Average Rating: 
Rating:  - X-Files: The Next Generation
Somebody needs to stick up for this season, and I think I'm the guy to do it:When Duchovney left the show, Chris Carter went back to the drawing board and gave us a revitalized X-Files, one that surpassed the foundering seen in the seventh season. While I believe Scully's pregnancy hampered things in some ways, Scully and Doggett really clicked. It is an oversimplification to call Scully "The Believer" and Doggett "The Skeptic". It would probably be more accurate to say that Doggett was a straightforward FBI guy--introducing themselves to the Boston Police: SCULLY: "I'm a special agent with a medical background and expertise" DOGGETT: "I'm a good shot." Some of these episodes were the best on the show. The cast change brought a real freshness to the episodes. After the apocalyptic season 7, Doggett really grounds the series in its paranoid and subversive roots (ex: that monsters are real, but fall under "plausible deniability"), without re-hashing old script plots and ideas. Let's face it: after six years Scully's skeptisim was *really* wearing thin (how many times can one person get kidnapped by aliens before they begin to think that maybe the aliens exist?) Compare this season with Season 2 and you'll see what I mean. While Mulder's character, the search for his sister, and his fight against "The consortium" may have been the driving force behind the show, there was no reason the story couldn't continue. Especially since most of those stories were wrapped up in Seasons 5-7. While Scully had her own passions and ambitions, and the antoginists still existed. There is a natural flow to the idea of Mulder disappearing and Scully carrying on the X-Files torch in her own way. And while Reyes was a character who I found to be pretty annoying, she *did* add a lot to the show. She would have done better, though, if the writers could have fleshed her "feelings" out a little bit more so that she wasn't "feeling" her way right through investigations to the smoknig guns a la Counseller Troi. In my mind, this season (and a few episodes from Season 9) make up "The X-Files: The Next Generation". Had Chris Carter not been under so much pressure from Fox and the fan base, it is likely that this show would be still be on the air today (and would probably be better than half the stuff out there now). But the uncertainty of the shows future combined with what seems to be impaitence from the suits really weighed down the X-Files. Season 9 became the "Wrap It Up And Get Us Out Of Here" season with some truly awful episodes. If you didn't stop at Season Six, don't stop now.
Rating:  - One of the best seasons..
This season totally changed a tired concept of a long running show. It added new characters and opened so many new doors to the future of the show.Gillian Anderson portrays a pregnant and emotional Scully, perfectly. Shes vulnerable and missing Mulder. We are introduced to John Doggett played by Robert Patrick whose on full time, whilst Monica Reyes played by Annabeth Gish is introduced half way as a part time character. This season returns to the horror roots, much like season one, which was much needed at this point. It has some of my all time favourite episodes such as Roadrunners, Per Manum, This is Not Happening and Existence. People complain that Mulder and Scully didnt get enough time together in this season, Mulder had cameos and needed to be centric, his abduction experiences and Scully's pregnancy wasnt discussed enough and the writers didnt make enough effort to show that Scully was still searching for Mulder in the stand alone episodes, i totally agree, but it didnt stop me enjoying this season completely which i hadn't done since season four. Its the most underrated season and should have definately ended the show with a fantastic episode and closing scene. It shouldnt have continued into an unecessery season nine which pushed the show and the two leads too far, they simply had lost interest, along with the fans. Watch this season with an open mind, ignore what disappointed fans say and see for yourself. It isnt the same without classic stand alone invesitgations by mulder and scully, but Doggett is definately a character that grows on you, working well with Gillian Anderson. You will be blown away by her acting this season. Fans fail to understand that this season beats season seven hands down. Its definately a suprise how well the x files can work without david duchovny. His absence is very well explained this season, unlike the plain awful way he's written out in season nine. Dont have high hopes for season nine after watching this classic season, it doesnt justify the show at all. What a shame it didnt end here.
Rating: - Tough season...
You see, David Duchovny's absensce was not intended by Then Thirteen. Agent John Dogget was created out of necessity. Things were difficult even when Duchovny was around, with terrible episodes such as "Je Souhaite", "Theef", "Alpha" and many others. Mst of all, "The X-Files" had become, well, too funny. Too many jokes. The eighth season at least had to stop that, to center on the development of a new charachter and on the new side of Scully, wanting to believe but being betrayed by her emotions.
It's not that the part of John Dogget was well written. It was good enough. It's in Robert Patrick's acting that this character grew so much. He was to Scully what she always needed Mulder to be, but he wasn't Mulder. He could only watch her heart and her soul breaking. And Patrick showed through his eyes that it was hard to just watch it.
Great chemistry between Patrick and the rest of the cast, specially Mitch Pillegi. It seemed as if Skinner saw much of himself in Dogget. And when Mulder finally came back, the confrontations between him and Dogget were pure gold. I was very pleased with season 8 (episodes "Roadrunners", "Via Negativa", "The Gift", "Empedocles", "Vienen" and "Alone"), except for the mithology episodes, which changed everything the show was about.
So I guess you should really buy this set if you are a fan, but the earlier seasons (the golden Vancouver years) may please you more if you're not hooked yet. But have in mind that if you go after them, you'll end up right here, buying the 8th season.
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