The X-Files: Super Soldiers

Much like the end of the series, the X-Files "mythology" box sets close on a lacklustre note. The fourth and final four-disc collection, Super Soldiers, compiles seven episodes each from the show's eighth and ninth seasons. Most would agree that the series had already "jumped the shark" by this time, and this release certainly gives the impression that Fox and even the show's production team knew it. The two major mythology focuses here are Scully's extraterrestrial offspring and the set-up of the "super soldiers," an untrue but alternate explanation for the alien conspiracy, one that suggests there were no aliens only a government determined to create a master breed of soldiers. Lead Duchovny is mostly absent from these 14 episodes and Agent Doggett (Robert Patrick) continues to work on the X-Files, later bringing on board Agent Monica Reyes (Annabeth Gish) to assist him, which at the time set-up a new lead duo in the event that the show continued on to a tenth season without Mulder or Gillian Anderson as Scully. The main problem with the last two years of The X-Files, and the show's crew discuss it with an unexpected candidness in the Threads of the Mythology: Super Soldiers doc included in the set, is that the hardcore fans had come to see The X-Files as Mulder and Scully and understandably weren't quick to swallow a couple of new characters running the department. Never mind that parts of the mythology had become so confusing (which was made even worse by the introduction of the whole super soldiers fake out) that even folks who'd watched since the beginning were getting lost in the twists and turns of the now seriously overwrought conspiracy. To be fair, the series finale does do a respectable job of explaining the whole mythology, and thankfully stays away from capping off the nine years with a wholly unbelievable "everything's perfect and humanity's saved" conclusion. With a mere two episode commentaries (neither of which are for the finale) and the aforementioned doc, Fox seems eager to wash their hands of the disappointing demise of the show. A sad thing really, when one considers the impact The X-Files had on modern television. Instead of going out with a glorious bang, it concluded with a whimper. One never more evident than when watching these two seasons without the "monster of the week" episodes to round them out. (Fox)