Creating a spinoff show from a highly successful series is no small task. It can and has been done, but shows like Angel, Frasier and Xena prove that the new series has to be far more than just a pale imitation of the original. The Lone Gunmen, a spinoff from The X-Files, does just that. Leaving behind the spooky darkness of the original, The Lone Gunmen goes for laughs while still staying true to the beloved characters of Byers, Frohike and Langly. The three leads are naturals to play these smart, but inept, modern stooges.

The pilot episode never quite manages to mesh, and the seams of the series show. The actors try too hard and the serious nature of the storyline, with the Gunmen investigating the murder of Byers' father, is at odds with the otherwise lighthearted tone of the show.

However, everything begins to jell with the second episode as the characters and script come together to create a thoroughly entertaining hour of television. The opening scene is absolutely hysterical as Frohike takes on a martial arts expert a la Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. From then on the story is much less important than the comedy to be mined from the three Gunmen and the soon-to-be-fourth Gunman, Bond.

It's not perfect. There are still moments when the dialogue seems forced, and there's a bit too much slapstick. Also, the story is often manipulated for the sake of the comedy. But most new shows take a few episodes to come together. While there's no doubt the series is evolving, there are plenty of promising signs that Gunmen will find its groove.