The X-Files: Best and Worst of Season Three

It's time to review Season Three of the X-Files, often cited as the strongest season in the series!

General Thoughts on Season Three:

• There have been a lot of strong stand-alone episodes this season, from "Oubliette" to "Wetwired" (which, precursor to Jessica Jones, anyone?), so I can see why people love Season Three so much.
• At the same time, the arc-y storylines have gotten a lot worse. I've heard that The X-Files served as an inspiration to ABC's Lost, and that ain't a compliment in my mind. Lost quickly became so mired in conspiracies and mysteries, often asking more questions than ever providing any answers, that it became entirely too frustrating to watch. I feel like The X-Files is heading in the same direction.
• Mulder is a huge dick toward Scully. How many times as he hung up the phone on Scully without answering any of her questions? How many times does he withhold vital information from her? How many times does he dismiss her theories as nonsensical, but then expects her to jump on board with his loony ideas? What a dick. 
• I don't know, guys. I'm having X-Files fatigue. Should I continue watching? I just have the feeling that the payoff to all these mysteries they're setting up is not going to be worth enduring all the bullshit needed to get there. Does it get any better?

Best Episode: 3.04, "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose"

Much of what I loved about Season One's "Beyond the Sea" is seen in this wonderful episode, featuring psychics and philosophical questions about free will. The friendship Scully strikes up with Bruckman is particularly affecting, as is their shared moment together while Bruckman lays dying (just as he predicted). The villain is compelling, motivated by this simple question: If he sees himself killing someone, does have to do it? Also, the episode featured Bruckman's prediction that Scully does not die. This line drove fans crazy, many believing that this means Scully is immortal. But I like episode writer Darin Morgan's explanation much better -- that Bruckman was too fond of Scully to tell her how she dies.

Runner-up: 3.20, "Jose Chung's From Outer Space"

Worst Episode: 3.01, "The Blessing Way"

I really enjoyed the conspiracy stories in Seasons One and Two. The idea of secretive government agents hiding secrets about aliens was mysterious in all the right ways. But "The Blessing Way" took a huge misstep in turning the intrigue of The Smoking Man into a convoluted mess. But what really made me want to puke during this episode was the horrible way it portrayed Native American stereotypes, especially Albert's cheesy dialogue espousing pseudo-mystical "wisdom." Mulder having psychedelic visions while being healed by Navajo magic was laughable at best.

Runner-up: 3.19, "Hell Money"