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Interpersonal relations between Mulder, Scully, Skinner,
and Alex Krychek evolve to startling levels throughout these
three seasons, which only attests to the show’s greatness—and
why it has, and will, continue to thrive as an audience favorite.
While there are some fantastic episodes here, the mythology
aspect of the series—which some loved and some hated—tends
to grate on ones nerves after a while, and as a result, this
set shouldn’t be consumed in one or two sittings.
The conspiracies surrounding the show’s mythology angle
have grown so convoluted that they’re virtually impenetrable;
any relevant information given seems to contradict previous
information, or is simply so complex that it goes in one ear
and out the other.
On a technical level, though, we’re introduced to the
ever-evolving techniques used to create the X-files. The stories
here are more complex than in previous seasons and by season
five the show takes on a more cinematic aesthetic. But, ultimately,
it’s the characters we care about here, and in these
three seasons, we’re introduced to fascinating facets
of the men and women we’ve grown to love.
Assistant Director Skinner proves an increasingly complex
character; his moral ambiguity and questionable loyalty makes
for not only good TV, but for a truly interesting character
arc. And while Mulder and Scully’s characters flop between
right and wrong, belief and fact, their growing intimacy and
friendship rank among the all time best television duos.
Although this set isn’t as thematically consistent as
the “Abduction” set was, it does expand the mythologies
greatly, and is comparable to the first set.
As with the first set, this is a nice addition to any fan’s
library, provided that they don’t already own the season
box sets. But if you’re a die-hard X-Phile, you’ll
probably want this set for the doc and commentaries. Plus,
it’s nice to have the mythology episodes in one—or
in this case, four—sets.
DVD Extras (Region 1)
Like the first set, “Black Oil” includes a few
commentaries, which occasionally provide insight into the
show’s mythos, but usually provide anecdotes and the
occasional silence. The 'Threads of Mythology' document manages
to strike a nice balance between sharing behind the scenes
secrets and explaining facets of the black oil angle.
Conclusion: Movie 90% Extras: 75%
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