TV Show Reviews
The X-Files 1993-2002
Seasons 1 & 2
5/5
I didn't get to see The X-Files when it first aired and being a skeptic rather than a believer, I didn't think it would be a show I'd like. But after catching a few episodes in rerun on cable, I became intrigued and decided to rent Season 1, and then couldn't stop. It turns out that I love it! I still don't believe in most of the stuff they investigate, but I can always suspend disbelief for a good show or movie. This show is well worth watching despite the sometimes-silly creatures (the flatworm-man had me LOL) mostly for the chemistry between Duchovny and Anderson. They are a perfect foil for each other, and as the show goes on you can see their coming together as partners despite their initial discord. I loved all the first season shows, esp. "Tooms" which was very, very creepy and "Genderbender" which made no sense at all but was great fun to watch. Highly recommended if this is a show that sounds of interest to you--it won't disappoint.
Season 3
5/5
I have to agree with many other reviews that have said this is one of the best seasons of the show; I enjoyed each and every episode, and watching Scully and Mulder come closer with every one as well. Without a doubt my absolute favorite was "War of the Coprophages", although I also particularly enjoyed "Hell Money" (I'm a big fan of BD Wong), "Jose Chung", and "Oubliette". Even the silly ones are better than most shows on TV these days--they really don't make 'em like this anymore.
Season 4
5/5
Despite a few bad episodes--the first one, the cliffhanger resolution, was terribly done regarding continuity, something this show is usually so good with--this also has some of the finest episodes of the show so far. I so adored "Small Potatoes" that I immediately bought the entire 4th season on DVD. Also particularly good was "Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man", "Paper Hearts", and "Momento Mori". I really disliked "The Field Where I Died", it had good acting but a horribly stupid story that really didn't fit the X-Files' mythology. Have the first disk of Season 5 ready when you watch the last episode of Season 4, because you won't be able to wait to find out what happens!
Season 5
5/5
Yet another good season, though a hair weaker than the previous ones in continuity. Still, the storylines dealing with Scully's cancer are beautifully done and Anderson's acting is just outstanding, and I have to mention the stunning makeup they did in making her look worn-out in fighting not to die. The scene in "Redux II" where Mulder breaks down by her bed while she's sleeping has to be one of THE most touching in the entire show, as is the one between them in the hallway (be sure to watch the commentary on this one). Another favorite episode is "The Post-Modern Prometheus", which I'm sure is not for everyone but is a masterpiece in its own right--I wasn't too sure about it at first, but once I caught what was going on it was just stunning. Maybe only geeks and comic book aficionados could get this one, but I just loved it, esp. the ending. I wasn't as nuts about the Scully's daughter episodes, though they were well-done and wrapped up nicely. "Chinga", a.k.a. “Bunghoney”, written by Stephen King, is another all-time favorite that is truly creepy in the older-episodes "Monster of the Week" style. "Mind's Eye" is one of the best of the season, with just outstanding acting and a good story that keeps you guessing until the end. "Bad Blood" was great fun, with Mulder and Scully giving somewhat different views of the same case and an amusing--if improbable--ending. As a computer tech, "Kill Switch" just cracked me up with its incorrect technology and overlooked obvious plot points, but I liked it nonetheless. Overall, a good lead-in to the movie with some outstanding-on-their-own episodes.
Season 6
5/5
To my relief, this was yet another outstanding season with some of the best episodes yet--every time I think I've seen my favorite one, I see another that I like even better! Standouts were "Triangle" which has a movie-like (rather than TV) look and feel and was clearly enjoyed by the cast and crew; "Dreamland" and "Dreamland II", where Mulder and an Area 51 employee played by Michael McKean, of all people, switch bodies and much hijinks ensue (Gillian Anderson does some of her best work in this one, IMHO); "How the Ghosts Stole Christmas" which was fun and touching to watch with Lily Tomlin and Ed Asner as said ghosts; "Terms of Endearment" with Bruce Campbell as a demon with a twist; "Monday" which was complicated yet meticulously done and didn't miss a mark; "Arcadia" which was just great fun and had some of the best lines when Mulder gets a little too much into pretending to be Scully's husband; "Milagro" which shows a vulnerability in Scully not often seen; and "The Unnatural" which was written and directed by Duchovny and is just a wonderful story, aliens or not. Yes, there were a lot more light-hearted episodes and less alien/scary stuff, but overall an outstanding season well worth seeing.
