The X-Files Season 9, Episodes 19/20: The Truth

The end. Wait, that was season five. This is really the end. No more X-Files episodes after this. One movie. Some comics. And it's over.

Nine years of television, for us condensed into around ten months. And what a ride this has been. Let's see how it all turns out.

The X-Files Season 9, Episode 6: Trust No 1

I don't know who to believe any more. I think that was probably the point, no?

The X-Files Season 8, Episodes 20/21: Essence/Existence

There were some good aspects to this two part season finale. And then it went to an absurdly Christian place and made me really uncomfortable.

The X-Files Season 8, Episode 13: Per Manum

OK, season eight, I forgive you. You're not that bad, after all.

The X-Files Season 6, Episode 2: Drive

OK, this was an outstanding and super tense episode. It reminded me somewhat of two Fringe episodes, 'The Box' in one particular way that, like in that episode, didn't initially make sense to me, but later turned out to be kind of awesome and 'Johari Window' in a slightly more apparent way.

The X-Files Season 5, Episode 19: Folie à Deux

Holy shit, this was one of the more disturbing episodes of the show, wasn't it?

The X-Files Season 5, Episode 15: Travelers

Another episode with absolutely no Scully and almost no Mulder, either. In hindsight, it's now obvious why this episode wasn't very good.

The X-Files Season 5, Episode 3: Unusual Suspects

The Lone Gunmen origin story! YES! And some somewhat confusing misdirection, but that's OK, because despite nothing really being resolved by the end, we see the formation of the Lone Gunmen and get some interesting back story on the three of them.

The X-Files Season 4, Episode 23: Demons

So it looks like it's time for the annual game of "Did Mulder murder someone?" Only this episode is a lot better than 'Grotesque', because in addition to being a good mystery, it explores some more of Mulder's backstory and his memories involving his sister's abduction.

The X-Files Season 4, Episode 13: Never Again

Well, this was an uncomfortable 45 minutes, wasn't it?

In another, "Hey, it's that guy!" moment, I realised that the main villain was played by an actor I'd seen in several episodes of Veronica Mars and an incredibly creepy episode of Angel. Actually, I guess this guy must often play creeps, because his character here is not exactly the most upstanding kind of person, either.

The X-Files Season 3, Episode 23: Wetwired

DO IT! DO IT NOW! DO IT AGAIN! KILL 'EM ALL!

When I first saw 'Blood', I thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought that was a great episode. And now they've remade it and called it 'Wetwired' and instead of Mulder being the one affected, it's Scully, and the paranoia runs much deeper than before, and the violence seems much more real.

And this episode is significantly better than the already outstanding 'Blood'.

The X-Files Season 3, Episode 12: War of the Coprophages

When I first saw the description of 'War of the Coprophages', I was rather concerned about the notion of killer cockroaches. I'm not good with bugs. Like, at all. I've been known to unload entire cans of RAID on stink bugs and spiders before. I think the presence of actual cockroaches in my home might induce a desire to use a small nuclear device.

But then the episode turned out to be really really ridiculous and funny?

The X-Files Season 3, Episodes 1/2: The Blessing Way/Paper Clip

A two part start to the season that continues right where the previous season left off? SIGN ME UP.

I already get the sense, two episodes in, that season three is going to be where this show goes from merely 'great' to 'fucking phenomenal'. The stakes are high immediately, the writing is solid, the characters grow (well, sort of) and the conspiracy deepens.

Season 3. It seems to be when a lot of shows hit their stride, doesn't it?

The X-Files Season 2, Episode 25: Anasazi

Um. Whoa. I think I need some time to digest 'Anasazi'.

This was clearly the work of writers who knew the show was being renewed, and went all-in with a cliffhanger season finale. I was right, it was epic.

The X-Files Season 2, Episodes 16/17: Colony/End Game

Another two part episode in the middle of the season. Why do I feel like they're building towards and absolutely epic season finale here?

So, the 'Colony'/'End Game' combination isn't quite on the level of 'Duane Barry'/'Ascension', but I'm OK with that, because these episodes still told an amazingly deep and complex story, and were quite tense at times. Plus, now we see Mulder in danger. I figured that had to happen at some point. (Besides 'Aubrey', I mean, since that wasn't part of the main plot.)

The X-Files Season 2, Episode 15: Fresh Bones

Zombies and voodoo, what could possibly go right?

Very little, apparently. I thought 'Fresh Bones' was all over the place, and I'm not sure I really followed what was going on.

And for some reason, X showed up, despite this being otherwise unconnected to any of the past storylines. I mean, don't get me wrong, I like that kind of cross-continuity, but why would he waste his time on this?

The X-Files Season 2, Episode 3: Blood

I believe I have a new favourite episode of this show.

DO IT.

DO IT NOW.

We may or may not have spent the rest of the dayweek saying that out loud to each other after watching this episode.