Rating: 
Summary: Extravagant season, without a doubt!
Review: Many people choose to hate the last two seasons of the X-Files because of it's new leading ensemble and Duchovny leaving the show. I do not.
Although the show is primarily based on the character of Mulder, there is no reason to end it, just because David Duchovny feels bored. As much as I like him, I have to say that I like Robert Patrick and the character of Doggett just as much if not even more. Annabeth Gish also is brilliant as Reyes, so there's no moaning there, too. Think about this: If things were reversed, and Patrick/Gish had started the show and were now to be replaced by Duchovny/Anderson, I believe that the fans' discomfort could be even greater!
So what you have here is yet another very-well thought-through season with great episodes and a strong leading cast, keeping the integrity of the story (=not getting even more illogic than already at some times...) and delivering a great final year, which honestly deserved another one or two years with the new cast. So I can only hope that Mr Carter also incorporates Doggett and Reyes into the upcoming feature film along with Mulder & Scully, since it would be more than unfair and just plain stupid to leave them out. They were and are great characters and actors, and no bad ratings, no bad reviews and no smart remarks are going to change that!
Every true X-Phile can embrace this season without any hesitation, it marks the end of a TV-legend that the world had not seen before!
Rating: 
Summary: The Season Has Two Faces
Review: Fox's decision to both hold Gillian Anderson to her contract as well as to renew the X-Files for a ninth season without Mulder led to a very uneven season. In many ways, the season is trying to be two very different things at the same time. One side of the season is watching the new duo of Agent Doggett and Agent Reyes explore classic X-Files type cases. Many of these episodes, such as 4-D, have interesting ideas that are explored in new ways by agents who are very different from the classic Mulder and Scully. Not all these episodes work, but they allow the viewer a glimpse of the season that could have been if Fox had allowed Scully to ride off into the sunset with Mulder.Scully's presence brings into focuse the other face of the season. This face attempts to bring further understanding into the arc, which was already hopelessly convoluted. In reality, it merely clouds the issue, causing mass confusion for the viewer as new sides in the conflict are brought forward. The arc episodes also suffer from a Mulder-centric view, while Mulder never appears (until the finale). You'll hear his name endlessly evoked, and be jerked around as he's proclaimed dead then alive again and again. Without an appearance by Duchovny, these episodes can be wearying. I wish to make special mention of one episode in particular besides the finale: Release. This episode, which seems wholly different from all others is by far the best episode of the season in my opinion, and provides wonderful closure to Doggett's character. As for the finale, it remains controversial. It attempts to tie up all the loose ends of the series, but is often criticized as more a rehasing of what the viewer already knew rather than closure for the characters or new information. In the end, the show is left up in the air, with several major questions left unanswered. Season 9, seen on its own merits is average to above average. Certain episodes rise above the rest. It's certainly watchable. However, it in no way is on the level of quality of the previous seasons. It should also be noted that this is a shortened season, counting only 20 episodes, 2 of which are the two parts of the finale.
Rating: 
Summary: Misunderstood
Review: Though I agree with you that this is not one of the best seasons, of The X-Files... but then, again... How come noone likes it... It was rushed, but yet, it was the only way they could have ended the series... what was going to happen? He was going to uncover the truth? That was not going to happen... They had to tie together loose ends and get things going... Leaving things open and in the air, is the only way... The whole idea that there will never be an end to the quest and it will forever continue is a perfect way to end... Not even just commercially but in the true spirit of The X-Files. How many times, has an episode has had ended with them solving the case, with still something lurking in the shadows. Or closing the casefile, with something open in the air. By ending the series, and leaving thing open was brilliant... for me, I didn't enjoy the season, but I loved the ending... the redemption of certain characters, the coming of full circle of other characters... and then end of some... Chris has done some crap work, and has done some world class stuff... and with this, he brought and end to a world class series... Fox, has always spent good effort on the season DVD boxsets, and I don't think they will skimp on us this time around... Though, again not the best season, I still would own it thus completing the collection... as a true fan you should too!
Rating: 
Summary: Worth Renting
Review: The majority of the myth-arc episodes are not of great quality and in my opinion show Mulder and Scully as really out of character - it gets tiresome when they are romantic constantly. Nor did I particularly like the character of Monica Reyes, although Annabeth Gish is a great actress. I did, however, really enjoy some of the MOTW (monster - of - the - week) episodes that had nothing to do with the ongoing supersoldier/alien plot. Daemonicus in particular comes to mind, though I have not yet seen a few of them. Unlike many fans, I loved the character of John Doggett and I actually wish they had delved into his character a bit more before the demise of the series. As a die hard X Phile, I will purchase this set(...).
Rating: 
Summary: [bad]
Review: This episode, much like the previous two seasons was absolutely crap. Come on people, don't pretend it was good when it wasn't, I know it's hard to face the fact that we have all been waiting nine years for that tripe, but it doesn't mean that we have to give in and conform to Carter's senile old brain.
Had the X Files begun, all those years ago in sptember 93, and been exactly like season eight and nine, nobody would have watched it. You know it, I know it, even David Duchovny knew it so he did the smart thing and left so as not to be associated with the final two seasons.