Season 7
5/5
Although I've been waiting for the show to go downhill, this season did not. It had my now-most-favorite episode, "Hollywood A.D.", written and directed by Duchovny and one of THE funniest in the whole show so far. Other outstanding ones are "Hungry", which is from the 'monster's' POV; "Millennium" which finally gives ‘shippers a taste of the Mulder/Scully romance; "Orison" which had some HUGE plot holes (why would Scully just go home with her previous attacker on the loose?) but also features some of Anderson's best work to date; "X-Cops" which is an absolute riot, esp. for fans of both shows; "First Person Shooter" which had this computer tech in stitches, esp. when Scully says "We have to download her!", but was also a fun episode; "all things" which was written and directed by Gillian Anderson and while very nicely done, does begin to show the noticeable shift of Scully beginning to act out of character (Feng shui? Chakras? Auras? Noooo, Scully, don't fall for it!); "Je Souhaite" which is just fun and has an absolutely wonderful ending and, of course, "Requiem" which if you haven't seen the show, has two big shockers, both of which rocked me back on my heels. Be sure to watch the extras and commentaries, every one is well worth the time. Another big 5-star season, IMHO with some of the best acting, directing, and stories of the whole series.
Season 8
5/5
I have to say, I'm still waiting for this series to go seriously downhill. Despite Duchovny not being around much in this season, it really is no worse than the previous two or three. Robert Patrick turns out to be a very good partner for Scully, there's no sexual tension as with Mulder but you do see them come together and begin to care for each other. He clearly does not try to replace Mulder, nor does Scully treat him as such. I was quite pleased with how he worked out, esp. after Mulder returns and it's not all sunshine and rainbows in the basement office.
Particularly good episodes: "Roadrunner" which is creepy and gory in the older season style, with Scully showing how pissed off she can get; "Redrum" which has just amazing acting in addition to a truly excellent story which is fun to figure out along with the characters; "The Gift" which is another improbable-but-fun story; "Medusa" that had some annoyingly obvious plot holes but is worth seeing for the eeriness; "Per Manum" which really makes you feel bad for poor Scully's character when everyone seems to be after her unborn baby; and best of all, "Existence" which is where Scully finally has her baby and more questions are raised when that one is answered (be SURE to watch the commentary with Kim Manners for some great behind-the-scenes info, esp. on the last moments of this episode).
Again, I was very pleased with this season and while I still hold little hope for 9, this one was well worth watching and may even be added to my collection.
Season 9
5/5
It's been about three weeks since I watched the final episode; I really had to think this one over before writing a review. First let me say that this is probably one of the best wrapped-up shows I've ever seen; I think "M*A*S*H*" was the only other one that finished so well. This season definitely had the best and the worst episodes IMHO; "Jump the Shark", "William", and "The Truth" had me in tears while it was tedious to finish watching "Underneath" which was probably THE most predictable episode in the whole show. Most of the others were as good as most in the series, with other outstanding ones being "4-D", "Trust No 1", "Improbable" (which I didn't understand until I watched the commentary, although it's one of my favorites), and "Sunshine Days". I don't feel that my time was wasted in watching the 9 years of this show over the last 8 months, and am sure I'm now experiencing what millions of people did in 2001 when the last episode aired: feeling like I've lost part of my family and occasionally wondering how and what they're doing as if they're real people. All we can do now is hope that the rumors of another movie are true...
(Later note: the feature film “X-Files: I Want to Believe” was released 7/25/08. See my review here in the middle of the page.)
True Blood 2008 -
Pilot Episode
5/5
I decided to watch this simply because I loved creator Alan Ball’s “Six Feet Under” so much, despite the warnings of graphic violence that I heard before the premiere. The sex and nudity are fine by me, but I’m touchy about violence, esp. against women. But knowing that it was violent going in helped me to be ready to look away if need be--and it was, at least at the end.
And I knew if it was half of what “Six Feet Under” showed, I needed to brace myself. And I was right.
The show centers around the fact that vampires are becoming mainstream and joining human society since the Japanese invented a synthetic blood that allows them to survive without human blood, though you get the idea that not all of them have stopped feeding on people for their kicks, never mind nourishment. The opening sequence explaining this is fantastic, setting the tone for the rest of the show perfectly.
The story and characters are immediately intriguing, but I was also captivated by the overall look/feel of the show. Anna Paquin is the master of the accent and she’s absolutely perfect here as Sookie, the psychic waitress who is inexplicably drawn to a vampire who wanders into the Louisiana bar where she works. Her boss, co-workers, brother, and grandmother are all excellent as well, most notably Lois Smith as the fearless grandmother and Rutina Wesley as her outspoken best friend. Special note of the gay black cook who wears kilts and comes on to overall-wearing rednecks; he may seem like simple comic relief at this point, but I suspect he’ll end up being an important player as the show goes on.
And dude who plays Sookie’s love-interest vampire is perfect: dark, brooding, just a little bit scary--and VERY sexy. Had he been miscast this whole show could have fallen apart, but so far the casting is spot-on, as well as the sets being very atmospheric and well-done.
There is TONS of graphic nudity and a good amount of no-holds-barred sexual activity, mostly centering around Sookie’s horndog brother who seems to nail anything female that will stop moving long enough, and more violence than I like although it wasn’t excessive.
If you’ve seen any of Alan Ball’s other shows and liked them, I highly recommend this. If you haven’t, brace yourself--but I still highly recommend it. This is going to be a great ride.
