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The X Files: Season 1 [1994]

RRP: £34.99
Our Price: £12.50 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

In the first season of The X Files, creator Chris Carter was uncertain of the series' future, so each of the episodes is a self-contained suspense story; they do not delve deep into the ongoing X Files mythology or turn to self-parody and humour as do episodes in later seasons. Yet, these episodes display the elements for which the show would become famous: the cinematic production values and top-notch special effects, the stark lighting of the Vancouver sets, the atmospheric halo of Mark Snow's score, and the clever plots dealing with subjects ranging from the occult, religion, and monsters to urban legends, conspiracy theories and science fiction. Most importantly, Season 1 introduces FBI agents Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Fox "Spooky" Mulder (David Duchovny), two of the most attractive government officials around. Scully is the serious-minded medical scientist assigned to join Mulder on the X Files, a division of the FBI dealing with the paranormal. Mulder is the intuitive thinker with a dry wit, a passionate believer in the existence of paranormal phenomena and one of the few characters on television smart enough to figure out who the bad guy is before the audience does. Their muddled relationship, a deep friendship laced with sexual tension, provides the human heart in a world where the bizarre and horrible lurk in everyday society.

The materials on the bonus disc provide some interesting trivia and background, but it is the 24 episodes themselves that make this seven-disc boxed set a true find. Those unfamiliar with The X Files often view all the fuss with the same scepticism with which Scully first regards her new partner's ideas. But just as she comes to realise the uncanny accuracy of Mulder's outlandish theories, newcomers to The X Files who sample a few episodes in this boxed set will likely find themselves riveted to their television late into the night. And undoubtedly, the shadows and creaking noises in the house that evening will seem more menacing than usual. --Eugene Wei

Great sci-fi
Review date: 2008-04-10 Rating: 8 out of 10

Really good series to kick off the X-Files.

Not having had a TV while at uni I missed most of the episodes but liked what I saw. Now I'm enjoying making my way through the DVDs (especially at the bargain prices they are at just now).

A very strong series to get the ball rolling. Good start to the conspiracy plus loads of good one-off episodes. Can't go wrong with this one.

Reviews

Groundbreaking Sci-fi
Review date: 2008-03-19 Rating: 10 out of 10

When the X-Files hit screens in the 90's it became an instant cult phenomenon across the world due to its highly original plots and fantastic special effects. The X-Files follows the work of two of the FBI's best looking agents, Fox Mulder (Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Anderson) as they investigate paranormal unsolved cases of murder, abduction and UFO sightings. Although it looks very dated now and the effects aren't quite as exciting, The X-Files remains a groundbreaking show.

What the X-Files does so well is having 24 different tales of the paranormal in a season, any of which could be a movie, whilst at the same time having an intriguing ongoing plot of government coverups and conspiracy throughout all nine seasons. A whole wealth of exciting characters come and go but then there are always the shadowy figures of the US government popping up here and there, keeping the viewer guessing as to the extent of the secrets all the time.

Duchovny is excellent as the open minded and brilliant agent who is haunted by his younger sisters abduction years before. His eagerness to believe in the supernatural is offset by the sceptical Scully who was assigned to the X-Files to babysit Mulder's investigations and report back on his work. The two form a friendship and together they meet alien abductees (Fallen Angel), murderous genetic mutants (Squeeze), psychic serial killers (Beyond the Sea) and a very nasty parasitic worm (Ice). There are some duff episodes, The Jersey Devil isn't up to the standard set by the pilot, nor is Ghost in the Machine or Miracle Man but they are far outweighed by the quality writing and direction of Eve, Lazarus and Tooms.

The X-Files would continue improving way into the fourth series and sadly decline after that but for any sci-fi fan this is essential viewing at a bargain price.

Like this? Try: The Outer Limits

Season 2 is the best
Review date: 2007-10-28 Rating: 2 out of 10

FROG. your reviews make me cry wif larfta but the joke about seeing only one series and not tha udders but sayin this is da best is, shall we say, well and truley RINSED!

Where It All Began
Review date: 2007-10-08 Rating: 10 out of 10

It's funny to think it now, but I started watching X Files with my mum as a nine year old, and watched it almost without missing an episode until the final series came to an end in 2003. Funny because that feels like a long time ago now that Agent Scully walked into the little basement office inhabited by 'Spooky' Mulder in order to spy on him and gradually come to realise that maybe there are some paranormal happenings in the world...

I gave this box set to my mum for her birthday in March, and we calmly and steadly worked our way through it. What really amazes me is that the X Files does not look dated - either in content or style - and conjures the same tention that it did all those years ago. In fact, the only things that looks dated are Scully's hair and her jackets.

The episodes in Series One are mainly one-off investigations into the paranormal, often touching on myths and legends (the Jerzy Devil), and often pushing at the boundries of what my stomach could manage (Ice). There are some of the most classic episodes X Files ever produced (Stretch), and there are echoes and hints at the conspiracy filled series that follow, and that will probably be remembered as the trade mark of the X Files.

Make no mistake, for me the X Files was a formative series - Mulder's mocking grin is as reassuring to me as the opening chords of Wonderwall - but that doesn't change the fact that the X Files is a total classic, and that this series is the most easily accessible for new fans, and the one it's easiest to dip in and out of. I can't recommend X Files enough to anyone, and for fans and newcomers alike, Series One is the only place to start.

Scully:I think there's something up there Mulder. Mulder:Ooh, I've been saying that for YEARS.
Review date: 2007-08-09 Rating: 10 out of 10

I originally developed my love for this show a mere 4 months ago, when Living TV were playing Season 2.I'm one of the next generaton of X-Philers, being a teenager - daughter of the one with the credit card. My brother, older and wiser, had often said I would really enjoy the show if I ever sat down to watch it, and when I did it was brilliant.

Series 1.The era of puffy hair and huge glasses.I loved it from Pilot with the Cancer Man smoking in the background and the very first thing Mulder said to Scully"Sorry,nobody in here but the F.B.Is most unwanted!":D.Theres a huge range of cases here(shattering my pre-conceived notions that they ran around after aliens all the time)men who can squeeze into the smallest space imaginable, telepathic physco-murderers,pyro-maniacs,scary protective dead guys,time-loss,alien abductions all sprinkled with a fine layer of goverment consperacies,paranioa and danger. And Mulder and Scully themselves are fantastic-the chemistry between the two leads is awesome, Mulders determined belief and dry wit, and Scully's determined scepitism and ability to come up with a logical explanation for just about anything make for brilliant TV.

I suppose you could argue it's outdated(Ghost In The Machine*cough*)but I can't see it.Sure the graphics and special effects are jaded but hey, who really cares?Me, I just loved seeing Scully emerge from the vent to save Mulder and destroy the physco super computer. Who cares when the cases are so original(and have been the basis of many horror movies since),the script so funny, and the FBIs most unwanted so freakin brilliant?(Although they seemed to have an odd way of NEVER speaking of previous cases in any great detail in this Season, or screaming, or freaking out- not Mulder and Scully!)

So if you like The X-Files at all you have to buy this. The most original and best TV show ever made.THE X-FILES ROCK!!!

Scully:"The truth IS out there Mulder. You just have to look for it."
Mulder:"That's why they put the I in FBI."*grins*

Product Details/Specifications

Actor(s):
Gillian Anderson
David Duchovny
William B. Davis

Recording label: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
EAN: 5039036018241
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Box set, PAL,
Release date: 2004-10-11
Number of discs: 7
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 999 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1993-09-10
Language: English (Original Language)

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The X Files: Season 1 [1994]

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