The X-Files - The Complete Second Season (Slim Set)

I wanted to point out something technical about the slim set discs that I bought. If you're looking for insight into the episodes or characters - please look elsewhere.

When I put the first disc of Season One into my DVD player, it started the "loading" process and gave me a disc error after about one minute. Instead of cursing Fox (well, I did it later anyway) I turned the player off, leaving the disc inside. After a couple of minutes, I turned my DVD player on and Viola! I heard the X-Files theme and saw the menus (after the obligatory FBI copyright infringement warnings).

For those wondering, the DVD player in question above is a Philips Progressive Scan. The same problem occurred on a newer Panasonic player. No glitches materialized when I tried the discs on the Sony or AKAI players. In all cases, I was eventually able to get to the episodes. With the first two the screen sometimes showed up scrambled and the menus inaccessible. On other occasions I was able to access a root menu similar to one you would see if you "explore" the DVD contents on a PC (Video_TS files, etc.), though the players would not load any content from these menus. Speaking of PC viewing, I experienced no problems with any of the discs on my PC and all four programs my PC has to play DVDs functioned perfectly.

PLEASE DON'T READ INTO THIS TOO MUCH. I don't work for Fox - I'm not trying to encourage sales of the more expensive sets. This was just a personal experience I had, and it seemed to occur less frequently with Seasons 4 - 9. My uneducated opinion: the equipment I have isn't top of the line, and maybe wasn't equipped to handle the way the content was compressed. I was impressed that 4, sometimes 5 episodes were squeezed on one disc. That's three - almost four hours of content. I know - dual layer DVDs and blah, blah, blah. But c'mon - even Lord of the Rings - Return of the King was issued on 2 discs! (By the way, the content looked and sounded great.)

Another side note: Seasons 1 - 4 that I got were full frame, and 5 - 9 are widescreen. At first I thought I had missed the option when purchasing these discs, but these are the only way I've found them at retail stores and online. Nothing major; I just thought I was losing my mind at first. (Which is still a possibility.) I can't remember if they aired this way on television - I just noticed that the cinematography got revved up a bit starting with Season 5. If this observation is incorrect, someone please feel free to correct me.

Okay. If you have read this entire review give yourself a pat on the back, a cookie, I dunno - watch some old Doctor Who episodes or something. A better price, better packaging, and better for you. (They were giving out a carton of Morley's with the bigger sets, right?) By the way - the 5 stars is based on my overall X-Files enjoyment. Sure, there are episodes I can skip through. But for me, it's good bang for the buck. Enjoy!

most of the negative reviews for this product result from the fact that it's basically a repackaged version of the more expensive edition that was released previously. despite being in full screen (it was shot in widescreen, but they dont' show up on dvd in 16X9 until season 5) and not having much in the way of bonus features, this is an excellent DVD set. the X-files is one of the best shows that has been on TV and the second season is a dramatic improvement over the hit-and-miss first season (but not as good as season 4, which is one of the strongest seasons).

I love it! Saved $$ and I get to finally catch up on the X-Files!

MORE LIKE ****1/2 STARS

NOTES: This review is for the original "thick-pak" set. There are some SEASON ONE spoilers in this review.

As season 1 ended, the X-Files section had been shut down, and Mulder and Scully went their separate ways. Mulder's confidante, Deep Throat, had been killed as Scully watched helplessly; and Mulder still had no concrete evidence pertaining to his sister's abduction.

David Duchovny (Fox Mulder) and Gillian Anderson (Dana Scully) immediately begin acting with confidence and seriousness towards their characters. This is very evident in episode 1 - "Little Green Men".

Not much can be said in this review of season 2, as it is just as good as season 1, if not better.

Season 1 was a springboard for season 2 which fleshes out the main characters, and delves deeper into their pasts to find out what makes them tick. The main difference between 1 and 2 are the numerous episodes devoted to character development and not actual X-Files.

New character Alex Krycek (Nicholas Lea) is Mulder's new partner as Scully returns to performing medicine. Taking Deep Throat's position is Mr. X (played by Steven Williams), and Assistant Director Skinner gets much more exposure in season 2 (a function of Gillian Anderson who was pregnant at the time).

There are 2 two-part episodes: "Duane Berry" and "Ascension", & "Colony" and "End Game". These 4 episodes definitely have a short movie feel to them.

Again, like in season 1, the guest stars in season two are bountiful and surprising: Tony Todd ('Candyman'), Steve Railsback ('Lifeforce'), Leland Orser ('Se7en'), John Savage ('The Deer Hunter'), Tony Shalhoub (TV's 'Monk') and more. All these big names give the series credibility which would attract many more top-notch hotshots in future seasons.

Season 2 is a very good follow-up to season 1, and proves the series was not content to sit on its laurels, but delve deeper into the main characters and way-out X-Files subject matter.

My favorite episodes from season one are:
The Host - Maybe the most disturbing monster yet,
Red Museum - Why are kids disappearing, and then reappearing with "He/She Is One" written on their backs?,
Irresistible - Serial killer Donald Addie Pfaster (Nick Chinlund) is downright horrifying,
Død Kalm - You've NEVER seen Mulder and Scully like this,
Soft Light - What a weird concept,
Our Town - Chicken anyone?, and
Anasazi - The last episode.

Least favorites are:
One Breath - Too slow,
Fresh Bones - A rip-off of 'The Serpent and the Rainbow", and
The Calusari - This one rips-off 'The Omen' and 'The Exorcist'.

The audio is in dolby surround; and extras include a 15-minute documentary, show overviews by Carter, behind-the scenes clip, deleted scenes, special effects shots, 9 FX spots, 49 promotional TV spots, and an all-new DVD-ROM game "Unholy Alliances" which places you in the footsteps of a FBI agent.

If you have season 1, don't stop there...and if you don't? Shame on you because this one only strengthens the fabric of science fiction and horror which was woven delicately in the series' debut season.

CADA TEMPORADA SE PONE AUN MEJOR, ES LA MEJOR SERIE QUE HE VISTO EN MI VIDA, OJALA HICIERAN UNA NUEVA SERIE DE ESE CALIBRE!!!!!!