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The X-Files - The Complete Ninth Season

The X-Files - The Complete Ninth Season

List Price: $99.98
Your Price: $79.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: better than what scully/mulder fans would have you believe
Review: First off, I am a Scully/Mulder fan myself so the title for this review is not a criticism of them. But I think most people did not give season 8 or 9 of the show a chance simply b/c the original duo was no longer together. Just ordered the set and have not received it so I can't comment on the dvd set itself, but from what I remember of the shows when they aired, there were a number that were quite good, Trust No One, Daemonicus, William, Provenance and Providence, Improbable (the Burt Reynolds show) 4-D and a Reyes centered episode (the Underneath?) wherein one man was skinned alive come immediately to mind. Granted some of the shows were a little quirky, but it was the last season and I expect the producers were in an experimental frame of mind at times. I am a fan of Annabeth Gish so was glad to see her added to the cast. I think, she, Gillian Anderson and Robert Patrick had very good chemistry and I especially liked the interaction between Scully and Reyes. I think Scully gained a confidante in Monica Reyes which she lost when Mulder was absent, but it was also interesting to see Scully interacting w/another female agent on a regular basis.

Because it took so long for Fox to release this set, in comparison to the other box sets, I was anticipating the release of season 9 more than any of the others.

For those fans who can view the x-files without the Scully/Mulder pairing on screen, I would recommend this season simply for the stories told.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Loved it
Review: i didn't get to see any of these episodes when it aired on TV... So when I bought this I was skeptical. Would this be any good? Mulder isnt here.

That to me is what The X-Files was about. Mulder and Scullys relationship and their investigations into the paranormal.

I started watching this and to my surprise I was getting just as much enjoyment in this season as I was in the previous Seasons.

Some of my favorite episdoes were, Daemonicus, 4-D, John Doe, Trust No 1, Provenace/Providence, William (very good), and of course the finale The Truth (though I dont think much was accomplished in the finale... 1 hour of recapping the entire series, then 30 minutes of mulder showing scully the date of the final alien invasion.. Hopefully the next movie will wrap things up, though rumor has it that it will be a stand-alone story)

There is a couple that I didnt like, one being The Lord of the Flies. But there is always one or two that I didn't like very much in just about every season.

True, that the show has changed alot in the later seasons... Watch season 3 then watch season 7 or 8. Almost seems different.

In my opinion season 9 is a must-have for anyone that calls themselves an X-Files fan...

Season 9 was the beginning of a new X-Files. They could have continued with Dogget and Reyes.... Note I said that they could have, not that they should have.


Season 9 was a great season and I highly recommend it however there is one thing that should have happened...

The series should have ended after Season 7. So much happened in that season. Mulder found the truth about his sister. The syndicate was pretty much dismantled. Mulder and Scully shared their first kiss.

Then after ending season 7 they should have created one or two more movies to wrap things up. That would have been the smart thing in my opinion. I had trouble getting through Season 8, but I liked Season 9. Now that I watched Sesaon 9 just as eagerly as I did the rest of them, I may have to go back and give season 8 another chance.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: The X Files: The Next Generation
Review: This was the worst season for 2 reasons: First, it's the shortest [only 19 episodes] and second, Mulder is only in one of them. Even so, it is still better than most other shows of its era. Mulder's absence led to more development in the characters of Doggett, Reyes, and the introduction of Brad Follmer, and Lucy Lawless in the incredible role of Shannon McMahon. The mythology episodes are excellent, especially the sequels to the episodes "Biogenesis, The Sixth Extinction, and The Sixth Extinction II: Amor Fati," which are called "Providence," and "Promenance." The crossover Lone Gunmen episode "Jump the Shark" ties up the loose ends from that series, and Burt Reynolds is hillarious in "Improbable." "Lord of the Flies" is a funny spoof of "Jackass." "The Truth" nicely wraps up the show, and throughout the season, old characters return and some die. The special features are also the best of any of the seasons.The X Files is 201 episodes of television history. Having all seasons of it on DVD should tide us over until the next movie. I only hope that they release the one and only season of "The Lone Gunmen" on DVD. They should, since they're doing the same for "Millennium" and "Harsh Realm." By the way, for those of you who reviewed this product before it even came out, I highly suggest that you actually view an item before you go around criticizing it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Mixed emotions...
Review: Ok, right off the bat, this was a good season. Granted, it didn't have Mulder, but it went on just fine without him.
Once again Agent Dogget & Reyes carry the series, and if i may say so do just as good a job as Mulder & Scully.

