Dead in the Water – In a Good Way

X Files got off to a great start in its first season. I don’t know that season 2 improves so much as it just solidifies the direction that will become essential to the series mostly in beginning the linear progression of the episode to episode storyline. With most TV shows you can watch any given episode in any order within a season. There may be significant changes from season to season but other than that few if any stories have any significant impact on any other, and viewing episodes out of order makes little difference. That’s pretty much how X Files started, but events in the actors’ lives (just one, really) lead to the creation of a more interconnected storyline now known as the mythology. There are still numerous episodes that are complete in and of themselves, but even then many of those tie in to the previous or following story even if in a small way.

The mythology, though, really requires viewing in the proper order, and missing one of those can make a world of difference in understanding the story. As I watched the TVD’s I realized I had missed some key mythology episodes, and I was surprised at just how much those few pieces made a difference in seeing the whole puzzle clearly.

The progression began because Gillian got pregnant and even after a single season Scully was far too beloved to be written out of the series. The answer was to write a story that encompassed her condition which also birthed the conspiratorial involvement in the lives and investigations of our heroes. While the conspiracy story has its drawbacks down the line, I think an episodic progression of story added a level to the series that it would not otherwise have had.

Introduced this season is Alex Krycek, perhaps the most vital character of the series not introduced in season 1. The roles of the other supporting characters increase much to the pleasure of the fans and the likes of the Lone Gunmen and Cigarette Smoking Man (CSM) prove they won’t be limited to their first season appearances.

Season 2 is perhaps darker than its predecessor. With murders connected to a Satanic cult, a death fetishist, Voodoo and dark magic, and other such concepts, there is more focus on elements of horror (not that werewolves, liver-eating mutants, and such weren’t pretty scary in season 1). In fact some of these episodes are arguably among the most disturbing of the entire series and may very well be too much to handle for those sensitive to such things.

If “Shapes” got me interested in the series “Die Hand Die Verletzt” and “Humbug” (the first experiment with using humor throughout an episode rather than just as comic relief) set X Files on the path to becoming my favorite TV show ever to be shown on a TV. The excitement over what happens with Scully didn’t hurt, either. These are weird concepts for TV episodes and done in such a way that morbid curiosity if nothing else ought to make them worth watching.

I guess if there’s anything truly different between these first two seasons it’s that the effects have improved. Not that they were bad to begin with, not at all, but neither were they perfect. Season 2 provides more eye candy with greater believability. Some of the things in the X Files look better than things in other current shows despite the better technology of today. And X Files doesn’t shy away from getting into some strange looking visuals.

Acting is terrific. Nobody else could possibly be Mulder, Scully, or any of the other major characters. The actors ARE the characters. Likewise the series got off to a great start with guest actors. I mean come on, how great was Doug Hutchison as Tooms? The likes of Tony Todd, Steve Railsback, and Nick Chinlund keep that bar high with great characters.

Writing is not as tight as some shows like Lost, there are some inconsistencies and weak moments throughout the life of the X Files that bug me. Season 2 has a few episodes with endings that could stand some improvement. That’s the downfall of trying to do a show like this, trying to be vague and ambiguous can lead to unsatisfying wrap-ups.

CONTENT:
Just about all of the episodes have some bad language. Sometimes it’s worse than others. There is some sexuality here and there, mostly in ׁ” I guess. Mostly you’re just going to be dealing with dark and disturbing subject matter and weird violence.

DVD:
The whole X Files series is uniform in its design. There are some minor differences between the earliest releases and the later ones, but for the most part season 2 follows suit from #1. Once again you have a few different package choices available. The original was a large folder in a cardboard sleeve. It features a large amount of nice, original artwork on all sides of the sleeve and on every section of the folder. An insert book contains more artwork, episode summaries, credits, chapter titles, and other tidbits. Few TVD’s have even come close to this level of design. Unfortunately that also makes X Files more expensive than most.

The seasons were later repackaged in thin plastic cases. While more compact as far as physical space they are also less appealing in appearance and bare bones in content. I haven’t seen any of these myself, but looking at them in stores and on line there is no mention of any extras being included.

