Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #48621 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-03-15
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 6
• Formats: Box set, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Dutch, English, French, Greek, Italian
• Number of discs: 6
• Running time: 924 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The eighth series of The X-Files was a year of brave decisions. David Duchovny's increasing dissatisfaction with the role meant he only appeared in a few episodes. The solution: enter Agent John Doggett (Robert Patrick) who basically stole the show within his first two minutes of screen time (and watch out for several Terminator 2 in-jokes too). Scully switched roles to being the believer alongside Doggett's sceptic in a year that was more reliant on the background story arc than ever before. Her pregnancy remained at the foreground, while a more prominent Skinner joined in a hunt for the abducted Mulder that drew upon the black oil, cloning and bounty hunting aspects of the convoluted alien conspiracy story. A distinct lack of guest stars or writers indicated maturity beyond the need for ratings stunts: dedicated fans were pleased to see cameos from sinister Krycek, the reliable Lone Gunmen and the return of the show's very first abductee.

The real strengths of the series came from new characters, including alternative female role model Special Agent Monica Reyes (Annabeth Gish), and some terrific standalone episodes. Investigations covered a man going backwards in time, deaths aboard an oil rig, a contagion in the Boston subway tunnels and creatures resembling bats and slugs. Agent Leyla Harrison (named after an X-Files fan who died of cancer) got to ask all the petty questions regular viewers want to know themselves. This year turned out to be a remarkable achievement so late in the show's life.

On the DVD: The X-Files, Series 8 is a six-disc box set with all the episodes presented in anamorphic 16:9 format with Dolby 2.0 sound. The extras are mainly confined to the final disc, though there are selected deleted scenes and "international" clips from the dubbed German, Japanese and Italian versions of the show on the other discs. Two audio commentaries for the episodes "Alone" (from director Frank Spotnitz) and "Existence" (from director Kim Manners) are supplemented by a routine 30-minute behind-the-scenes documentary, more deleted scenes (with optional commentary), character profiles and special effects clips. --Paul Tonks

DVD Description
Disc 1:
Within
Without
Patience
Roadrunners
3 international clips from Within (German, Japanese, Italian)

Disc 2:
Invocation
Redrum
Via Negativa
Surekill
1 deleted scene from Surekill that can be branched into the episode
3 international clips from Via Negativa (German, Japanese, Italian)

Disc 3:
Salvage
Badlaa
The Gift
Medusa
1 deleted scene from Badlaa that can be branched into the episode
3 international clips from The Gift (German, Japanese, Italian)

Disc 4:
Per Manum
This Is Not Happening
Deadalive
Three Words
1 deleted scene from Per Manum that can be branched into the episode
3 international clips from Three Words (German, Japanese, Italian)

Disc 5:
Empedocles
Vienen
Alone
Essence
Audio commentary for Alone by director Frank Spotnitz
1 deleted scene from Empedocles that can be branched into the episode
3 international clips from Essence (German, Japanese, Italian)

Disc 5:
Existence
Audio commentary for Existence by director Kim Manners
3 deleted scenes from Existence that can be branched into the episode
3 international clips from Existence (German, Japanese, Italian)
Documentary: The Truth About Season 8 (30 mins)
X-Files profiles on Gibson Praise, John Doggett and Alex Krycek
7 deleted scenes segments -- extended versions with optional commentary by Frank Spotnitz and John Shiban
7 special effects clips with narration by Paul Rabwin
30 promo spots

Special Features
Picture: 1.78:1 (16:9)
Sound: Dolby 2.0 Language: English
Subtitles: English Hard of Hearing, Dutch, French, French Text, Greek, Italian, Italian Text

Customer Reviews

WOW!!......... Best season ever
Well wow is about the only word that I could use to describe how I feel about Season 8 of The X Files, this is easily the best year of the nine.

