The X-Files - First Time Watching

[tomalak301]

John Doe

Yay, an episode that provided a ton of backstory for John Doggett, and how the kidnapping and murder of his son shaped his life. This was another great episode in Season 9 (Which makes 2 great episodes through 7 episodes so far) and I really liked the camera work and the Mexican setting which really reminded me of the movie Traffic.

 

[Marsden]

I agree. I think the 2 part begining was a bit underwhelming, but the rest of the season seemed solid and I don't think it deserves a lot of the derision it gets. And at this point their ratings were really down, but I don't really understand why with episodes like this one.

 

[Enterprise is Great]

I think it was ABC's Alias that hurt the X-Files during the 9th season. Alias aired opposite of X-files and I think it stole some of The X-Files' mojo.

 

[tomalak301]

Provenance/Providence

I'm not sure I like this religious angle for William, and the hopes I had for William at the end of Season 8 might be out the window. We're getting to the end of this series, so they introduce this religious cult and say that the baby is the savoir for the Colonist invasion? Couldn't they have used an element already introduced, like the Colonists themselves, or the Alien Rebels, or something to wrap this up?

It was an average two parter that is falling into Battlestar Galactica (And yeah I know X-Files aired before BSG) syndrome when it comes to having religion and cults explain everything.

 

[tomalak301]

Jump the Shark

What the Hell, X-Files. You had to go and Kill off The Lone Gunman like that? What a bland way to go out, especially for these three characters who were so vital to the series for 8 and a half seasons. Also, the lack of Mulder in this episode really hurt it, considering his relationship with TLG. I understand the series is ending and these guys needed closure, but other than one scene which reminded me of Wrath of Khan, the death reminded me of Data's death in Star Trek Nemesis, hollow and empty. We deserved so much better than that, and I'm actually sad we didn't get it.

As for other episodes this season, I loved the Burt Reynolds episode, Improbable as well as Audrey Pauley. One thing I've noticed this season is I really do miss Mulder and Scully together. I like Doggett and Rayes, but this feels like X-Files in name only. I was watching TV spots of Season 2 today on youtube and even based on the Fox Promos, Season 9 really is missing that excitement factor of previous seasons. This series really is limping to the finish line. Still, Jump the Shark might be my least favorite episode of the season, and maybe bottom 5 least favorite episodes of the series

 

[tomalak301]

William

I think it's safe to say I didn't like this child story arc that much. It seemed like wasted potential in hindsight, and everything lead to Scully just giving up her baby so easily. It wasn't believable, especially after the events of the first two episodes, or Provenance/Providence. It was nice to see Jeffery Spender again, and that make up was pretty cool, but yeah I'm glad this baby storyline is over.

 

[RoJoHen]

Jump the Shark

What the Hell, X-Files. You had to go and Kill off The Lone Gunman like that? What a bland way to go out, especially for these three characters who were so vital to the series for 8 and a half seasons. Also, the lack of Mulder in this episode really hurt it, considering his relationship with TLG. I understand the series is ending and these guys needed closure, but other than one scene which reminded me of Wrath of Khan, the death reminded me of Data's death in Star Trek Nemesis, hollow and empty. We deserved so much better than that, and I'm actually sad we didn't get it.

As for other episodes this season, I loved the Burt Reynolds episode, Improbable as well as Audrey Pauley. One thing I've noticed this season is I really do miss Mulder and Scully together. I like Doggett and Rayes, but this feels like X-Files in name only. I was watching TV spots of Season 2 today on youtube and even based on the Fox Promos, Season 9 really is missing that excitement factor of previous seasons. This series really is limping to the finish line. Still, Jump the Shark might be my least favorite episode of the season, and maybe bottom 5 least favorite episodes of the series

Aw, I actually liked this episode (and I liked it more because I had seen The Lone Gunman TV show and knew the other characters involved). Their deaths shocked me at the time, and I really appreciated the funeral scene. The only thing I didn't like about it was that we never got to see Mulder say goodbye.

