Editorial Reviews and
DVD Information about The X-Files - The Complete Fifth Season (Slim Set)
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The midpoint of what would be a nine-season show, the fifth season of The X-Files (the first to be put on DVD in anamorphic widescreen format) gives fans a heavy heaping of what they love. For the mythology buffs, riveting episodes from the season bookends "Redux" and "The End" to several episodes in between tease with new revelations about the vast government conspiracies and alien invasion plot lines sketched in earlier seasons. But enough questions are left unanswered for the theatrical X-Files movie, which was released the subsequent summer, and the seasons that followed. Supporting characters like the Lone Gunmen, Agent Krycek, the Pusher Robert Modell, and Fox's father and sister Bill and Samantha Mulder are flushed out in more detail in several episodes that occasionally jump back in time to cover the prehistory of the X-files. New chess pieces are introduced, each raising new questions: the clairvoyant child Gibson Praise, Agent Spender, faceless alien resistance fighters with pyromaniacal tendencies, a child who may be Scully's, and Mulder's old flame, agent Diana Fowley (Mimi Rogers). All the time, no one knows who will be assassinated next, who is or isn't dead, just who isn't potentially a child of the Cigarette Smoking Man, and why the base of the neck is everyone's vulnerable spot. The creature feature stand-alone episodes vary in quality, but all are redeemed by the outrageously funny self-parody episode "Bad Blood," a fan favorite that guest stars Luke Wilson as a small-town sheriff who catches Scully's eye. Finally, "shippers" (fans who would love nothing better than to see Mulder and Scully act upon their feelings for each other) get a heavy dose of the usual sexual innuendo and lingering, tender glances between the attractive costars. Mimi Rogers and Luke Wilson incite palpable jealousy between the leads; the appearance of a wedding band on Mulder's hand in a back story hints at stories not told; and the usual extreme and dimly lit crises illustrate just how far Mulder and Scully will go for each other. In the end, the complexities of their relationship may be the most tense and intriguing of all the mysteries explored by this epic television series. --Eugene Wei
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Customer Reviews for The X-Files - The Complete Fifth Season (Slim Set)
4.5; a good hit-and-miss season
The fifth season of the X-Files is one of those kind of seasons where if there's any moments that aren't as stellar as previous years gets at least a bit excused. Reason is that this was mainly the time when the crew were also working on the X-Files feature film, "Fight the Future". As such, certain episodes were either entirely centered on one of the agents, or they appeared in a support kind of way and not actually directly involved with the case. So trying to get a big-budget movie up and going plus a season's worth of episodes can cause some strain but instead of a lackluster season mainly being blamed for bad writing, is this a season that indirectly suffered or is it good while also being a little flawed.
Redux: Taking place after the shocking cliffhanger from "Gethsemane", Mulder tries to find clues to Scully's illness in a government building. Great opener. 9/10
Redux II: Scully's health continues to get worse, a bizarre cure is found, a surprise guest returns and a mole is revealed (intense scene this one). 9.5/10
Unusual Suspects: Intriguing but okay episode about the first start of the Lone Gunmen and their introduction to Mulder. 6/10
Detour: In the spirit of "Darkness Falls", the agents are lost/trapped within the woods by a group of near-invisible creatures. 9.5/10
The Post-Modern Prometheus: Quirky, bizarre episode of a demented town with a Cher-loving Frankenstein. 6.5/10
Christmas Carol: Scully investigates a case that has her finding a young girl and also revisiting memories of her sister. 9/10
Emily: One of their best episodes as Scully tries to find what's wrong with Emily and Mulder tries to find a cure. 10/10
Kitsunegari: One of the series' best villains basically gets whipped and becomes a pansy and somebody new is introduced. Disappointing. 5/10
Schizogeny: Meh episode in a trio of meh episodes about an abuse sufferer who uses a strange method to get her revenge...and it involves trees. Yeah. 5.5/10
Chinga: Written by Stephen King, this possessed doll episode is alright but could've benefited from additional writing. 6/10
Kill Switch: Intriguing but almost forgettable episode about a particularly violent A.I. system. 6/10
Bad Blood: Along with "War of the Corpophages" and "Humbug" as one of the funniest comedies in this Rashomon vampire tale. 9.5/10
Patient X: Cool mythology episode as a strange alien race is found and Scully is introduced to a fellow abductee. Mulder's shift to super skeptic is jarring to say the least. 8/10
The Red and the Black: Another cool one as Scully tries to remember what happened on the bridge at the cliffhanger of "Patient X". 8/10
Travellers: Slightly forgettable, slightly good episode about an FBI agent in the 1950's investigating a case that involved Mulder's father. 7/10
Mind's Eye: Great episode about a blind woman somehow able to see through the eyes of a killer. Awesome performance by Lili Taylor. 9/10
All Souls: Another good one that explores Scully's faith, closure from "Emily" and girls who are targeted by dark forces. 8/10
The Pine Bluff Variant: Good concept but slow episode about Mulder undercover with a terrorist cell in possession of a nasty virus. 6.5/10
Folie a Deux: "madness shared by two" in French, Mulder is suspected of being delusional when he keeps seeing visions of a creature. 8/10
The End: A young boy who was the apparent target of an assassination attempt uncovers a new addition to the mythos, returning characters and new ones and a surprising end to the titular files (sadly spoiled on the menu). 9/10
For all the meh and bad episodes that sometimes show up on this season, it's hard not to fault it entirely because of the filming of the film as well as this was the end of the Vancouver era and soon started the Los Angeles era. So while there's some definate goodies on here, there's also the occasional clunker.The X-Files - The Complete Fifth Season (Slim Set)
Disc 5 is BAD
Disc 5 will not LOAD/PLAY. Long story made short: I'm stuck with it, and only recourse is to deal with the manufacturer, for which I can't find any direct contact info.
