Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Mulder (David Duchovny) posing together in a scene from The X-Files
Real talk: The X-Files is iconic, but it's not a great show. There's a lot to love about the series, which originally ran from 1993 through 2002."Groundbreaking,""genre-defining," and"unforgettable" are among the many words you can use to describe The X-Files.
There's no denying that. Yet on an episode-by-episode basis, the show's track record gets sketchy. The X-Files plays an essential role in the history of modern television. It belongs on the list of"Most Important TV Shows" of all time. That said, importance doesn't equate to quality. The X-Files is campy, often slapdash in its execution, and more frequently than some people like to admit, straight up bad. And that's okay! The X-Files Excelled At Capturing The Essence Of Horror, But Its Story Often Left A Lot To Be Desired Let's Admit It: X-Files Averages A "C" In Plot There are a lot of things that make The X-Files great TV. Start with the premise: a pair of FBI agents investigating cryptids, supernatural creatures, and extraterrestrial activity around the country. Add a government conspiracy to the mix as well. The agents? They have strong sexual chemistry. The opening credits theme music? High on the list of all-time greats. The look and the feel of The X-Files leave a strong impression on viewers. The remarkable thing about certain TV shows, including The X-Files, is that you start to crave the feeling of having the show on, even just as background noise. This has nothing to do with quality. And where The X-Files is routinely low-quality is in the plot department. X-Files episodes are often messily or hastily plotted. Look at it this way: if you're watching for plot, and grading every episode, it is going to score a firm"C" average. A few"As," a few"Fs," lots of"Bs,""Cs," and"Ds." If you want a tightly-plotted supernatural procedural, you'll be disappointed. Because The X-Files is all about vibes. The Hurried Production Schedule Of "The X-Files" Meant An Expedited Writing Process X-Files Scripts Were Turned Around Too Quickly There's some bad writing in The X-Files, for sure. There's also plenty of good writing that didn't translate well on the screen. The X-Files' plot problems, though, are most often attributable to fast writing. The show was a product of the old era of TV, ranging from 20-25 episodes per season during its OG run. Many episodes of the show were written in just over a week, due to The X-Files' hectic production schedule. Revisions and alterations were made during production on episodes, which shot over a two-week span. Further changes would be made in editing, a process that usually took a few days to a week. In other words, The X-Files couldn't be great all the time. Yet, ironically, another reason it could often be bad, or mid, was because the series was ambitious. It wasn't necessarily trying to be great, but it wanted to be edgy, and shocking, and different from anything else on TV. All goals that clashed with the show's behind-the-scenes limitations. TV Wasn't Ready For "The X-Files" In The 1990s; The Series' Production Did The Best It Could "Ahead Of Its Time" Has Plusses And Minuses Production of The X-Files was a time crunch, but the on-screen product was also impacted by budgetary constraints, the special effects technology of the 1990s, and compliance with Fox's Standards & Practices department. The inevitable modern reboot of X-Files, when it comes, will have a chance to be great because none of these will be a hindrance anymore. The new X-Files will be a big-budget affair. Special effects have caught up with the show's vision. Modern TV can get away with things unimaginable by '90s S&P. Still, all of this was a factor for the original X-Files. Many X-Files episodes are the result of flawed scripts, shot quickly, and hacked up by the editors to meet network censors. Thankfully, The X-Files didn't succeed because of plot. It thrived on vibes, on aesthetic, and on its ability to freak viewers out. For its era, at least, the show was legitimately scary. It pushed the boundary of what could be shown on TV. It captured the conspiracy-minded and paranoid strain of American culture. Even if it wasn't great, or even good, every week. "The X-Files" Flirted With Greatness Early, But Settled For Iconic Instead "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose," The GOAT X-Files Episode There are, of course, a few genuinely, undeniably great X-Files episodes. Those"As" we mentioned earlier. No"Best X-Files Episodes Ever" list is complete without"Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose," the third season episode guest starring Peter Boyle. It is one of just four episodes of the original series written by Darin Morgan. Subscribe for Deeper X-Files Analysis and Context Rethink the show that shaped TV: subscribing to our newsletter gives you sharp X-Files breakdowns, overlooked moments, and critical takes among broader TV and pop-culture coverage—perfect for fans who want more than nostalgia. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Which is a shame, because Morgan seemingly had a knack for writing the show like no one else, not even his brother Glen, who wrote and directed multiple episodes of The X-Files. "Repose" is a legit masterpiece of hour-long television. It is comedic and tragic. Its take on precognition is one of the gold-standards for the trope in fiction. It's a spellbinding, singular episode of television, and it's also a high bar that The X-Files never reached again. The show deserves its beloved status, just as Mulder and Scully deserve their pop culture icon status, but it should also be recognized for the campy, B-TV legend that it is. The X-Files Created by Chris Carter First Film The X-Files Latest Film The X-Files: I Want to Believe Upcoming Films The X-Files 3 First TV Show The X-Files Latest TV Show The X-Files
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