in 1947. A ‘wild man’ is chased down and shot by the sheriffs department. In the present day and there has been a similar case. The case resembles the myth of the Jersey Devil. Mulder goes against the local authorities and sleeps on the streets to try to catch the ‘devil’. It turns out that it is actually a wild woman who is killing and eating people. Mulder and Scully attempt to catch the woman alive, but the local police shoot her dead.

What starts out as a ‘horror’ episode takes on a more human story by the end, with us having sympathy for the wild woman. We see something of Scully’s personal life in this episode as she goes on a date. We also see how strong the connection she has with Mulder is. A fairly average entry into the X-files, though the reveal in the last scene is rather predictable!

Episode 6 – Shadows

In Philadelphia, a secretary mourning the suicide of her boss, Lauren Kite is attacked at an ATM machine by two thugs, both of whom then turn up dead, their throats apparently crushed from the inside. Could Lauren be capable of telekinesis? Mulder and Scully come up against the NSA who are investigating the company for terrorist connections. It turns out that Lauren’s boss was murdered and his ghost is protecting her from the new boss of the business who is determined to shut her up. With the culprits caught, Lauren moves to a new city – has her boss moved with her?

A neat little ghost story which takes some unexpected directions. This episode is let down by some daytime soap standard acting, with the pre-credits scene being particularly horrific. The terrorist links are interesting in the current climate and no doubt would be played up more nowadays.

Episode 7 – Ghost in The Machine

In Virginia, the MD of Eurisko, a computer company dies in an accident that seems to have been caused by the computer system. Mulder is asked to assist by an old colleague who is trying to get himself out of trouble. He claims Mulders work as his own and is eventually killed by the out of control Artificial Intelligence System. Eventually Mulder succeeds in shutting down the system which several government departments are attempting to get their hands on.

Probably the weakest entry into the catalogue so far. Some interesting ideas, but this all seems a little dated. Yet more themes of ambitious colleagues from Mulder and Scully’s past that will come up again. Another appearance from Deepthroat makes things interesting but this will not go down as one of the best episodes.

Episode 8 – Ice

Contact is lost with a research team in Alaska so Mulder, Scully and a group of research scientists fly out to investigate. They find that all the previous inhabitants had been infected with a parasite that made the hosts violent to each other. As the team become infected, they become increasingly paranoid and two members die. Scully discovers that if they introduce a second parasite to the body, they will kill each other off and they cure the final host. After they are evacuated, the base is allegedly destroyed.

It is unclear whether this is a homage or a copy of John Carpenter’s The Thing. However, originality aside and this episode has some great touches. The increasing paranoia allows some heated arguments between the two agents and we get to see how much they have grown to trust each other. The scene where they check each other for parasites is brimming with sexual chemistry. Xander Berkley makes his obligatory appearance in the series and a young Felicity Huffman also features.

Episode 9 – Space

A space shuttle pilot in charge of NASA mission control is seemingly possessed by an alien spirit in the form of the face of Mars. Mulder is called in when a NASA scientist suspects sabotage and they assist in getting a space shuttle safely back to Earth

This is a pretty bad episode with little of interest, other than Mulder’s passion for the Space Programme. It is not clear why space shuttle sabotage could be an X-file and everything feels forced. File this one under forgettable.

Episode 10 – Fallen Angel

An alien ship crash lands in Wisconsin and Mulder investigates. There is a military cover up going on and Mulder is caught by an aggressive commander. While he is being held, he meets Max Fenig, a UFO obsessive. Mulder is tasked to take Mulder home but they continue to investigate. Meanwhile, the military are attempting to apprehend the aggressive, Predator style alien. Mulder believes that Max is an alien abductee when he finds a strange incision behind his ear. Mulder, Max and the alien are trapped in a warehouse by the military where Max is seemingly abducted by the alien as they both vanish. Mulder is left to face the music for his actions but Deep Throat has clearly pukked strings to save his career – but for what reasons – does he want to help Mulder, or just keep him on side.

Though this episode starts slowly, it ends brilliantly, with Duchovny clearly finding his stride as an angry Mulder facing a tribunal. Marshall Bell, a sci-fi standard, acts well though the role is fairly familiar to him. We also meet the character of Max Fenig who will reappear later. Scully has rather little to do in an episode where the alien is something of a MacGuffin. The superb closing scene makes us question the motives of Mulder’s supposed ally.

The X-Files Marathon

Having purchased a copy of the entire X-files back catalogue for the bargain price of £75 from HMV (that's nearly 150 hours of screen time!) I am going to gradually work my way through the shows. With not much to do at the moment, I will probably get through a good few episodes over the next week or so. I will give regular reviews as I go along
**SPOILERS**
As I will give a brief synopsis of each episode, I will not hold back from spoilers in my reviews. You have been warned so no complaints!

The Happening

So I was unfortunate enough to finally catch this piece of dross. How could this disaster have been scripted by the same man who wrote the brilliant and tightly plotted sixth sense and the truly original Unbreakable? Actually, quite easily given the downhill slide he has taken since The Village. However while that film and The Lady in the Water were disappointments, this is an unmitigated failure. It starts in an intriguing and disturbing manner but soon deteriorates into a series of random encounters with cardboard cutout characters. Mark Whalberg puts his best 'confused' face on and puts in an appallingly wooden performance - although, to be fair, he has no real script to work with. Example lines are "Oh, it's the army, we're safe" and "Central Park? That's kinda odd". Whalberg can put in good performances, such as in The Departed, but he is not capable of pulling off the everyman role. Zooey Deschanel is rather better and pulls off an interesting, kooky character that never really gets developed.

"Is that my acting career fading away in the distance?"

So surely, M. Night Shayamalan pulls off an audacious twist or interesting explanation of the strange happenings? Well, not at all. Instead we get some ham-fisted environmental bandwagon drivel. Does the man once touted as the next Spielberg still have a career left? It would be unfair to write him off - even Spielberg has made some bad films - but this certainly boils down to a 'must try harder'.
Rating: 3/10 for some spooky scenes, Zooey Deschanel and a decent score.