 

[tomalak301]

Sunshine Days

Why did the penultimate episode of a 9 season series deal with The Brady Bunch? Considering everything that came before, I find that on one hand a little sad, but on the other a little charming. Maybe it was the end of the episode and the shades of the next episode being the last episode, and there were subtle hints in this show that hit on that. It was charming in that I really liked Emerson's character and the ending where he and the Doctor could get back together if the guy doesn't use his power again.

Anyway, it was a good episode, but I'm kind of feeling sad that there is only one episode left. This has been a really long series and it's pretty much done. Still not sure if I'm going to see I Want to Believe.

 

[RoJoHen]

"I Want to Believe" is...odd. On the one hand, it contains a lot of great character development. On the other hand, you'll probably be left thinking, "After all this time, this is the story they chose to tell?"

Hope you enjoy the finale!

 

[Marsden]

"I Want to Believe" is...odd. On the one hand, it contains a lot of great character development. On the other hand, you'll probably be left thinking, "After all this time, this is the story they chose to tell?"

Hope you enjoy the finale!

I agree completely.

I was never so bored with something I enjoyed. That's strange, but I liked the movie, but it was really kind of boring, and I really want that 3rd final end of the colonization movie. I hope somebody hits the lottery that likes X-Files.

 

[Aragorn]

I agree. I think the 2 part begining was a bit underwhelming, but the rest of the season seemed solid and I don't think it deserves a lot of the derision it gets. And at this point their ratings were really down, but I don't really understand why with episodes like this one.

Season 9 was in large part a mess, but I think they did it to themselves by keeping Anderson around after Duchovny bailed. The stuff they came up with to explain it away was pretty bad. If they had retooled the show to be Doggett and Reyes, and then had Mulder and Scully pop up from time to time, things could've run a lot smoother.

 

[tomalak301]

The Truth - Series Finale

So here we are. I started this thread in December of 2013, just one night randomly checking netflix and for whatever reason deciding to see the Pilot episode of The X Files. I liked it well enough to continue watching, and I ended up finally watching this series, which many people tuned in for throughout the 90s. There were ups and downs, but I've finally made it to the finale.

The Truth is an interesting episode. I think it's safe to say that this Mythology turned into something so convoluted and tenuous that it would have been hard to wrap up everything, especially considering that the show was in the final season. This is kind of why I wished when the writers found out the show would be cancelled they would have wrapped up things much more fully, instead of giving us an episode like Scary Monsters.

This episode features the return of Fox Mulder, standing trial for killing Knowle Rohr at a military base. For most of the episode, it basically was retelling the entire mythology from The Erlenmeyer Flask (Top 5 Mytharc episode) to now. The episode also brings back pretty much everyone except for Deep throat, so CSM returns, Alex returns, X returns, and Gibson returns.

Overall I liked it. Is is the best series finale I've seen? No, not really. Still, it was great to see Mulder and Scully back in action one last time and the end when Mulder is talking about listening to what the dead is saying and get's all spiratual was well written and a nice way to end the series. There were a few problems, such as not really wrapping up Skinner, Doggett, or Rayes' storylines, but in 9 seasons, this show was about Mulder and Scully. The finale is appropriately about Mulder and Scully and that's good enough. Besides, I think we got some closure to Doggett in Release, when he got closure on the death of his son. As for Rayes, she really wasn't in the series long enough to get closure. I would have liked to seen something on Skinner though.

Overall, I'm glad I did this watch and I really liked this series. Mulder and Scully really are a dynamic Duo and a famous one at that. I didn't mind Seasons 8 or 9 as much as others, but they weren't nearly as good as Seasons 1-5, even though I really liked Season 8.

I'm not sure I will see the movie, so if I don't I just wanted to say I appreciated those who read this thread and maybe even joined the rewatch with me. I was wondering the longevity of the show in this era of Doctor Who or Marvel, but it was finally good to watch this series for the first time and write about it here. One last final rankings of the seasons from favorite to least favorite:

Season 3
Season 2
Season 8
Season 4
Season 1
Season 5
Season 6
Season 7
Season 9

 

[RoJoHen]

I never really realized how poignant the final scene was until I went back and re-watched the show and remember just how many people died! Mulder and Scully lost a lot of friends and family members because of this quest. Mulder lost his sister, mom, and dad. Scully lost her father, sister, and son. Deep Throat...X...the Lone Gunman...many others.

