3 seasons in, and the problem I'm having with the show is that it takes itself way, way, way too seriously at times. The best episodes I find are the ones that mix horror with comedy and honest self-reflection. By far (BY FAR) the best episodes of the series are "Humbug" (where they investigate a freak show) and this really amazing one I just watched "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose". It's about a guy that can see future, but only when it comes to when someone is going to die, which is both incredibly sad and incredibly funny. It's basically everything I was hoping I'd get from watching the show and more.
50% of the episodes are cheesy and forgettable, 25% are god damn awful, 20% are pretty great, and another 5% are transcendent. These aren't great numbers IMO. If the show focused less on empty government conspiracies and more on poignant and funny little stories about oddities happening in places around the world it would be much more consistent.
The alien stuff is nonsense. Aliens aren't scary, the government hiding them isn't interesting, and the mere mention of them isn't as exciting as the show seems to think it is. You can also tell that the show has no god damn idea where they are going with it all with it's vague nonsense and who-gives-a-shit mystery mongering. Why should I care if the government is hiding the existence of extra-terrestrials from the people? What would we even do with that information? Also, why the hell are they tying Native American culture to aliens all of a sudden? In what universe could that create compelling story telling?
Mulder's thirst for the truth is grounded in the trauma involving his sister, and that could have worked if it were more of the focus, but the execution is shaky and the show does little to dissuade the notion that aliens are inherently lame. Mulder also comes across as an enormously smug jackass. For example, there's a case where a woman claims to have been raped and brutalized by a ghost (yes the show went there), and his immediate response is "lol, sure thing lady. I bet she's lying to screw over her employers". If you would see what this joker routinely immediately takes at face value, you'd see how much of a ridiculous douchebag he's being, but the show doesn't even follow up on it or call him out. I've noticed that the better episodes are the ones where he's taken down a peg, while the very worst ones tend to treat him as this messiah figure.
Scully on the other hand is the most interesting character on the show, but she's weighed down with her unconvincing disbelief in all things paranormal. I'm willing to overlook that though, because episodes that focus on her tend to be more grounded and less annoyingly self-important. Also her obvious crush on Mulder is adorable in its own way, given how completely different they are as people. It's also interesting to have her be the more emotionally stable and strong one of the pairing, I didn't expect that going into the show due to its age.
I'm not saying the show should never create serious episodes. "Ice" and "Irresistible" are incredibly dark and are some of my favourites, but they feel grounded in character drama and conflicts, and less interested in empty paranoia and conspiracies that the writers assume we'll care about because "ALIENS". I just wish it would mix that darkness with more of an acknowledgement that it is a ridiculous and pulpy show with oddball leads.
TL;DR X-Files would be a great show if it was written with more self-awareness and humour in its cases of the week, and less focus on "mythology".
50% of the episodes are cheesy and forgettable, 25% are god damn awful, 20% are pretty great, and another 5% are transcendent. These aren't great numbers IMO. If the show focused less on empty government conspiracies and more on poignant and funny little stories about oddities happening in places around the world it would be much more consistent.
The alien stuff is nonsense. Aliens aren't scary, the government hiding them isn't interesting, and the mere mention of them isn't as exciting as the show seems to think it is. You can also tell that the show has no god damn idea where they are going with it all with it's vague nonsense and who-gives-a-shit mystery mongering. Why should I care if the government is hiding the existence of extra-terrestrials from the people? What would we even do with that information? Also, why the hell are they tying Native American culture to aliens all of a sudden? In what universe could that create compelling story telling?
Mulder's thirst for the truth is grounded in the trauma involving his sister, and that could have worked if it were more of the focus, but the execution is shaky and the show does little to dissuade the notion that aliens are inherently lame. Mulder also comes across as an enormously smug jackass. For example, there's a case where a woman claims to have been raped and brutalized by a ghost (yes the show went there), and his immediate response is "lol, sure thing lady. I bet she's lying to screw over her employers". If you would see what this joker routinely immediately takes at face value, you'd see how much of a ridiculous douchebag he's being, but the show doesn't even follow up on it or call him out. I've noticed that the better episodes are the ones where he's taken down a peg, while the very worst ones tend to treat him as this messiah figure.
Scully on the other hand is the most interesting character on the show, but she's weighed down with her unconvincing disbelief in all things paranormal. I'm willing to overlook that though, because episodes that focus on her tend to be more grounded and less annoyingly self-important. Also her obvious crush on Mulder is adorable in its own way, given how completely different they are as people. It's also interesting to have her be the more emotionally stable and strong one of the pairing, I didn't expect that going into the show due to its age.
I'm not saying the show should never create serious episodes. "Ice" and "Irresistible" are incredibly dark and are some of my favourites, but they feel grounded in character drama and conflicts, and less interested in empty paranoia and conspiracies that the writers assume we'll care about because "ALIENS". I just wish it would mix that darkness with more of an acknowledgement that it is a ridiculous and pulpy show with oddball leads.
TL;DR X-Files would be a great show if it was written with more self-awareness and humour in its cases of the week, and less focus on "mythology".
