The Truth is Out There, the Sound Ain't

"The X-Files" has been, since it was first aired, one of the most consistently interesting and entertaining series on television today. Several years ago, when they first made episodes available on VHS, I was quite pleased, and added several to my collection.

Then the announcement came that full season box sets on DVD were being released, and I, like so many other X-Philes, was in heaven.

The first opportunity I had, I grabbed the ones that were available.

The first season, though good, was a bit shaky, as the first season usually is with most long term series. It was with the second season that the series really got its footing, and began to create a strong reputation for itself. The second season began the background for the so-called "mythology" episodes (the many episodes which deal with ongoing conspiracy between the government and extra-terrestrials). During the second season, also, the creators began experimenting with lighter, more humorous episodes ("Humbug") which have become so loved amongst the fans of the series.

Overall, this is a great set. Some of the best episodes come from season two, including those that cover the abduction of Agent Scully ("Duane Barry", "Ascension", "3" and "One Breath").

Beyond the quality of the episodes, the video transfer to DVD is excellent, and a very visible improvement over the VHS tapes.

The set consists of seven discs - six with episodes and extras on it, the seventh is a DVD-ROM, usable only in a computer with a compatible drive.

The extras are nice, and include a documentary, "The Truth Behind Season Two", as well as behind the scenes clips, promotional spots, interviews, and deleted scenes. One problem exists, though. Some of the extras, such the deleted scenes, can only be accessed from within the episode they come from. Selecting, for example, a deleted scene from the main menu will bring back a message to hit the Enter on your DVD remote when you see an 'X' in the corner of your screen during the episode. To actually view it, you must watch the episode. Additionally, if an episode contains more than one extra, only one may be activated at a time - you must return to the main menu and select the other feature, then watch the episode again. Note that this only applies to some extras; others, such as the documentary, are available directly from the sixth disc.

Overall, this is just a minor annoyance. The big problem is the sound.

Without exception, each episode on every disc contains one spot where, for just one to two seconds, the audio drops out totally. This is extremely distracting, and is a problem that should not have made it out the doors.

Despite these flaws, this is a box set that I would recommend, especially to any fan of the series. The benefits far outweigh the problems.