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The X-Files Mythology, Vol. 4 - Super Soldiers | 
 enlarge | Actors: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, Robert Patrick, Tom Braidwood
Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Category: DVD
List Price: $39.98
Buy Used: $10.88
You Save: $29.10 (73%)
New (41) Used (20) from $10.88
Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 31004
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Region: 1
Discs: 4
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number Of Discs: 4
Running Time: 45 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: FOXD2230831D
UPC: 024543208303
EAN: 0024543208303
ASIN: B000AQ68X2
Theatrical Release Date: September 10, 1993
Release Date: November 22, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 12/02/2008
Amazon.com
The fourth and final volume of the X-Files Mythology series picks up in season 8, with Agent John Doggett (Robert Patrick of Terminator 2) entrenched as the partner of Agent Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson). That leads to some obvious friction when Agent Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) makes an improbable return and finds himself shut out of the branch that he created and worked in for so long. Also making an improbable return is a young man named Billy Miles (Zachary Ansley), who after being pronounced dead, sheds his skin to become a Super Soldier, a nearly invulnerable alien assassin created to wipe out the human race as part of the colonization plot revealed in volume 3. Other super soldiers during the season included Lucy Lawless (Xena), Terry O'Quinn (Millennium), and Adam Baldwin (Firefly). While this seemed at times like a warmed-over version of the former green-blooded alien bounty-hunters arc, it took a different twist when it directly involved Scully's new baby, William. By season 9, Scully had ceased active duty on the X-Files, and many loyal viewers had stopped watching as well. Doggett's new partner was Monica Reyes (Annabeth Gish), who had been introduced in season 8 as a cult-ritual expert. Gish, whose character had her own history with Doggett, was a solid addition to the cast (though sometimes reduced to the role of baby carrier). Duchovny was officially gone from the opening credits and most of the episodes, and he and Scully were officially no longer platonic (which usually means jumping the shark). But he did return for the series finale, which over the course of a double-length episode neatly summed up this whole mythology arc. Volume 4's bonus features are the thinnest of the series, consisting of the last installment of the "Mythology" documentary, featuring appearances by the crew plus Robert Patrick and Annabeth Gish, and commentary tracks on two episodes. --David Horiuchi
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| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 Fascinating June 10, 2006
Alexander Mendez (South Pasadena, CA United States)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I almost did not buy this Super Soldiers set given some of the reviews, but I just needed to see for myself.
This set is great and quite neatly continues the mythology episodes from the earlier seasons. It does not appear to me that there is some discontinuity or repetitiveness in this set. On the contrary, it neatly ties in with previous sets while at the same time presenting new characters and ideas.
Some good reasons to buy:
1. Extremely exciting episodes. I just couldn't believe it. Even more than the previous sets I found myself captivated by the story line.
2. The development of John Doggett as a character from a sceptic to a loyal friend of Scully.
3. Scully is completely different in this set. She seems more gloomy and fatalistic.
4. The baby story line is not ridiculous at all but adds new matieral to keep the story line vibrant throughout the episodes.
I don't understand the negative reviews February 22, 2006
litemakr (Phoenix, AZ)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I watched the X-Files pretty avidly for the first 5 or 6 seasons and never had too much interest in the later seasons because I heard they weren't that good. I have to say my opinion is completely changed after watching all 4 mythology sets. The writing and acting is excellent in seasons 8 and 9. With the exception of one plot point regarding Scully's baby that I didn't like, I was completely engrossed in each episode.
Yes, it was a bummer to have Mulder absent for most of the last season, but I really liked agents Doggett and Reyes far more than I expected. And Gillian Anderson is underrated as an actress. She held her own without David Duchovney very well. The finale cleared up most of the questions I had and left things open for a compelling story should they decide to make future movies (and I hope they do!)
Watching all of the mythology episodes in order was a fantastic experience and I highly recommend it. It was so hard to grasp the complex overall plot when it were interspersed with the stand alone episodes when the show first aired. So many outstanding episodes. Far better than anything on TV now, including Lost, which I really like. I am now going to start collecting the season sets to watch the stand alone episodes now that Fox is releasing them at reasonable prices.
The end January 13, 2006
N. Durham (Philadelphia, PA)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
The fourth and final installment of the X-Files Mythology DVD series focuses around the Super Soldiers from the final two seasons of the show. These episodes introduce Scully's (Gillian Anderson) new partner John Dogget (Robert Patrick) as well as Agent Reyes (Annabeth Gish) and it features the return of the missing Mulder (David Duchovny). Throughout the 14 episodes collected here, the pregnant Scully is trying to figure out what these alien super soldiers (including Lucy "Xena" Lawless and Serenity/Firefly's Adam Baldwin) want with her child, as everything else comes to a head leading to the two hour series finale. As a previous reviewer mentioned, this arc really was the only real mis-step of an otherwise excellent series, but the way the final episode wraps things up almost makes up for it. Just like the previous three Mythology sets, this volume is no different and includes none of the great stand alone episodes and is scant on extras. However, with the re-release of cheaper priced full seasons of the series, there really is no reason to own any of these Mythology sets when for a little more you can get a full season. All in all, this is worth getting if you're a real casual fan of the series, but for all others, the full early seasons are the ones that are worth owning.
 inevitable repackaging of the brilliant television series January 4, 2006
Ian K. Hughes (San Mateo, CA)
14 out of 16 found this review helpful
This repackaging of THE X FILES (1993-2002) according to the mythology arc has, no doubt, long been expected by most diehard fans of the now legendary television series. Having received the 4 volumes as a Christmas gift, this grateful recipient has not had time to peruse all 60 episodes + extras; however, a few observations do come to mind.