The series box set doesn’t bring back all of that lovely original artwork, but it does bring back the great extras which I’ll go into shortly.

Video is the TV standard and audio is 2.0. I guess this was too early for the 5.1 that some TV shows get nowadays. It’s hard to believe that X Files is as old as it is.


There are a few more features this season than the previous although they follow the same basic format.
As with every season this one includes a big behind the scenes look at the whole season. It talks about the mythology coming from Gillian’s pregnancy, the character of Duane Barry, the return of Skinner, William Davis’ struggle with cigarettes, bringing in Krycek, coming up with X, creating the flukeworm, strange lighting, and Gillian eating crickets (which also gets a feature of its own – see “Humbug” below for more). Like all other 8 of these features this is extremely interesting. There are several other smaller BTS features specific to certain episodes. I’ll list those with their respective episodes.

A kind of specialized behind the scenes set of features is called Behind the Truth. These are promo segments created for the FX network. They tend to be extremely interesting but usually too brief. Several are specific to certain episodes and, like the other BTS features, I’ll talk about them below. A few are more general, though. One looks at the bounty hunter – who he is and his special weapon. Tom Braidwood gets one talking about his work as a director and becoming Frohike. One for Cigarette Smoking Man (CSM) talks about who he is and William Davis not smoking. One for X looks at Stephen’s take on the character and the female X who you’ll get to see in a deleted scene. The last one says it’s about Humbug but isn’t. It’s actually an interview with the hair styalist.

DVD-ROM features are encompassed within the game Unholy Alliances. It’s tedious and slow dealing with a lot of trivia questions. It interconnects with the first game and includes the files from that one. Contained in the game are summaries for all episodes seasons 1-2 (plus “Travelers”). The cast list (and other credits) that will become part of the regular DVD in future releases are in this portion.

In addition to all these each episode has 10 and 20 second trailers. These are fun to watch. Several episodes also include international clips. These are a minute or so from the show presented in different languages. They use the same languages for the sets, though, so after 1 or 2 they tend to get boring.


EPISODES:
This time you get 25 episodes. Almost all are right at 45 minutes long though a few are closer to 44. Chapters, once again, are very well done and are more consistent in number. Most have 15 chapters with a few having 12. They are conveniently placed. Very few releases do half as good a job with providing chapters as X Files does.

Being very early in the series, unless you know nothing about X Files the twists I’m about to reveal shouldn’t be any big news to you. However, I cannot summarize some episodes without giving away points from previous ones, so if you want a complete narrative surprise quit reading now and go get the season.

1: Little Green Men
Have we made contact with aliens through Voyager? Hmmm….. Mulder and Scully are on their separate assignments, and Mulder is taking it pretty hard even to the point of developing doubts about what he once believed so strongly. A Senatorial contact points him to possible proof of contact. What will he risk to get his evidence?

A BTS clip looks at influences and direction.

Title notes: A popular description of aliens – Mulder’s reference to what may be his delusion.

2: The Host
Something is living in the sewers and attacking people. Who better to investigate than Mulder? He’s reluctant at first but starts changing his tune when the attacker proves monstrous in the truest sense of the word. X approaches with a bit of help and Skinner shows signs of not being the enemy Mulder assumes.

I hear more mixed reviews of this one than most other episodes. Some love it while some find it unbearably hokey. I’m somewhere in the middle. I can see why it’s too much for some, but I can’t help but enjoy it even if it’s not my favorite.

First appearance of X, sort of.

A BTS clip looks at story origins, the sewer set, and shooting Gillian carefully. A Behind the Truth bit takes a look at the monster suit.

Title notes: a reference to the parasitic nature of the monster.

3: Blood
Computers and machines are driving people to kill by giving them murderous commands. An evil AI, possession, or chemical induction? Mulder sets out on a late night expedition to find out. What he uncovers is even more chilling than the crimes he’s investigating.

William Sanderson guest stars.

Title note: the phobia of one of the would-be killers.

