After a very crap Season Four, I had pretty much given up on my rewatching of The X-Files, happy to alter my plan to finish at the movie by ending with Mulder appearing to have shot himself in the head. However, the release of the new movie got my little X-Phile pulsing and so I decided to go back to my original plan and get Season Five. And, surprise, surprise, I was actually not disappointed.
Mostly, anyway. There are five episodes which, quite frankly, drag the season down a little, and perhaps to no one's surprise they are all "arc" episodes. Most of the time you have to sit through the torturous dialogue of Chris Carter, and these episodes tend to begin with a voice over by either Mulder or Scully, both sounding as bored as the audience are. Redux, Redux Part II, Patient X and The Red And The Black all deal with the standard alien abduction, is it all real, government conspiracy, blah, blah, blah. The latter two see the return of the ugliest man on television, Brian Thompson, who clearly has some sort of hold over Carter. I can see Carter now - "Hmmm...Brian's told me I have to keep him in television or he'll tell everyone I'm gay. He's so ugly no one will ever employ him...so I guess I'd better make sure we have an episode in the season that features the return of the Alien Bounty Hunter...it's just...he's sooo ugly..."
Of course, the more perceptive of you will note that I said five episodes, but I've only actually mentioned four. The fifth episode is Emily and it is a serious disappointment because it is the second half of a story, the first half actually having nothing to do with the arc, but is a really, really good episode. Christmas Carol is a Scully episode where she goes home for Christmas and runs into a girl she is convinced is the daughter of her dead sister. The cliffhanger reveals that she was way off base, as her family predicted, as the mother of the child is actually...herself. Absolutely brilliant cliffhanger, completely destroyed in the next episode by the return of Mulder and the "arc". It's completely depressing to see such an interesting episode die so completely.
And this segues quite nicely into the revelation that there are some episodes in this season that don't necessarily feature either Scully or Mulder, althogh generally when it is a Scully only episode, Mulder has a small scene somewhere in the episode. But enough detail, onto the episodes.
After the Redux two parter, Unusual Suspects is a flashback episode introducing the Lone Gunmen and revealing the spark of interest Mulder has in the paranormal. It gives Steven Williams/Mr X a chance to make a reappearance and also features a cameo appearance by Richard Belzer as Detective John Munch in one of the many television programmes he played the part (presumably this episode also sparked his interest in government conspiracies). It's a great little story that gives Bruce Harwood/Byers the chance to shine.
Detour is a classic episode that sees the kooky relationship between Scully and Mulder highlighted, as the agents investigate what appears to be the Mothman. Very much in the tradition of Ice, it's a great traditional episode.
The Post-Modern Prometheus is an experimental episode that is shot entirely in black and white and is (naturally) a homage to Frankenstein. Although written and directed by Chris Carter, the episode doesn't have quite the same terrible dialogue, and certainly the fact that David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson seem interested in the script, brings it to life somewhat.
Kitsunegari, following the Emily two parter, is a sequel to the episode "Pusher" and sees the return of Robert Patrick Modell as he tries to save someone who has the same abilities he has; but of course Mulder can see straight through him. A bit ordinary, it's still quite entertaining to watch.
Schizogeny is a curious beast of an episode. From the outset it appears to be about a group of kids who are being molested by their parents, but this turns into them having the memories implanted by their therapist. She, of course, can control the Earth. It's a good episode that is worth the watch.
Chinga is another Mulder-lite episode (although Duchovny's appearances are hilarious) about Scully stumbling upon a murderous doll. The story is written by Stephen King and so it's not so surprising that there is a lot of gore in the episode. You can't help but enjoy the episode, and the ending is priceless.
Kill Switch sees an AI taking control of computers in an attempt to defend itself from its creators turning it off. Mulder ends up getting sucked into the bizzare world it creates and finds his arms removed while Scully gets a mild hint of jealousy towards the cybergeek they meet. Another really enjoyable episode.
Bad Blood, is quite frankly, the jewel in the crown for the series. An truly off beat episode that starts off with a boy getting staked...by Mulder...but the boy's a vampire...except Scully reveals his teeth are fake. From then on we get to see a story firstly from Scully's point of view and then from Mulder's. This is a great chance for the two leads to play their characters in slightly different ways, and for guest actor Luke Wilson to play the same character from two points of view. Finally the episode is wrapped up by the two detectives as they uncover a group of vampire gypsies. There is nothing bad about this episode at all, and is one of the best episodes of The X-Files ever.
Another two parter before a second flashback, Travelers, episode (giving Anderson the day off) shows how Mulder became involved with the "X" files. He gets to meet the man (played by Darren McGavin in a nod to Nightstalker) who started the X-Files, before the majority of the episode becomes a further flashback to the fifties as Mulder's mentor investigates his first "X" file.
Mind's Eye sees the agents investigate a series of murders apparently perpetrated by a blind man, until Mulder believes that the blind lady can actually see the murderer's actions in her mind. Another great episode.
All Souls is an episode that deals with the possibility of nephalytes on Earth. It's a great episode in that Scully's faith in the religiously paranormal is questioned by Mulder's belief in the scientific paranormal. What's great is that Scully's point of view isn't ignored and it certainly seems to be the actual truth of the situation, rather than Mulder's plans.
The Pine Bluff Variant is another slightly curious episode where Scully believes that Mulder has actually joined a terrorist cell. This episode is actually all about a government conspiracy, but as it's completely detached from the standard alien/Syndacite storyline, it's far more watchable. It also gives Mitch Pileggi the chance to shine this season as AD Skinner.
Folie A Deux is another slightly disturbing episode about a man who is actually a giant bug, but is able to hide in plain sight. Mulder gets the ability to see the bug as the episode continues despite the fact that both Scully and Skinner believe he is going mad. What's great about this episode, and the previous one, is that both see the agents involved in standard FBI investigations that turn into X-Files, rather than them seeking the paranormal. It's a difference that is welcomed.
Finally, we get to The End, an episode which is tied into the story arc, although there appears to be no obvious reason why. The cigarette smoking man, who was apparently killed in Redux, returns to kill a little boy, and apparently gets away with him, though the boy is actually a mind reader. The character introduced in Patient X, Agent Spender, returns, alongside a new agent, Fowler, and the episode leads directly into the movie. However, the ending sees Mulder and Scully in the burnt our remains of their office, which seems a symbolic way of ending the series for good. As we know, sadly, the horse was dead, but Fox were still going to flog it.
I have to admit I'm really glad I took the risk and decided to face Season Five. I don't know whether it was the fact that the series was supposed to end and everyone was eager to give it their all, of if not having to film as many episodes relaxed the leads just a little, but this season is a breath of fresh air.
"A"
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