The X-Files - 2016 Miniseries

Stupid football playoff messed up my recording of the first episode. Waiting for it to become available on demand to watch the last 20 minutes before continuing
Haven't checked for a few days. Maybe "The Episode Is Out There."
 
I am struggling with the X-files. I was really looking forward to it, but really didn't want to get bogged down by the conspiracy, big story line part of it. My favorite thing about the x-files was the 'monster of the week' episodes and after the first new episode I was ready to be disappointed by the miniseries. The second one brought it back a little bit for me, but it still feels like it's missing its heart a little bit. There was a scene between Fox and Scully that reminded me of the scene with Leah and Han in The Force Awakens, it was poorly written and felt so forced.

But contrary to many issues I seem to have with it, (apparently I don't like anything any more) I will keep watching and try to enjoy it for what it is.
 
ratsy said:
I am struggling with the X-files. I was really looking forward to it, but really didn't want to get bogged down by the conspiracy, big story line part of it. My favorite thing about the x-files was the 'monster of the week' episodes and after the first new episode I was ready to be disappointed by the miniseries. The second one brought it back a little bit for me, but it still feels like it's missing its heart a little bit. There was a scene between Fox and Scully that reminded me of the scene with Leah and Han in The Force Awakens, it was poorly written and felt so forced.

But contrary to many issues I seem to have with it, (apparently I don't like anything any more) I will keep watching and try to enjoy it for what it is.
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Two thumbs up on the "monster of the week" format. That was The X-Files at its best.
 
Kinda disappointed in this so far. It's a relief that it's not exactly terrible as I feared but it's nowhere near as good as I'd hoped. I actually liked the myth eps at first but got tired of them and their neverending bottomlessness where it was obvious no one knew what they were doing. So the reboot seems like it could have something to say in 2016 but is probably just more bottomlessness. Aside from that, it was not great. And when I think they're going to make just four MotW eps I'm thinking they should be able to knock them all out of the park - I'm hoping for "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose" and "Soft Light" and a couple more on that level and, instead, it's actually more myth-linked than people seem to be realizing, IMO, and was otherwise just a standard MotW ep rather than one of those really special ones. But I've heard good things about #3 and it's only six eps, so I'll probably watch them all. At this point, though, I'm okay if this doesn't result in a full X-Files rebirth or anything.

But, in full disclosure, I only saw one or two episodes after season 6 or so and wasn't hugely into 5 or 6 themselves (or whatever seasons in that ballpark it actually was) - my X-Files interest nosedived after they made fans pay money to watch a two-ep season finale in the theaters under the guise of a "movie" (which I didn't do). So I don't know how relevant my opinions are to major fans on the one hand or non-fans on the other.
 
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I thought the first episode was a mess and very underwhelming. Second episode was better, but so far I'm wondering why they bothered.
 
I have moved this thread to our dedicated X Files Forum and I took out the episode specific comments and moved them to the existing threads here where you won't need to use spoilers. If this thread could be kept spoiler free and just the more general comments it contains now then I we don't need a warning on it either.
 
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The revival of the X-Files after a gap of fourteen years saw the story dive straight into alien conspiracy theories again in the first (of six) episodes. Scully and Mulder reappear along with Skinner and The Smoking Man, providing a certain "the gang's all here" nostalgic appeal. One interesting change is that Mulder, who has retreated from the world until being recalled for further investigative work, has now become the sceptic, believing that the conspiracy is not to cover up the existence of aliens, but to obscure the fact that they don't exist. Curiously, I found it very difficult to recall any details of this episode even the day after I had watched it. Perhaps the aliens don't want the truth known – or maybe it's just my memory again!

I was initially a fan of the original series, but lost interest in the later seasons when the writers seemed to be concerned with making the plots increasingly horrific and yucky. Unfortunately, the second to fourth episodes of the new series rapidly follow the same track, with stand-alone horror stories and no more heard about alien conspiracies. This is a pity as the performances – especially by Gillian Anderson – are more nuanced and sophisticated than they used to be, which adds more depth to the stories. Unlike some posters here, I would have much preferred the writers to develop a more consistent narrative thread followed through the season, rather than separate stories which can be seen in any order.

The season returns to top form in episode five with a relatively mundane plot concerning efforts to communicate with a near-to-death suicide bomber. It is remarkable for two reasons: it is superbly written, the philosophical discussion between Mulder and Scully at the end raising it to a new level, and it introduces a another pair of young FBI agents also concerned with investigating the paranormal: Miller and Einstein.

On checking I see that the first and fifth episodes were written and directed by series creator Chris Carter, as was episode six. This is a direct sequel to the first episode, although it's a messier story than the first. In this one, alien DNA injected into humans has an unexpected part to play as a pandemic sweeps around the world, and the final scene is a cliff-hanger.

Clearly the story is intended to continue. Are Miller and Einstein, who also have important roles in the final episode, intended to replace Mulder and Scully in due course? I would have no objections as they are very good – particularly Einstein who is even a red-head! I hope there's a Season 11 some time, it is good enough to continue with.

(An extract from my SFF blog: Science Fiction & Fantasy)
 
so i finally managed to watch all 6 episodes and i liked the standalone episodes 2-5, although they did make me wonder just who was investigating these monsters whilst mulder and scully were away. it was also a bit odd seeing rhys darby as a lizard man. episodes 1 and 6 were a mess. far too much information in 40 minutes - the amount of action that happened off camera was ridiculous. which is a rela shame as they could have been great episodes. in my opinion they should have made it an 8 episode series and made 1 and 6 into double episodes. i think the re-introduction of the x-files after 13 years deserved this...

and as mentioned somewhere in this forum, the wonder of the x-files isn't quite there any more.
 
REBerg said:
Episodes 3, 4 (y)

Episodes 2, 5 :unsure:

Episodes 1, 6 (n)
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Strange, that is the opposite of the vibe I got from everyone else here. They are certainly very different - the out and out humourous verses the X-Files mythological - and I'm not certain which kind I liked best. I did like the funny ones, but then, maybe they were just too silly. However, I have to agree with Mr. Orange that the mytholgical ones were a little heavy going.
 
Dave said:
Strange, that is the opposite of the vibe I got from everyone else here. They are certainly very different - the out and out humourous verses the X-Files mythological - and I'm not certain which kind I liked best. I did like the funny ones, but then, maybe they were just too silly. However, I have to agree with Mr. Orange that the mytholgical ones were a little heavy going.
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Even with the original series, I lost interest as emphasis moved from dealing with creative creatures to the worldwide conspiracy. Never been much of a conspiracy buff.
 
I thought the miniseries was outstanding and really made up for the horrid ending of the series a few years ago. I thought they'd handled Mulder and Scully's relationship with profound sensitivity and there was a deep caring and world-weariness that was heartbreaking to watch. I loved all of it! Having Rhys Dharby from Flight of the Conchords was the cherry on the cake. Most of all I was impressed how they had managed to reinvigorate the conspiracy myth that made it seem like a progression than a revision of the prior series.

And the last scene. Wow.

pH
 
REBerg said:
Even with the original series, I lost interest as emphasis moved from dealing with creative creatures to the worldwide conspiracy. Never been much of a conspiracy buff.
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i really liked the conspiracy underlying the original series and was looking forward to it all being revived. in my opinion they just did not do it justice in the new series
 
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