Topher's Log

RE-OPENING THE X-FILES: SEASON 3

10/22/2015

Greetings internet dwellers!

SEASON 3

Lots of fans consider season 3 of The X-files to not only be one of the best, but THE best season of The X-Files. Everything in season 3, is very tightly wound. There are a few episodes towards the end where the season loses some mojo, but overall, season 3 is a great season.

There are so many memorable episodes to come out of season 3. We are introduced to the black oil, alien bounty hunters, the history of Mulder's father, and some rather unique standalone episodes. Peter Boyle, won an Emmy for his guest spot in Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose, and the show was taking some risks.

Season 3, has a lot of humor interjected into it, which I love. I mentioned last time, that one of my favorite things the show does, is its humor. There are moments when the show even pokes fun at itself from time-to-time.

This was extremely difficult to boil down. Instead of sweating over it, I tried to get the best representations of what season 3 brought to the show.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

DPO

ORIGINAL AIR DATE: OCTOBER 6, 1995

DPO, is the first "standalone" episode of season 3. Mulder and Scully, are sent to investigate a series of deaths, which appear to be caused by lightning. Most people probably remember this as the one with Jack Black, and Giovanni Ribisi. Ribisi is fantastic in this episode, and the young actor, is really showcasing what he can do. Black, is his bumbling stoner friend, but he plays it well. An all around great episode, with some great music to boot. Season 3, is also the start of Scully's REALLY skeptic phase, where she has a plausible explanation for everything. And I mean EVERYTHING.

PUSHER

ORIGINAL AIR DATE: FEBRUARY 23, 1996

Pusher has the agents tracking down a man, who can seemingly will his victims to kill themselves. This is an incredibly tense episode written by Vince Gilligan. It's weird today, to go back and watch Gilligan grow as a writer on the show. If I am not mistaken, this is his second episode as a writer on the show. His first was Soft Light back in season 2, which stared Tony Shalhoub. The standoff at the end of Pusher, is an amazing sequence. Gilligan, obviously became a staple of The X-Files, and this is one of his best episodes.

TOP 5

In original broadcast order.

5. PAPER CLIP

ORIGINAL AIR DATE: SEPTEMBER 29, 1995

Paper Clip, is part 2 of the series premier, but is the stronger of the two episodes. If one decides to watch Paper Clip, it may be useful to watch the first. However, it's not really needed, as the first episode is basically Scully trying to find Mulder. Paper Clip gets to the meat of the story. It all culminates in a fantastic finale, where the agents find themselves cornered in an abandoned warehouse. Or is it abandoned? Paper Clip has one of the most frightening scenes in all of X-Files history for me. All I will say is Scully, alone, in the dark, in a cave, and creepy things running around. It terrified me as a kid.

4. CLYDE BRUCKMAN'S FINAL REPOSE

ORIGINAL AIR DATE: OCTOBER 13, 1995

As mentioned earlier, Peter Boyle, won an Emmy for his portrayal as Clyde Bruckman. This is such a great episode. It is so well written, acted, and directed. It has that sense of humor which Darin Morgan, was so good at on the show, as well. However, the episode is centered around the agents catching a serial killer, who targets psychics. Bruckman assists Mulder and Scully, in the case and has the ability himself. Bruckman is a tragic figure, who has the ability, yet views it as a curse. Boyle, plays it so well, with a sense of wit, heart, and compassion. It is a can't miss episode.

3. WAR OF THE COPROPHAGES

ORIGINAL AIR DATE: JANUARY 5, 1996

This is an episode that has grown on me over the years. Again, written by Darin Morgan, Mulder is investigating a series of deaths, that may, or may not, be caused by Cockroaches. There is a lot of good stuff in the episode. If you hate bugs, especially roaches, this episode may get under your skin. The show even has roaches crawling on your screen. Really, some great stuff here. And funny.

2. PIPER MARU

ORIGINAL AIR DATE: FEBRUARY 9, 1996

The image of a person's eyes rolling over black, has probably become famous in The X-Files. Even those who haven't watched an episode, probably know of the black oil. This was the first episode to really feature the alien oil. It is actually the first part of a two part episode. However, it is the stronger of the two episodes. If you are interested in exploring X-Files mythology, and how it shaped the future of the show, Piper Maru is a great episode for it. The episode also begins to unravel the mystery of the death of Scully's sister.

1. JOSE CHUNG'S FROM OUTER SPACE

ORIGINAL AIR DATE: APRIL 12, 1996

Jose Chung's From Outer Space, is probably my favorite episode of The X-Files ever. That Darin Morgan guy again, writes a fantastically witty, engaging, funny, mysterious, and plain bat-shit insane episode. I love how nuts Jose Chung's From Outer Space is. It takes The X-Files, and plays with it. And it does it so well. There are fantastic twists, turns, and it will leave you guessing the whole way through. As well as keep you vastly entertained. In true X-Files fashion, the episode leaves you asking yourself, if what you saw actually was the truth or not. I love this episode.

That does it for season 3. I am well into season 4, and we will press on when I am finished.

Hasta La Bye-bye for now.

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