The Lone Gunmen (TV series)

Did You Know?

• The series was released on a three-disc Region 1 DVD set by Fox Home Entertainment on March 29, 2005, which includes the X-Files episode 'Jump the Shark' that resolves the cliffhanger.
• The show's tone is lighter than The X-Files, with elements of slapstick comedy, and its plots involve government-sponsored terrorism, surveillance society, corporate crime, and escaped Nazis.
• Yves Adele Harlow's alias is an anagram for Lee Harvey Oswald.

Similarities to 9/11 attacks in pilot storyline

The pilot episode, aired March 4, 2001, six months before the September 11 attacks, depicts rogue U.S. government operatives remotely hijacking an airliner bound for Boston with the intent to crash it into the World Trade Center. The plot involves framing anti-American terrorist groups to gain public support for a profitable anti-terrorist war after the Cold War. The heroes override the controls and foil the plan. Frank Spotnitz recalled that the events of 9/11 immediately brought the episode to mind, and he wondered if the attackers had taken the idea from the show.

Characters

John Fitzgerald Byers, portrayed by Bruce Harwood, was born in Sterling, Virginia on November 22, 1963, the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and was named after the president. He worked as a public affairs officer for the FCC in Baltimore until May 1989 and has knowledge of medicine, genetics, and chemistry. Melvin Frohike, played by Tom Braidwood, was born circa 1945 in Pontiac, Michigan. He was an acclaimed tango dancer in Miami before touring with hippies and founding Frohike Electronics Corp., which specialized in cable intrusion hardware. Richard 'Ringo' Langly, portrayed by Dean Haglund, was born in 1965 in Saltville, Nebraska. He is the group's computer expert, skilled in hacking and programming, and is the most paranoid, taping all incoming calls. Yves Adele Harlow, played by Zuleikha Robinson, is a femme fatale thief who alternately aids and hinders the trio; her alias is an anagram for Lee Harvey Oswald, and her real name, Lois Runtz, is revealed in an X-Files episode. Jimmy Bond, portrayed by Stephen Snedden, is brave and physical but initially appears wealthy and unintelligent; he finances The Lone Gunman magazine and is often considered a nuisance by the trio.

Reception

The Lone Gunmen received generally favorable reviews from critics. Julie Salamon of The New York Times called it 'well done: shrewdly filmed, edited and written.' Howard Rosenberg of the Los Angeles Times gave a moderately positive review, noting that 'a bit of it is pretty funny.' Aaron Beierle of DVD Talk awarded the show 4 stars out of 5, calling the stories 'enjoyable, intelligent and well-written' and the characters 'terrifically memorable.' Eric Profancik of DVD Verdict described the material as 'pretty good' and the plots as 'strong and unusual stories.' Co-creator Vince Gilligan expressed fondness for the show, saying he was 'crushed' when it was canceled after its first season and that he remains proud of it. He attributed its failure to timing, stating that if it had aired a few years earlier or later it might have clicked with audiences. Chris Carter also expressed pride, calling it 'some of the best work that all of us have done' and suggesting it may have been ahead of its time. The debut episode drew 13.23 million viewers, but ratings steadily declined. The pilot earned a Canadian Society of Cinematographers Award for Best Cinematography – TV Drama for Robert McLachlan.