The X-Files Mythology, Volume 4 – Super Soldiers
The X-Files Mythology, Volume 4 – Super Soldiers | |
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Season 4 | |
No. of episodes | 14 |
Season chronology |
The X-Files Mythology – Volume 4 collection is the fourth DVD release containing selected episodes from the
The collection contains seven episodes from the eighth season and seven from the ninth. The episodes follow the investigations of paranormal-related cases, or
The collection contains the final episodes in the series' mythology, or fictional overarching story. The release features the closure of most of the series' long-running arcs. Production for the episodes was drastically affected after co-star Duchovny left the show. Released on November 22, 2005, the collection received mixed to negative reviews from critics. Adam Baldwin, Chris Owens, Nicholas Lea, Laurie Holden, and William B. Davis all play supporting roles in the collection.
Plot summary
When
Reluctantly accepting Krycek's assistance, Mulder, Doggett and Skinner learn that an alien virus recently created in secret by members of the
Mulder goes into hiding, Scully is again reassigned to the
Doggett finds a strange disfigured man in the X-Files office. Initially, Doggett believes the man is Mulder, but he is revealed to
Production
After settling his contract dispute with
After the end of the eighth season, Duchovny announced that he would leave the show for good.[31] In addition, lead actress Anderson's contract also expired at the end of the eighth season.[31] Anderson had expressed her growing disinterest in the series ever since the beginning of the eighth season, saying "For a lot of people, if you don't like your job, you can quit your job, I don't necessarily have that option."[32] Anderson cited the fact that "eight years is a long time" as a contributing factor to her indifference.[32] However, Carter soon changed his position and announced he would remain on the show and continue only if Anderson agreed to do another season. Eventually, Fox offered Anderson a "generous" incentive to stay, resulting in the retention of Carter and Anderson and a final season of the show.[31] With the departure of Duchovny and limited use of Anderson, the show garnered much criticism by fans and critics alike, saying the bond between Mulder and Scully was what actually kept the show together for the first seven seasons of the show.[33]
Going into the ninth season, the producers decided to drastically change the show. The style of the opening credits in "Nothing Important Happened Today" were changed from the original credits, which, more or less, had been the same for the previous eight seasons. The credits included new graphics as well as new cards for Gish and Pileggi.[34] The finale episode of the series, "The Truth", was written by series creator Carter; he later noted, "It's the end—you don't get another chance. So you'd better put everything you've ever wanted to put in into the episode. There were things to distract us from what was really going on. The band was breaking up."[35] He expounded on the idea, saying, "Frank [Spotnitz] and I [decided] it was probably time to go […] it was strange to be writing these things knowing it was the last time we'd see Scully doing certain things or hear Mulder saying certain things."[36] Spotnitz explained, "What was kind of nice that Chris made the announcement in January is that we had times to wrap our minds around the end and plan for it and give all of the characters their due."[36] Gish later said, "I have a great respect for the elegant in which they're closing the curtain".[37] Bruce Harwood called the finale the "passing of a generation".[37]
Reception
The collection, as well as the episodes themselves, received mixed to negative reviews from critics. Monica Kuebler of Exclaim! gave the collection a rather negative review and noted that it closed on a "lacklustre note".[38] Furthermore, she wrote that the main issue with the release was that "the hardcore fans [of the series] had come to see The X-Files as Mulder and Scully and understandably weren't quick to swallow a couple of new characters running the department."[38] Ultimately, she concluded that the poor episodes and the lack of bonus features included with the collection were proof that "Fox seems eager to wash their hands of the disappointing demise of the show".[38]
Sabadino Parker from PopMatters wrote negatively about the mythology of the last two seasons, noting that "story itself became even more convoluted" and that "the past two seasons should never have happened."[39] Entertainment Weekly reviewer Ken Tucker speculated that Chris Carter was the only one who seemed to understand the show's complex mytharc.[40] Joyce Millman from The New York Times called the storyline involving Scully's child—which left her "haunted and irritable"—"a sad misuse of the radiant Anderson".[41] The A.V. Club was highly critical of the final season and its mythology story, calling them a "clumsy mish-mash of stuff that had once worked and new serialized storylines about so-called 'super soldiers'".[42]
Episodes
No. in set | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code | ||||||
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1 | 174 | "Per Manum" | Kim Manners | Chris Carter & Frank Spotnitz | February 18, 2001 | 8ABX13 | ||||||
