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The Lone Gunmen: The Complete Series
01/06/2007 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
Region 2 DVD. 20th Century Fox F1-SGB 2924701012. 3 DVDs 554 minutes 14 episodes with extras. Price £17.97(UK) if you know where to look). stars: Tom Braidwood, Bruce Harwood, Dean Haglund, Stephen Snedden and Zuleikha Robinson. Buy The Lone Gunmen: The Complete Series in the USA - or Buy The Lone Gunmen: The Complete Series in the UK  check out website: check out website: www.fox.co.uk
'The Lone Gunmen' as a series is tended to be seen as another failed series from Ten Thirteen's productions after its runaway success with 'The X-Files'. Oddly enough, it had all the ingredients to succeed. Three popular characters from its parent show, not to mention its key producers. Yet it only got as far as thirteen episodes.
The characters' deaths in 'The X-Files' episode 'Jump The Shark', also included, is explained in the audio commentary as a means to bring finality and they had to fight to get another story done using them. Considering that 'The Lone Gunmen' never even had a terrestrial showing in the UK, it hardly looked like it had strong support from Fox. Thankfully, at least it is out on DVD for people to make up their own minds. Saying that, if they or you were after another 'X-Files' then you need to think a little more in reverse to it.
The pilot episode is also notorious and unlikely to ever get shown on any national TV channel now simply because it shows a near collision of a terrorist plane with the twin towers in New York. Filmed before 9/11, the production team had no way of knowing life would eventually mirror fiction, although at least in 'The Lone Gunmen' they missed. In that respect, it could have mirrored any other show or film - where there's certainly been enough collateral damage to known buildings.
Oddly enough, my reaction to watching the pilot episode was it was too serious, especially compared to the other dozen episodes. The Lone Gunmen were invariably foils to Mulder and Scully and the humour was used to balance the seriousness. The pilot lacks this making it far too dry. Oddly enough, the serious elements was brought into the series to balance out the humour.
For those who might not know or forgotten, The Lone Gunman is a periodical looking at conspiracies and anything else off the beaten track led by three people who've seen more than they should and want to reveal the truth. These stories cover some of their adventures. Unlike 'The X-Files', 'The Lone Gunmen' could go full tilt into the paranoid side with a heavy dose of humour illustrating the problems when you don't have a big organisation like the FBI paying your way.
Frohike, Byers and Langly (actors Tom Braidwood, Bruce Harwood, Dean Haglund respectively) are aided by a willing near rich dumb kid turned assistant, Jimmy Bond (actor Stephen Snedden), and often get in the way of another conspirator, Yves Harlow (actress Zuleikha Robinson), who is far more resourceful with her own agenda. There is at least one or two decent belly laughs each episode.
Although I cannot see the series ever getting past a second season, the majority of episodes are worth a look. The production values of Ten Thirteen are still very strong and still an interesting alternative to where there is nothing on the box to watch. The audio commentaries give a lot of insight although I could not find the cover mentioned featurette. That, has to the biggest conspiracy.
GF Willmetts
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