Unless you're some weird kind of hermit who lives out in the middle of the woods and thinks that "teknologiez are dem dere Devil's work!" you probably watch television, and without a doubt have a favorite show. Some of us are huge fans of paid programming like HBO or Showtime, whereas others prefer the kind of shows Fox or CBS crank out for their weekly lineups. Then there are those amongst us who like them all, and find ourselves going back and watching shows from the past ten to twenty years. As of the moment, many shows are making comebacks, but none more anticipated to sci-fi nerds (like me) and conspiracy freaks/doomsayers (not like me) than the long running, critically acclaimed show "The X-Files."
Synopsis
The name alone draws images to mind of aliens, monsters and things that go bump in the night. On January 24th of this year, the show started its six episode miniseries revival after ending nearly fourteen years ago. The show has become a cult classic, loved and remembered by fans worldwide, featured at conventions and fairs for nerds across the globe. For those of you who don't know, here's a brief summary of the show: Two Washington FBI agents, Mulder and Scully, work the X-Files, a collection of cases that were unresolved due to a lack of evidence, as well as claims of unexplainable and paranormal phenomena. Agent Fox Mulder is a believer in the paranormal, whereas Agent Dana Scully is a woman of science, taking a logical and methodical approach to her work. Together the two set out to uncover a conspiracy within the government about the existence of extraterrestrial life.
I can distinctly remember being a wee lad and watching some episodes as they appeared on TV (might explain why I'm mentally disturbed now). The action sequences and long talks that populate the show flew over my head as a little rugrat, so I went back to watch the show and found myself in a relationship with it, madly in love but sometimes annoyed and angry. Here are my loves and hates:
Loves
1. The story itself is superbly written. "The X-Files" episodes are divided into two categories: the main mythology, and the Monster-of-the-Week (MOTW). The main myths are the episodes that deal with the alien conspiracy, whereas the MOTW episodes are fillers that revolve around a different X-File each episode, tying into the main lore. The main myth itself is amazingly well written, full of twists and turns,and always keeps you guessing what will come next. I honestly couldn't guess half of the things that happened.
2. I love the dynamic of Mulder and Scully as a team. Writer Chris Carter knew what he was doing when he picked David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson to play the lead roles. Both are great actors, capable of making their characters come to life. You can feel that Scully is the medical doctor with all the experience and Mulder is the alien nut we all love to see on screen.
3. Chris Carter's casting choices are perfect. Every actor he picks does their job exceptionally well. From the leads, to the awesome Mitch Pileggi as Assistant Director, Walter Skinner, and William B. Davis as the malicious villain the Smoking Man. Even the guest actors in some episodes, such as Kathy Griffin or Shia LeBouf, fit the roles they play to a T.
4. The fan following the show has generated. When a show has been on TV for a while, it's apparent that people like it. Otherwise it would have been taken off a long time ago. "The X-Files" is one of those shows that has dedicated, hardcore fans who have watched every episode and both movies, read all the comics and own all the posters (I have a few myself). A fan community like that makes newcomers feel welcome and also makes it easier to adjust to the show.
Hates
1. The excessive amount of filler episodes. Don't get me wrong, I love the MOTW episodes, but they dwarf the number of main myth episodes drastically. There are many reasons for so much filler: Gillian Anderson's pregnancy during season two, actors having other engagements to attend to, as well as problems with writers and budgeting. While I appreciate every episode for what they are, I wish there were more main myth episodes to balance with the filler.
2. In the filler episodes, the actors don't always seem to give it their all. In the main canon, the acting is always superb; dramatic, full of energy, and easily captures your mind. However, when the episodes don't pertain to the overall story, Duchovny and Anderson sometimes seem to slack off, giving just enough energy to engage the watcher, but not enough to enthrall them. Not a huge complaint, but still a complaint nonetheless.
3. "The X-Files: I Want to Believe." This was the second "X-Files" movie, released in 2008, ten years after the first one, "The X-Files: Fight the Future." The 1998 release was a perfect edition to the story, full of intense action and alien goodness. The second film, however, should not be spoken about. I will not go into detail about that mess, but let me assure you it wasn't pretty.
4. David Duchovny's hair in the first few seasons. Just, no. No.
My Rating: 8/10
Conclusion: Like a long term relationship, "The X-Files" was full of many ups, some downs, and a lot of good memories. I have yet to finish watching the whole show (All this damn filler...), but when I do finish, I will jump right on the revival, like when the ex you're still in love with comes back into your life.
