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From Amazon.co.uk
Season Two, the 1994-95 run, of The X Files was the one where creator Chris Carter, having had a surprise hit when he expected a one-season wonder, started trying to make sense of all the storylines he had thrown into the pile in the first year. Moreover, he had to cope with Gillian Anderson's maternity leave by having Scully get abducted by aliens (back then, a pretty fresh device) for a few episodes and come back strangely altered. The season also inaugurated the tradition of opening ("Little Green Men") and closing ("Anasazi") with the show's worst episodes, both pot-boiling attempts to keep the alien infiltration/government conspiracy balls up in the air while seeming to offer narrative forward-thrusts or revelations.
But it's also a show noticeably surer of itself than Season One, with its stars reading from the same page in terms of their characters' relationship and attitudes to the wondrous. Scully's no-longer-workable scepticism finally starts to erode in the face of Mulder's increasingly cracked belief. There are fewer marking-time leftover-monster-of-the-week shows--although we do get a human fluke ("The Host"), vampires ("3"), an invisible rapist ("Excelsius Dei") voodoo ("Fresh Bones")--and the flying-saucer stories at last seem to be going somewhere. The powerful two-episode run ("Duane Barry", "Ascension") features Steve Railsback as Mulder's possible future, an FBI agent burned out after a UFO abduction who has become a hostage-taking terrorist, which climaxes with Scully's disappearance into the light. The standout episode is also a stand-alone--"Humbug"--the first and still most successful of the show's self-parodies (written by Darin Morgan, who had played the Flukeman in "The Host"), in which the agents investigate a murder in a circus freakshow, allowing the actors to make fun of the mannerisms they have earnestly built up in a run of solemn, even somnolent, explorations of the murk. Other worthy efforts: "Aubrey", about genetic memory; "Irresistible", a rare (and creepy) straight psycho-chiller with little paranormal content; and "The Calusari", a good ghost/mystery. Rising deputy characters include Nicholas Lea as the perfidious Krycek and Brian Thompson as the shapeshifting alien bounty hunters. Notable guest stars: Charles Martin Smith, C.C.H. Pounder, Leland Orser, Terry O'Quinn, Bruce Weitz, Daniel Benzali, John Savage, Vincent Schiavelli, Tony Shalhoub. --Kim Newman
On the DVD: The individual episode discs have a small selection of deleted scenes, foreign language clips and behind-the-scenes footage, but the bulk of the extra material is on the final disc. There's not a lot to get to grips with, but what there is consists of a 14-minute documentary about the making of Season Two, with contributions from Chris Carter, various directors, writers and actors (but not the two principals); Carter talking briefly about each episode in turn; a series of short TV spots and pieces about the show's FX and secondary characters; and three very short behind-the-scenes glimpses, one of which has the self-explanatory title "Gillian eats a cricket". There's also a DVD-ROM utility with Web links and a game. --Mark Walker
Product Description
DVD Special Features
The truth behind Season Two - featurette
Chris Carter interviews about 12 episodes from season 2
Behind-the-scenes clips
9 "Behind-the-truth" spots from F/X
Deleted Scenes
Additional Language Sections
DVD Rom Features
Website and links
Unholy Alliances' Game
Episode Guide
24 page booklet that contains all episode listings up to season seven
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Ixi Books
Format:DVD
Definately the best season of any TV show in existence. And you want to talk conspiracy theory. There are a load of two parters to bring the idea of extra-terrestrial life right home. "The Blessing Way" and "Paper Clip" are absolutely brilliant as they conclude the three parter that was started with Season 2's finale "Anasazi". Skinner gets more involved in this season and we see other conspiracy episodes such as "Nisei", "731", "Piper Maru", "Apocrypha" and "Talitha Cumi". But also it has several brilliant stand alone episodes such as "Jose Chung's From Outer Space", "Quagmire", "War of the Coprophages" and "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose" (which has a brilliant performance by the actor who plays Clyde Bruckman). This season is one for people who have seen Seasons 1 and 2 but you really don't have to have as everything is pretty much explained to you (if you know at least about Scully's abduction in season 2). Buy this box set and you won't be able to wait for Season 4!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By JD
Format:DVD
The X-Files really found its footing with the onset of its second season & saw an almost doubling in viewing figures between the end of season 1 and the start of seaosn 2.
Despite now being 8 years old these episodes are as impressive now as they were watching them on tv, first time round. Every episode is clever, slick, imagenative and slightly creepy (or very creepy in the cases of: 'Die Hand Die Verletz' and 'The Calusari').