Enjoy my money Fox DVDThe X-Files - The Complete Fifth Season (Slim Set)
The Bedrock Is Shaken
During the previous four seasons of The X-Files, a similar theme was followed in all of the show's "mythology" (or over-arching) episodes: Agent Mulder is the unshakeable believer in aliens, while Agent Scully is the staunch skeptic. In this Fifth Season, that formula is thrown out the window. Let's quickly examine the three types of X-Files episodes in order to see where the show deviates from that traditional pattern:
Mythology: Picking up from the shocking (yet rather anticlimatic, as you known Mulder really won't be killed off) Season Four finale, in "Redux" and "Redux II" Mulder is given a completely different interpretation about his paranormal findings at that point, perhaps debasing his entire life's work. Later this season (in "Patient X" and "The Red and the Black") Mulder remains skeptical while Scully is drawn (in a very personal way) towards a very Mulder-like paranormal explanation of certain events. Eventually, in "The End", Mulder is again convinced of the continued existance of extraterrestrial life, but that realization is ultimately too late in coming to prevent a terrible catastrophe from striking the X-Files.
Also, "Christmas Carol" and "Emily" are the first Scully-based mythology episodes on the show, in which Scully discovers more information regarding her earlier abduction. While some X-Files fans (including myself) believe that Scully has a difficult time carrying an episode that does not also heavily involve Mulder, other fans find these two episodes to pack a heavy emotional punch.
Stand-Alone: As usual, the quality of the stand-alone X-Files episodes this season is quite high. "The Post-Modern Prometheus" is my favorite stand-alone episode of the entire show, "Kitsunegari" marks the return of an old nemesis, and "Chinga" (penned by master writer Stephen King) has you on the edge of your seat. Also, "All Souls" provides a much deeper and fascinating look into Scully's religious battles than has every been provided before.
Comedic: This season, only "Bad Blood" could be considered a true X-Files comedy episode. Even so, it does not disappoint, rivaling "Jose Chung" of the Third Season for funniest episode in the show's history.
To conclude, the Fifth Season of the X-Files throws a wrench into the seemingly established beliefs of the show's past. While the Scully plotlines are hit-or-miss depending on who you ask, the torment of Agent Mulder in trying to piece together one truth out of multiple lies will have you rooting for his cause harder than ever. The final scene of the season will leave your jaw on the floor, wondering how the show can ever be the same.The X-Files - The Complete Fifth Season (Slim Set)
An Intimate Season. "Travelers ?"
I think season 4 was a shade better because, it had 24 episodes to this seasons 20. But they were busy making the movie, which was somewhat disappointing when compared to the series. Like season 4, this one was a roller coaster ride. It had emotional angst, humor, suspense, special effects, action, & some unexpected surprises. The relationship between Scully & Mulder is what stood out the most, there was more depth which gave them even more chemistry.
This is the first season to be presented in anamorphic widescreen, there are 6 discs: 5 with 4 episodes each & 1 with extras. The info book has quotes, chapter stops, images, & other info for all the episodes.
Here are some of the best episodes. Redux 1&2: mulder has shot himself? No, he is actually searching for a cure for Scully's cancer. He has also lost his belief in the validity of aliens. He now thinks they are just a government cover for something more sinister. Surprise, "Cigarette Smoking Man" is shot!
Unusual Suspects: A back in time sequence where Mulder meets & becomes friends with the lone gunmen, a very well paced episode.
Detour: Scully & Mulder are hunted through the woods by a camoflaged humanoid being.
Christmas Carol/Emily: Scully helps someone & comes across a suicide that may actually be a murder? She later finds a dying girl who may be related to her? While Mulder tries to find information on her condition while Scully fights to keep her alive.
Schizogeny: is nature killing people? Are the abusive parents reaping what they sowed? A good suspense thriller.
Bad Blood: Mulder kills a vampire. They get sued while each agent tells the story from very different perspectives. A dark, goofy episode.
Patient X & The Black Oil: Jeff spender & his mother Cassandra are introduced. She is a multiple abductee, & her son is full of surprises. while the ever devious Krycek faces the syndicate over the vaccine to the Black oil.
Travelers: a flashback episode where Arthur Dales appears. This may have been the best episode of the season?
All Souls: some deformed girls are struck down in identical ways, while Scully deals with her tormented emotions over Emily's loss. A true sci-fi classic.
Pine Bluff Variant: has Mulder gone bad? I won't tell, just watch this one.
The End: The mind reading boy Gibson Praise appears. As the boy is hunted {by who?} the drama grows. An exceptional episode with many twists. There could have been more extras, but this is still a fine collection from a five star show.The X-Files - The Complete Fifth Season (Slim Set)
X-Files
I sent this DVD set to my daughter as a gift. She is an X-Files fan and enjoys the show very much.The X-Files - The Complete Fifth Season (Slim Set)
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