Mulder and Scully are back and the truth is still out there for the viewers to continue the adventures of the X-Files. Here I’ll do and Episode by episode score and review then a brief season overview and score. (Disclaimer few but some spoilers)
My Struggle
The season picks up with new developments in the mythology, 8 years after the I Want to Believe film storyline. We find Fox Mulder to be less of a recluse but still in a retired state until internet conspiracist, news anchor Tad O’Malley when he believes to have come across a missing link to Mulder’s lifelong search for answers to the government conspiracies of extraterrestrial life. With the help of his trusted former partner Dana Scully they run a series of tests to validate O’Malley and his victim’s claim that they were exposed to alien DNA. Scully through talking with the victim is reminded of her own personal experiences of being abducted and giving birth to a child that also shares alien DNA. The episode would reveal that the work of the previous seasons of The X-Files were misguided, instead of the major governments of the world preparing for an alien invasion the new found theory is the alien technology was taken by the government from crash sites, salvaged, enhanced used in wars while many of it was hidden from the public while the govt. would also replicate abductions on people to conduct experiments with alien DNA with gene-editing for decades.
Overall: Entertaining episode with a new good alien mythology twist but some choppy dialogue between characters here and there. Even if it’s not the preferred method of watching for any first time viewers to jump into a deep mythology this is a decent starting spot to get a taste of the series before wanting to binge watch seasons on Netflix or Hulu.
Episode Grade: 7/10
Founder’s Mutation
The second episode by definition is sci-fi at its roots! From the opening 2 min montage we get hit with what seems like a regular scientist showing up for his job being tortured with a persistent high frequency sound only he can hear but before killing himself to end the suffering he tries to extract data from a top secret Department of Defense hard drive. This episode is not shy to show gore, deformities, and a mystery around government experiments on pregnant women that give children supernatural powers, all pieces essential to making a quality standalone x-files episode. This episode has amazing cutaways to Scully’s alternative life if she had kept their child William instead of putting him up for adoption and some of her fears of her son facing challenges dealing with alien DNA in adolescence. And to end the episode there is Mulder having these same visions but instead his fears of William being abducted by aliens reminiscent in how his sister was.
Overall: An improvement over the premier and open ending to a great episode. X-Files stand-alones are episodes any regular viewer can sit down any night and just watch it start to finish without needing much background into the show almost like The Twilight Zone or Alfred Hitchcock Presents. James Wong (creator of the Final Destination franchise) did an excellent writing job on his return to the series delivering on his strengths.
Episode Grade: 8.5/10
Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster
Might be a little early but I’m putting this in the classic threshold for “monster of the week” category. This episode hits on so many levels it gives us a Mulder who feels he is losing a fight to believe in the previously unexplained cases now can through advances in science and disposed as internet myths. Scully (often in the role of the scientific skeptic) serves as a moral motivator to Mulder pushing him along in refinding his faith in wanting to believe. And then onto the monster we’re given a number of comedic moments involving him and actually having a great 10-minute heart to heart talk between him and Mulder piecing together the loose ends of the case but also encouraging him there is still reason out in the world to believe
Overall: Darin Morgan reminds the fans he’s not only one of the best X-Files writers (which is impressive when you look at the roster) but one of the best writers to have worked in television and delivered a good message and twist within. This episode is in the highest echelon with "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose", "The Goldberg Variation" "Small Potatoes" and “Paper Hearts”. All MUST WATCH episodes of television.
Episode Grade: 9.5/10
Home Again
Episodes like this are meant to play the strings of your heart like Carmignola can play the violin, and boy does it. Although it isn’t a mythology episode this is where the emotional investment into the main characters of the series for over a hundred hours. This episode is very reminiscent of where Scully lost her father, Mulder dealing with Scully’s abduction and health struggles that nearly led to her death. Now of course this episode plays to the paranormal and here it’s a monster called “Trash Man” and in reality he’s serving as a hero removing corrupt city officials hurting the inner city and the homeless population but he is honestly a backseat character to the emotional trip we’re given with Scully.
Overall: This was exactly what this season had called for at this point and trusted writer Glen Morgan came through. Gillian Anderson’s performance was as strong as ever and she’s an Emmy and multiple Golden Globe Award winner so this is sending a reminder to anyone who might’ve forgot what she’s capable of on screen. Monster wise good mystery that provides just enough closure in that department but again the focal point of the episode definitely sits with Scully and Mulder outside of the case.
Episode Grade: 8.5/10
Babylon
Sometimes we get in our own way of when something is going good and this applies to show creator Chris Carter on this episode. Primarily Carter is and has been handling the bulk of the mythology episodes with the occasional stand-alone here and there and this is one of the cases where, we get to see Carter exercise his non mythology writing. It’s not very good; borderline awful but a couple bright spots. I can thank him for 2 things that helped prevent this from being an all-time bad episode, one being Agents Miller and Einstein (she claims distant relation to Albert). Miller captures everything we loved about a young Mulder and Einstein a younger Scully when she was as skeptical as ever and the fact we got to see a cross team up between Miller/Scully and Einstein/Mulder, makes for refreshing humor. Second, the Mushroom hallucination one character goes on. I will say no more.
Overall: This episode actually suffers from a poorly paced plot with bad stereotypes and possibly a subliminal agenda by Fox. Even with that the character dynamics within the episode were great enough to want to see more in the future. Oh and Carter leave the stand-alones for a while your last couple haven’t been up to par if you include the 2ndfilm.
Episode Grade: 6/10
My Struggle II
If you haven’t watched the X-Files prior to this, I’ll let you know you can always expect something great for the finales and this is no different. Opening like the start of the season we see Scully’s background on her 23 years since joining the X-Files and from there we’re deep into the mythology again. Great news is the additions of last episodes’ agents Miller & Einstein return as supporting characters to Mulder and Scully. I won’t give away spoilers for this episode it will leave you on the edge of your seat for the full 44 mins in a “24” fashion where it’s a race against the clock with constant twists with every now bit of information given.
Overall: Episode left me wanting just 5 more minutes than note it left us with, the cliffhanger. This plays to all of Carters strengths and is encouraging to the fans that questions previously unaddressed in the 2nd X-Files film and the earlier season premier are being answered or could be addressed in the 11th season if renewed.
Episode Grade: 9.5/10
Season Overall:
This might not be the ideal starting spot for getting into the series (Season 1 Episode 1 is) but if this was your first experience this wouldn't be all to bad and might find more enjoyable because of the length. Each episode has a cinematic feel to it which can be a testament of taking a 13-16-episode budget and investing it all into a short 6 episodes. Mythology was mind blowing and we were gifted with some great stand-alone, monster of the week episodes. The ball is in Fox court to renew the series for another 6 episodes in 2017 and at the end of the day would be well worth it.
Season Score: 8/10
Written By: Stephen F
Twitter: @intjWallyWest