4: Sleepless
People are dying, but the causes seem to be all in their minds. A man with control over the dream world is taking revenge for the experiments done on him. Mulder has to wrestle for the case with the current assigned agent, an ambitious young man named Alex Krycek. The Syndicate and X are brought fully to the viewer’s attention.

Tony Todd guest stars.

A deleted scene shows what it would have been like if X had been a woman. This one has no episode audio and makes up for it with a commentary that explains why the idea didn’t work. A BTS bit looks at story origins, bringing in Krycek, X and his agenda.

Title notes: the “monster” of the week can’t sleep.

5: Duane Barry
Duane is a regular abductee, and he’s paranoid that the aliens are coming back for him. In a bid to get attention he takes a group of hostages. Mulder is called into the negotiations to talk as one believer to another. When Duane starts giving hints of the Syndicate’s involvement with the aliens and ties to Mulder’s sister, Mulder takes notice of him in a different way.

A BTS clips talks about Chris Carter as a director, casting Steve for Duane, and a true story of teeth drilling. A Behind the Truth bit looks at how they accomplished lifting and drilling Duane.

Title notes: name of the man that’s the focus of the episode.

6: Ascension
Picking up where we left off last episode Duane is on the lamb and kidnaps Scully. He is taking her to his abduction site: a trade, her life for his. Mulder and Krycek are partnered once again, but the latter begins showing his true nature. The results of this episode are really the kickoff for the interconnectivity of the ongoing storyline.

A BTS bit looks at filming Gillian in the trunk of a car and David’s stuntwork.

Title notes: Duane believes he will ascend to the stars.

7: 3
As I hinted last episode, this one does not begin in the same place. Scully is no longer a part of the show marking the beginning of a narrative that is ever changing rather than stories that begin and end in the same place like most do. Mulder is still reeling from Scully’s disappearance, but he’s at least back on the X Files. He wastes no time getting back to work investigating a series of vapiric-like murders. The question is are the culprits really vampires or just delusional? He comes across a beautiful suspect. Convinced she’s in danger he stays to protect her, but he may be the one needing protection.

This is a slow but enjoyably moody episode. The piano score is particularly nice.

A deleted scene shows a fireman delivering an evacuation notice to Kristen.

Title notes: reference to the trinity the vampires see themselves as.

8: One Breath
It’s time to declare Scully presumed dead. Suddenly she shows up in the hospital though for all intents and purposes she’s gone – alive only with the help of machines. Mulder sets out on a quest to find evidence of the experiments he’s sure were conducted on her. It’s a race against time as Scully’s time dwindles away, but Mulder will go to any length to save her, even confront the Devil himself.

A BTS clip talks about a new kind of opening, symbolism, and effects.

Title notes: reference to the thin line between life and death.

9: Firewalker
Something happens at a volcano research camp and the newly reunited team of Mulder and Scully are called upon. When the agents arrive they find the facility in shambles and a man scared to death of the project leader. Could a new and dangerous life form be at work here? The agents better find out quickly before everybody dies.

Shawnee Smith guest stars.

Title notes: a dual reference to the name of the research robot and the possible new life form.

10: Red Museum
A boy in a quiet little town gets a mysterious phone call and hours later turns up naked and disoriented in the woods. Alien abduction? The sheriff suspects a strange vegetarian cult. Others blame cow growth hormones. The X agents’ best lead is a weird peeping tom. Thinking the case is over the stakes are suddenly raised when people, including the sheriff’s son, are executed. Mulder becomes desperate for answers when links to Purity Control (see The Erlenmeyer Flask) and the demise of Deep Throat are uncovered.

Mark Rolston guest stars.

Title notes: name of the cult.

11: Excelsis Dei
Something strange is happening in the room of a dead woman – a nurse is raped by an invisible force. There’s virtually no evidence but since when did Mulder need any of that to investigate a case? The problem is that the suspects keep dying. Could the spirits of the deceased residents of the assisted living facility be hanging around?

This one is weak in the narrative department. The ending in particular has some dangling threads I would like to have seen tied up more neatly. Despite its shortcoming it’s still an entertaining episode, though.

Teryl Rothery (another SG1 favorite) has a small role.

Title notes: name of the facility where the events take place.

