The X Files: Season 1 [DVD] [1994]

Almost seven years after the series was first shown in America, the UK can finally get their hands on the first season on DVD.

The episodes themselves are brilliant, as any fan will know. The DVD quality is perfection itself; sharp picture, and great sound. There are numerous extra features that come with the episodes. There is instant scene access - very useful for a TV show like the X Files - and subtitles.

That's it, you think? Well no, that's not it. On the seventh disc that comes in the set, there are two television trailers for each episode (more entertaining than they sound), interviews about half of the episodes from the first season, a documentary on the first season, more than ten "Behind The Truth" mini-documentaries, and the DVD-ROM game. Now how many lines did that take up?

All of these features are great, especially the game. Not exactly long-lasting, but very entertaining.

In summary, any X Files fan MUST buy this, no questions asked. Don't hesitate if you don't have a DVD player: if your computer has a DVD-ROM drive, you can watch them just as comfortably. The picture and sound are still great, and so long as you have a decent sized monitor and a nice chair, it's fine.

The series that started it all, the phenomenon that shook the world...Yes it's all here in one little box.
The box set contains all 24 episodes of X Files Season 1 and also commentaries from Chris Carter and behind the scenes/making of featurettes.
The main story behind the X Files is about an agent, Fox Mulder, who works for the FBI and deals in cases classed as "X Files", basically very weird and strange occurrences that make hours of quality viewing. Then along comes sceptical agent Skully who is far more down to earth and is always looking for a more plausible/biological explanation behind each case. Therefore you've got the perfect pretence for countless episodes of Mulder trying to persuade and Skully not believing (it gets a tad tedious, but at times you find yourself on Skully's side because it seems Mulder has a never ending supply of knowledge when it comes to weird happenings)!
Within the series a huge range of topics are covered. From the occult to AI. From alien/government conspiracies to worms and bugs. From spooky spectres and ghosts to fire wielding maniacs. The list is endless. Each episode is a stand alone but links can be made and huge plot developments are made in the second series.
All the episodes are brilliant, entertaining and sometimes downright scary. I would love to describe each episode in detail but that would take ages, so instead I'll briefly describe three (I'll give a back of the box description not a complete in depth plot analysis). Before I do I first want to greatly recommend you buying this. It's well worth the reduced price and unlike the other series it won't confuse you too much. The only bad points are the simple sets and average acting (although sometimes the acting is great) but that can be forgiven, it is the first series.
EPISODE 8: ICE: Mulder, Skully and three other scientists trek off to Alaska to discover what led five geophysicists to kill each other. The answer is a worm like creature they found deep underground frozen (but not dead) in the ice which burrows into the brain and gradually drives people insane. But as the prospect of them spending more than one day in the deserted lab becomes more and more of a reality (the plane driver dies) tempers rise and so does the question of whether any of them have the worm in their heads!?
EPISODE 3: SQUEEZE: A mutant serial killer who can stretch his limbs beyond what is humanly possible goes on a killing spree. But the question is why? And will Mulder and Skully be able to get to him before he kills his next victim or is the next victim actually Skully...?
EPISODE 11: EVE: Two men killed in exactly the same way on opposite sides of America (M and S have a lot of travelling to do). But what is stranger is that the two men's daughters are identical! As Mulder and Skully investigate they uncover a dark and sinister plot of human cloning but the results are not just simple replicas they are replicas with enhanced strength and speed!
Hopefully I haven't given too much away and if you want to find out what happens you'll have to buy the DVD...

The first Season of The X-Files is a televsion classic. Kicking off the partnership between Mulder and Scully, who could have thought the show would have stretched to a Season Nine?!
This season is full of classic episodes, like "Ice", "Darkness Falls", "Beyond the Sea" and "Eve". In fact, none of the episodes are especially bad.
The only problem is, after watching Seasons Two - Eight, One isn't as fantastic as it once was. Every season usaully has 4 or 5 amazing, classic, standout episodes, but with number one, very few actually stand out as being something amazing.
Don't get me wrong, it's still a fantastic season, but it's just not quite as good as Seasons Two, Three and Five.