The X-Files (Season 5)

Up until this point, each season of X-Files was fairly uneven, with plenty of really strong episodes and plenty of really weak ones as well. However, Season 5 manages to stand out by being not only consistent, but consistently strong throughout.

Myth Arc: The myth arc is a bit uneven this season. I think the Redux two-parter is an excellent way to start the season, even if its first half may have a few too many narrations. I like how even though the events of Gethsemane were pretty much averted, it takes a large portion of the season for Mulder to really Christmas Carol/Emily is an odd standalone Myth Arc two-parter, making it easier to understand than many of the others. I think these episodes are a bit too cruel to Scully, but Gillian Anderson's strong acting still makes them worth watching. Patient X/The Red And The Black, on the other hand, is insanely convoluted, but it does a good job of bringing together a lot of disparate threads, introducing the alien rebellion, and showing off some really striking and memorable visuals in the process. The End is also one of the show's better finales, as it does a good job of setting up for the movie that was originally supposed to bring the series to the close (but I'll get to that complaint next season). 

Monster Of The Week: The Monster Of The Week episodes this season are on another level compared to the rest of the series. Carter and Gilligan are at the top of their game, churning out a bunch of really inventive and unique outings, but the whole season is packed with creative episodes. There's the Lone Gunman-centric Unusual Suspects, the incredibly wholesome Detour, the bizarre The Post-Modern Prometheus, the Pusher-sequel Kitsunegari, the adorably cheesy Kill Switch, the hilarious and sharp Bad Blood, the paranoia-infused The Pine Bluff Variant, and the creepy Folie A Deux. The variety is absolutely outstanding this season. But best of all, these MoTW episodes are also really consistently strong. Usually, the MoTW episodes range from outstanding to pretty bad, but this season, nearly all of them are at the very least great. The only real weak point is Schizogeny, which is stupid, but it's a fun kind of stupid. Otherwise, the standalones are fantastic this season, and I think are the reason why I'm so willing to call Season 5 my favorite of the X-Files seasons.

There are a lot of strong episodes this season, but these are my favorites:

Redux II: Similarly to Paper Clip, this was a fantastic ending to the initial arc. While I still don't like Scully's cancer storyline, this was an emotional and heartwarming resolution to it with some great acting from Gillian Anderson, as always. The Smoking Man was the highlight though, between his confrontation with Mulder and supposed assassination at the end of the episode. There was also the great FBI panel scene, another brief appearance from Samantha, and once again, the revival of the X-Files.

Unusual Suspects: I adore this episode. It's entirely focused on The Lone Gunmen, revealing how they formed their team in the first place, but it's just so entertaining. Similarly to Gethsemane, there's a noir-ish vibe, albeit a far more comedic one. Gilligan's writer for the trio is full of entertaining banter, the pieces of Mulder's backstory are cute, and as a whole, I think it's a really fun 100th episode for the series.

The Post-Modern Prometheus: On a plot level, I think this episode is a solid Frankenstein parody, albeit one so ambiguous it led to countless arguments over how well it's aged. However, in terms of its presentation, The Post-Modern Prometheus is absolutely fantastic. The comic book references, offbeat tone, monochrome color scheme, and Cher soundtrack definitely help this episode stand out.

Bad Blood: Considered by many to be the show's best episode, Bad Blood is probably Gilligan's strongest work for the X-Files. Similarly to Jose Chung's From Outer Space, Bad Blood unravels its story about supposed vampires through Mulder and Scully's differing beliefs and perspectives. While this is definitely one of the show's funniest episodes, packed with amazing black comedy, I especially love how it's pretty much entirely about Mulder and Scully's relationship, which has always been Gilligan's greatest strength when it comes to writing for the X-Files.

The Red And The Black: This was easily one of the most visually ambitious episodes in the series to date since it served as set-up for the movie, with amazing sequences like that hypnosis scene on the bridge and Mulder's fight with Krycek. It also packs in just so much, from the black oil, to the reveal that the Smoking Man is alive, to the faceless rebels, to the Spenders. I will say that this episode might be a bit too overstuffed and hard to follow, but I won't say that it wasn't incredibly fun.

Folie La Deux: Easily one of the creepiest episodes in the series, Folie La Deux is an episode about a worker who can see his boss as a bug-like monster, who then goes on to share that vision with Mulder. Gilligan's writing is once again phenomenal here, and I really like how the episode focuses on Mulder until he is sent to the psychiatric hospital, at which point Scully takes over. Once again, I think the focus on Mulder and Scully's dynamic here is great. Folie La Deux doesn't just refer to the literal Pincus madness, but also to Mulder and Scully running the X-Files together.

The End: While not as striking as Gethsemane or satisfying as The Erlenmeyer Flask, this finale was a good followup to The Red And The Black that set up the movie in some interesting ways. Fowley is an interesting character that makes her first appearance here, really kicking the romantic tension between Mulder and Scully into overdrive. The reveal that the Smoking Man was Jeffrey Spender's father was actually really great, and that final scene where Mulder and Scully watch as the X-Files burns down is a pretty devastating ending that signals a massive shift for the series... albeit not quite for the better.

Look, no X-Files season is perfect. There's always going to be some convoluted Myth Arc stuff or bizarre MoTW episode, but Season 5 is as consistently strong as an X-Files season can get, with an insane variety in its standalone episodes along with some pretty ambitious Myth Arc episodes.

5/5 Stars