Sanjay, seemingly caused by a high-pitched sound. The episode starts out in classic X-Files fashion, with the actual suicide of Dr. “Founders Mutation” is a quintessential example of this, as Scully and Mulder are thrust into a case involving a death at a company called Nugenics Technology. The X-Files mythology (aside from aliens) often gravitates toward fringe science such as genetic manipulation. While there’s a little too much exposition in this episode and it feels a bit rushed, “My Struggle” was still a great way to kickoff season ten. And of course we get a shot of the Cigarette Smoking Man (William B. The result (with a little nudge from FBI director Walter Skinner) is that the incident draws Mulder and Scully back to the X-Files. However, thanks to fringe television talkshow host Tad O’Malley (Joel McHale) and abduction survivor Sveta (Annet Mahendru), Scully begins to question her own previous abduction and the possibility of alien DNA within her. (1%ers anyone?) Scully is doubtful of course, calling Mulder’s ideas batcrap crazy. The episode as a whole succeeded at drawing us back into the X-Files mythos, as Mulder and Scully begin to uncover a vast conspiracy involving not aliens, but alien technology used in order for a select few to take over the world. Mulder lives alone and is severely depressed, while Scully works at a hospital and represses her guilt at giving up her son William. Rather than come across redundant, it was actually informative (completely forgot Scully and Mulder had a kid) and a good way to bring newcomers up to speed who didn’t have time to watch the other 202 episodes and two movies. Since it’s been fourteen years since The X-Files went off the air, Mulder does a quick voiceover recap of the essentials of the show. Since the season was so short, it’s only fitting that we break down each episode individually. ![]() Season ten ended on a HUGE cliffhanger and with the strong ratings I can guarantee this show will be back for an eleventh season. I say “return” and not “conclusion” because (SPOILER ALERT!!!) they catfished us people. While sometimes a mixed bag, The X-Files season ten was deeply satisfying and a strong return for the iconic television show. After all The X-Files has always been TV-centric. With it only being a six episode “series event,” a mini-series seemed perfectly appropriate. I hoped that Chris Carter and company would be able to bring the show to an ultimately satisfying conclusion. The “end” of The X-Files left a bad taste in my mouth, as it did with many fans. Yet when rumblings began in 2014 of an X-Files revival, rather than react with groans I reacted with excitement. At that point I thought the The X-Files was truly at an end and none too soon. Moderately successful financially, the film was panned by most critics and fans. While I enjoyed what people presumed at the time was the series finale, the 2008 film The X-Files: I Want To Believe was God awful and had almost nothing to do with the mythology. Replacement agents John Doggett (Robert Patrick) and Monica Reyes (Annabeth Gish) while serviceable, were essentially ersatz Mulder and Scully. ![]() It’s not that they weren’t entertaining, but with the sporadic presence of Duchovny the show lacked that narrative pop. ![]() While the first seven seasons were excellent, there’s little argument that seasons eight and nine were underwhelming. The X-Files also contained one of the greatest show intros of all-time, culminating in the classic tagline, “The Truth Is Out There.” The two main cast members were young and vibrant, the storylines were fascinating and creepy at the same time, and the show blurred the line between science and science fiction. When the show premiered on SeptemI was instantly hooked. If you ask adults who came of age in the 1990s what show defined the decade for them, some might say ER, others NYPD Blue, and still others Seinfeld. Consider it a fourteen year hiatus between season nine and ten if you will. * I’m calling this season ten because I don’t consider this a “series event'” but a natural extension of the show.
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