Just watched ep1 and enjoyed it. I had low expectations but it was kind of cool for them to bring back these characters.
Really enjoyed the way it started (first 2 episodes) and even like episode 3, but the last couple have not been very good (and borderline silly). Only 1 episode left? So far, it's felt like the start of a full season (not just a 6 episode event). Not sure how they are going to wrap it up.
Episode Five definitely seemed off with a thin plot devoid of ingenuity. In the post-9/11 X-Files world it seems the mysteries of the unknown have been replaced with serious threats like terrorism. The cloak and dagger agenda of a cabal hell-bent on enslaving humanity has sadly taken a backseat to modern times with a plot akin to "The Blacklist". As we've all seen, Mulder and Scully clearly look like their individual and collective experiences have taken their toll over time. This episode wasn't all bad though. I enjoyed the two new agents Miller and Einstein that were obviously introduced to remind us about the crucial believer versus skeptic dynamic that Mulder and Scully, respectively built the entire series upon. It was also refreshing to see the Lone Gunmen cameo as well. Like others have said, as this series winds down with only one episode left; I wonder how they'll tie everything together. When you have the Cancer Man back, but in the periphery it causes us to wonder what will be revealed or if it's all just a tease.
Agreed. Episode 5 was lacking some plot, but the trippy Mulder country dancing sequence was funny. Billy Ray Cyrus all over again.
The surreal trip was done well. I just don't like that country line dancing track so that's why I didn't mention it. Incidentally, Bill Hicks does a great bit on Mr. Cyrus if you like your satire and comedy rooted in introspective intelligence. I am looking forward to Episode Six with bittersweet emotion. Everything I've read indicates that they're not planning to produce any more episodes. However, CC and crew have said that if there's overwhelming response, the key word being o-v-e-r-w-h-e-l-m-i-n-g; that they may do more. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Not into country myself, but seeing Mulder ham it up is always great. Looking at the preview, I wonder if they'll be elements from every episode showing up in No. 6? Planting (seemingly) unrelated seeds to pull everything together at the last minute. Also, random note, I've seen three actors from Continuum show up in minor parts (Omari Newton/Lucas, Stephen Lobo/Kellogg and Ryan Robbins/Brad). Not to mention William B. Davis, who played an older Alec on Continuum. In fact, Nicholas Lea aka Krycek showed up on Continuum for a couple of episodes. Having all of these shows film in Vancouver allows for these crossovers/acting gigs.
5 was probably the worst of the bunch for me, too - it's sad that Carter doesn't seem to realize that one of the ways that you can demonstrate that 'not all Muslims are radical terrorists' would simply be to write and include a Muslim character that isn't one. PC for the sake of it tends to irritate me, but I think indulging in terror porn with the only counterbalance being lip service from an upright Caucasian representative was at worst offensive, and at best hopelessly juvenile. Ach, and speaking of juvenile, I must have been watching a different program than some of you because that drug scene was horrendous!* Definitionally hackneyed and square as a box, to boot. Setting aside that the carrot of the scene - Mulder's channeling of lumpface - was some of the weakest tea that the series has ever served, the 'trip' itself was painfully unconvincing. Apparently Carter's only experience with drugs is having seen their effects portrayed on other TV shows. The inclusion of Tom Waits and the Lone Gunman was just insult to injury - what did they ever do to deserve such schlock? I'm resisting the urge to go point-by-point about what else pissed me off last night... even the one decent conceit of the hour - the younger stand-ins for our heroes - was handled poorly. I kind of love the idea of the surrogate agents - Hell, I could stand a spin-off! - but the writing of the characters lacked even a whisper of nuance. Outlines and bullet points as finished product. Inexcusable. I feel another paragraph coming on so I'll just show myself out. *I'm calling ol' CC juvenile, not all y'all what liked it. To each our own and all that.