12: Aubrey
A woman has a strange vision and finds herself digging up the skeleton of a presumably murdered FBI agent. The victim was a pioneer in catching a particular serial killer who appears to be back on the job. The current investigator’s dreams seem to be the best link to what’s happening.

This is probably the weakest story in this season. The whole concept is weak and the significance of “sister” and needing someone to blame aren’t properly explained.

Title notes: this is where the events take place.

13: Irresistible
The agents are investigating Donnie Pfaster, a supremely creepy man that likes defacing corpses. Mulder is worried that he will advance to creating corpses. Not only is he too late to stop Donnie, Scully has made the list of his corpses to be.

Wow. After the previous weak episode what a one to follow up with. Highly disturbing, Donnie is one of the creepiest human characters in the run of X Files.

Jesse Martin plays a small role. He will come back later to play a different, much larger role.

A BTS clip talks about the scare factor and limits of the TV censors.

Title notes: reference to the killer’s fetish – he finds women irresistible.

14: Die Hand Die Verletzt
The local school board is praying to demonic forces. Some of the local kids try their hand at black magic and end up finding themselves murdered. But if the local cult didn’t do it who did? Could a demon have actually been called up? Mulder and Scully are in very dangerous territory as they have been targeted by dark forces, but they are determined to unravel the secrets of this hellish town before more people die.

We’ve now more than made up for the earlier weak episodes. This one is a classic.

A BTS clip looks at the strangeness of the episode, working with animals, and the cautionary tale. A Behind the Truth bit looks at how they made a snake eat someone. This is my phobia so it was tremendous fun to watch. Does that make me twisted?

Title notes: “the hand that wounds” part of the demonic prayer uttered by the cult.

15: Fresh Bones
Jack, a devoted husband and soldier, is freaking out and in a hysterical fit dies in a car wreck. His wife thinks murder although nobody else does. That’s good enough for Mulder and when he and Scully begin investigating they become the targets of dark attacks. When zombies start walking the streets they know something is definitely going on that defies easy scientific explanation.

Title notes: bones fresh out of the cemetery are the best for voodoo rituals.

16: Colony
Mulder’s sister appears out of the blue claiming she’s in grave danger. She’s being hunted by a bounty hunter that has been killing a number of men who look exactly the same. A Russian plan gone awry? Aliens? You’ll have to wait until next week to find out.

Brian Thompson, the woman who may or may not be Samantha Mulder, and Mulder’s parents all make their first appearances.

A BTS clip looks at creation of the story and the unusual sound effects for the stiletto.

Title notes: reference to the identical nature of the people being hunted.

17: End Game
Picking up where we left off last time, Scully has been taken by the bounty hunter. Samantha tells a story of alien colonization and genetic experiments to help them blend in. The bounty hunter is supposedly cleansing the population. But how much of her story can truly be trusted? Emotions run high when Mulder must decide between Scully and his newly rediscovered sister. Emotionally distraught to the point of insanity Mulder chases a bounty hunter he knows he can’t kill to a stranded submarine in the Antarctic.

While indicative of the kinds of episodes that provide information you don’t know if you can trust and leave Mulder maddeningly at square one each and every time, these two episodes are great and are the first real building block to the vast conspiracy that is starting to unfold.

This one has a couple of BTS features. One is an interview that talks about making the set work and the return of Samantha. The other looks at the conning tower construction.

Title notes: reference to the confrontation that nearly kills Mulder.

18: Fearful Symmetry
A powerful invisible force wreaks havoc in the city. Somehow zoo animals are getting loose and running amuck while invisible to the naked eye, Aliens or the work of an animal rights organization with a powerful secret? The best witness is a gorilla. Interrogation is going to be interesting..

Title notes: references a poem about wild animals and their fierceness.

19: Dod Kalm
A ship’s crew is abandoning their vessel much to the chagrin of the captain. When the crew shows up on land vastly aged Mulder expects experiments with time. He travels to investigate and ends up stranded on a ghost ship aged far beyond its actual years. What’s worse is that someone is killing the people he has brought with him one by one. He and Scully begin aging rapidly – desperately trying to figure out what’s happening before they die of old age.