The positives of this season: Further developement of Dogget & Reyes, the return of Agent Harrison (albeit for only one episode), The Burt Reynolds episode, and the finale which sets up the next X-files movie (whenever it comes out). Their are a few good episodes mixed in here and there (audrey pauley, 4-d)

The negatives are that the episodes seemed too similar. How many times was either reyes or dogget in the hospital in a bad kind of way? And i don't know if i would have gone the direction of the super soldier story, i wish they would have kept it just "regular" aliens like they did the first seven seasons. One thing pissed me off, As much as i love the Mulder character, i don't like David Duchovny, and he has a set of brass balls to include himself in the opening credits of the finale, he should be listed as a guest star if anything.

The first few episodes of the season are confusing. Scully and Skinner seem too bitchy. And AD Kirsch seems to be the polar oposite of himself? They could have explained mulder leaving a little better. They drop AD Fullmer on us out of left field, but we see the tie in later in the season. I like Carey Elwes and hope he shows up in the next movie.

One thing they should have done with the final, left in the Presdient Bush scene (available as a bonus on the last disk)that was awesome!

Overall, it went out with a bang and i was very happy. I await the next movie to find out what happens to everyone. And real fans should too and stop bitching and complaining like a three year old girl with a stubbed toe

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Misunderstood season...
Review: I agree 100% with outerheaven23. Season 9 is a very misunderstood season, and resultantly the John Doggett and Monica Reyes characters have been misunderstood. I have to say I am a big X-files fan! Man I got T-shirts, and have tape recorded many episodes, including many from seasons 8 and 9. I love the 9th season, just as much as I love the 1st season and the entire show in general! The Lone Gunman, Alex Krychek, The Alien Bounty Hunter, Gibson Praise and many more characters return for the last two seasons. I do not understand why people are so dissatisfied with the last two seasons. Perhaps they too misunderstand them! Unfortunately since I have tape recorded many of the X-files episodes, I do not have a fancy episode guide list, so I cannot name my favorite episodes, of seasons 8 & 9. But believe me; most of them are quite good!

John

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Lucy Lawless is the best part of this season
Review: Lucy Lawless' appearance in the first two episodes of this season redeem this dvd set for me. She was terrifying yet gorgeous as Shannon McMahon. It is a shame that she didn't become a regular member of the cast, because her talents were used so briefly.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The most embattled X-Files season
Review: Season Nine of the X-Files was perhaps the most embattled of all the seasons. If the series was to take on new life and new direction that was injected into it at the conclusion of Season Eight, this was to be the big transition year. As had been planned, Scully would have bowed out at the conclusion of the season (hence her reduced role) and Doggett and Reyes would control the reigns (hence their prominence this season). Some sketchy stand-alone episodes and a new conspiracy mythology frought with apparent continuity errors prevented this transition from succeeding.

