DVD: The X-Files - Seasons Four, Five & Six

These re-released box sets collect together the individual fourth, fifth and sixth seasons of Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully’s (Gillian Anderson) paranormal investigations...


The fourth series of The X-Files is chock full of ongoing arcs, and these are best served in the Tempus Fugit and Max episodes. There are also some hit and miss standalone episodes, the best of which is easily Home, an unsettling tale about inbreeding. However, the season four finale – Gethsemane – is a real show-stopper, causing a change in Mulder that shakes up the later series.

Season Five brings about the biggest change in its two leads, as they swap the roles they had been given in previous seasons. Mulder, always open to any theory, is now skeptical about anything he sees. Meanwhile, Scully, usually the voice of reason, is willing to believe more and more since the events of her abduction. The sexual tension between the pair is also cranked up a notch. Scully’s appreciation of Luke Wilson (as a sherriff in the fine episode Bad Blood) and Mulder’s work with old flame Agent Fowley (Mimi Rogers) bring out a real jealousy in the pair.

Season Six slots in after the events of the X-Files feature film, and the opener The Beginning ties up points from the series five finale and the movie. However, the most notable thing in season six is the amount of stand-alone tales, with only two episodes pushing the overall X-Files storyline. This allows for some adventurous sci-fi to shine through, including the body-swapping Dreamland two-parter and the time-warped Monday.

The xtras on all three box sets are top-notch, including deleted scenes, episode commentaries and a new documentary.

Buy The X-Files on DVD at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com