It’s been a while. In fact, it’s been too long. Twenty-three years ago, I watched the second episode of The X-Files, “Deep Throat,” the day after it aired. I’ve been a fan ever since. As such, it’s hard to explain what it felt like to see Mulder and Scully back on my TV screen. In a way, it was exactly what I expected. In other ways, it was even better.
As always, there’s a lot to digest. And since this is just a 6-episode revival, let’s try to keep the whole analysis/meta fun, and discuss the good, the bad, and the weird of the first episode of this so-called The X-Files revival, titled “My Struggle.”
The good
- Mulder and Scully. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson slip back into the roles of our favorite FBI agents as if not a day has passed.
- And the chemistry is still there! The best parts of this episode, by far, are the Mulder and Scully moments.
- The Cigarette Smoking Man makes an appearance at the end of the episode. The dude really is immortal.
- The music was on point, as always.
- They didn’t change the intro. I might have teared up a bit. And by might have, I mean I did.
- FOX can cut a good promo, because, if nothing else, I’m dying for the rest of these episodes.
- Gillian Anderson looks even better today than she did twenty-three years ago. David Duchovny doesn’t look bad, either, and Mitch Pileggi doesn’t seem to have aged a day.
- It feels like The X-Files is more relevant today than it’s ever been.
- The breakup is not as absurd as I thought it would be.
The Bad
- The convoluted conspiracy. It’s been 23 years and this has only gotten, if possible, more complicated.
- Tad O’Malley hitting on Scully. No. Just no.
- FOX not knowing how to transition from the NFC Championship game to the episode. Did we really need to see all the celebrations? Did they really need to announce a time that they clearly could not adhere to?
- The breakup was clearly not Mulder’s idea, and he’s still bitter about it, albeit in a very functional way.
- Although the show made a valiant effort to catch up with those watching for the first time, I don’t know that people who’ve never watched an episode before are really going to stick with this revival. At least not with the mythology-related episodes.
- I still can’t wrap my head around Scully quitting on Mulder. I just can’t.
The weird
- They took everything from Mulder’s office, yet left the pencils on the ceiling?
- Sveta tells Scully that she didn’t know how it felt to be abducted, only to look in her eyes and remark, “Or maybe you do.” It was supposed to be a poignant moment, but it not only felt flat, but it made me dislike Sveta a little, which I’m sure was not the intention.
- Nine years of thinking this was about the aliens, and nope. Turns out they really are good guys. It’s the government that’s evil.
- Why would they open The X-Files, after all these years? Makes no sense.
Next, on The X-Files
The X-Files continues its Two-Night Season Premiere Event, tonight, Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, 8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT, and will air on that same night and time for the duration of the six-episode revival.
