The great thing about "The X Files" was its splendid blend of sci-fi, horror, and drama. In 3, all three genres are intertwined perfectly, creating one of the most unique and fascinating hours of television of the 1990s. The story concerns Mulder's investigation of a trio of hungry vampires in L.A., a concept that may not seem original at first, but eventually comes into its own shortly after the cold opening. If there is a flaw in the episode, it is the opening that simply seems like it was shot within an hour period. It doesn't match the stylish direction of the rest of the episode. David Nutter always did a bang-up job on the episodes he directed, bringing a distinctive mood and artfulness to the proceeding yet the opening here is weak. The rest of 3 is exceptionally well done with the usual solid directing by Nutter, very strong performances by David Duchovny and guest star Perry Reeves (probably best known as Will Ferrell's wife in Old School), slick visuals, and a surprise ending. The closing scene is especially moving. Even for non-'Files' fans, 3 is a must-see. 9/10
Review of 3