Let the pen flow toothaction, because it's good for the soul. Many of us have proudly been with Mulder and Scully since the inception of the series so we've all invested endless hours into the arcs, mythology, monsters, and memories we've happily created courtesy of the 1013 team. To watch paltry plotlines chopped and hacked up is extremely painful to say the least. Especially, when we all know how good things can really be and have been since they switched their production to Vancouver eons ago. I don't know if this was a cash grab or nostalgia for CC, but many diehards have felt dejected about the form and hollow content of this years episodes thus far. I know CC worked for a long time developing "The After" series for Amazon Studios only to have it axed shortly after completing the Pilot. He's definitely voiced his personal disdain for Hollywood so I'm wondering if it's sadly seeped into and influenced the thin material we've seen this year. It would be wonderful to witness all the little pieces of the puzzle skillfully weaved together in Episode Six, but I'm not going to hold my breath on that one. Hopefully, I'll be wrong and we'll all be pleasantly surprised.
Ugh - just watched Ep 5. It flushed all hope down the drain, and made me rethink Eps 1 and 2. With a more complete view of this mini-series the only good episode was Ep 3 with Rhys Darby. In hindsight, bringing the show back for a mini-series was a bad idea - just like Arrested Development. But this is way worse than that.
Yep, you lot have summed up my feelings about ep.5 very well. I found myself getting bored about half-way through. A cheesy drug-trip scene culminating in Mulder line-dancing?? WTF? I really, really wanted to like this season but its been a very mixed bag.
The episode closed this week with a scene from the season finale, not the series finale. Just throwing that out there. The introduction of the two new agents is a handover I'll bet. This way Duchovny and Anderson will be able to pop back in here an there in an advisory sort of capacity. They both said in interviews that the mini-series aspect works better for them due to their schedules vs. the longer series they used to do back in the day. I expect an 'X-Files: Next Generation' type thing.
The Rhys Darby episode was a highlight in an otherwise dreary series..and I had held high hopes for a decent series after an encouraging first episode. I bet anti-vaxxers loved the last episode.
I finally started the new season last night. The end of episode one gave me chills, and I was overly excited to start the next. Already met with disappointment when there was no pickup or continuation, but the second was very much in line with what X - Files was about with subject and story. Third was like watching an episode of Goosebumps for me. Very goofy. Almost too goofy. Episode four totally lost me, as far as interest, so much to the point that I don't even think I'll be giving five and six the time. It almost puts me in a downer mood that Carter has all but confirmed it will make a full-time comeback.
Have you seen the show 'Short Poppies'? Its a must for fans of Rhys Darby. Very funny! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_Poppies
Episode Six "My Struggle II" launched with the foreboding opening credits "This Is The End". We were left to wonder if "the end was nigh" and a true harbinger to the degree of finality we'd bear witness to. Right off the bat, there was a clear decision to distance Scully from Mulder as they had very minimal dialogue throughout the entire episode. Bringing Agent Reyes back was the right thing to do. We really learned what Monica's made of including the steps she took to insure her own survival as Cancer Man's Morley-toting lap dog. There were no real surprises with Cancer Man and only a brief extension regarding the timetable he's skillfully manipulated through the years. William is mentioned again, but still hasn't materialized; so who knows what's happening with that beyond Scully's maternal guilt. We also don't know what degree of guilt Mulder shares with this either, since it takes two to tango. As far as cliffhanger's go, I felt it was like most of this season; lackluster and quite predictable with no continuity. I'm really wondering if Scully will prevail as the "immortal" she's frequently claimed to Mulder or does she have another fate. Irregardless of how things played out, this season gave CC and his crew a rare opportunity to create watershed moments to continue the legacy they'd steadfastly built. Sadly, this was not achieved, because throngs of fans including myself felt no real emotional connection to Season Ten's episodes. Without a doubt, the lack of ingenuity was a tremendous letdown and the key reason why nothing resonated with longtime devotees. It's sad to say, but some things should not be touched AND if you're going to open up the door, make sure you come correct by stepping up your game to respect the art you've previously created. Like many, I wanted this season to be so much more beyond the nostalgia, but wishing and wanting didn't make it so. Fox undeniably raked in the ratings with these uneven episodes so I'm sure we'll see another season, but I sincerely hope they give us all more to chew on next time, instead of paltry plot lines.
Both will be back again this year, too. X-Files, in fact, is resurfacing tomorrow night... Breath not held.
More than less wishing that I hadn't bothered with the first 3 eps of the new season - the first being BY FAR the worst - but the Darin Morgan entry was legitimately cute. Unconvinced that it will become a classic, but I'm sure that I'll watch it again.
