Unlike Star Trek and Babylon 5, the X-Files series is very uneven in quality. Chris Carter
seems to recognize this, in that he only releases about half of the episodes on videotape. So far,
his choices have always agreed with mine, with only one exception. I am rather fond of the low
key Loch Ness Monster episode "Quagmire" (***), by Kim Newton, from the third season, which is
not available on video. Of course, we do not know which twelve of the twenty-two sixth season
episodes will be chosen for video release, but in most cases it isn't hard to guess. The biggest
problem with this season is that there are too few mythos episodes. The season opener promises
great things, but now it looks like we have to wait for the second movie for the follow up.
Because some of the episodes are so bad as to be almost unwatchable, while others are so good
they are not to be missed, I have given each episode a rating from one to four stars.
Note that Fox has reshuffled their schedule of reruns, so the reruns recommended in this space last
issue will not be shown on the days previously announced. No new schedule has been released
yet.
The Beginning (****) by Chris Carter
The X-Files are reopened. A human child is used for
inhuman experiments by the conspiracy, and a baby alien chest buster is hunted down by the F.B.I.
Drive (****) by Vince Gilligan
Non-stop action about a man who must drive or die.
Triangle (***) by Chris Carter
Innovative directing by Carter, letterbox format, and
interesting time travel elements spoiled by a weak ending.
Dreamland, Part One of Two (****) by Vince Gilligan, Frank Spotnitz, and John Shiban
Mulder swaps bodies with a dirty tricks specialist from Area 51.
Dreamland, Part Two of Two (****) by Vince Gilligan, Frank Spotnitz, and John Shiban
Scully goes to the Lone Gunmen for help.
How the Ghosts Stole Christmas (***) by Chris Carter
Ed Asner and Lilly Tomlin haunt a
house.
Terms of Endearment (*) by David Ammann
The X-Files meets Rosemary's Baby.
The Rain King (***) by Jeffrey Bell
Human emotions influence the weather. Watch out for
the cow.
S.R. 819 (***) by John Shiban
F.B.I. Assistant Director Skinner suffers from a mysterious
illness that will kill him in twenty-four hours.
Tithonus (**) by Vince Gilligan
A crime photographer knows about murders before they
happen.
Two Fathers (****) by Frank Spotnitz and Chris Carter
The Cigarette Smoking Man reveals
the whole truth about the conspiracy.
One Son (****) by Frank Spotnitz and Chris Carter
I did not think that any television
program had the ability to shock me. This one did.
Auga Mala (*) by David Ammann
I wanted to like this story because I like guest star Darren
McGavin, but these deeply stupid goings on during a hurricane in Florida made that impossible.
Monday (***) by Vince Gilligan and John Shiban
The X-Files meets Groundhog Day.
Arcadia (**) by Daniel Arkin
In the suburbs, perfection is compulsory.
Alpha (*) by Jeffrey Bell
Bad dog! Bad dog!
Trevor (***) by Jim Guttridge and Ken Hawrliw
Because of the dog named Trevor in the tv
commercial, I kept getting this episode mixed up with the previous one. But Trevor is a really
BAD man who can walk through walls. Since it is not by the regular writers, it may not make the
cut when it is time for the sixth season videos to be released. It is worth taping.
Milagro (**) by Chris Carter, Frank Spotnitz, and John Shiban
A strange young man in the
apartment next to Mulder's writes about murders before they happen. It would be easier to enjoy
this if we hadn't already had the photographer who knows about murders before they happen in
Tithonus earlier this season, not to mention several similar episodes in pervious seasons. Giving
stories weird titles does not make them original.
The Unnatural (**) by David Duchovny
The idea of a player for Negro League baseball
being an alien is a good one, but they should have brought in a writer. The plot is muddy and full
of inconsistencies.
Three of a Kind (***) by Vince Gilligan and John Shiban
A Lone Gunman story, a sequel to
the fifth season episode Unusual Suspects (****). Keep an eye out for a character from
Dreamland.
Field Trip (***) by Vince Gilligan and John Shiban
Man-eating mushrooms cause Mulder
and Scully to hallucinate. Most of the regular supporting characters appear briefly.
Biogenesis, Part One of Two (****) by Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz
At last, a story that
advances the mythos plot from where it left off at the end of One Son. Mysterious artifacts are
discovered in Africa. Alien shapeshifters don't want Mulder to find out the secrets they contain
about the origin of life on earth.
