The X-Files Season 1 Episode 6: “My Struggle II”
Written & Directed by Chris Carter
Created by Chris Clark
Starring David Duchnovy, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, Robbie Amell, Joel McHale, Lauren Ambrose. FOX
Air Date: Monday, February 22nd, 2016, 8:00pm
Two decades after the world was introduced to FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), we unfortunately must say goodbye again tonight… although hopefully not forever. Tonight marks the sixth and final episode of FOX’s mini-reboot. And the show did not miss a beat. Like we never left them, Mulder and Scully are right back in the midst of government conspiracies, telepathic kids, clay totem killers, and human sized horned lizards… you know, The X-Files as usual. We return to the story that reintroduced us to our heroes; that of Conservative TV host Tad O’Malley (Joel McHale) who recruits the two to discuss his conspiracy theory; one that shatters Mulder’s long held expectations of the truth, and puts all of them and mankind in danger. That conspiracy: After the alien crash at Roswell, the government has been using alien technology and DNA to conduct biological tests, and create super weapons, all the while keeping us afraid of outer worldly boogeymen.
The X-Files Season 1 Episode 5: “Babylon”
Written & Directed by Chris Carter
Created by Chris Clark
Starring David Duchnovy, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, Robbie Amell, Joel McHale, Lauren Ambrose. FOX
Air Date: Monday, February 15th, 2016, 8:00pm
In the first four episodes in FOX’s reboot of The X-Files, we’ve seen Roswell crashes, conspiracies, mutated children, were-monsters, and murderous statues. So call it somewhat shocking when the penultimate show in the 6-episode mini-season starts with a Homeland style terrorist attack. Two Muslim men protesting anti-Islamic art walk into a Texas gallery wearing suicide vests. This seems like the least X-Files thing to start an episode of The X-Files in the entire history of The X-Files… until immediately post credits when Mulder is showing Scully an internet video where “ear-witnesses” claim to hear trumpets from God on a random afternoon. The theme throughout this run has been the juxtaposition between the two main characters ideologies. Since 1993, Scully (Gillian Anderson) is the skeptic, grounded in science, medicine and reality. Mulder (David Duchovny) is as far out there as the truth he seeks. Scully is having trouble dealing with her past, the child she and Mulder gave up for adoption; whereas Mulder is getting to the breaking point of his sanity. If after all these years his conspiracies don’t breed true results soon, he may lose it.
The X-Files Season 1 Episode 4: “Home Again”
Written & Directed by Glen Morgan
Created by Chris Clark
Starring David Duchnovy, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, Robbie Amell, Joel McHale, Lauren Ambrose. FOX
Air Date: Monday, February 8th, 2016, 8:00pm
Last week, the newly reunited Mulder and Scully reminded fans how wacky and insane The X-Files can be, as they squared off with a werewolf-inspired horned frog man. But what was more important than the creature was the impact on Mulder’s psyche. Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) has been the poster-child for “true believer” since The X-files first debuted in 1993. His office was adorned with “The Truth is Out There” posters, and he told everyone who would listen about witnessing his sister’s abduction. The new conspiracy detailed in this 6-episode run of the series has laid siege to Mulder’s theories of alien conquest. Thankfully, the horned frog man gave him a much needed boost of confidence. Scully (Gillian Anderson) has always been the yin to Mulder’s yang. She is a scientist, a surgeon, and a skeptic. Her mindset this season has been to both calm Mulder’s lunacy all the while being distracted by past choices. Her and Mulder had a son, and gave him up for adoption to keep him hidden from government involvement. This episode again forced Scully to deal with uncomfortable personal issues from her past, while an X-Files case is literally tearing it up in the streets.
The X-Files Season 1 Episode 2: “Founder’s Mutation”
Written & Directed by James Wong
Created by Chris Clark
Starring David Duchnovy, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, Robbie Amell, Joel McHale, Lauren Ambrose. FOX
Air Date: Monday, January 25th, 2016, 8:00pm
Mulder and Scully are back! After re-introducing us to our favorite FBI agents from the mid 90s, FOX decided not to make us wait too long and instead brings the second part of the series premiere one night later! In the first part we meet Tad O’Malley (Joel McHale), a Fox News-style TV host who uses his wealth and fame to dig deep into conspiracy theories, and offers Mulder an explanation for everything that’s happened since Roswell… it’s not the aliens… it’s us. The episode ends with Skinner (Mitch Pileggi) reopening the X-Files division, and we get an ominous view of the Smoking Man (Walter Davis), still at the front of the evil scheme after all these years. As the second part begins, a doctor shows up to work. His eyes are bleeding and he’s hearing high-pitched ringing in his ears, with occasional voices; “find her” they say. When the ringing gets too much, he sticks a letter opener in his ear, killing himself. Looks like a case for Mulder and Scully.
The X-Files Season 1 Episode 1: “My Struggle”
Directed by Chris Clark
Written by Chris Clark
Created by Chris Clark
Starring David Duchnovy, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, Robbie Amell, Joel McHale, Lauren Ambrose. FOX
Air Date: Sunday, January 24th, 2016, 10:00pm
In full disclosure, I might be biased in my reviewing but I LOVED The X-Files as a kid and I’m crazy stoked for it’s return. When it debuted in 1993, I was a mere 11-years old and everything about it was cool and awesome! The main character’s name was Fox, there were government conspiracies, aliens, monsters, mysterious smoking men… and the music in the credits!!! It made my baby sister run out of the room in terror. The X-Files, created by Chris Carter, was must park-in-front-of-theTV viewing for my parents and me, long before the days of DVR. While the conspiracy episodes and storylines tended to bog down over time, the crazy one-off episodes featuring conjoined sideshow twins, leech-men, and neon green bugs were our favorites. After 9 seasons, and 2 full length films (the last one in 2008), The X-Files returns to television this weekend with the first of a 2-part, 2-day premiere!
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