"My Struggle II"

Aired 2/22/16

When this X-Files "6-episode" mini-series was announced in the spring of 2015, I thought it was just that, a mini-series to wrap up the conspiracy. As the time counted down closer and closer to the re-launch, I possibly read too much. At first I wanted to avoid spoilers, except after it was announced the Smoking Man was returning, I had to know how that could be! His character was engulfed in flames by a missile when last seen in Season 9, so I assumed it had to be through flashbacks. Then I discovered who was returning on the production side, as well as more familiar on-screen faces. I even learned this was ending on a cliffhanger at the end of the 6th episode. My grandma likened it to being prepared a feast, then having it taken away from you just after it's served. For a perfect example of how to end a science fiction show on a cliffhanger, I look to Fringe, especially Season 3. Those guys weren't sure if they would be returning for another season, so they closed the door on the current storyline, only leaving a hint of what's to come. Carter did the opposite, perhaps to stir up the fans so they'd demand a swift return?

I feel like ending it the way this mini-series did, now properly titled Season 10, is a risk that Chris Carter shouldn't have taken. When the series wrapped for the first time back in 2002, they had hoped to launch a series of movies, which never happened until the lone sequel in 2008. Nothing was in the works until 2015, almost 7 years later. I just wonder how many chances Chris Carter will receive? I'd have just thrown all of my eggs into one basket, went full-tilt, and delivered a conspiracy-heavy string of episodes. It certainly seemed like Chris Carter had enough threads of the mythology for a full 6 episodes, only it was condensed to 2. This make room for other writers to return and add their own personal touches, which is actually something that was lacking in the previous movie, I Want To Believe. So if this does get a Season 11 sooner rather than later, I hope the supporting writers are shuffled around, giving all of the alumni a chance to return.

I've only talked about the conclusion. As for the actual 40-some odd minutes that preceded it, there was much that I did enjoy, including the Smoking Man's return. While he was briefly teased in "My Struggle", here he receives plenty of screen time in both the past and the present. My question of how he survived yet another "death" was answered, through an injection of alien DNA that was a major focal point in this episode. Former X-Files investigator Monica Reyes is summoned by Smoking Man's minions and she is offered a chance to join him, so she too will receive this alien DNA in return for lighting his smokes. Seems like a fair trade. It's actually the best use of Monica in the entire season (and some odd episodes) she appeared in, since I cannot recall other "evil" agents aligned with him having any sort of motivation for doing so. Krycek, Marita, and Diana Fowley were already under his thumb in secret when they first appeared. Both Krycek and Marita were responsible for one of his "deaths" and Fowley turned on him, only to be killed off-screen. So I can assume that Monica will suffer a similar fate now that she's spilled the beans to Scully about his plot to wipe out humanity like a Bond villain.

The Smoking Man's make-up effects are pretty cool too, as he still has his neck hole, but now he has a detachable nose piece. Maybe he should be renamed Mr. Potato Head, and next time he'll attach a bright clown nose onto his face. The best of all was the close-up on his two fingers, motioning for a cigarette, all while confined to a hospital bed. That finger rubbing scene oozed creepiness.

Like many installments of the mythology, Mulder and Scully are separated. Mulder is searching for answers from the Smoking Man, while Scully teams up with the new kids on the block, spending most of that time with Einstein. What a lousy name. I really liked how this episode ramped up the suspense as the victims of a plague begin to line up at Scully's hospital, with Tad O'Malley popping in for reports that this incident is NOT confined to the Washington D.C. area. His pop-in reports reminded me a lot of Orson Welles' War Of The Worlds broadcast, and I like how O'Malley is increasingly becoming infected until he likely keeled over too. I'm not sure if O'Malley is a modern version of Mulder's informant character or his new tech friend to replace the deceased Lone Gunmen character. Either way, I like Joel McHale as O'Malley, since he brings a modern feel to this 1990's show that seems desperate to be relevant throughout Season 10.

It was stated before that this alien DNA wrinkle in the mythology may be a way to clean the slate and "reboot" the mythology but I still believe it has it's roots in the old conspiracy tales. The Smoking Man and his Syndicate pals were revealed to have an "alliance" of sorts with alien colonists that were going to reclaim planet Earth. It was never stated how they were going to survive an apocalypse, just that one day they would be spared as part of the plan, though the Syndicate worked against them in secret. I feel like these alien DNA injections were their way of surviving, leaving the Smoking Man to inject whomever he saw fit to continue the human race with him. The episode ends with a UFO overhead and I feel like it's the alien colonists returning to finish the job. If this UFO was zooming to the rescue of the FBI agents on the bridge, then why would it blow up Svetta in the premiere? I guess we will find out in 5 years. See ya then.

