I Want To Believe: “The X-Files” in 2016
Did anyone catch the finale of “The X-Files” revival series last night — or any of the episodes FOX has aired in 2016?
If you did, I apologize.
Even though I had nothing to do with the creation of this revival series, as a fan of the show, I must apologize for the hype I gave this new iteration. These new batch of episodes — being referred to as Season 10 (ugh) — is some ugly, ugly television.
Continuing the mytharc from the show, which got waaaay out of control in the later seasons, the revival episodes of “The X-Files” are a hot mess. Chris Carter, creator of the show and writer/director for the premiere and finale of the new episodes, can not write for modern television. The lines are corny. The plot bites off more than it can chew. The actors even seem bored. The ideas and language that made the original version of this show work were revolutionary for TV in the 1990s. The show aired when alien frenzy hit the United States and the internet was becoming more common in households.
The revival premiere featured heavily on narration from Fox Mulder, played by David Duchovny — who seemed downright bored as Mulder. Bored Mulder continued throughout the series, leaving us for an emotional Mulder here and there. But, couple that with the finale and a bored Dana Scully, played by Gillian Anderson, and you have one fan asking: why the hell am I watching characters who don’t even want to be here?
The middle episodes featured stories that were one off episodes — “Monster-Of-The-Week”. Yes, they were slightly more entertaining than the mytharc episodes, but a series can not be random one off episodes. There needs to be a underlining plot point driving the story.
Did the revival “The X-Files” episodes have any highlights? The original intro was used, there was some well written humor in the mini-series’ third episode “Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster” and there were a couple moments of dramatic magic that the original series nailed so well — a “Are ‘they’ really out there” moment?
I leave you with this: Do not watch season 10. If you see the season being promoted or on your TV guide, look away! Do not be drawn in by the crap this series, sadly, has become.
As a fan of this show, however, I plead you to watch the original series. The entire series is on Hulu and Netflix. The original series masters humor, drama and character chemistry, along with a perfect music and asethic appeal. I can not rate the original series enough.
Don’t believe me? I’ll let the series convince you to tune in and believe:
Deep Throat: Mister Mulder, why are those like yourself, who believe in the existence of extraterrestrial life on this Earth, not dissuaded by all the evidence to the contrary?
Mulder: Because, all the evidence to the contrary is not entirely dissuasive.
Deep Throat: Precisely.
Mulder: They’re here, aren’t they?
Deep Throat: Mister Mulder, they’ve been here for a long, long time.
