The Sum of All Fears (2002) – Phil Alden Robinson

Ben Affleck steps into the role of CIA analyst Jack Ryan as Paramount Pictures relaunches the Tom Clancy hero, yet again, in The Sum of All Fears. They make him younger, near the beginning of his career, and his relationship with Cathy (Bridget Moynahan). Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with relaunching a…

The X-Files (2002) – Sunshine Days, and The Truth

The penultimate episode of the ninth season is all about family, in a roundabout way. Written by Vince Gilligan, who also directed it, it first aired on 12 May, 2002. When a body is recovered from a location that sometimes appears to be the Brady house from The Brady Bunch television show, Doggett (Robert Patrick),…

The X-Files (2002) – William, and Release

David Duchovny returns this week, behind the camera to direct an episode that he thought up alongside Frank Spotnitz and series creator Chris Carter, who also penned the teleplay. It first aired on 28 April, 2002, and puts Scully’s (Gillian Anderson) baby, William front and center, and gives us the heartbreaking ending first… she gives…

The X-Files (2002) – Scary Monsters, and Jump the Shark

FBI Agent, Leyla Harrison (Jolie Jenkins), from the accounting department is back in Scary Monsters. Written by Thomas Schnauz, this episode first aired on 14 April, 2002. Doggett (Robert Patrick) and Reyes (Annabeth Gish) get roped into helping Harrison, after Scully (Gillian Anderson) passes on a potential case the young agent brings her. Two bizarre…

The X-Files (2002) – Underneath, and Improbable

Doggett (Robert Patrick) gets pulled back into a case he worked back when he was a New York cop, when the man they arrested as a serial killer is exonerated and released from prison – only to have the murders start up again. Underneath was written by John Shiban and first aired on 31 March,…

The X-Files (2002) – Providence, and Audrey Pauley

Series creator Chris Carter directs this episode, Providence, that he co-wrote with Frank Spotnitz, that concludes the story begun next week, while pushing the mythology arc forward with the super-soldiers, baby William and the UFO cult that wants him. First airing on 10 March, 2002, the cult, who believes that the ship they have uncovered,…

The X-Files (2002) – Hellbound, and Provenance

Reyes (Annabeth Gish) brings an unusual case to Doggett (Robert Patrick) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) in Hellbound. She also has a strange connection to it that she can’t quite figure out. Written by David Amann and first airing on 27 January, 2002, the agents find themselves a series of deaths involving ex-cons who were skinned…

The X-Files (2002) – Trust No 1, and John Doe

Series creator Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz pen Trust No 1, a mythology episode that first aired on 6 January, 2002. Scully (Gillian Anderson), Doggett (Robert Patrick) and Reyes (Annabeth Gish) find themselves being used in a plot to flush Mulder out of hiding. It seems there is a super-soldier element working within the NSA…

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) – Chris Columbus

The magic of Harry Potter continues in Warner Brothers’ second instalment of what would go on to be an insanely profitable franchise. Director Chris Columbus returned for a second outing, with this adaption of the second book in the series (which was still being written at the time – can you remember the time when…