The X-Files Virgin’s Diary – “The scientific nature of the whammy.”
(Season 3, Episodes 17-20)
These episodes were almost more fun than they had any right to be. No mythology and I didn’t care a whit. Instead, I got to see a lighter side of The X-Files with an incredibly playful storytelling technique.
The Pusher is one of the best characters they’ve come up with. Even though I never watched the series, I had friends who did, and sometimes I’d be at their house when it was on, though I was usually reading, writing or otherwise occupied. And yet, somehow, segments from “Pusher” stuck with me through the years. Read the rest of this entry »
The X-Files Virgin’s Diary – The black oil cometh
(Season 3, Episodes 13-16)
The energy and excitement in the middle of season three is definitely there. We’re kind of treading water as far as the bigger story goes, but I think The X-Files has found its groove as a monster-of-the-week show. Right now, those episodes are almost more enjoyable than the “MythArc” installments.
I do enjoy getting deeper into the mystery, but that material is so dense and heavy that it’s almost a relief when it’s just some random demon possession, or planetary alignment wackiness. Read the rest of this entry »
The X-Files Virgin’s Diary – From stigmata to cockroaches
(Season 3, Episodes 9-12)
From serious to surprisingly wacky, the middle of season three saw The X-Files continue a string of strong episodes. Methinks the show has definitely found its stride.
The dynamic between Mulder and Scully is so great to watch, especially when they’re separated from one another. Thank god for cell phones, or most of this wouldn’t work. In the first season, when they were trying to track one another down by pay phones and hotel room phones, it was much more complicated. Technology is The X-Files‘ friend. Read the rest of this entry »
The X-Files Virgin’s Diary – The Syndicate rears its powerful head
(Season 3, Episodes 1-4)
Parts two and three of the death of Fox Mulder, tons of revelations about the underlying conspiracy substructure and appearances by three familiar faces in guest roles. What a fun way to start the third season.
3.1 – “The Blessing Way (Part 2 of 3)” [MythArc] – SEASON PREMIERE!
(Original Air Date: September 22, 1995) It looks like this was their first look at what a feature length X-Files film could be like. And it worked, so long as they were sticking with the major conspiracy storylines; something I hear the latest movie didn’t do.
The X-Files Virgin’s Diary – Invisibility, aging, mutation and possession
(Season 2, Episodes 18-21)
Not a mention of The X-Files “MythArc” throughout these four episodes. No sightings of the Cigarette Smoking Man, nor Skinner. The closest we got was animal abductions, which may or may not have been extraterrestrial.
But it didn’t matter. These were some good yarns. As an anthology horror series, The X-Files had the potential to be one of the best. From animal abductees, rapid aging, circus freaks and a bizarre demonic twin possession, the tension just kept right on moving. I’d been getting worried that The X-Files was starting to get boring before this, but that’s certainly not the case anymore. Read the rest of this entry »
The X-Files Virgin’s Diary – Horny old people and crazy confused kids
(Season 2, Episodes 9-12)
Looks like we’ve hit the midseason doldrums a little early here in the second year of The X-Files. It’s a pretty common phenomenon that a lot of shows seem to flounder around in the middle of a 22-episode season before refinding their focus toward the end of the season.
But The X-Files was supposed to be exempt from this, considering that their monster-of-the-week episodes were often considered some of their strongest episodes. So what happened? We did get a “MythArc” episode. Surely that was great.
The X-Files Virgin’s Diary – Putting Scully through the wringer
(Season 2, Episodes 5-8)
Thanks for all the tips explaining Scully’s near absence this season after last week’s column. Now that I know she was pregnant, I can’t help but notice all the chest-up angles and seated shots she’s been getting. It was clever of the writers to ultimately work her pregnancy into the story (that pregnant belly looked so real!). I’m assuming they also worked her out of the plot for a bit so she could have the baby. Well done all around on that.
All in all, this was a pretty intense block of episodes. Aside from one vampiric diversion for Mulder, there was a singular focus driving through all four installments, culminating in a bizarre climax that I’m sure we’ll be hearing more about. Oh, and they got to spend an entire episode showcasing how enormous Anderson’s breasts had gotten.
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