Starring: X-Files, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson
Encoding: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. This DVD will probably
NOT be viewable in other countries. Read more about DVD formats.)
Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Box set
Rated: NR
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
DVD Features:
All New Documentary - "The Truth About Season Three"
12 interviews with Chris Carter
Special effects clips
Behind the scenes
Deleted scenes
Behind the truth spots on 17 episodes
Promo spots on all 24 episodes
DVD-ROM game - "Unholy Alliances"
Full-screen format
Editorial From Amazon.com
By its third season, The X-Files had grown from a cult hit to a
global phenomenon, becoming the most popular show in many countries
outside the U.S. Armed with the knowledge that the show was here
to stay, series creator Chris Carter expanded its mythology, and
the 24 episodes in this boxed set represent arguably the strongest
of all the X-Files seasons. As usual, stand-alone episodes explored
the paranormal and sometimes terrifying possibilities in mythology,
pop culture, and religion. Darin Morgan helps the show to mature
by expanding its use of humor, directing classic episodes such as
"Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose" (featuring a fabulous
performance from Peter Boyle) and "Jose Chung's 'From Outer
Space.'" Meanwhile, two-part episodes continue to delve into
the X-Files own mythology, introducing the alien black oil, the
implant in Scully's neck, the mysterious Agent X, and the shape-shifting
Jeremiah Smith. But following the complex mythology is not crucial
to enjoying the show. The strength of the X-Files lies not in resolution
but in feeding the paranoia of its rabid audience by revealing conspiracies
that linger in the mind as unanswered questions. Series creator
Carter realized wisely that fans did not look to the X-Files to
explain the unexplained, but to question that which they thought
they understood. The third season was effective because it hinted
that while the truth was out there, it was more complex, sinister,
and amazing than even Mulder had imagined.
Commentaries and deleted scenes are available for some of the 24
episodes, and the last disc in the set contains numerous TV spots
and interviews with the creators about the filming of the third
season. -- Eugene Wei
