X-Files, The: The Collector’s Set (Blu-ray)
Debi Moore
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Starring Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny, Mitch Pileggi, Robert Patrick, William B. Davis, Nicholas Lea, Tom Braidwood, Bruce Harwood, Dean Haglund, Annabeth Gish
Directed by Kim Manners, Rob Bowman, David Nutter, Chris Carter, R.W. Goodwin, Tony Wharmby, Michael W. Watkins, Daniel Sackheim, and more
Distributed by Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
When it was announced last year by Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment that The X-Files: The Collector’s Set was arriving on Blu-ray in December of 2015, fans of the show were rightly excited with comparisons being made to another rather impressive box set on Blu, “The Definitive Gold Box Edition” of Twin Peaks: The Complete Series. Was such an analogy accurate? Well, yes and no… so let’s dig in, shall we?
First of all, this review isn’t focused on covering the episodes of “The X-Files” individually – that would be a herculean task; and after all, if you’re looking to add The Collector’s Set to your collection, you’re likely already a fan and well aware of the highs and lows of the series. I’ll just say that for those of us of a certain age, after the show premiered back in the fall of ’93, many of us saw a definite dip in our social lives over the next several years due to the fact that we were glued to the TV on Friday nights to make sure we didn’t miss anything. (Thankfully, Fox moved it to Sundays during Season 4, the same night on which the upcoming miniseries is airing, so we were able to once again get out of the house at week’s end and party with our friends who weren’t similarly addicted.)
Sure, the quality dipped a bit (okay… a lot) in the later years, but “The X-Files” was ahead of its time in so many ways, and there’s no denying the incredible chemistry between leads Duchovny and Anderson that numerous other shows over the intervening years have tried (with mixed success) to replicate.
The mix of standalone “monster of the week” and alien abduction-themed episodes was just right to bring the horror and sci-fi crowds together. And the list of guest stars was spectacular and diverse, including the likes of Bryan Cranston, Bruce Campbell, Tony Todd, Jane Lynch, Ryan Reynolds, Brad Dourif, James Franco, Lucy Lawless, Mark Pellegrino, Terry O’Quinn, Laurie Holden, Frances Fisher, Lance Henriksen, Aaron Paul, Katharine Isabelle, Alex Trebeck, Jack Black, Rob Van Dam, Jesse Ventura, and even Burt Reynolds! And that’s just the tip of the iceberg – it’d be easier to type up a list of who hasn’t appeared on the show.
Whether you stuck with it or bailed along with other disillusioned viewers as ratings steadily declined from Season 6 on, having access to every single episode and all the various extras that have been released over the years in one convenient high-def box set is quite appealing.
And speaking of those extras, below is the full list of what’s included, and to say it’s impressive would be a massive understatement. But – and it’s a big “BUT” – there’s not a single new thing to be found here. There is, however, an empty slot left in the box for you to insert your Blu-ray of the upcoming miniseries into once you inevitably add it to the collection.
Much ado has been made of the decision to release the set with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1, which has resulted in some scenes from Seasons 1-4 (which aired in 4:3 originally) being slightly cut off at the top and bottom with the sides expanded. Honestly, while others may not be so forgiving, I didn’t mind the change as everything else looks so amazing overall that I was willing to accept the few minor inconsistencies that are present.
On the other hand, what I found more annoying than the reframed aspect ratio was the random and seemingly arbitrary changing of some of the iconic “X-Files” fonts, such as the original logo. After doing a little digging, I found a Q&A with Jim Hardy, CEO of Illuminate, the Los Angeles-based company that completed the digital restoration, who explained, “Unfortunately, the exact font[s were] not available to us… We did our best. Maybe we didn’t talk to the right people… Yes, it’s not exactly the same, but hopefully people can look aside from that and look at the integrity of the entire show and accept the fact that it’s not the same, but it looks great.” If you’re curious to see a side-by-side comparison of not only the logo font but also a ton of upscaled frames, you can check out Brandon Klassen’s website, where he painstakingly provides a terrific overview.
As for the audio, I have no complaints about the lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Dialogue is crisp and clear, and the sound effects are immersive and a real treat considering so many TV shows (especially from that era) don’t offer truly impressive surround sound.
You may have heard already that the Season 8 Blu-ray has a rendering/authoring issue known as “black crush.” Fox is well aware of the problem and will begin shipping replacement discs on January 25th; just contact foxconnect@orderassistance.com if your disc is affected.
Now, going back to what’s included in the box set, for me the most glaring omission is the two companion feature films: The X-Files (aka The X-Files: Fight the Future), released in the summer 1998 as a bridge between Seasons 5 and 6, and The X-Files: I Want to Believe, which premiered in July of 2008 to mixed (putting it kindly) reviews. The completist in me is more than a little disappointed in their absence, particularly in light of the fact that the first film is part of the previously released DVD set. It just adds insult to injury when taking into account the lack of any new content offered for the avid “X-Files” collector the set is named for.