Title notes: Norwegian-esque use of “dead calm” – which is s phrase used for remaining unmoving at sea.

20: Humbug
When a “circus freak” is murdered Mulder and Scully investigate. They end up in a town full of unusual people – sideshow performers. Who’s a suspect? The shady guy that feels no pain? The one that eats live animals? Who’s really a viable suspect and who is suspicious just because they’re weird?

A deleted scene takes place in a restaurant with a hermaphrodite waiter. It’s an amusing but weak moment. There are 2 BTS clips. One is an interview focusing on the history of the writer and the circus performers. The other is setting up the scene of Scully eating the cricket and crew reactions to it.

Title notes: a “lie” - where does the truth end and the humbug begin?

21: The Calusari
Mulder and Scully investigate the seemingly supernatural death of a toddler but come to suspect the involvement of human forces when they find the child’s grandmother involved in strange rituals. Now the other child of the family may be in danger from these Romanian rites, but the participants claim it is an exorcism ritual.

Title notes: this is the group that oversees the correct observance of the sacred rites.

22 F Emasculata
Some kind of infection is spreading and killing without discrimination. Mulder and Scully are sent to work detail on two escaped convicts who may be carriers. Now the agents may be exposed, too. Scully finds a secret CDC quarantine in effect, but despite the danger they are not forthcoming about the situation. Just what all does the govt. know about this?

Title notes: the name of the bug that carries the parasite.

23: Soft Light
A man unwittingly dissolves people with his shadow. He tries to avoid it, but a mishap puts Mulder and Scully on his trail. With others of less integrity also after him the killer is afraid if he dies his shadow will become basically a murderous free-agent. X gets involved and finds that even he is in over his head. What’s more his actions put him at moral odds with Mulder.

Tony Shalhoub guest stars.

Title notes: what the “monster” needs in order to keep from casting his dangerous shadow.

24: Our Town
When a man disappears in the woods Mulder suspects Indian spirits. When they discover he was at odds with the chicken plant that is the lifeblood of the town suspicions take a more natural turn. When a woman from the town dies Scully’s autopsy proves that she is much older than seems possible. If there weren’t enough questions defying explanation, several people in the town develop the same extremely rare disease. When Mulder and Scully start poking around the graveyard the townsfolk realize that in order to keep their secrets they must get rid of the agents by any means necessary,.

This is one of the most disgusting and even disturbing episodes ever. Some people quit watching the show altogether after this. Despite it’s subject matter, though, it is a well done and highly suspenseful episode.

A Behind the Truth clip talks about viewers getting overly disturbed by this episode.

Title notes: probably inspired by the famous play. It is spoken by one of the townsfolk referencing the town conspiracy.

25: Anasazi
An earthquake reveals a buried secret – a train car full of corpses that appear to be alien. Meanwhile a hacker steals evidence from the DOD proving that the govt. knows about the existence of aliens. The Lone Gunmen get involved and turn to Mulder. Our resident hero agent is acting even more paranoid than usual these days even to the point of attacking Skinner. When his dad is murdered he is the prime suspect, and his road to vengeance against the real most likely culprit, Krycek, puts him at odds with Scully. Trying to sort through all this mess and keep the hacked information out of the wrong hands while trying to decipher it the agents are set after by CSM whose ruthlessness comes out in full force.

Albert Hosteen, one of my favorite guest characters, makes his first appearance.

A deleted scene shows the capture of the Thinker.

There are two BTS bits. One is an interview that talks about creating the cliffhanger and the New Mexico look when not in NM. The other is a more hands-on look at creating the NM look. It’s very brief but gives an explanation of the work done with still shots of it. There is only 1 trailer for this one.

Title notes: means “ancient aliens.” It’s a reference to a real group of people that disappeared many years ago. Some believe they were abducted.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
Though a few episodes are weak none are actually bad. On top of that a number of outstanding ones more than make up for them. Adding more deleted scenes is a fun move for this second TVD release. This is an outstanding season of the best TV show ever, and a very nice TVD design to go with it. 5* all the way.