X-Files - Discussion

[Bored of the Dead]

Ok, well i said i would, so i'll use Prydains opinions in the ShoutBox as a basis to begin the discussion:)


Well, IMO, Buffy and Miracles are better than The X-Files, which just got completely lost in it's own mythology and boring series arcs. I mean, when the standalone episodes are more entertaining than the whole thing (as far as the mythology episodes go), that says something.
The X-Files' writers didn't even know how to tie up all the threads they left hanging.
And as far as alien invasions go, Threshold was more interesting. When it comes to arcs and intricate plotlines, Alias is better.
And Millennium, Chris Carter's other show, was better too. :)


OK, so to me, the X-Files was a fantastic show, its was a fore runner in this of Television, it was innovative, exciting and very worth the watch.
See, for me personally, i find it difficult to find another show that beats this within Sci-Fi/Drama genre.
You mention Buffy as a possible one, i personally don't think that they are comparable. Granted they are both genre, but totally different in there story, there message, there presentation and execution.
Buffy is one of my absolute fave TV shows, i won't deny that, but honestly in a different area i think that the X-Files is better.
Miracles, again, i only saw a few episodes of that, i have no idea how you can claim that is better than the X-Files, i will look forward to your opinions(and lest we forget that is all we have on this, i mean if we were on basic longevity then X-Files is still popular the world over so much so that Movies are almost definite, but the likes of even Buffy can't get a couple of TV movies off the ground).
See the way you have placed this comment 'I mean, when the standalone episodes are more entertaining than the whole thing (as far as the mythology episodes go), that says something. ' as though it is a fact, it is not it is an opinion as with most everything in this thread, and an opinion i don't disagree with BUT don't agree with either.
The X-Files main theme was a magnificent story used impressively well for the first 7 seasons. Seasons 8 and 9, while having some excellent episodes, did lose its way, and in this area i do believe that the Stand-Alones outshone the arc that felt like it lost its way abit, but even this still kept me entertained enough to keep on coming, and i honestly i believe the X-Files finale is one of the best series enders ever, giving the viewers exactly what they needed from the show.
See, i compare this arc heavy show against current ones in the likes of Invasion and there is no contest. Invasion felt, to me, like it was dragging its feet, it was giving to much emphasis on certain characters search for their own truth kinda neglecting what was happening in the world around them.
This was, i grant you, a possible realistic impression, but it made some the episodes rather tedius, for instance, how often did we need to see the effect water had on Mariel in the beginning, and why did this get continuosly repeated through-out..we already understood this, we knew that the 'Hybrid' would go through this, we didnt need it spoon fed to us.
Thats not to say that in its run the X-Files didn't have some points where i was yelling at the screen.
I got frequently bored with the numerous 'Samantha' episodes where a definite resolution was given, only to be taken away some time later.
Threshold is another show i adored, but to compare it to the X-Files is honestly rather silly.
Threshold had 13 episodes and it was eventually, i am 100% sure that you could find far more episodes of the X-Files that were more entertaining. I mean you obviously are put off with the fact X-Files went on so long, I don't disagree, but you need to use shows with a proper run before you can say whether one or the other is more interesting.

[goldenboy]

It's been ages since I've watched, and I only watched seasons 8 and 9 sporadically.

X-Files really had a perfect formula going by the time season 2 kicked in. The overriding mythology arc, mixed with the creature of the week episodes. IMO, the problem with Invasion (and to a lesser extent Lost) is that it's all arc, all the time. There's no let up. It can get really oppressive, boring.

What Lost has going for it is the flashbacks to get you off the island once in awhile, and enough compelling, effed up characters to hold your interest. Plus the mystery of course.

One of the best episodes of Invasion that I can recall was when the sheriff was in the hospital, had flashbacks to his plane crash.

The X-Files mythology was an amazing achievement, really—that they could make something so convoluted and cryptic and string audiences along for so many years. I don't think they could have managed it if they didn't throw in lots of other good stuff, comedy, self-parody eventually...

[Bored of the Dead]

Yeah, i have to agree, i mean don't get me wrong, i love a good strong arc, it can change a season from watchable to must watch TV, but there has to be some let up, some time away from the intense nature of it.
The Sheriff episode you mention was a good episode, it shows us that even within that mythology there is room for something else, still keeping one foot in the main story.
Thats what the X-Files did. Its main central theme was always present, even in the episodes that had no mention of 'Aliens' or abductions, because that is what the X-Files meant to the lead character. So that gave so much scope to visit the numerous other stories, be it a man/creature that can move through the tightest of spaces, a visit of the 'Chupacabra', Scully and her few fantastic Spiritual episodes or even a deformed mans love of of Cher in Black and White, so many things possible because of that Characters simple statement of 'I want to believe'.
The Spiritual episodes of X-Files also gave this 'I want to believe' guy a chance to be the skeptic, allowed him to say the, 'its not real scully' line, giving us a chance to see even someone willing to believe almost anything has limitations, just like other men.

With shows like Buffy that wish to root itself within reality, its never quite human enough to be real, always leaving it to some extent fantastical, but the X-Files, in my opinion, manages to hold that place of making the unreal real, turning the things that DO go bump in the night into something alot more tangible to use, giving us that moment of 'yeah thats possible'.