Beyond the remastering debate, logo changes, “black crush,” and missing features, the real elephant in the room with regard to The X-Files: The Collector’s Set is its price point. It’s currently selling for around $265 on Amazon, but you can get each season individually for at least $100 less. Sure, the box is pretty, but is it $100 pretty? That will be up to you to decide, but my recommendation is either wait for the cost of the set to drop substantially (some Amazon commenters mention buying the UK version instead) or just pick and choose your favorite episodes on high-def and hold out until the inevitable super-duper edition is released with all nine seasons, both films, the “Season 10” miniseries, and hopefully a few new tidbits. Maybe even another continuation?
That said, I’ve broken my rating for the set down into three categories: the series as a whole, the special features overall, and the value when taking into account all the above factors. Just remember: The truth is out there so caveat emptor!
Special Features
- Season One
Series Intro by Frank Spotnitz
Chris Carter Talks About Season 1
Deleted Scenes
International Clips
Deep Throat: Audio Commentary by Chris Carter
Erlenmeyer Flask: Audio Commentary by R.W. Goodwin
Special Effects Clip From Fallen Angel
Documentary: “The Truth About Season 1” - Season Two
Deleted Scenes
Chris Carter Talks About Season 2
Humbug
Documentary: “The Truth About Season Two”
Duane Barry: Audio Commentary by Chris Carter
End Games: Audio Commentary by Frank Spotnitz
Anasazi: Audio Commentary by R.W. Goodwin - Season Three
Deleted Scenes (w/optional commentary by Chris Carter)
Chris Carter Talks About Season 3
International Clips
Special Effects with Commentary by Mat Beck
Documentary: “The Truth About Season Three”
Threads of Mythology: Abduction
Talitha Cuma: Audio Commentary by R.W. Goodwin - Season Four
Deleted Scenes
Extended Scenes
Special Effects with Commentary by Paul Rabwin
Deleted Scenes (w/optional commentary by Chris Carter)
Tunguska – Interview With Chris Carter
Paper Hearts – Interview with Vince Gilligan
Memento Mori: Audio Commentary by Rob Bowman
Introduction to Memento Mori by Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz
Max: Audio Commentary by Kim Manners
Documentary: “The Truth About Season Four” - Season Five
International Clips
Deleted Scenes (w/optional commentary by Chris Carter)
Special Effects with Commentary by Paul Rabwin
Documentary: “The Truth About Season Five”
Threads of Mythology: Black Oil
FX Featurette
Introduction to The Post-Modern Prometheus by Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz
Patient X: Audio Commentary by Kim Manners
The Red and the Black: Audio Commentary by Chris Carter
The Post Modern Prometheus: Audio Commentary by Chris Carter
The Pine Bluff Variant: Audio Commentary by John Shiban - Season Six
Special Effects with Commentary by Paul Rabwin
Deleted Scenes (w/optional commentary by Frank Spotnitz)
International Clips
Two Fathers: Audio Commentary by Kim Manners
One Son: Audio Commentary by Frank Spotnitz
Triangle: Audio Commentary by Chris Carter
Introduction to Milagro by Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz
X-Files Profiles: Cigarette-Smoking Man
Featurette on Season Six
Documentary: “The Truth About Season Six” - Season Seven
Deleted scenes (w/optional commentary by Chris Carter)
Special effects sequences with commentary by Paul Rabwin
International Clips
Documentary: “The Truth About Season Seven” Behind-the-Scenes featurette
X-Files Profiles: A.D. Skinner and Samantha Mulder
Closure: Audio Commentary by Kim Manners
Documentary: “The Truth About Season Seven” - Season Eight
Special Effects by Mat Beck with Commentary by Paul Rabwin
International Clips
Deleted scenes (w/optional commentary by Frank Spotnitz and John Shiban)
Documentary: “The Truth About Season Eight”
Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Chris Carter
Threads of Mythology: Colonization
X-Files Profiles
Within: Commentary by Kim Manners and Robert Patrick
Deadalive: Commentary by Frank Spotnitz
Vienen: Commentary by Rod Hardy - Season Nine
Deleted scenes (w/optional commentary by Frank Spotnitz)
Special Effects by Mat Beck with Commentary by Paul Rabwin
International Clips
Audio Commentary by Chris Carter, Vince Gilligan, John Shiban, Frank Spotnitz, Kim Manners
Documentary: “The Truth About Season Nine”
“The Making of ‘The Truth’”
“Secrets of The X-Files”
“Tribute to The X-Files”
Threads of Mythology: Super Soldiers
X-Files Profiles
Reflections on the Truth Featurette
WonderCon Panel
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TV Series
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Value
Categorized:Reviews
