The X-Files: Season Three - Perhaps the Best Season of this X-Cellent Series!

For better or worse in the series The X-Files, Gillian Anderson’s pregnancy was a catalyst for what would become knows as The X-Files mythology.  From that point forward, the episodes could pretty much be broken down into two categories: those that addressed this alien-abduction mythology and those that stood on their own.

The second season ended on a mythology note, with FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder (portrayed by David Duchovny) trapped inside a buried railroad car in the desert that had just been torched by government agents.  Agent Dana Scully (Anderson) is trying to find out what happened to him, risking her own career in the process.  At the same time, it would seem that Mulder was somehow involved in his father’s murder.  Of course, fans know that isn’t the case, but things don’t look good at this point.

The way the season starts off really goes a long way to solidifying the relationship between Mulder and Scully.  I don’t mean relationship as in romantic one.  They have a true partnership and by the end of the first few episodes, Scully is truly in his corner.  For those not watching from the beginning of the show, Scully was assigned to work with him to find scientific explanations for all of these cases he determined had a supernatural or unexplainable element to them.  Most of the time, she can’t, although she has proved to be the voice of reason in many instances.  However, in this season her loyalty shifts completely from those who assigned her to work with Mulder to Mulder himself.  She might still be the skeptic and the voice of reason in many cases, but her motivation certainly is different.

Their boss, Assistant Director Skinner (portrayed by Mitch Pileggi) also becomes more than just someone who shows up now and then and acts surly.  His role is expanded and he becomes a proponent of what the two are doing, while at the same time trying to balance that with keeping his position in the FBI.

The result is a season that really builds relationships and solidifies where people are in the scheme of things, while at the same time adding more layers of mystery.  For those of us who sometimes prefer the stand-alone episodes, there are plenty of those to delight and entertain.

I usually gravitated more toward the stand-alone episodes, and some of the best of the series are contained in this season.  Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose features Peter Boyle as the title character and is definitely near the top of my list of best episodes of the series.  Bruckman apparently has the ability to see how people will die, prompting this exchange:

Bruckman: You know, there are worst ways to go, but I can't think of a more undignified one than auto-erotic asphyxiation.
Mulder: Why you telling me that?
Bruckman: Forget I mentioned it. It's none of my business.

Jose Chung's 'From Outer Space' is one of the funniest episodes of the series, and shows that while many of the episodes seem to be about government conspiracies, it really doesn’t take itself too seriously.  Other great episodes from this season are War of the Coprophages, The Walk, Pusher, and Syzygy.

This is the season that really builds and cements the mythology, though.  Scully discovers the computer chip in her neck and her sister is killed in a case of mistaken identity.  The black oil present in some people is developed as a storyline, as is the connection to cloning and smallpox immunizations.  The Cigarette Smoking Man (portrayed by William B. Davis) seems to be straddling a line a bit with trying to manipulate Mulder while at the same time giving him information which concerns his associates.  Krycek (portrayed by Nicholas Lea) is still buzzing about, trying to save himself more than anything and not caring who he has to align himself with in order for that to happen.  It may, however, be too late.

The DVD production is good but it could be better.  Instead of having deleted scenes available to watch following the episodes, there’s supposed to be an “X” in the corner of the screen that you click on during the episode to see the deleted scene.  This is a real pain and when I’ve tried that in earlier season I always became so involved in watching the episode that I missed the “X”.  This set does have the deleted scenes included on the final disc with commentary from series creator  Chris Carter, but then it’s a matter of recalling the episode they were in.

Each episode has a list of cast credits and there are a few international clips.  Apocrypha and Jose Chung's 'From Outer Space' have audio commentary accompanying them.  However, the bulk of the Special Features are on the final disc.  Here you will find a documentary all about the third season with members of the cast and crew.  Chris Carter talks about his motivations and inspirations for the season in an interview.  There is a short featurette about the special effects this season with commentary.  Finally, there are the original promotional spots as well as those use to promote the show on repeats on FX Channel.  It’s a pretty decent collection of extras, especially considering that this was among the first shows to be released in season long boxed sets.

I really recommend people watch the series from the beginning to get the most from it.  The third season seems to be where it really comes into its own and has some of the best episodes.  The mythology is still pretty good and hasn’t gotten too contrived nor does it completely dominate the show.  The stand-alone episodes this season are excellent as well and often achieve a good balance of humor and drama.  The acting, writing, and direction are all top-notch.  There’s nothing I could think of that I didn’t like about this season



Disc One:

The Blessing Way
Paper Clip
D.P.O.
Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose

Disc Two:

The List
2Shy
The Walk
Oubliette

Disc Three:

Nisei
731
Revelations
War of the Coprophages

Disc Four:

Syzygy
Grotesque
Piper Maru
Apocrypha - available with audio commentary by Director Kim Manners and Writer/Series Creator Chris Carter

Disc Five:

Pusher
Teso dos Bichos
Hell Money
Jose Chung's 'From Outer Space' - available with audio commentary by Director Rob Bowman and Writer Darin Morgan

Disc Six:

Avatar
Quagmire
Wetwired
Talitha Gumi

Disc Seven (Special Features):

Documentary: The Truth About Season Three
Chris Carter Talks About Season Three
FX: Behind The Truth
Deleted Scenes with Commentary by Chris Carter
Special Effects with Commentary by Mat Beck
Promo Spots



© 2009 Patti Aliventi