The final ever episode explained nothing.
It was long, tedious, boring and gave absolutely no credence whatsoever to all of the hard work that had gone in to the early seasons.
The X Files unfortunately became something of a tragedy in television land. That which was once the highest rated show in the world was to become one of the worst rated, and lets face it, worst shows ever aired on T.V.
You know you hated Rayez (Don't pretend you didn't), you know that you felt Dogget was a crappy excuse for Mulder and you never enjoyed watching him. And you know that every time Scully started crying you were desperately close to putting your foot through the T.V screen. (Which was alot).
Basically, The X Files should have had the greatest and most enthralling ending of any television show in history, and any film. What we ended up with was something so depressing that you regret not switching off early and starting afresh on Sunset Beach.
Oh man!
The X files will always be remembered, and I can garuantee that the final two seasons (and seven to an extent) will in time be forgotton. Anyone out there who disagrees was obviously never an X Files fan in the first place, or is just a very stupid person.
There is frankly so much to criticise about the way that The X Files turned out, that it frankly isn't worth going in to.
Goodbye X Files. You will be missed.
Rating:
Summary: the light shines in the darkness
Review: The 9th (and final) season of THE X FILES (2001-02) stands, along with Season 6, as the most consistent of all the years filmed in Los Angeles and exhibits a number of unique qualities. First and foremost, the loss of David Duchovny's participation created the necessity to play off (as in Season 8) his absence. While the (not insignificant) feeling of contrivance concerning yet another Mulder disappearance was unfortunate, the writers made full creative use of this (business related) circumstance. Specifically, through scripts (mostly "stand alone") that fleshed out new characters (Agents John Doggett & Monica Reyes) and through the mythology arc, in which themes from the previous year (and the series as a whole) were developed. Secondly, the show regained a sense of equilibrium, its structure a throwback to the Vancouver years, where the (uniformly interesting) "mythology" episodes were aired at specific points: early, mid, and late season. This well-planned strategy mitigated the effect of some of the more routine "stand alone" efforts while moving inexorably towards a conclusion illuminating much of Chris Carter's "underground project". STAND ALONE EPISODES: There were several efforts by writers ( relatively ) new to THE X FILES: An ambitious attempt to marry characterization to storyline appears in two of Steven Meada's scripts: both "4-D" and "Audrey Pauley" share similar sci-fi plots against a backdrop of (implied) romantic affection shared by Agents Doggett and Reyes. "Audrey Pauley" in particular, benefits from excellent writing as well as fine performances from the principles (esp Annabeth Gish) and guests (the actress playing Audrey was previously seen in the 3rd Season masterpiece "Oubliette"). Writer Thomas Schnauz also turned in two scripts: "Lord of the Flies" (the season's only overtly comedic take) is a clever but at times strained affair. The main attraction is really for diehard X-philes, since the episode is full of playful allusions to writer Darin Morgan's classic 3rd season script "War of the Copraphages". More effective is Schnauz' "Scary Monsters"; while its surface story is purposely borrowed from THE TWILIGHT ZONE, the whimsical "Mulder vs Doggett" subplot is a fun spoof. Agent Scully's impromptu "kitchen autopsy" is also a great bit, harkening back to the classic comedy of the series' golden years. Three more scripts, in what could be termed the "Exorcist File" vein, were seen in Season 9: "Daemonicus" (written & directed by Frank Spotnitz) features some eerily creative camera work and a "Hannibal Lechter" type villain while adding further details to the character of Agent Doggett. The graphically violent "Hellbound" outlines writer David Amann's deliberately odd theological juxtaposition: Calvinist predestination and Buddhist reincarnation. John Shiban's "Underneath" is a disaster; easily the worst episode of the season. Chris Carter wrote and directed the superb "Improbable", the latest in a long line of quirkily serious scripts that deal with perennial philosophical issues (free will/determinism good/evil, et al ). The episode features an excellent performance by Burt Reynolds; the brilliantly shot street scenes (and music) are a Carterian homage to Italian "cinema dell'arte". Longtime staff writer Vince Gilligan's two contributions are mixed affairs: the sepia-tone cinematography of "John Doe", coupled with Robert Patrick's fine acting make this episode enjoyable up until the oddly strained "crash and bang" finale. "Sunshine Days" is one of Gilligan's rare missteps; a re-tread of his "Je Souhaite" (Season 7) with an unfortunate undercurrent of saccharine sentimentality. The ongoing subplot (treated in various episodes of Seasons 8-9) relating to Agent Doggett's personal tragedy was resolved in "Release" ( particularly beautiful music by Mark Snow ). It is a testament to the quality of THE X FILES that in their last season the staff writers (John Shiban & David Amann) would prepare so properly respectful a vehicle for Robert Patrick, whose performances were so vitally important for the series in its final years. "Jump the Shark" was neither the best nor worst treatment that could have been prepared as the swan song of the beloved Lone Gunmen. However flawed the script, the heroic efforts of the three misfits in this episode were a necessary correction to the idiotic mischaracterization that shot through the (mercifully short-lived) series (Spring 2001) that bore their name. In "Jump the Shark" some of the eccentric nobility of the Lone Gunmen was restored. MYTHOLOGY EPISODES: The symbiotic partnership between Chris Carter & Frank Spotnitz continued with their co-writing of 6 of the 7 myth arc episodes airing in Season 9 (the finale was penned by Carter alone). The ambitious 2-part opener ("Nothing Important Happened Today I/II") fuses the familiar "alien hybrid" concept with the newer (logically consistent) element of "supersoldiers". The Orwellian/Kafkaesque 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 openly religious (Christian) symbolism (in terms of plot, dialogue and cinematography) pervades the mid season 2-parter titled "Provenance/Providence". "William" is taut episode creatively directed (and co-written) by David Duchovny; the clever double twist ending has dramatic ramifications that extend backward and forward in time. Gillian Anderson puts forth a customarily moving performance emphasizing Scully's unique qualities of nobility and loving self-sacrifice. The grand 2 hour finale ("The Truth") exudes a special glow, starting out ("in media res") with the return of Mulder, lagging a bit during the lengthy court-room trial scenes and ending with a fireworks flourish in which director Kim Manners 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" .
