Want to start a new series but hate stuff that goes off the rails down the road.

Did X-Files have a satisfactory conclusion?

Depends on what you mean by conclusion. After the series ended, there were two kinda crappy movies. The first one was of the "monster movie" variety that didn't have anything to do with the main plot.

The second one - years later - was more on point, but it was depressing as hell and I don't remember if I finished watching.

There are actually three movies. The first was when they thought the show wasn't being renewed and to tie up loose ends . The second years later also to put a wrap on the show then the third was something very different and depressing. However the show came back for two more short season a few years back and gave us one of the best eps of tv ever thanks to Rhys Darby.

My vote is yea great moments some dated by now ( cell phones are more reliable) but still a great show for the first 4-5 seasons then a lull then a pretty good end .

An L of an Ag said:

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Depends on what you mean by conclusion. After the series ended, there were two kinda crappy movies. The first one was of the "monster movie" variety that didn't have anything to do with the main plot.

The second one - years later - was more on point, but it was depressing as hell and I don't remember if I finished watching.

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Which one was the movie with the cornfields and bees? Because that was awful.

No.

But it really couldn't. Enjoy the ride and accept that 10 years of open mystery was never going to be tied up in a clever, neat way.

Also, the first movie was pretty good but then the show came back and they basically had to pretend the stuff in the movie didn't happen.

Through 6 seasons or so as good as anyhing on tv.

Once Duchovny disappears late in the series, it struggled. Not that Patrick was bad, but after years of Scully being the non-believer "i dont see why this is an x-file" for so long, to have him basically duplicate that character is tiresome. Duhovny and Anderson had chemistry that was never duplicated.

As someone mentioned, Home and some of the other 'monster of the week' episodes were truly magical. Also its the series that ultimately led to one of the most infamous TV characters of all time, Walter White.

If I was going to rewatch X-Files I'd just focus on the Monster of the Week episodes. I watched every episode every week when it aired, and I don't think I could tell you overall bigger story, especially how it ended. But I could go on and on about my favorite Monster of the week episodes.

Was DD being treated? Is that why he left?

My favorite ep will always be The Unatural. Monster of the week ep but slightly tied to the overall story.

The Debt said:

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Was DD being treated? Is that why he left?

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I don't think so. I had originally remembered it being him wanting to spend more time pursuing other acting stuff (movies... was Californication show during that time?), but quick google makes it sound like that there was a significant contract dispute that contributed to him leaving for a while.

"Mythology" episodes peaked at the conclusion of Season 4 and then lost their way. If it was strictly a "mythology" show (cigarette smoking man, alien abduction/colonsists), then had it ended with the S4 finale I'd say one of the Top 10 sci-fi shows of all time.

When you mix in the "Monster of the Week" episodes -- which many have mentioned are some of the greatest episodes -- I think you have to stretch it out an extra season so that you get the aforementioned "The Unnatural", Bad Blood and Post Modern Prometheus.

Then Season 6 faltered but still had some gems like Triangle, Field Trip, and ultimately the episode that without it, Walter White likely isn't the Walter White we all came to know - Drive. Gilligan met Cranston, and the rest is history.

The show just kinda ended, without tying much up, but like other have said, after Mulder leaves, it's a different show, still good, but not the greatness of the earlier seasons.

Was my favorite show when it was on.

Humbug
War of the copro****es
Clyde Brockman's Final Repose
Bad Blood

I've been rewatching again, off and on over the past year. Just about every episode has people who were nobodies that have gone on to be big stars. Highly recommend you to start watching it.

The best episode is The Unnatural.

First time I watched all of the XFiles I was so caught up in big picture that I hated the monster of the week episodes. Then when I realized to just not worry about the anthology episodes and love the monster of the week I loved the show a lot more. Second time through watching them I couldn't get enough of the MOTW episodes.

Love Bad Blood! Cool episode and very funny!

Proposition Joe said:

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Also its the series that ultimately led to one of the most infamous TV characters of all time, Walter White.

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I dont know this story, care to expound? Was Gilligan a fanboy and the show inspired him to make TV shows?

Claude! said:

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One of the best TV theme songs of the last thirty years?

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Yes, I still whistle it to myself wall working all the time

Guess I should have read the rest of the thread

Sea Speed said:

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Proposition Joe said:

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Also its the series that ultimately led to one of the most infamous TV characters of all time, Walter White.

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I dont know this story, care to expound? Was Gilligan a fanboy and the show inspired him to make TV shows?

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We was a writer, director and producer on the show.

YouBet said:

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One of my all-time favorite shows, but even being a loyal watcher I don't quite recall how it all ultimately ended because I had just moved on and then I never watched the "new" seasons.

I still chuckle at the movie (I think it was the first one?) where it opened in Dallas, TX and there are mountains behind them. Lol.

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To be fair, Dallas is a good bit closer to mountains that Galveston, which was featured in the opening of the 80s Vietnam movie Uncommon Valor, with guys training on the beach and mountains in the distance.

v

Eric Kripke of Supernatural and The Boys is also an X-files alum. X-files fingerprints are all over Supernatural including upcycling Mitch Pileggi (for better or worse), character actors, one of the Lone Gunman, and a ton of hat tips with thier monsters of the week and episode names.

Actually, the Lone Gunmen were my favorite and I loved whenever they showed up to lighten the mood.

To answer the question, I was "meh" satisfied with the original conclusion and only watched the first few episodes of the new series. I just wanted the original show to stay pure for me.

Duncan Idaho said:

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All I will say is that "Home" was one of the Greatest episodes of network broadcast tv ever produced.

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Back then I talked one of my friends into finally watching the show for the first time and that was the episode he watched. Don't think he ever watched another episode after that.

I wonder what the X-Files would be like for a younger viewer who's accustomed to neatly packaged ten-episode seasons leading down one storyline.

You mean like GoT?

AGnBCS said:

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There are actually three movies. The first was when they thought the show wasn't being renewed and to tie up loose ends . The second years later also to put a wrap on the show then the third was something very different and depressing. However the show came back for two more short season a few years back and gave us one of the best eps of tv ever thanks to Rhys Darby.

My vote is yea great moments some dated by now ( cell phones are more reliable) but still a great show for the first 4-5 seasons then a lull then a pretty good end .

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There were only two movies. I am not sure why you think there were 3.

Six episodes in now.

Good show that wouldn't work in the age of social media. We'd pick every ****ing thing apart trying to find a larger narrative and ruin it.

Either a case of Mandela Effect or more likely I'm a dumbass.