Spoilers

“Piper Maru”

“Apocrypha”

A two-part X-Files episode that reignites the government conspiracy into UFOs and introduces us to one of the series’ best recurring ‘creatures’, the Black Oil virus.

It served to do several key storyline developments too, including the return of Alex Krychek, the case of Scully’s sister’s murder, and the secret cabal that included Cigarette Smoking Man and Grey-Haired Man.

These mythology-based episodes tend to be fairly strong, even if they are frustrating. I have never had a TV villain that I would like to see shot in the head more than CSM and it amazes me that Mulder hasn’t done it by now.

The addition of the Black Oil is awesome. It ties directly into the UFO stories that the X-Files made the cornerstone of the series and kept the mystery of the truth and the eeriness of the creature a major component. The image of the black oil swooping across the eyes of the infected is a cool visual.

Gillian Anderson was excellent again in this two-parter. Her pain over the loss of her sister and her desire for justice controlled her actions and yet she still made time to protect Skinner with a ferocity of a parent. The shooting of Skinner led to the apprehension of Scully’s sister’s shooter, even if the end results were less than ideal.

Season three has been top to bottom, excellent. It has featured some of the best mythological episodes while tossing us some of the best in the humor episodes. I know some big time episodes are still coming in season three, which, so far, is my favorite season of the show.