"Babylon"

"Is this what you want Agent Mulder, your 'woo woo paranormal'?"
Aired 2/15/16

 

My fandom isn't the same as most X-Files fans, or in some circles are referred to as, "X-Philes." I came late to the party, after the series had already ended its run back in 2002. Its been fun experiencing new episodes on TV, and now I have a new wrinkle to add to my own fandom, which is "Babylon." I just happened to be surfing the web as this episode was leaked days before it's airdate, whether intentional or accidental. Myself and thousands of other fans were treated to a sneak preview before it vanished from Hulu within the hour. I even signed up for a free trial of Hulu just to watch this episode!

However, out of ten seasons of television and two feature films, this was the most bizarre installment of them all. "Babylon" began with a terrorist bombing of an art gallery, almost like one of those "ripped from the headlines" episodes of Law & Order. Mulder and Scully then meet their doppelgangers (unlike the doppelgangers in "Fight Club"), who inform them that one of the bombers is still alive, although unconscious. They pair off in wacky, unlikely duos, with Mulder and Not-Scully trying to communicate with the bomber through a wild and wacky mushroom-induced hallucination. Did I already say how wacky that is? Well, it is. David Duchovny definitely excels in comedic roles, much like he did in the middle years of the series when they fully embraced comedy; "Dreamland" always springs to mind. I liked that Mulder's hallucination was a way to work in the deceased Lone Gunmen characters, especially after seeing a behind the scenes clip where the trio were wearing ten-gallon hats. The hallucination also featured Skinner and the Cigarette-Smoking Man, although his appearance was slightly disturbing to me. I believe David would be fantastic on Dancing With The Stars but this was not X-Files.

Once Mulder's bad trip wore off, the episode was right back to it's serious tone dealing with an act of terrorism. "Babylon" was giving me whiplash with that back and forth shifting. I think perhaps this episode was just chock full of country songs and current pop songs that it was hard to look beyond that and enjoy the episode for what it was trying to accomplish. The X-Files rarely used contemporary music outside of its score created by Mark Snow, except for a few examples such as Cher and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. Perhaps Chris Carter didn't know what he was trying to accomplish though, which can make for a bad viewing experience.

The X-Files never touched on social events either, unlike what it did here in "Babylon". While I do enjoy those moments when the series would link WWII planes with UFOs, those are radically different from trying to make your episode into an "After School Special." During the opening moments, I thought maybe I was supposed to relate to the Muslim kid, because I too like to check out females and eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. But then he turned out to be a suicide bomber, which I can't relate to that at all. The investigation is wrapped up when his mom shows up and says she never raised a son to be a killer. The Dawson's Creek-styled ending was out of character, too, with all of the characters reflecting on the episode's events over a pop song playing in the background; just a real mish-mashing of ideas. I think Chris Carter is like I am at times- I have a lot of ideas swirling in my head, but the end result isn't quite what I intended to say.

Mitch Pileggi is looking an awful lot like Sean Connery in The Last Crusade.

I will say this about "Babylon", that what it does get right are those moments between the central characters of Mulder and Scully, which has returned to the series after that initial premiere episode. Mulder's quick wit and David Duchovny's comedic timing are in top form here and throughout these "standalone" cases. I suppose that's been the journey of Mulder throughout this mini-series, as he became depressed and drove a wedge between himself and Scully in his years away from the FBI, but now he's regained that old Mulder spirit. But if I hear more of "Honky Tonk Ba-Donk-A-Donk" during The X-Files, that space ship better beam me up too, cause I'm out.

"Home Again"

"Back in the day Mulder I used to do stairs and in 3 inch heels."
Aired 2/8/16

This episode was definitely a mixed bag. I understand the writers' need to mix so many mythology elements in with these standalone cases due to the shortened length of the season, but this one didn't click, unlike "Founder's Mutation". That episode was a standalone case about genetically modified children which caused Mulder and Scully to each reflect on their own child, William, with both having their dreams becoming nightmares. This episode causes Mulder and Scully to again reflect on their grief over William, but it's on top of so much other drama, along with a shift in tone. I was left feeling like this episode didn't know what it wanted to be.

