Starting with the sweeping landscape shot of Los Angeles, the show's new home after filming five seasons in Vancouver, Canada, the Sixth Season of the X-Files epitomized the concept of change in nearly every aspect. Coming on the heels of "Fight The Future", the writers & producers were "flying by the seat of their pants" for the first time. Chris Carter always had a five-year plan for the show (he wanted to spin it off into a series of movies), but FOX likely made it too lucrative for him to walk away. As a result, this Sixth Season (especially at the very beginning) had a serious change of tone that almost rendered a different (if not altogether bad) show for quite some time.
In regards to the mythology episodes, the season starts with the aptly-titled "The Beginning", in which the "new mythology" plotline is begun, centering on the notion that perhaps mankind is itself extraterrestrial in origin. After a two-part episode ("Two Fathers" and "One Son") that wraps up the original Syndicate mythology by explaining the ultimate fate of the alien-human hybrid program, the finale ("Biogenesis") again returns to the "humans as aliens" plot, where Agent Scully makes the greatest scientific discovery in human history on the African coast. I like how they tied up the Syndicate angle this season, and I was fascinated by the "we are actually part alien" idea (I just wish Season Seven would have done something interesting with it).
Also during this season, the stand-alone episodes were of much more comedic nature, as well as focusing on the Mulder-Scully relationship more than ever. The stand-alones that really shine are "How The Ghosts Stole Christmas" (a merry romp through a haunted house), "Triangle" (a fantastic nod to the Wizard of Oz), "The Unnatural" (Mulder's love of the National Pastime is explored), and "Field Trip" (one of the best episodes, concept-wise, of the entire show). Also, "Dreamland 1 & 2" is a unique two-parter that showcases the humor, fantastical plots, and relationships of the show all at once!
This season will always have special meaning to me, as it was the season I began watching live episodes. As a rookie coming into the show, the comedy and wacky plots featured in show were just "what the show was" to me, and thus I was able to appreciate them fully. After a few re-watches, though, I am always jarred by the sudden change of tone (from serious to comic) and the intense focus on the Mulder/Scully "shippers" (something Chris Carter once said he never wanted to do). The episodes aren't bad, per se, just so different than anything preceding them.
Overall, I was impressed by the mythology episodes this season and intrigued by the inventive concepts of the standalones. While no longer my favorite season of the show, my nostalgia helps me to appreciate the wackier antics a bit more than most.
In regards to the mythology episodes, the season starts with the aptly-titled "The Beginning", in which the "new mythology" plotline is begun, centering on the notion that perhaps mankind is itself extraterrestrial in origin. After a two-part episode ("Two Fathers" and "One Son") that wraps up the original Syndicate mythology by explaining the ultimate fate of the alien-human hybrid program, the finale ("Biogenesis") again returns to the "humans as aliens" plot, where Agent Scully makes the greatest scientific discovery in human history on the African coast. I like how they tied up the Syndicate angle this season, and I was fascinated by the "we are actually part alien" idea (I just wish Season Seven would have done something interesting with it).
Also during this season, the stand-alone episodes were of much more comedic nature, as well as focusing on the Mulder-Scully relationship more than ever. The stand-alones that really shine are "How The Ghosts Stole Christmas" (a merry romp through a haunted house), "Triangle" (a fantastic nod to the Wizard of Oz), "The Unnatural" (Mulder's love of the National Pastime is explored), and "Field Trip" (one of the best episodes, concept-wise, of the entire show). Also, "Dreamland 1 & 2" is a unique two-parter that showcases the humor, fantastical plots, and relationships of the show all at once!
This season will always have special meaning to me, as it was the season I began watching live episodes. As a rookie coming into the show, the comedy and wacky plots featured in show were just "what the show was" to me, and thus I was able to appreciate them fully. After a few re-watches, though, I am always jarred by the sudden change of tone (from serious to comic) and the intense focus on the Mulder/Scully "shippers" (something Chris Carter once said he never wanted to do). The episodes aren't bad, per se, just so different than anything preceding them.
Overall, I was impressed by the mythology episodes this season and intrigued by the inventive concepts of the standalones. While no longer my favorite season of the show, my nostalgia helps me to appreciate the wackier antics a bit more than most.