[goldenboy]

Interesting analysis:

Losing the Plot: When TV dramas get too popular
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/tv/alias.html

[teentitan]

I always felt that the stand-alone shows of the X-Files served a purpose for the series story-arc. Each show gave credibility to the main characters, slowly changed the beliefs of the FBI superiors and most importantly allowed the viewers to believe the story-arc because a trust between the characters and the fans was built and established over 9 years.
The writers showed all flaws and strenghts of each character by investigating urban myths (events culture's seem to cling too), science experiments gone awry (coackroach epi), and suspicion of the 'Alluminatee' group that controls the world does exist.
Because the X-Files developed such a strong fan base a stand-alone movie would work because we believe in the characters abilities and beliefs.

[historylover]

See, I love the X-Files (and the only two seasons I own on DVD right now are seasons 8 and 9), but I always hated the mythology episodes. Yep. Hated. If I missed for a week, for whatever reason, and it was a mythology episode, I'd be screwed.

It got too bogged down in the mythology. The season 8 and 9 mythology is awful! (The standalones are so much better). Which is also why I don't like the series finale.

The mythology started off OK, but then it got way too complicated. And the characters dying and then coming back (Cigarette Smoking Man, no matter how awesome you are, I'm looking at you! And, Mulder!!!) Then, we got the super soldiers, and I'm officially lost. I needed a scorecard to keep all the separate conspiracies straight.

Kat

[goldenboy]

I think I'm gonna start collecting the DVDs, now that they're actually becoming affordable.

Just to pick a favorite ep at random: I really like the ghost story one with Mulder and Scully in that spooky mansion with the two ghosts (Ed Asner and Lily Tomlin). Very clever and goofy fun I thought. I always loved the eps that mixed in humor with the scary.

[edit]

Actually, now they've got that one collection of just mythology episodes.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007ZEO7I/qid=1148501492/sr=8-11/ref=pd_bbs_11/103-9341792-1011004?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=130

I'd actually be tempted to get a collection of just the standalones.

[prydain]

Don't get me wrong, I love "The X-Files". I started watching when I was like eight years old and watched all the time with my parents until the finale. It was my favorite show for a long time. I still watch reruns on TV and I'm collecting the DVDs.

But it's not, in my opinion, the best sci-fi show.

For one thing, when I watch now, so many things annoy me.

The biggest thing that keeps me from regarding it as the best sci-fi show is the its mythology. It was interesting the first time around, even though it was as confusing as anything. I thought I was just too young to understand but no, it was just that they hardly ever gave you anything to understand. They raised question after question after question, waiting FOREVER to answer anything. Lost answers questions as it raises more, which keeps the viewers happier. The X-Files should have done that. However, The X-Files probably spawned complicated series arcs so I'm grateful to it for that. But the producers were obviously confusing themselves and after 200+ episodes, it seemed like only half of the questions were answered.

Also, the show had the worst series finale I could have imagined for the show. It was just awful. Boring, and pretty much all dialogue, and it ends with it telling us in a few years mankind is going to destroyed by aliens? Well joy joy. It just didn't, to me, feel like what a series finale should. I mean, there should be open-ended things so the universe can continue, but c'mon.

Back to the mythology episodes for a minute...they weren't bad. But the show should have had a different arc, something besides an alien invasion. Or they should have done it differently, because I really didn't care about it compared to the standalone episodes.

Now the standalone episodes...those were cool. Well, most of them anyway. But I wish they could have found a way to blend some more mythology INTO the monster-of-the-week stories.

Anyway, since The X-Files, I think lots of shows have taken things from it and improved on them. I'm not even going to bother listing the shows I would rather watch than The X-Files and why, and why they're better than The X-Files.

However, I do think if done a little differently, it could have been the "best sci-fi show ever". If the writers had planned everything a little better, it would have helped a lot, but whenever I watch it, it feels like they kinda just pulled stuff out their asses a lot, and changed directions too much.

And also...just kind of a tangent here...I disagree with the fans who think the first few seasons were the best, season one is my least favorite season with the least amount of episodes I liked. I love season four, a couple from season five, and I love a LOT of episodes from six and seven.

Seasons eight and nine were far from bad, IMO, although they had some of the WORST episodes ever. I absolutely cannot STAND 'Redrum' and the episode about the guy with the eye on his forehead. UGHHHHHH....I avoid those at all costs. However, I was really intrigued by the super-soldiers and I wish they'd done more with em. And Scully's baby was cool...the writers are pansies for writing him out just cuz some of the fans were bitching.

[Bored of the Dead]

See i have to disagree.
This has to be realistic, all the way through the show the 'Syndicate' are telling us there is no stopping this planned Alien take-over, so if the finale had been some miraculous defence it would have been a complete rip off.
Thats not to say there wasn't any hope with its ending, on the contrary, Scully gives Mulder, thus the viewer, the hope that as long as they believe, as long as they fight on that someday they will get the power to save themselves.
Personally, the idea of the Tribunal was far better then a fight to the death ala Buffy or Angel or even Invasion, because thats not the point of the show.
The Truth was, getting the people to believe, to understand what was going on.
The Mythology was hard to follow, yes it was, but thats what i enjoyed. I don't want someone to water down something for me, in essence treat me like i'm not able to understand, or to follow what was happening. They trusted the audience to follow, yes granted sometimes it was hard, sometimes it felt like it didnt make sense, but to me it paid off, to me thats why this show outstrips alot of other shows.
Life isnt always about finding the answers, there isnt always a reason why that you can find, and thats what this show told me, that even if you don't know the full truth, does that make the cause any less one you should back...no.