First, I'll start with the actual "X-File" itself. A large, spooky guy who rides around inside of a garbage truck is ripping various city officials in half. People refer to him as the "Band Aid Nose Man" which is a serious downgrade from past names like Crew Cut Man, Toothpick Man, Black-Haired Man, and even Red-Haired Man. I suppose a character like an Eye-Patch-Wearing Man isn't creepy enough for this series. This episode does have another "Man" character, known as Trash Man, and he's a pop artist that graffitis art around town and speaks for the homeless people of the downtown area. When I first saw homeless people on the street at the beginning of this episode, my first thought was, "I wonder if Mulder spends the night with them like he did in 'Jersey Devil'?"

The second part of this episode sees the brief return of Sheila Larken as Maggie Scully, mother of Dana Scully, who was last featured briefly in Season 9. Maggie has suffered a fatal heart attack, but before she dies, she mentions both Scully's younger brother Charlie as well as Scully's son William. The thread of William has been woven nicely into this mini-series and while I was never of fan of baby William, I am enjoying the way Mulder and Scully are reflecting on their son. Some portions of the fan community seem to chastise the decision to give William up for adoption, even to the point that the writers said it was in poor taste and apologized for it. The way I look at it is that Mulder and Scully live in constant danger of the Syndicate, a group that's had Scully abducted, killed Mulder's father and his mentors, and almost blew up Mulder in a train car. That's a rough life for a baby when your grandfather wants your own parents dead. Even Papa Mulder gave up his own daughter for what he thought was the greater good, I suppose it's the circle of life in the Mulder clan. I think Scully needs a reason to return to The X-Files more than just investigating spooky cases again, and finding William is that reason. Just like Mulder originally wanted to use The X-Files to find his missing sister, Scully is now using them to find her son. But the drama of William seems to overshadow the drama of losing Maggie Scully. It may have been best to leave the monster out of this episode.

I felt like "Home Again" wanted to have serious character drama, while having a spooky monster, and also include campy moments. The black homeless guy saying "Band Aid Nose Man" and pointing to a several stories high mural was about the campiest moment of unintentional comedy I've seen on the show in ages. Perhaps that name sounded better on paper than it did being spoken by the actors. The use of music over impending doom (and later death) felt a little wedged in here, too. My favorite scene was a neat editing trick where the garbage truck drives past the "Fox Presents" text, as if the text is within the episode, as opposed to the text being over the episode like typical credits. I guess I shouldn't fault director/writer Glen Morgan so much for including many X-Files tropes since he really is 'home again' and it's not too often in life that you get a second chance, or even a third.

"Mulder and Scully Meet The Were-Monster"

"First thing we need to do though... check out of this motel."
Aired 2/1/16

When The X-Files revival was announced last spring, I was excited to learn that Chris Carter would reunite with a trio of writers that have not been involved with his series since 1997- brothers Darin and Glen Morgan, and writer/director James Wong. (Technically it could be 1998, since those 3 were all involved with sister series Millennium.) Those three men are collectively responsible for my absolute favorite episodes from both series- Glen Morgan & James Wong's "One Breath, and Darin Morgan's "Clyde Bruckman" and "Jose Chung" episodes of The X-Files; along with Morgan & Wong's "The Cure Of Frank Black" and Darin Morgan's "Jose Chung" episodes of Millennium. Thus far with this revival, both James Wong and Darin Morgan have stepped up to the plate, with both men knocking it out of the park.

Last week, James Wong contributed a dark episode about genetic mutations that also touched on the lives of Mulder and Scully, while this episode from Darin Morgan was a fantastic return to form for the series. Not only was it chock full of references for the keen fans, the episode used it's monster to poke fun at the every day lives of humans. What seem commonplace for us, like getting a job, are outrageous activities to this "were-man." Morgan summed up human existence in the span of one seven-minute segment of the series- get a job so you can have a mortgage, eat bad food, and then do it all over again the next day. The were-man was played exceptionally well by guest actor, Rhys Darby, whom I wish could be in every episode! I also noticed a returning guest actor, Alex Diakun, who was also in Morgan's first X-Files episode titled "Humbug" as well as the second movie.

