It's official! Tonight the X-files is back on the small screen where it BELONGS. No offense to the movie attempts, but this show was MADE to be a weekly injection of ass-kicking goodness. In fact, in the NINE seasons the show aired it gave rise to a number of TV innovations that we take for granted in our post-millenial age. For example...
'Shipping
Look, "The X-Files" started the modern notion of 'shipping. Sure, there was Bruce Willis and Cybil Shepherd in "Moonlighting" – but that was a romantic comedy - You were SUPPOSED to root for them to get together. And let's be honest, some kid in Ancient Greece was probably 'shipping Achilles to get with Helen of Troy, so really, the notion of "relationshipping" isn't new. But "The X- files" was subtle... Mulder and Scully were both intelligent capable characters that not only had each others backs, but were often willing to put the job at hand before everything else – (including each other)...which was INSANELY Frustrating for so many seasons. And the fans ATE. IT. UP. At first you just suspected they had mutual respect for each other – and you were just glad to see them work together as partners. But before long ,you; as the audience member, not only started taking stock in how they looked on screen (By halfway through Season 2 both stars are pretty darn attractive for federal agents...) but more importantly how they interacted with each other – how they treated other. Whether it was an exasperated eye roll, a smarmy smirk, or a consoling hug – it soon got to the point YOU NEEDED these two to get together. Or maybe that was just me.
Mythology
X-files was maybe the first show to have a mix of stand alone (monster of the week) episodes along with episodes that had an overarching story/or mythology; a longer form story to keep you coming back to the show as it slowly progresses. This practice was adapted by other shows like Smallville, Lost, Alias, Supernatural, Fringe, CSI, Battlestar Galactica and just about every other show that's been on TV since"X-Files" first aired in 1993. Consider yourself lucky to live in an age where good dense storytelling is taken for granted... We could still be watching the Fall Guy, or worse!
Internet Fan Obsession
The "X-Files" was one of the first shows talked about...and OBSESSED about on the internet. In 1993 the internet was relatively new and only universities had access to the world wide web...The general public was just starting to grasp the strange ideas of "chat rooms" and "message boards". Places where people could come together virtually and talk about things they loved and cared about. In fact, the X-files fan base was so fervent, that producers of the show would log on to the message boards and chat rooms and take character names straight from the fans – Characters like the "Cigarette Smoking Man", the "Well Manicured Man", "Deep Throat", and "X" all got their names from the fans. Not to say that Hollywood doesn't still listen to fans on the internet, It's just that at that time it was unheard of. In 1993 the idea of writing into a Hollywood show in order to change something was as useless as asking the sun not to rise. Nowadays, the chatter of fans can apparently delay the release of the Next Star Wars movie (Episode VIII – I kid you not!)
So where does this leave us for the modern day return of Mulder and Scully? Well ask yourself:
Are You paranoid enough?
The X-files left the airwaves just when government conspiracies seemed to be popping up everywhere in pop culture. In fact Everything from the World Trade Center Attack, The Patriot Act and NSA surveillance tactics seemed to be pulled right from an X-Files episode...Which is strangely ironic considering the X-files spin-off show "the Lone Gunmen" had an episode where an evil government faction planned to fly a plane into the World trade Center in hopes of blaming terrorists and starting a war. This episode aired in March 2001 and the series didn't last longer than June 2001 (mostly because it wasn't that great). Now, I don't know about you, but I may not want to know where Chris Carter gets his conspiracy theories for the new crop of episodes...
Is there room in modern TV for Mulder and Scully?
TV is glutted with sci-fi /fantasy shows on dozens of channels; channels that weren't even around in 1993. Heck, there's a whole station devoted to Science Fiction! And in all of these shows and channels you can find shows about monsters, vampires, aliens invasions, and Crime Scene investigators. Yet, only the X-Files can encompass all of the above and more! So go forth, watch the new episodes and sink your teeth into some good storytelling. Word is the first episode takes a while to get started, but the second and third episodes are supposed to be firing on all cylinders. So take the plunge, watch your back, and remember to keep an open mind.
Be sure to check your local listing to find out when the episodes air in your location!