When a mysterious man claims his wife was fertilised with an alien baby, and then killed and the baby stolen; Doggett is skeptical, while Scully realises that the woman's story is similar to her own. While Doggett attempts to understand the motives of his friend and government contact Knowle Rohrer, Scully questions her own pregnancy and its conception. | ||||||||||||
2 | 175 | " This is Not Happening " | Kim Manners | Chris Carter & Frank Spotnitz | February 25, 2001 | 8ABX14 | ||||||
Doggett calls on another agent, Monica Reyes, to assist in the Mulder case, but Scully's fears about finding him come to a head with the sudden recovery of abductees seized at the same time. | ||||||||||||
3 | 176 | "Deadalive" | Tony Wharmby | Chris Carter & Frank Spotnitz | April 1, 2001 | 8ABX15 | ||||||
Three months after Mulder's funeral, a former abductee awakens from the dead and Scully pins her hopes on resurrecting her partner; while Skinner is offered a loathsome deal by Krycek. | ||||||||||||
4 | 177 | "Three Words" | Tony Wharmby | Chris Carter & Frank Spotnitz | April 8, 2001 | 8ABX16 | ||||||
Mulder secretly conducts his own investigation after a man is gunned down on the White House lawn attempting to inform the President of a planned alien invasion. However, he is soon in over his head as he tries to expose further evidence of colonization. | ||||||||||||
5 | 179 | "Vienen" | Rod Hardy | Steven Maeda | April 29, 2001 | 8ABX18 | ||||||
Mulder and Doggett are asked to investigate several deaths aboard an oil rig, but Mulder is convinced the rig is carrying an alien black oil; meanwhile a heavily pregnant Scully attempts to protect Mulder in absentia. | ||||||||||||
6 | 181 | "Essence" | Kim Manners | Chris Carter | May 13, 2001 | 8ABX20 | ||||||
Mulder, Skinner and Doggett come up against the horrible consequences of the Syndicate's pact with the aliens, as a hybrid attempts to erase all evidence of the tests—including Scully's soon-to-be-born baby. The men call on Reyes, and—reluctantly—Alex Krycek to help them. | ||||||||||||
7 | 182 | "Existence" | Kim Manners | Chris Carter | May 20, 2001 | 8ABX21 | ||||||
Mulder, Doggett and Skinner face off with the alien replicants as they desperately try to expose the conspiracy within the FBI. Meanwhile Scully goes into labour in a remote location, but Reyes soon learns they may be no safer there. | ||||||||||||
8 | 183 | "Nothing Important Happened Today" | Kim Manners | Chris Carter & Frank Spotnitz | November 11, 2001 | 9ABX01 | ||||||
Doggett begins his investigation of Deputy Director Kersh and search for Mulder. He encounters obstructions at every turn and no one is willing to cooperate. | ||||||||||||
9 | 184 | "Nothing Important Happened Today II" | Tony Wharmby | Chris Carter & Frank Spotnitz | November 18, 2001 | 9ABX02 | ||||||
Shannon McMahon, a former Marine associate of Doggett's, reveals to Doggett that she is a "Super Soldier". This leads them to a clandestine laboratory where secret experiments are taking place on board on a naval ship. | ||||||||||||
10 | 188 | "Trust No 1" | Tony Wharmby | Chris Carter & Frank Spotnitz | January 6, 2002 | 9ABX06 | ||||||
Scully is hopeful about reuniting with Mulder when a complete stranger offers new information about what drove him into hiding. Yet her trust in the stranger may place Mulder in even more danger. | ||||||||||||
11 | 191 | "Provenance" | Kim Manners | Chris Carter & Frank Spotnitz | March 3, 2002 | 9ABX09 | ||||||
When rubbings from the spaceship resurface, the FBI hides its investigation from the X-Files. Meanwhile, Scully is forced to take drastic measures when she discovers a threat to William. | ||||||||||||
12 | 192 | "Providence" | Chris Carter | Chris Carter & Frank Spotnitz | March 10, 2002 | 9ABX10 | ||||||
Distrustful of both Skinner and Follmer, Scully circumvents the FBI's investigation into the kidnapping and does her own, assisted by Reyes and the Lone Gunmen. Her fears are heightened when she learns Mulder may be dead, and William is kidnapped by the alien cult. | ||||||||||||
13 | 198 | "William" | David Duchovny | Story by : David Duchovny & Frank Spotnitz & Chris Carter Teleplay by : Chris Carter | April 28, 2002 | 9ABX16 | ||||||
Doggett finds a strange disfigured man in the X-Files office, and—on a whim of Scully's—they test his DNA. But the surprising answers they find become even more surprising when William's life is put on the line. | ||||||||||||
14 | 201 | "The Truth" | Kim Manners | Chris Carter | May 19, 2002 | 9ABX19 | ||||||
15 | 202 | 9ABX20 | ||||||||||
Mulder is placed under military arrest, but with the surprising help of Deputy Director Kersh, Scully, Reyes, Doggett, Marita Covarrubias, Gibson Praise, and Jeffrey Spender, Mulder's broken out. Mulder and Scully travel to New Mexico where The Smoking Man (William B. Davis ). |
Special features
The X-Files Mythology, Volume 4 – Super Soldiers | |||||||
Set details[43] | Special features[43] | ||||||
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Release dates | |||||||
Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 3 | Region 4 | ||||
September 22, 2005 | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Notes
References
Footnotes
- ^ Kim Manners (director); Chris Carter (writer). "Per Manum". The X-Files. Season 8. Episode 13. Fox.