"Mulder and Scully Meet The Were-Monster" actually had it's origin in 2005 as an unfilmed script for X-Files collaborator Frank Spotnitz's revival of the Night Stalker series. It was originally titled, "The M Word", and I came across the script when it was included as a DVD extra in text form. The plot remains mostly the same, with exception to Mulder and Scully now being the investigators, rather than the main characters on Night Stalker. In a twist of fate that could only happen in an "x-file", this script was not only filmed as part of this mini-series, but improves upon the original version. The many references to past episodes make this episode a treasure-trove and an "instant classic" among the series' greatest episodes. For starters, the pair of stoners returned from Season 3's "War of the Coprophages"; Mulder was seen in bed wearing a red speedo; Mulder also peered through the face of a fox that was hanging on the wall at a seedy motel; Scully referenced her old dog, Queeqeg; and later Scully referenced being immortal, which has always been a conversation point for longtime fans. Much like Darin Morgan's past episode "Jose Chung's 'From Outer Space'" that featured many gags I only noticed through rewatches, I'm sure I'll spot more visual gags later. In fact, I didn't even catch that a fast-food joint was named "Andy's" until a friend sent me a text about it.

Not only was this episode full of comedic moments, I also liked the way it was filmed during the night-time sequences. The title of "Mulder and Scully Meet The Were-Monster" seemed really silly to me, and I preferred the ambiguous original title, "The M Word." But after seeing it's campy atmosphere, the new title was a better fit. It was an obvious nod to the movies when Abbot and Costello met Frankenstein and other Hollywood movie monsters. Those night scenes featured an eerie, foggy atmosphere which looked a lot like the Creature From The Black Lagoon movies, too. With that said, now I'm off to go commit a murder.... I'm hungry for a burger.

"Founder's Mutation"

"I blacked out after Goldman's eyes popped out of their sockets."
Aired 1/25/16

While "My Struggle" was definitely a struggle to watch at times, I actually found "Founder's Mutation" a lot harder to watch initially; sorry for the wacky puns. The previous episode re-introduced the characters of Mulder and Scully and we saw them as very different characters than what we remember from the series and movies. Mulder is a recluse, and I can only assume is living off inheritance from his parents and remaining funds from his FBI career. I can't see being offered a severance package after black helicopters wanted you dead in the 2002 finale. Scully is still working at the same hospital she was at during the 2008 film. In the premiere Mulder was depressed over being away from his work and quickly accepted a wild conspiracy theory, and this episode Scully seems to be the depressed one, as she's still grieving over her son William.

But instead of conveying the sadness Scully felt over her son, it felt more like she was acting like Mulder's nagging mom. I just didn't get a sense of the chemistry the actors used to have; perhaps they're still trying to get into the groove of their characters. I've read that Gillian was slower to become "Scully" than David was at being "Mulder", and it's obvious here. (Although this episode was supposedly filmed fifth in the production order.)

Even the case itself didn't feel like The X-Files should, as I got more of a Fringe vibe, with all of the experiments and gruesome mutations. I realized it also doesn't have that old atmosphere and cinematography, because several crew members are now working for Castle on ABC. Then it dawned on me later while writing this review. Many of the episodes from the original run featured a villain on the loose and the agents playing catch-up, other times Mulder would throw out some wild (but correct) theory within the first few minutes. Here, writer/director James Wong created a mystery that actually wasn't obvious from the start, while also touching on conspiracy elements and their son William, much like his work during the series' early seasons. Plus, this hour was chock full of those famous visuals, including a pregant woman slicing her belly and a hand emerging. That visual has stuck with me and only improved since the initial viewing.

Those moments when "Founder's Mutation" weaved William into the story were the highlights. Scully seemed to dream of a life with William as a young kid in grade school, which then turned into a nightmare when he showed signs of genetic mutations like the children in her investigation. William did show brief signs of powers as an infant, and it's still unknown whether he has abilities or lives a normal teenage life. This scene felt like the Scully of old for the first time in this mini series. Mulder's dream life with William also showed signs of that old, quirky Mulder we know and love, as he was watching 2001 and shooting rockets. His dream also turned into a nightmare, one in which long-time fans will recall mimicked the way his sister was abducted as a child.

