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DVD The X-Files Mythology, Vol. 2 - Black Oil
Black Oil, the second volume in the X-Files Mythology series, covers one of The X-Files' weirder concepts: the alien being that travels from host to host, occasionally revealing itself as it travels across a person's eyeballs. But the volume actually begins with a two-parter from season 3, "Nisei" and "731," in which FBI agents Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) dig deeper into topics of post-World War II Japanese scientists conducting experiments on alien and human subjects, mass executions at a leprosy colony, Scully's own abduction experience and her sister's murder, and a possible alien-human hybrid being hidden aboard a railroad car.
That's our way of saying that Black Oil will make little sense to the X-Files novice. In fact, because those first two episodes (as well as other, later episodes in the set, "Memento Mori," "Tempus Fugit" and "Max") deal more with abduction than with the black oil, they would have fit more appropriately in the first volume, titled Abduction. It appears, then, that The X-Files Mythology is not intended as a themed collection of episodes, but rather an inexpensive and smartly packaged attempt to capture the complete X-Files conspiracy/alien arc while bypassing the stand-alone "creature feature" episodes. As that arc makes for riveting watching and did give The X-Files its water-cooler reputation, the Mythology series is a good buy for new viewers or just for casual fans who want to pick up a bunch of great episodes with some new commentary tracks. The four-disc Black Oil set encompasses 15 episodes (starting late in season 3 and ending early in season 5, the period often considered the peak of the series). Notable episodes such as "Talitha Cumi," "Herrenvolk," "Tenguska," "Gethsemane," and "Redux" offered more about the alien bounty hunters, Mulder's family, Scully's affliction, the mysterious informant named X, and turncoat agent Krycek. Still, devoted fans should stick to the complete-season sets for memorable episodes that are excluded from this set, such as "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose," "War of the Coprophages," "Hell Money," "Jose Chung's From Outer Space," "Home," "Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man," and "Paper Hearts," to name a few. That's not even mentioning "Leonard Betts," the plot of which was technically outside the normal arc but contained a key dramatic revelation.
New features are less generous than on volume 1, restricted to director commentaries on three episodes plus the next installment of creator Chris Carter's new "Threads of Mythology" documentary. --David Horiuchi
Review(s): DVD The X-Files Mythology, Vol. 2 - Black Oil
Very Nice
The first episode used in this compilation comes from mid-third season. The two part story "Nisei" and "731" provides Scully with additional insights to her abduction and also ties in what Mulder believes is proof of extraterrestrial life, which comes in the form of an alien-human hybrid. The hybrid is an important development to understanding of the overall conspiracy story arc and how the abductions introduced in the first volume tie in. In the next episodes the black oil begins to surface in the two part story "Piper Maru" and "Apocrypha". There are some important truths revealed about the origin of the black oil in this story, as well as how the pursuit of the truth affects Skinner. The season three finale "Talitha Cumi" is the first half of a two part story. This first part unveils a past relationship between the Cigarette Smoking Man and Mulder's mother that he wishes weren't true. The story continues with the second part of the story and season four premiere episode "Herrenvolk". This is when Marita Covarrubias is first introduced. Her minor role becomes important to later episodes as a pseudo-informant to Mulder. Additionally "Talitha Cumi" and "Herrenvolk" introduces the concept of rebel aliens who opposes colonization.
In "Tunguska" and "Terma", the conspiracy story arc continues to focus on the black oil and ties in its origin to Tunguska, Russia. Both Mulder and Krycek get caught up in the mess, as well as Scully and Skinner become the center of attention with the Senate Select Subcommittee on Intelligence and Terrorism. "Momento Mori" is about Scully learning more about her abduction and this episode introduces her illness, brain cancer. In the two part story "Tempus Fugit" and "Max", Max Fenig from the season one episode "Fallen Angel" returns. In this story Mulder and Scully try to unravel the truth behind a Military cover up of the plane crash of civilian Flight 549. Of all the episodes included, this two part story adds the least to the overall conspiracy story arc.
The next episode "Zero-Sum" is an awesome episode. In this story Skinner is coerced into working for the Cigarette Smoking Man. What makes this episode great is Skinner getting down and dirty by doing some cloak and dagger type stuff. As an episode, there are some subtle, yet important details revealed about colonization. The last three episodes included in this set feature the season four finale "Gethsemane" and the first two episodes from season five "Redux" and "Redux II". This last story for the black oil box set proposes a few important advancements for the conspiracy story arc. The most important is the understanding Mulder obtains in the episode "Gethsemane". With the help of a man from the Pentagon's research division, Michael Kritschgau, Mulder and Scully learn that not everything is what it seems. The story continues in "Redux" and "Redux II" and our favorite F.B.I. agents learn more about how they have been pawns in a much larger picture.
Overall I enjoyed the watching the exclusive mythology episodes back to back. The conspiracy story arc driving the series is certainly one of the most interesting things about the show. Despite it is missing a few details in characters and whatnot, the episodes flow pretty well together. This is a great addition for fans or casual viewers interested in just the conspiracy episodes.
DVD Detailed Episode Guide (in order, and by season)
1. "Nisei", Season 3, Episode 9
2. "731", Season 3, Episode 10
3. "Piper Maru", Season 3, Episode 15
4. "Apocrypha", Season 3, Episode 16
5. "Talitha Cumi", Season 3, Episode 24
6. "Herrenvolk", Season 4, Episode 1
7. "Tunguska", Season 4, Episode 8
8. "Terma", Season 4, Episode 9
9. "Momento Mori", Season 4, Episode 14
10. "Tempus Fugit", Season 4, Episode 17
11. "Max", Season 4, Episode 18
12. "Zero-Sum", Season 4, Episode 21
13. "Gethsemane", Season 4, Episode 24
14. "Redux", Season 5, Episode 1
15. "Redux II", Season 5, Episode 2
Another volume for casual X-Files fans
The second volume in the X-Files Mythology series focuses on the Black Oil aspect of the series. Compiling 15 episodes from seasons 3 to 5, this volume is mainly features episodes about the parasitic, black colored oil like alien substance that can infect humans. The episodes included here: Nisei, 731, Piper Maru, Apocrypha, Talitha Cumi, Herrenvolk, Tunguska, Terma, Memento Mori, Tempus Fugit, Max, Zero-Sum, Gethsemane, Redux, and Redux II, are all excellent and just about classic X-Files episodes that are compiled here for a cheap price, which is what makes the X-Files Mythology series worth owning for casual X-Files fans who don't want to shell out the money for complete season sets. If you are a die hard X-phille, you're better off with the season sets which include all the great stand alone episodes (where as the Mythology sets revolve around the series' single storyarc), but other than that, this is a solid deal for casual X-fans.
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