The X-Files (Season 2)

After the really solid first season, X-Files's second season continues the momentum, laying out a bunch of important mainstays for the series to come.

Myth Arc: This season establishes the formula for X-Files's myth arc storylines from here on out. The premiere (or first two episodes) deal with the previous season's finale, then we get two or three two-part episodes somewhere in the season, and finally the season ends with the first part of a two-or-three-parter that gets resolved in the next episode. As a result, from here on out, the seasons don't quite feel as cohesive as the first. The start of Season 2 is actually pretty great, though. Between Mulder and Scully working separately, the introductions of X and Krycek, and the massive storyline where Scully seemingly gets abducted, I think the season peaked a bit early since nothing post-abduction is quite as ambitious. The Colony/End Game arc is the first point where the series gets a bit too convoluted for its own good, and the finale Anasazi is a solid ending that feels incomplete since the resolution comes next season.

Monster Of The Week: Similarly to Season 1, I think the Monster Of The Week episodes are a bit on the hit or miss side, with the worst episode (3) being worse than anything from Season 1. For most of the season, the MoTW episodes are pretty standard and unremarkable, but something special happens in the last few episodes. Near the end of Season 2, the series's two best writers in Darin Morgan and Vince Gilligan (yes, Breaking Bad's Vince Gilligan) get their first episodes. I love that their episodes are both so distinct, to the point where they can feel like an entirely different show. Morgan's episodes are comedic and offbeat, focusing on a central theme. Gilligan's episodes are high concept while still focusing entirely around the relationship between Mulder and Scully. I think the writing debuts of Gilligan and Morgan really opened the floodgates for The X-Files to start experimenting with its Monster Of The Week episodes, even if their episodes still tend to be the show's strongest. And with the myth arc becoming fairly convoluted with Colony/End Game, the end of Season 2 marked a big shift in what's generally considered to be the stronger aspect of the series.

Similarly to last episode, there's a good balance of great myth arc episodes and fun monster of the week episodes:

Duane Barry: Similarly to many other shows, X-Files did a "hostage crisis" episode, and it's typically excellent. The premise of Mulder being able to sympathize with the claimed alien abductee is really clever, and I like the shock ending where the titular character kidnaps Scully.

One Breath: Ending the abduction arc on a really subdued and personal note, Scully is finally located, albeit seemingly close to death. Of course, Scully isn't actually going to die, but the fact that the characters think she might leads to a really compelling episode dealing with death and grief. The performances are great all around, and the surreal sequences of Scully's near-death perspective are incredibly striking.

Humbug: Darin Morgan's first written episode was a fantastic debut that solidifies him as my favorite writer of the show. It's a fun, offbeat whodunit about a town of circus freaks, all of whom are unique and well-developed. The humor is quirky but surprisingly effective, and the theme about being an outsider is explores really well, even when it comes to Mulder and Scully's place in their own government. 

Soft Light: While Gilligan's debut isn't as strong as Morgan's, Soft Light is a very well-told story about a man whose shadow vaporizes people. It's a simple concept explored incredibly well, bolstered by the Tony Shalhoub's great performance and the entertaining banter between Mulder and Scully.

Anasazi: Despite Anasazi starting the trend of finales having situational cliffhangers, I will say that it's still a really tense episode packed with big twists (Mulder's father death, the abduction tape, Scully losing her job) and one of the show's better cliffhanger endings in the train car explosion.

Overall, Season 2 is another solid season with plenty of fun and creepy episodes, but you can also see the exact point where the MoTW episodes start to overtake the Myth Arc in terms of general quality.

3/5 Stars