The big talking point of this season was obviously David Duchovny's absence for half of the episodes and the full time inclusion of the wonderful Robert Patrick as Special Agent John Doggett, Scullys new partner.
As far as the show is concerned of the 21 episodes there wasn't a bad episode to be found. With Patrick's inclusion the show had very much reverted back to horror roots with very easily some of the greatest stand-alones ever. "Paitence", "Roadrunners", "Invocation", "Redrum", "Badlaa" and "Medusa" are all examples of The X Files at it's terrifing best. Two stand-out episodes this year were both Doggett centric episodes, proving what an incredible asset Robert Patrick was, in "Via Negativa" Doggett and Skinner team up to investigate a series of grusome and unexpained deaths and in "The Gift" Doggett comes across a case that Mulder hid from Scully and the FBI and which may shed light on the reasons for his dissapearance. This episode also marks the return of David Duchovny.

Season 8 was also the most mytholgy laden year of the nine, ranging from the search for Mulder in the incedible two-part season opener "Within/Without" to his return in "This Is Not Happening" (which happens to have the best cliffhanger ever) and "DeadAlive". Mulder's search for answers to his dissapearance in "Three Words", the unexplained death of Doggett's son in "Empedocles", the retun of the black oil in probably the most visually stunning episode ever "Vienen" to the mysteries of Scullys pregnancy in "Per Manum" and then her delivery in the brilliant action packed two-part season finale "Essence/Existence". Amidst all the mytholgy episode towards the end of the season there was room for one fantastic stand-alone episode, "Alone". Written and Directed by Frank Spotnitz this is a must see for any fan.

I really can't begin to say enough about season 8, it was a show very much re-energised and re-focused to doing what The X Files dose best, the acting all round was incredible, Robert Patrick and Gillian Anderson(this was easily her finest year) were incredible and the two work wonderfully together, and even though I wasn't missing him it was great to see David Duchovny back as Mulder and the chemistry between he and Robert Patrick is something that has to be seen to be believed. One other thing that made this season all the better was the increased inclusion of surrounding characters. A.D. Skinner played brilliantly by Mitch Pileggi had his busiest year, Krycheck was back with a bang, Deputy Director Kersh was back, last seen in season 6, The Lone Gunmen showed up now and again to lend a helping hand to the new guy and finally the introduction of Special Agent Monica Reyes who would be seen alot more in season 9.
Anyway it really dosen't matter how much I write I could never do this season justice or the work of everybody involved so buy it and experience it for yourself, I garauntee you will not be dissapointed.

You can love Mulder AND love Season 8! Honest...
I've been watching The X Files since day 1 and loved it but I expected to hate Season 8. I wanted to hate it. I just couldn't see how the series could continue without Duchovny's wonderful Mulder. But I am happy to admit that I was wrong.

The first half of the season sees Scully searching for Mulder and trying to cope with a new partner - John Dogget (Robert Patrick). Their relationship is uneasy at first and Scully finds herself in the position of playing the believer to Dogget's skeptic. Of course they slowly become an effective, equal, partnership (which is something that Scully perhaps didn't always have with the independent, headstrong, intuitive Mulder). After months of worry and searching, Mulder is returned to Scully but the poor woman is confused when Mulder doesn't seem happy to be back and starts feeling guilty/defensive about her partnership with Dogget, whose presence on the X Files Mulder resents.

The new characters (Dogget and the slightly batty Reyes) injected fresh life to the series. It is almost impossible not to respect Patrick's Dogget, no matter how much you love Mulder, and Gillian Anderson is on top form portraying a Scully whose emotions are pulled all over the place during this season. Duchovny is wonderful, of course, and although his scenes with Anderson are as good as ever, it is in the scenes with Patrick that he really shines. It's refreshing to see Mulder not just slipping back into place when he returns but rather coming to terms, not only with what happened to him but the fact that life - including the X Files - moved on in his absence.

The stories are excellent, very reminiscent of earlier seasons with standalone episodes and memorable characters.

This is a great season of The X Files. Don't be put off by the lack of Mulder, I think you'll be surprised at how quickly you warm to the changes. I hope you give it a chance.

The truth is I loved it!!!
As a mulder&scully fan I was ready to hate a season without Mulder and with a certain John Dogget who was going to be scully's new partner. It seemed impossible to me that the x-files could survive without Mulder. For it was the special chemistry between the characters what kept me interested.
Dogget is an x-file, as the character managed to get to me so much that when Mulder comes back I do feel for Dogget. The best of this season is indeed Mulder and Dogget fight to be the leading man in the X-files. This was a season that surprised me in the most positive way.