Highlights from season 2 include:
Duane Barry (for which Chris Carter was emmy nominated for outstanding writing)
One Breath (which sees Scully's return after her abduction)
Red Museum,
Fresh Bones,
Humbug (in my opinion 1 of the few comedic episodes that actually works),
F. Emasculata (gross but brilliant),
Our Town (it'll put you off chicken for sure),
& the best season finalé of the entire 9 seasons - Anasazi.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
This DVD box set is an excellent way to enjoy Season 2 of the X-Files in the correct episode order and with many extras such as deleted scenes. To me, this is the series when the format really began to work. The characters of Mulder and Scully were fully developed and the supporting cast were firmly in place.
It does take nearly 19 hours to watch all 25 episodes on these 7 discs in one sitting and so I guess it will only be true X-philes who will have the staying power to watch in this way. I recommend watching one or two episodes at once and take time to view the special features and play the DVD-ROM game on disc 7.
I look forward to the release of season 3 which is equally as good in the near future.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By P. Boer
Format:DVD
Never was there a show better developed than the X-files and when it came to season three it was a major hit.
And the fact that FOX started to give X-Files more money is definatly noticeable when compared to prior seasons these sets and this quality mixed with still original writing of original ideas probably made this one of the best things out there in the magical world of tv.
And the fact that FOX started to give X-Files more money is definatly noticeable when compared to prior seasons these sets and this quality mixed with still original writing of original ideas probably made this one of the best things out there in the magical world of tv.
The better sets and quality reflects on the speciality of the episodes and obviously made it easier for the actors to get into their roles.
Duchovny and Anderson get into their roles much better than the prior seasons.
It's better than the earlier ones simply visual.
And better than the latter because most the writing and ideas were a lot more original.
The myth apisodes are in one word grand and not boring even though the later ones would definatily become just that.
Questions are raised but not forgotten. A definate must for every lover of good t.v.
The package is beautifuland even though the price would seem high to some people the 1080 minutes of spedtacluar tv are definatly worth it!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By "higogs"
Format:DVD
The second season of the X-files marks the perfect combination of the continued mythology episodes and the individual investigations, by consistently delivering original, intriguing and exciting plot twists. Building on the success of the first season, Chris Carter and his team were able to begin to expand and explore Mulder and Scully's relationship, but it is in the variety of the subject matter of each episode and the film-like production quality on display which really impresses in this season.
The first highlight is that of the two part episode - 'Duane Barry' and 'Ascension' which use the traditional UFO abduction formula but throws Scully into the action (the start of major plot advancements in later seasons).
Gillian Anderson's pregnancy in real life resulted in her presence being restricted in some episodes but this does not detract from the overall flow of the season.
Another stand out is that of 'Humbug' involving a circus mutant which uses scare tactics and humour for one of the first times in the X-Files, indicating a new direction for later seasons where irony and sarcasm are played upon to less success.
The DVD format of course provides instant access to each episode but it is the picture quality which is particularly impressive. Although the sound is only in stereo this does not detract from the tense atmosphere created by the stunning and eerie locales. When I bought this package I knew it was expensive but it is a long term investment to savour and enjoy and well worth the expense.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
best of the best of the best !!!
Well , the first ever x files episode I saw was season 1 fire on weird night , which was one of the best nights I have had .I then saw some remaining episodes on tv of season 1 . Read more
Published 9 months ago by davidinator
5.0 out of 5 stars
Season 3: A strong series
1995/1996's 3rd season of The X-Files took the series from strength to strength. The quality of storylines remained high amongst plots that were made up of a mixture of one-off... Read more
Published on 20 Jan 2011 by LXIX
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great value
I have most of the x files on video which after a number of years have degraded in quality so I decided to make the exchange to DVD. Read more
Published on 12 Feb 2010 by Mr. G. Finch
5.0 out of 5 stars
Christmas made easy
Purchased this DVD box set as a christmas present, and it arrived in more than time for the main event, and made someones day - lemme tell you! Read more
Published on 1 Jan 2010 by Mr. P. S. T. Gill
5.0 out of 5 stars
X marks the spot ... again !
Your thought's of "where do we go next ?" after the closing-down of the X-files in series 1 is instantly re-ignited with the quite excellent opening show entitled 'Little Green... Read more
Published on 14 Aug 2004 by J. K. Buckley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply Iconic
By the time season 3 came along the X Files was a smash hit, it had really found its creative stride and this season was, in my opinion, the best. Read more
Published on 9 Aug 2004 by "onieuropean2004"
5.0 out of 5 stars
Where it really began
Season 2 is where The X Files really began. As good as season 1 was, and it was very, very good, Season 2 marked the true begging of The X Files as we know it. Read more
Published on 14 Feb 2004 by Philip Hyland
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best of the Best
Season three is The X Files at it's best. After the brilliant season one and two seasons under it's belt and now recognised by fans and critics as the greatest show on television... Read more
Published on 10 Dec 2003 by Philip Hyland
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tis the season to be jolly!
This is my favourite season of The X Files. If you don't follow the X Files series then you really shouldn't buy this for yourself, because you won't have a clue what is going on. Read more
Published on 4 Dec 2001
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