- ^ "Per Manum". BBC Cult. BBC. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
- ^ Kim Manners (director); Chris Carter & Frank Spotnitz (writers). "This Is Not Happening". The X-Files. Season 8. Episode 14. Fox.
- ^ "This Is Not Happening". BBC Cult. BBC. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ Tony Wharmby (director); Chris Carter & Frank Spotnitz (writers). "Deadalive". The X-Files. Season 8. Episode 15. Fox.
- ^ "Deadalive". BBC Cult. BBC. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ^ Rod Hardy (director); Steven Maeda (writer). "Vienen". The X-Files. Season 8. Episode 17. Fox.
- ^ "Vienen". BBC Cult. BBC. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
- ^ Kim Manners (director); Chris Carter (writer). "Essence". The X-Files. Season 8. Episode 20. Fox.
- ^ "Essence". BBC Cult. BBC. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
- ^ Kim Manners (director); Chris Carter (writer). "Existence". The X-Files. Season 8. Episode 21. Fox.
- ^ "Existence". BBC Cult. BBC. Retrieved October 1, 2009.
- ^ Kim Manners & Tony Wharmby (directors); Chris Carter & Frank Spotnitz (writers). "Nothing Important Happened Today". The X-Files. Season 9. Episode 19 & 20. Fox.
- ^ "Nothing Important Happened Today I". BBC Cult. BBC. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ^ "Nothing Important Happened Today II". BBC Cult. BBC. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ^ Tony Wharmby (director); Chris Carter & Frank Spotnitz (writers). "Trust No 1". The X-Files. Season 9. Episode 6. Fox.
- ^ "Trust No 1". BBC Cult. BBC. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- ^ Kim Manners (director); Chris Carter & Frank Spotnitz (writers). "Provenance". The X-Files. Season 9. Episode 9. Fox.
- ^ "Provenance". BBC Cult. BBC. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- ^ Chris Carter (director); Chris Carter & Frank Spotnitz (writers). "Providence". The X-Files. Season 9. Episode 10. Fox.
- ^ "Providence". BBC Cult. BBC. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- ^ David Duchovny (director); Chris Carter, Frank Spotnitz & Duchovny (writers). "William". The X-Files. Season 9. Episode 16. Fox.
- ^ "William". BBC Cult. BBC. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
- ^ Kim Manners (director); Chris Carter (writer). "The Truth". The X-Files. Season 9. Episode 19 & 20. Fox.
- ^ "The Truth". BBC Cult. BBC. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
- ^ "The Truth, Part Two". BBC Cult. BBC. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
- ^ "Duchovny quits X-Files". BBC News. BBC. 18 May 2001. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
- ^ Elber, Lynn (18 May 2000). "Fox Mulder 'Ready to Get Back to Work'". Space.com. TechMediaNetwork. Archived from the original on 24 September 2004. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
- ^ McAlister, Nancy (28 February 2001). "'X-Files' viewers wait for resolution". The Florida Times-Union. Morris Communications. pp. C2.
- ^ Hurwitz and Knowles, p. 189
- ^ a b c Hurwitz and Knowles, p. 197
- ^ a b "'X-Files' Appeal Waning for Co-Star Anderson". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Block Communications. 12 May 2001. p. B9. Retrieved 22 March 2012. (subscription required)
- News Corporation. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.
- ^ Hurwritz and Knowles, pp. 209–216
- ^ 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.
- ^ 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.
- ^ a b c Kuebler, Monica (December 2005). "The X-Files: Super Soldiers". Exclaim!. Ian Danzig. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ^ Parker, Sabadino (May 15, 2002). "I Don't Believe It". PopMatters. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
- Time Inc. Retrieved August 17, 2009.
- ^ Millman, Joyce (October 10, 2002). "The Nearly Ex Files". The New York Times. Retrieved August 17, 2009.
- ^ Adams, Sam; et al. (May 7, 2012). "One Bad Apple... We Can Live With That: 31 Rotten Parts of Otherwise Fantastic Wholes". The A.V. Club. The Onion. Retrieved May 19, 2012.
- ^ Fox.)
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Bibliography
- Hurwitz, Matt; Knowles, Chris (2008). The Complete X-Files. Insight Editions. ISBN 978-1-933784-80-9.