FBI Agent Fox Mulder Wants To Believe. Ever since witnessing the abduction of his sister, Fox Mulder has believed in the existence of extraterrestrials. Now an FBI agent, his obsession with finding his sister continues to grow as he examines the unsolved and often unexplainable cases the FBI has labeled X-Files. But as his search continues, he uncovers a series of seemingly interwoven events of which his sister's abduction is but a part. Although Mulder fails time and again to get hard evidence that could prove his theories, mysterious contacts supply him with information which only strengthen his belief that a far-reaching government conspiracy is covering up the truth he so desperately seeks. Yet nothing can prepare him for the ultimate truth that has been kept hidden for over fifty years.

In Colonization, Mulder's search for the truth suddenly seems near its end when he and Scully meet Cassandra Spender. A multiple abductee, Cassandra believes that aliens came to Earth on a mission that has somehow gone terribly wrong. Her theory is confirmed when Krycek reveals that three abduction sites were beacons for alien colonization and the death and destruction at those sites were caused by a small alien rebel force. Determined to prevent the colonization of Earth, this force is also eliminating all proof that an alien presence was ever on the planet. Unfortunately for Mulder, his quest for the truth has made him part of the proof which must be eliminated.

CRITIQUE

Patient X and The Red and the Black are not as solid as previous mythology episodes simply because Mulder has now become the skeptic while Scully is the believer. Still, the story serves up enough suspense as the agents meet Cassandra Spencer, an abductee who also has an implant in her neck (like Scully). The fifth season finale The End picks up the pace when a young boy named Gibson Praise survives an assassination because his genius and genetics may be proof of man’s relationship with an alien race, and both Mulder and Scully do everything they can to protect him from the Elders (who run the secret organization The Syndicate). Following the episode in the summer of 1998 was the X-Files: Fight the Future movie.

The Beginning brings back the kid who helps Mulder Scully investigate the deaths of two scientists killed by an extraterrestrial. The episode S.R. 819 tells a cool standalone story that ties into a future plot thread involving Skinner and Krycek. The two-part story of Two Fathers and One Son wraps up the alien conspiracy stories, but not as effectively as Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz had hoped, because there are still a few questions left unanswered (or neglected). In the episodes, a rebel alien force tries to eliminate all proof that aliens tried to infect all life forms on Earth by infecting them with the black oil. The climax inside an aircraft hanger serves its purpose, but I didn’t quite like the way the alien conspiracy ended (it seemed almost too abrupt).

The sixth season finale Biogenesis essentially introduces a new mythology that resolves around a powerful and mysterious artifact found in Africa. The seventh season opens with a two-part story The Sixth Extinction in which Scully investigates the artifact while Skinner attempts to save a hospitalized Mulder whose physical reaction to the artifact has given him an almost special power. Meanwhile, the Cigarette-Smoking Man (CSM) has plans to use Mulder’s new gift for his own purposes. The next two-part story of Sein und Zeit and Closure finally addresses the abduction of Mulder’s sister Samantha. Both episodes are emotionally satisfying, especially the last ten minutes of Closure; artist Moby’s “My Weakness” and the way the “closure” scene with Mulder and his sister was shot evokes a very emotional moment.

The last two episodes of the seventh season are pretty solid. Actor William B. Davis wrote En Ami which focuses on CSM offering Scully the cure for all human diseases after he finds Scully investigating the miraculous but mysterious cure of a cancer-stricken young boy. Naturally, Scully is very skeptic, but a road trip changes everything. The final realization by both X-Files agents is good stuff. The season finale Requiem brings the agents back to the scene of their very first case to investigate the disappearance of the Oregon abductees they met seven years ago. I hate to say it, but the ending is not a happy one for Mulder, although Scully receives surprising news.

Within and Without start off the eight season and introduce Special Agent John Doggett (Robert Patrick), who is tasked to find Mulder. Scully and Skinner meanwhile try to locate Gibson Praise who may be the key to finding Mulder. To avoid spoilers, I won’t say more than this.

The third volume of the X-Files Mythology series, Colonization, includes the following episodes from seasons 5-8:

Disc 1:

-5X: Patient X
-5X: The Red and the Black
-5X: The End
-6X: The Beginning

Disc 2:
-6X: S.R. 819
-6X: Two Fathers
-6X: One Son
-6X: Biogenesis 

Disc 3:
-7X: The Sixth Extinction
-7X: The Sixth Extinction II: Amor Fati
-7X: Sein und Zeit
-7X: Closure

Disc 4:
-7X: En Ami
-7X: Requiem
-8X: Within

-8x: Without

THE VIDEO

Fox presents The X-Files in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. The video quality isn't all that great as there are a few noticeable flaws in the picture. They don't distract too much but when viewed on a big screen you can catch them rather easily. The episodes remain watchable, however, as colors look pretty decent and saturation is good. Optional subtitles include English, Spanish and French.

Menus are presented anamorphically but no "play all" option is available, which is a nuisance.

THE AUDIO

Fox presents The X-Files in English Dolby 2.0 Surround. Dialogue sounds clear and is easy to understand. The sound effects come across well from the front speakers, and the music sounds haunting. A Spanish Dolby track and a French Stereo track are also available.

THE EXTRAS

The following episodes contain optional audio commentary:

Kim Manners on Patient X

Chris Carter on The Red and the Black

Kim Manners on Two Fathers

Frank Spotnitz on One Son

Rob Bowman on Closure

Kim Manners and Robert Patrick on Within

It’s good to know Fox cared enough to have new commentaries recorded for this release, but one person talking is usually not very satisfying. Chris Carter’s track is the best, while Kim Manners offers some good insights but stays quiet too often. Frank Spotnitz lets ideas flow and Rob Bowman explains things in his track. I would’ve liked Chris Carter on all commentaries, or maybe even David Duchovny (what wishful thinking huh?), but at least Robert Patrick joins Manners on the last of the commentaries.

The fourth disc holds the all-new documentary created exclusively for this set: Chris Carter's "Threads of Mythology: Colonization" (26 minutes) is the third of four documentaries covering the mythology episodes. In this one we find discussions on some of the episodes included in the set with a few good recollections and explanations from interviews with the show’s producers and writers.

Also included with this 4-disc set is a very neat and informative Exclusive Collectible Mythology Timeline fold-out booklet. The back of the two slimcases look great as each episode listed on it is supported by a synopsis and a small picture from the show.

FINAL THOUGHT