The X-Files (2000) – Within, and Without

Series creator Chris Carter launched the eighth season of The X-Files with Within, which first aired on 5 November, 2000. Scully (Gillian Anderson), while still learning to deal with the news that she may be pregnant, is suffering from nightmares about what may be happening to the abducted Mulder (David Duchnovy). She and Skinner get…

TAD 2021: The Free Fall dir. Adam Stilwell

Toronto After Dark delivers a gaslighting character thriller with The Free Fall, enjoying its Canadian premiere, and comes in as one of my favorite films of the festival. That being said, I saw the truth of what was going on before everything was revealed, but that doesn’t mean it’s not an enjoyable ride. Sara (Andrea…

Shadow and Bone (2012) – Leigh Bardugo

My second foray into the Grishaverse was the first one written, Shadow and Bone. And much like Six of Crows, I got swept up pretty damned quick in the story and the characters, and can’t wait to continue to explore the rest of the realm that Bardugo created. In this novel, we are introduced to…

The Sittaford Mystery (1931) – Agatha Christie

The next mystery novel, The Sittaford Mystery aka Murder at Hazelmoor, from Agatha Christie didn’t feature any of her familiar characters, in fact it introduces us to a firebrand of a young woman named Emily, though she doesn’t enter the tale until a quarter way through. This time around, murder most foul strikes near Dartmoor,…

Millennium (1999) – Collateral Damage, and The Sound of Snow

MIchael R.Perry pens the first episode up this week, Collateral Damage, which first aired on 22 January, 1999. It features two familiar looking guest stars James Marsters, and Brendan Fehr. The story works to tie in the mythology of the Millennium Group by having the FBI called in to investigate the disappearance of a young…

The Sniper (2021) – Chang Kuo-Li

Taiwanese author Chang Kou-Li delivers an action thriller this week. With its North American debut, The Sniper, is available now from House of Anansi Press, features a translation by Roddy Flagg and reads like the best of Hong Kong cinema. There are action beats, police investigations, involving characters and a weaving story that takes you…

The X-Files (1997) – Redux II, and Unusual Suspects

The conspiracy works to protect itself in this episode, the third part of the season finale/opener that rocked many of us on our heels. Written by series creator Chris Carter, Redux II first aired on 9 November, 1997. While Scully’s (Gillian Anderson) cancer begins to appear to be terminal (or is it?), Mulder’s (David Duchovny)…

The X-Files (1997) – Elegy, and Demons

John Shiban pens the first episode up this week, Elegy, which debuted on 4 May,1997. And, honestly, I forgot how much I liked this episode. Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) investigate a series of murders that seem connected to a bowling alley, and an autistic employee, Harold (Steven M. Porter). According to the…

The X-Files (1997) – Max, and Synchrony

The two-parter that began last week concludes with the episode, Max, written by series creator Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz, this story first debuted on 23 March, 1997. While the lovelorn Agent Pendrell (Brendan Beiser) loses his life to a bullet meant for Scully (Gillian Anderson) and her witness, Mulder (David Duchovny) begins to suspect…