RE: THE X FILE MYTHOLOGY, VOL 1-4 ("Abduction"; "Black Oil"; "Colonization"; "Super Soldiers"):
Recommendations, divided into 4 categories of prospective buyers, are as follows:
1) FANATICS/COLLECTORS:
True fanatics or obsessive collectors will, irrespective of whether they own all 9 complete seasons, want to add these 4 volumes to their shelves. That there exists only a small amount of new material ( in terms of extras: audio commentary + documentary ) is really irrelevant to those who fall into this category. 5 STARS in terms of its appeal for this group of people.
2) "REGULAR" FANS:
"X-Philes" who exist on a lesser ( if saner ) plane of dedication may want to consider whether, possessing some ( if not, perhaps, all ) of the complete DVD sets, these repackaged sets actually add to their enjoyment. It seems indisputable that THE X FILES will never be understood on an aesthetic level by solely watching the myth arc episodes; therefore, it begs the question of why one would purchase the "complete" myth arc when it's possible to go the way the series did when it originally aired- i.e., by alternating between mythology and stand alone episodes. 2 STARS in terms of its appeal for this group of people.
3) CONFUSED BUT INTERESTED VIEWERS:
People with some familiarity with the show but who never quite watched with enough regularity ( or intensity ) to follow the intricacies of the mythology arc, may well consider purchasing these volumes. Presumably, those who fall ( more or less ) into this category will not have purchased the complete DVD seasons ( or at least not *all* of them ). It may well be financially (1/5 cost of 9 complete seasons) and aesthetically satisfying to purchase these 4 repackaged volumes and supplement ( by renting or borrowing ) selected stand alone ( "monster of the week" ) episodes. 4 STARS in terms of its appeal for this group of people.
4) NOVICES
For those who truly haven't watched THE X FILES, or at most, a few episodes, it seems a toss-up as to whether these sets are the right way to go. It is this reviewers suggestion that those in this category rent some episodes; specifically, the first 4 episodes of SEASON ONE in order to establish whether they find the show appealing. If they're hooked, and have the willingness to invest money through purchasing DVD's outright, it might be better to start purchasing all nine complete seasons over time ( most definitely *in order* ). The other option for beginners would be to purchase the 4 repackaged myth arc volumes ( again, paying attention to proper order ) and renting select stand alone episodes ( there are numerous books and websites which can guide one to the very best episodes ). 3 STARS in terms of its appeal for this group of people.
NOTE: The X FILES MOVIE ( "Fight the Future" ) is *not* included in this repackaging release. After viewing the first 3 episodes of Vol 3: "Colonization" (Patient X, The Red and the Black, The End), it is extremely advisable, for the sake of continuity and understanding, to buy ( or at least, watch ) the film *before* continuing with the remaining (Vol 3) episodes.
RE: THE X FILES MYTHOLOGY, VOL 4: "Super Soldiers":
The 14 episodes selected for inclusion in Vol 4, spanning Seasons 8 & 9, are representative of a unique period (David Duchovny's partial participation and consequent introduction of new characters). An unprecedented percentage (nearly half) of the episodes from Season 8 were devoted to the mythology arc; as a result, of all the volumes in the repackaging scheme, Volume 4 has the most claim to an artistic "raison d'etre". With composer Mark Snow's haunting "Scully theme" functioning as idée fixe, the mythology arc conveys a dramatic intensity ("Per Manum"/"This is Not Happening"/"DeadAlive"/"Three Words"/"Vienen" ) reminiscent of the THE X FILES dark Season 4. "Essence"/"Existence" reveals much of the series' philosophical (indeed, theological) underpinnings, scripts fashioned in such a way as to provide a satisfactory conclusion to both the 8th season and the series as a whole, should it have ended in 2001. As it turned out, many of its themes would be carried over into what would in actuality become the final year. The symbiotic partnership between Chris Carter & Frank Spotnitz continued with their co-writing of episodes airing in Season 9. The ambitious "Nothing Important Happened Today (I/II)" fuses the familiar "alien hybrid" concept with the newer element of "Supersoldiers". The Orwellian atmosphere of "Trust No1" is a compellingly well-framed continuation of the myth arc as well as a dark commentary on certain governmental strictures enacted in the wake of 9/11. An extraordinary degree of Christian symbolism pervades "Provenance" & "Providence" while "William" is taut, dramatic episode creatively directed (& co-written) by Duchovny- the clever double twist ending has dramatic ramifications that extend backward and forward in time (Gillian Anderson putting forth a customarily moving performance). The series finale ("The Truth") penned by Carter exudes a special glow, starting out ("in media res") with Mulder's return, lagging a bit during the court-room trial scenes and ending with a fireworks flourish which pulls out all the stops. The final scene of THE X FILES is a quiet coda; a truly beautiful moment between Mulder and Scully as they share their mutual belief that, in spite of all appearances, hope is not lost and that "the light shines in the darkness".
 What is this? No need to exist!! December 19, 2005
Theobalt (Ioannina, Greece)
1 out of 11 found this review helpful
No need to buy this as I would recomend the whole seasons and not some of the episodes. And by the way starting at season 8 little by little and going at season 9....why the heck did they cancel the show?????? Season 9 was fantastic and Patrick was a real catch!!!
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