I'm been a huge fan of The X-Files since I can remember and in anticipation of finally getting around to watching the eleventh season I thought I'd re-watch season 10 before I did and give you my thoughts on it, I remember enjoying it quite a bit the first time through and although it wasn't as good as it was during it's original run I was happy with what they did, let's find out if this initial reaction I had will stay the same upon a second viewing. So, without further ado, here's my episode by episode review of The X-Files - Season 10, enjoy!
Episode 1 ''My Struggle''
My favourite episodes of The X-Files have always been the mythology episodes and the premiere for the tenth season picks up pretty much right where it left off although it definitely felt abrupt and a little forced. I'm not a fan of the Tad O'Malley character at all, the fact that he re-ignites Mulder's search for the truth is also annoying, there's a lack of flow in this episode and I'm not buying into Mulder's motives, he seems too easily swayed back and forth and that alien spaceship literally blowing the woman up at the end was ridiculous!
This is the second time I'm watching the tenth season, in preparation of the eleventh which I haven't seen yet, and I definitely enjoyed this episode more the first time! David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson have always had an excellent chemistry together but it seems somewhat monotone here, it's like they're bored having to play these characters over and over and the lack of any real character development can't help things! The Smoking Man should be dead as well given how the ninth season ended!? It's an okay episode, I'd give it 6/10.
Episode 2 ''Founder's Mutation''
This was a more back to basics, case by case sort of episode and I enjoyed it, there's a lot flashbacks to William, Mulder and Scully's son who they gave up for adoption in order to keep him safe, it's touching I suppose but also, again, felt a bit forced, especially in relation to the narrative here, it's connected but it just wasn't connected enough! It works as an episode though, it's just a case of accepting the hamfisted sort of way they re-opened The X-Files as a department in the previous episode, but as a fan I'm willing to just go with it!
It's a little awkward in moments visually as in how certain scenes are executed but The X-Files was never this HBO-esque masterpiece in that way, it's a show built on mystery, mythology and the chemistry between Mulder and Scully which is definitely still there, what they need in this show is to maybe leave their formula behind and replace it with some actual character development, Scully is still as sceptical as she ever was and still has an air of superiority about it which was fine in the beginning but at this point, surely you'd be open to stuff? Another 6/10.
Episode 3 ''Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster''
This was a decent episode, the tone this season is definitely a little off, it feels like everything's said with a smirk but in this episode they commit to the comedic tone fully and it doesn't feel as awkward, there's a feeling of them wanting to be able to laugh at themselves and that's what they did in this episode. Mulder and Scully's chemistry's as good as ever, I loved the scene with Mulder presenting his case to Scully without letting her speak, instead saying what she'd say before she even had to. It's not a tone I'm in love with but it worked for this episode I suppose.
Rhys Darby's performance was great as well, I've seen him in a few things and he pretty much plays the same character, he's got a great comedic timing and although this sort of tone generally makes for my least favourite episodes of The X-Files, it works well in this standalone piece. Again, as far as the execution of scenes they're a little sloppy, it's not a major problem but with a little attention to detail it wouldn't be a problem at all! I wasn't a fan of Mulder's ringtone literally being The X-Files theme tune though! I'll give this one 6.5/10.
Episode 4 ''Home Again''
Another okay episode, nothing particularly special but I enjoyed it. Scully visits her dying mother and there's a lot of stuff about her son William, she feels like she abandoned him and it kind of parallel's the idea of this ''Trash Man'' monster, or at least they want it to! It's definitely not a terrible reboot but I can't imagine it bought them any new fans, if, like me, you've watched all nine seasons of The X-Files and the two feature films you'll know what they're referring to and the weight it carries, if not though there's really nothing in this for you!
I hope they're building into some sort of return for William, it definitely seems that way and it would change the dynamic a bit, this is the tenth season and despite all of the incredible things that have happened over the course of their lives, Mulder and Scully are pretty much exactly where they were in the first season, that's always been the issue with The-X Files, there's no growth, no development and a lack of focus for it's mythology. I don't think it's a show that belongs in the internet age either, it feels a little out of place. This one's another 6/10.
Episode 5 ''Babylon''
This was a terrible episode, nothing mysterious even happens, no monsters, no ghosts, no aliens, this was about Islamic terrorists? They don't approach the subject matter well either, it's awkward and kind of offensive and the tone was all over the place, one minute it's all fluffy and they're joking about this younger version of Mulder and Scully, the next minute it's Muslim suicide bombers set to dark organ music, it's completely tone deaf and this, whatever it was, does not belong in The X-Files universe, I pretty much hated it, it's one of the worst X-Files episodes ever!
What were the character motives here as well, why did Mulder need Einstein to execute his magic mushroom plan and what was Scully even trying to achieve there with Miller? Why did the suicide bomber give up his little terrorist group as well, what was his motive, his mother there at the end, what was her motive? That's weak material guys, this episode was bad! I hated that whole mushroom trip bit as well and it's even worse that it was a placebo and the stupid connection they made with that and the suicide bomber stuff. Shit episode, one of the worst ever! 2.5/10.
Episode 6 ''My Struggle II''
This is another mythology episode and picks up where they left off in the first episode. I'm not a fan of Miller or Einstein at all they feel completely shoehorned into the story, they're just part of the team now I guess!? Again, The Smoking Man should be dead, they've not bothered to explain his living yet, why not just bring back The Lone Gunman as well, just say they survived somehow, no need for explanation! They've also ruined Monica Reyes as a character, her motives are non existent, she just holds The Smoking Man's cigarettes for him now!
The first time I watched these six episodes I enjoyed them and I was left excited for the eleventh season but this second time through that's not really the case. It all just seems so badly written it's hard to take anything seriously or get invested in anything, I'm still a fan though so I'm intrigued but less so than I was the first time through, I kind of wish I hadn't rewatched this in preperation, maybe it's just my mood, these reviews really mean nothing, I might love something on a particular day and hate that very same thing on another, I'll give this a 5/10.
Summary
All in all on my second time through this very short reboot season of The X-Files I was a little disappointed and although the chemistry between Duchovny and Anderson is still very strong and believable, I thought the writing was very weak. It felt like overall it has a much lighter tone as well, there's a moody feeling to the show that wasn't quite captured here and they offered nothing in the way of an explanation as to why The Cigarette Smoking Man is even alive, or why Monica Reyes would be working for him, and then! It ends on a cliff hanger.
I still look forward to watching season 11 but honestly I feel less excited than I did before re-watching this season which is a shame, it's killed a bit of the hype for me but I'll always be a fan of The X-Files and I'll be always be there for any new material. Mulder and Scully are awesome Chris Carter just needs to tone down the extremely ex-position heavy dialogue and maybe just take a little more time to execute these scenes and make them flow a little better. Season 10's not bringing in any new fans and I doubt the established fan base were over the moon with it either, I'm gonna give it 6/10, if I wasn't a fan it would be a lot lower!
What did you think of The X-Files - Season 10?