Rating:
Summary: Not the best, but not the worst...
Review: I've been a huge X-Files fan since the shows inception way back in the day - and these were some of the best episodes in the series. The folks that immediately say that this season [...] are usually just David Duchvoney fanatics that weren't truly into the show. Episodes like 4-D, William, Trust No 1, Nothing Important Happened Today, and The Truth were some of the masterpieces of the series. Of course, you also had episodes like Jump The Shark which gave long-time fans a reason to go. Overall, this season was pretty good, even if it didn't have everybody's favorite conspiracy theorist. Those of ya'll that say it completely [...] aren't truly fans of the show - you're just fans of David Duchovney...
Rating:
Summary: The least best season in the series
Review: Chris Carter could have done far much better with this season then any other, he knew this was the last season & to me its like he was writing absolute nothing. Even the last 2 episodes were drawn out.. i really wasnt dissapointed in it, it still could have been better, but then again the last 2 were one of the best out of this season, every other episode was lame.. i did like the side stories they usually do (like that one demon named episode) I dint even care to watch to much of the episodes i was more or less changing channels when they first aired this season. $68.00 is too much for this season & i dont know why they arent charging the same amount as the other tv series is. Its not really because of the different characters its more like Chris couldnt write anymore, it was like he was writing as they were airing the episodes. It really dint look like he even tried. He also had to write the lone gunmen out of the storyline, which is a shame.. my suggestion is if you havnt seen this season yet.. i wouldnt really even bother buying it. Not for the price the studio has it for.
Rating:
Summary: Innovative and underrated
Review: Despite its problems, I will always insist that Season 9 is just as good as past seasons, but in a very different way. There are a few stinkers, namely Lord of the Flies and Underneath, but despite being nine years old the creative team managed to come up with great episodes. The likes of John Doe, 4-D, Improbable and Audrey Pauley are strikingly different to other X-Files episodes, and this approach should be applauded. Rather than complain that the show isn't what it was, surely people should welcome a fresh perspective on the X-Files? All four of these episodes, as well as Release, Hellbound, and Daemonicus compare very favourably with past episodes. William and Jump The Shark, although controversial, are good dramatic episodes. Scary Monsters is a pretty average episode, whilst Lord of the Flies and Underneath are plain terrible. The mythology this season is a mixed bag. Nothing Important Happened Today I&II and Provenance/Providence were both written before the decision was made to end the show this year. As such, they offer few answers and raise more questions to fuel a potential myth arc for the next couple of seasons. As such, NIHT is pretty poor, and P/P are excellent episodes but serve little purpose. The Truth, the final episode, is great - but not as great as it could have been. It recaps the show's mythology, but relies too heavily on this. The final half-hour is as good as ever, with the final scene being the only imagineable way to end the series - with Mulder and Scully together. There will be people who will never take Season 9 seriously, and I admit, it does seem to be something of an acquired taste. However, that won't stop me from singing its praises.
Rating:
Summary: The ninth season wasn't that bad.
Review: I must admit, like every other fan I missed Mulder in the ninth season. But Scully and Skinner were still around. And Kirsch. So we had a cuople of new characters who would be replacing Mulder and Skully. They would have still guest starred from time to time. Overall I think season 9 was about as good as season 1. It was trying to start a new with the characters of Doggett and Reyes. I think they should have gone for an even 10. I would have been there to watch the adventures of Doggett and Reyes. I was shocked the Lone Gunmen were killed off. I really enjoyed Cary Elwes addition to the series. I just wished he would have been in the last episode. He was pretty important to the ploat of the 9th season. Oh well. They probably couldn't afford him. I'm excited to see what new material will be on the bonus dusks. I mean we have 2 disks of bonus material. There's got to be a lot of good stuff on it. I just wish 20th Cen. Fox and everyone else would get going on the movie or movies. The actors aren't getting any younger. And neither am I.
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