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.

Spoilers below.

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.

Spoilers below.

The X-Files
Season 1 Episode 3: “Mulder & Scully Meet the Were-Monster”
Written & Directed by Darin Morgan
Created by Chris Clark
Starring David Duchnovy, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, Robbie Amell, Joel McHale, Lauren Ambrose.
FOX
Air Date: Monday, February 1st, 2016, 8:00pm

The X-Files is back and so far the show is tremendously entertaining, full of nostalgia for the original fans. When the show was first on in the mid-90s, it featured two types of episodes; the government conspiracy ones, and the whacked out crazy monster ones. The conspiracy ones, while interesting tended to get bogged down with too many unanswered questions. But the crazy monster episodes were AWESOME! 14 years later, the first two new episodes introduced a new conspiracy theory; the enemy isn’t aliens, it’s mankind. Since the alien crash at Roswell, the military has used alien tech to fake abductions and distract American citizens. Meanwhile the alien DNA is being used to create a super race of 1%ers. While they were both excellent, when I read the title of this week episode, suffice to say I was stoked.

Spoilers below.

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.

Spoilers below.

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!

Spoilers below.