I Want To Believe

The Official Guide to The X-Files #3

by Andy Meisler, Sarah Stegall (Contributor)

One of the most popular and critically acclaimed TV shows in recent years, The X-Files, created by Chris Carter and starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, continues to break new ground in dramatic series television. I Want to Believe is the authoritative, fact-packed episode guide to the fourth season of this Emmy award-winning series no X-phile can be without. Inside fans find:


Greatly expanded, richly detailed synopses for each episode--including plot twists, dialogue, and action sequences


Exclusive interviews with Chris Carter, Gillian Anderson, and David Duchovny--plus dozens of writers, producers, guest stars, and crew members


Complete cast and credit lists


Air dates and Nielsen ratings for each episode


An international X-FIles viewing guide


The most up-to-date information on The X-Files' intricate, fascinating "Mythology"


Plus hundreds of behind-the-scenes insights into the series' creative process, popularity, growth, and its influence on popular culture around the world


A four-color foldout poster detailing The X-Files mythology as revealed over the past four seasons

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Tv, Media Tie In

304 pages, Paperback

First published April 8, 1998

Reviews

[Chris Greensmith · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Conscience is just the voices of the dead trying to save us from our own damnation."
If you have watched the series and are looking to these books to explain in depth to you the theory's and conspiracies then dont waste your time, they are essentially episode guides, giving highly in depth synopsis' on the episodes, for me thats great, I love the X-Files and have watched the entire series 3/4 times now and now reading these episode analysis' is great for me, but I understand not for everyone. If you hate TV but are intrigued about the X-Files give these books a go...3 🌟

[Dann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I Want to Believe: The Official Guide to the X-Files Volume 3 (which covers Season 4 and the Season 5 premiere) is yet another disappointing entry in the show’s companion series. Andy Meisler takes over as the writer of the companions, but pretty much sticks to the same formula; episode summaries, back stories, ratings, awards, etc. However, the episode summaries have been expanded and are more like pared down scripts, complete with dialog, that run several pages long, and are rather tedious to get through. Also, Meisler creates some confusion by referring to and ordering episodes by their production number, which of course no one watching on home video or streaming could follow since they don’t correspond to the actual episode numbers. Still, the back stories contain a lot of interesting behind-the-scenes information about the episodes and the series at large. And, the book is chockfull of photos and has an atmospheric aesthetic; feeling kind of like a secret dossier. But unfortunately I Want to Believe: The Official Guide to the X-Files Volume 3 gets caught-up in minutia, and fails to provide a compelling look at what makes the show such a success among viewers and critics alike.

[Elmer Foster · Rating 2 out of 5]

Volume 3 (for Season 4+) comes across as a lazy cash grab against X-Files fans.

The shows were stellar and noteworthy across the season, primarily the Scully gets cancer arc was riveting, culminating with the premise for Mulder that everything UFO-related has been a ruse.

However, the episode guide V3, when compared to V1, lacks excitement, insights, and the extra factor for why people by these guides to begin with. Sure, there are tidbits of behind-the-scenes efforts along with the pedantic "back story" of who got assigned to write the episode (some seemed like whining to me). But it felt lackluster and underwhelming for every episode/chapter.

Of course, we get the obligatory introduction with no revelations or "scoops", we get the episodes (w/ selected images from the show) - in mini script form- that literally tell you what you are watching/have watched, and the back story segments, mentioned above. The appendices of awards (1.5 pages), rating, world broadcast countries? and previous seasons 1-3 episode synopses are end-capped by an X-Files club advert and X-Files movie promo page.

Not even the four-color foldout poster detailing the X-Files mythology as revealed over the past four seasons, brings excitement to this edition.

Can't recommend this to anyone, let alone to say that I have a gently used copy for resale.

Thanks for reading.

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fairly solid episode guide, this time for season 4. The higher quality photos are nice although this volume seems lacking some of the sections the previous volume did, like the articles and FAQ.

[Renée · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun companion to read while re-watching the show.

[Steven Abercrombie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has nice summary of each episode, helps to clarify the plot lines

[Bagger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of the one of the X files best seasons, I personally loved the back stories given for the episodes, and the descriptions of the episodes.
The Scully cancer arc was the most moving set of television acting and writing I have ever seen.
This the season that got me into watching the X files on tv.

The Truth is out there.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this as a christmas present when i was 13 or something like that. I loved the X-files so it was a good gift. I remember finding it hard to read because of all the medical terminology they use but this of course got easier as time passed.
I liked reading about the episodes that I had seen on tv and the little bonus info you get about each episode.
Read it many times

[Barry]

I have always loved this show. This book is one in a series that gives detailed synopses of all the episodes in a season, plus backstory for each one. Great companions for fans of the show.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Season four has some of my favorite episodes, including Paper Hearts and Small Potatoes. Love the behind the scenes info!