After all of that, what does Mulder want to believe? Not in little green aliens. Not in the conspiracy. He just wants to believe that his dead friends and family are still around somewhere, and I really appreciate that sentiment.

 

[tomalak301]

I never really realized how poignant the final scene was until I went back and re-watched the show and remember just how many people died! Mulder and Scully lost a lot of friends and family members because of this quest. Mulder lost his sister, mom, and dad. Scully lost her father, sister, and son. Deep Throat...X...the Lone Gunman...many others.

After all of that, what does Mulder want to believe? Not in little green aliens. Not in the conspiracy. He just wants to believe that his dead friends and family are still around somewhere, and I really appreciate that sentiment.

Man you list out the number of people who have died because of the conspiracy and it makes that scene all the more sad. A lot really did happen on this show and that final scene was a nice sentimental moment to go out on.

 

[Marsden]

The last few weekends since I've finished, I've kind of felt a little like I lost something to look forward too.


And I thought that last "episode" was more cinematic than a lot of movies I've seen.

 

[Delta1]

Sunshine Days

Why did the penultimate episode of a 9 season series deal with The Brady Bunch?

It wasn't about the Brady Bunch. It was about watching TV with your family, forging connections to fictional characters and, in doing so, drawing closer to real people. It was about the value of stories, and how maybe the cultural critics who call TV a vast wasteland are perhaps not so close to the mark as is generally admitted. It was, I think, a very bold statement. The producers were saying, "We know how much this show means to you, and that it has become part of your life, and perhaps a tradition in your family; and that's not a bad thing (as long as you don't telekinetically launch people through your roof). We hope you will continue to enjoy the show as it goes into reruns."

 

[Greg Cox]

I love that episode, personally, but I typically like every episode having to deal with the big story arcs of the show.

They call CSM a few names throughout the show. I think his official behind-the-scenes name was "Cigarette Smoking Man," but that doesn't mean the characters can't call him other things.

I suppose you could look at the credits and see how he's listed.

Coming late to the party . . ..

By coincidence, I was reading the novelization of the first movie a few weeks ago and, yeah, he's referred to as "the Cigarette Smoking Man" throughout. This struck me as a bit odd, to be honest, but I'm not sure what else the poor author (Elizabeth Hand) was suppose to do if that was what he was called in the script.

 

[tomalak301]

I love that episode, personally, but I typically like every episode having to deal with the big story arcs of the show.

They call CSM a few names throughout the show. I think his official behind-the-scenes name was "Cigarette Smoking Man," but that doesn't mean the characters can't call him other things.

I suppose you could look at the credits and see how he's listed.

Coming late to the party . . ..

By coincidence, I was reading the novelization of the first movie a few weeks ago and, yeah, he's referred to as "the Cigarette Smoking Man" throughout. This struck me as a bit odd, to be honest, but I'm not sure what else the poor author (Elizabeth Hand) was suppose to do if that was what he was called in the script.

Well, they could have just called him CGB, or CGB Spender.

Delta1

That's true, but now that I've seen the finale, maybe it should have been about wrapping up some of these characters, like Walter Skinner, who got short shrifted in the finale. It seemed like doing an episode like Sunshine Days could have been done earlier in the season.

 

[RoJoHen]

When I first saw the finale, I thought Skinner was walking to his death. The door closes behind him, and he's toast!

 

[tomalak301]

When I first saw the finale, I thought Skinner was walking to his death. The door closes behind him, and he's toast!

Maybe Skinner got his closure in season 8, when he killed Alax. Alex was a thorn in Skinners side ever since the season 3 finale (or was it season two when Skinner got beat up in the bar) and then you had the nano it's in his body in he later seasons. I didn't think he was toast in the finale, but maybe some kind of closure would have been his dismissal from the FBI.