I dismissed baby William as a dumb storyline in the past and was still unsure if I wanted to see any mention of him in this brief mini-series. Now, after having watched these first two episodes, I feel like that is the only direction this mini-series can go, is to bring William back into the fold. There has to be some crux to get Mulder and Scully back as FBI Agents, since she clearly has built a new life outside of the Bureau, and it is William. Now that the dust has settled and I've had some time to absorb both episodes, I feel maybe it was my own expectations that were hindering my enjoyment, and not the series itself. "Founder's Mutation" was a great return to form for the series, making this mini-series worthwhile.

"My Struggle"

Aired 1/24/16

When I first became a fan of the series in 2007, never did I imagine that one day I would get to watch an X-Files movie on the big screen. I assumed those days were long gone. Not even half-way through the year, rumblings and rumors spread over the internet about the possibility of a brand new movie with David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, frequent co-star Mitch Pileggi, as well as the writing duo of creator Chris Carter and long-time right-hand man, Frank Spotnitz. It was officially announced for the following summer in 2008, titled I Want To Believe, and also a big box set hit stores shelves that housed the series' 9 seasons and the first film packaged together for the first time. Even a few volumes of the series' score were soon released for the first time in their original form. I was riding high on X-Files fever, as well as the long-time fans that I became friends with over the interwebs.

Maybe my expectations for an X-Files movie were far too high, as you recall even Indiana Jones returned to the big screen that year for a sequel that was 20 odd years in the making. I was too young for that fandom the first time around too, though I was able to see Indiana Jones once it hit HBO. Both didn't live up to my personal expectations, though neither should be dismissed as "terrible." That didn't deter my interest in The X-Files since later that year I would begin a 9-year journey where I began to watch and review each episode in order. I figured if I couldn't watch The X-Files live like my other fan friends, I'd make my own version.

That old X-Files fever hit once again, as FOX announced in the spring of 2015 that they would soon begin production on brand new episodes with David and Gillian returning, along with Mitch Pileggi, creator Chris Carter, and also returning writers Glen Morgan, Darin Morgan, and James Wong. I was skeptical of Chris' ability to create something new and exciting, remembering the misfire movie of 2008. The news of the Morgan brothers and James Wong excited me, since they left the series in the middle of it's run, and they're responsible for many of my absolute favorite episodes.

"My Struggle", immediately began with Chris Carter's wacky, overly wordy, monologue style, but David Duchovny seemed up for the challenge. The montage of edited clips was a fantastic piece, so it was easy to look past Carter's style. The episode then flashes back to an outstanding bit of special effects work of a UFO crash in New Mexico with an unfamiliar group of men investigating the wreckage. The production crew is no doubt making full use of the advancement of technology, and the crash ranks right along with the classic visual effects of the original series.

However, I can't say the same for the plot of the episode. It felt like a rehash of past stories, all combined into one fast-paced hour of television that tried to fit in as many Chris Carter tropes as possible. First was the monologue of Mulder's history, then later was a mega monologue about the military-industral complex. Mulder now has a new informant, only known as "Hat Man", following a long lineage of characters like "Grey-Haired Man", "Well-Manicured Man", "Stone-Faced Man", "Toothpick Man", and the villainous original, the "Cigarette-Smoking Man". There's also a person whom Mulder believes is the key to everything, which fans have heard multiple times before from the paranoid FBI Agent. Perhaps this was the best way to go about introducing the series to new eyes, as well as getting the long-time viewers caught up on the lives of their favorite FBI agents. FOX was wise to schedule it following an important post-season NFL Division Championship game, a night when more people are likely to be watching television compared to some random Sunday in the middle of March. This also puts the series in line with February Sweeps, if that even means anything in this modern day and age of DVRs and binge-watching on Netflix.

I can overlook the many tropes of Chris Carter, but the thing that still bugs me is just how the Cigarette Smoking Man can be present in these episodes set in 2016. He was shot by a sniper sent by his own Syndicate, even thrown down a flight of stairs, and then to top it off, shot by a missile. He's a senior citizen for cripes sake, not Wile E. Coyote! How can this guy still be alive? At least he was seen smoking through his neck hole again, which still ranks as one of the coolest Cigarette Smoking Man moments.

For as many moments as I disliked, this did have plenty to like about it, and I'm interested to see where it goes and just how past characters like Agent Reyes, the Lone Gunmen, and Scully's mom fit into this new batch of episodes. My only hope is that this doesn't end on some wild cliffhanger at the end of episode 6, with FOX canceling it forever.