This season is worth owning for the simple fact that this ultimately became the series conclusion. The final episode "The Truth" wraps up nearly all the plots left dangling. Despite much reconciliation, the fates of our heroes and foes is left uncertain at the end (I won't spoil the premise). The other mythology episodes: "Nothing Important Happened Today I and II", "Trust No1", "Provenance", and "Providence" do not contribute much to the series conclusion since the decision had not yet been made to end the series. As such, these scripts further the conspiracy arc in ways that would never receive much resolution. "Trust No1" stands out as a particularly excellent episode that introduces fan favorite Terry O'Quinn (billed as Terrance Quinn) as the Shadowman (what could have become a Cancerman substitute). "Provenance" and "Providence" also introduce a shadowy figure that never had a chance to grow, though he's believed to not be human. Much of the secondary characters are given episodes to conclude their personal stories: The Lone Gunmen, AD Brad Follmer, and Jeffrey Spender. Other former favorites will return as well.

In the end, I will buy this boxset for two reasons: 1) I own all the others, so I feel I should have it for completeness; and 2) I am very curious to see some of the behind-the-scenes dialogue on how this final season played out.

Potential buyers should note that this is not the best season of the X-Files. It's not the worst either (as some reviewers would suggest). It clearly struggled, but to some extent, it is forgiveable since the ultimate fate of the series hung in the balance for much of the season. Give it a chance. Agents Doggett and Reyes are worthy successors to the legacy of Agents Mulder and Scully. And the much reduced SRP for this DVD boxset makes it a worthy purchase for any X-Files fan.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Solid and Fun!!!
Review: The acting in these episodes is beautiful. Doggett is an extremely strong character and since the series had to go for a while without Mulder, Chris Carter did an admirable job. Gillian Anderson is always worth watching as an actor, no argument about it as far as I am concerned. Some eps may be stronger than others but it is the X-Files through and through. Enjoyable. I wish the show had continued with Doggett and Reyes in a spinoff.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Sad, sad, SAD!
Review: The truth, to borrow a favourite X-Files word, is that this is a dreadful contribution to the X-Files story. The direction that the mythology takes during this season (spurned by equally poor decisions during season 8) makes a joke of the effort put in during the first 6 seasons. Walking the thin line between mystery and mockery was always a reality in the X-Files, but was handled with finesse and humour in earlier seasons. Season 9 is about re-injecting the intense seriousness of season 1 and 2 into a ludicrous and inintelligible storyline.

In fact, worse than unintelligible, the problem with the storyline only deepens when one actually grasps it. From the carelessness of Mulder's re-departure to the "super soldier" nonsense to the outrageous story about Scully and Mulder's son, I found myself yearning after earlier mythology episodes in which I felt puzzled and eager for clarification. This stuff just left me feeling nothing.

I am an ardent X-Phile, and own all box sets up to the end of season 7. I, like many other fans, have spent much time thinking about the mythology arc and trying to piece together the tasty morsels left by early-season episodes. Season 9 was an insult to my intelligence, to the characters and to the institution.

One wonders how Chris Carter or the many longtime writers and directors of the series could stand to see it end like this. And I disagree with another reviewer here who says "how else could it have ended." There were so many other options, and so many different choices. Even given the lamentable decision to carry it on so long, and the departure of DD. Leaving CSM dead, for example. How many times can you pluck the same emotional string before it sounds flat and dull?

I watched the season 9 episodes with continual hope, because X-Files did what no other TV show has done for me: it kept me intrigued and made me think, for years. Even when it turned to self-parody as a way of injecting new energy in Season 5/6, I laughed along with the creators because it was clever. Even Season 8 had a few moments. This is just bad TV, made worse by what it is trashing in the process of dragging itself through it's last hours.

I can't imagine how CC will be able to make a movie continuation to this story (if he does), but I'm sure I'll be holding my cinema seat with white knuckles, along with other fans, in the hope that, somehow, he can redeem this thing. But he's demanded as much, and more, suspension of disbelief from me as I am willing to give. From here on in, the gloves are off Mr C.

The truth is, I can't bear it any more.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Good Season
Review: I don't know why the series had to end. Except for a couple of dumb episodes (Scary Monsters for example) this was a good season. It provides closure to many unfinished story lines but it also gives the unfortunate end to the Lone Gunmen. As an X-Files fan I reccomend this season and the other 8 seasons as well.


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