The X-Files: I Want to Believe… Season 10 Episodes 1 And 2 Recap! Mulder And Scully Are Back!

X-PHILES…THE MOTHER SHIP HAS COME BACK TO US….

This past Sunday was the first new episode of The X-Files in over 14 years, and while everyone else immediately took to the internets to post, share, analyze, etc. the first two episodes of The X-Files return, I’ve had to take some time to truly digest that it really happened. I mean was I really sitting in Mike’s living room two nights ago watching Mulder and Scully in a new episode and not on my VHS tapes or DVDs or syndication?

THE X-FILES: L-R: Mitch Pileggi, David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson and William B. Davis. The next mind-bending chapter of THE X-FILES debuts with a special two-night event beginning Sunday, Jan. 24 (10:00-11:00 PM ET/7:00-8:00 PM PT), following the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, and continuing with its time period premiere on Monday, Jan. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT).  ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co.  Cr:  Frank Ockenfels/FOX

I want to believe…and the truth is out there because according to said internets millions of other people experienced the same phenomenon.

So now that my feeble mind has been able to take the time and truly comprehend that I’m not living in some amazing dream I can finally share my thoughts.

Before I do, let’s get something straight. I am an X-Phile from way back. I saw the first episode when it debuted and I watched everything up to the last episode, including both movies. I’ve read the novels, own the Barbies (no I’m not kidding), still have all the magazines I collected back in the day, have my Mulder/Scully badges and was a member of the Official Fan Club back when that meant something. The list could go on. The point I’m making is that everything I will say I say from the POV of a true fan and with love, maybe tough love at times, but love.

So here goes…

THE X-FILES:  L-R:  David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson in the "Founder's Mutation season premiere, part two, episode of THE X-FILES airing Monday, Jan. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.  ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co.  Cr:  Ed Araquel/FOX

Season 10

Um, I thought Season 10 was the comic series that started in 2013 and just ended in October 2015? So if we’re accepting all the story arcs that went on in that run wouldn’t this be Season 11? Or are they taking some elements of that “season” and creating this Season 10 from it? I guess time will tell…

THE X-FILES:  David Duchovny as Fox Mulder. The next mind-bending chapter of THE X-FILES debuts with a special two-night event beginning Sunday, Jan. 24 (10:00-11:00 PM ET/7:00-8:00 PM PT), following the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, and continuing with its time period premiere on Monday, Jan. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). The thrilling, six-episode event series, helmed by creator/executive producer Chris Carter and starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as FBI Agents FOX MULDER and DANA SCULLY, marks the momentous return of the Emmy Award- and Golden Globe-winning pop culture phenomenon, which remains one of the longest-running sci-fi series in network television history. ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Ed Araquel/FOX

MY STRUGGLE (10×1):

Aptly named because I feel that’s what I was going through. A struggle. A struggle to get back into the feel of the show. A struggle to wrap my mind around this new dynamic between Mulder and Scully…and Skinner. {I mean did anyone else find that scene between Mulder/Skinner frought with tension – and I’m not talking hostility… } A struggle to follow all the political conspiracies being thrown at me – not that I wasn’t expecting them but that was a lot. A struggle to still accept seeing an actual alien. A struggle to still wrap my brain around Mulder and Scully not being in a relationship after I had finally accepted the relationship…

It was a struggle.

Not necessarily a bad one, more like seeing a friend whom you haven’t spoken to in almost 14 years and they’re familiar but their life did not go the way you expected, therefore those first few moments of meeting again are a bit awkward.

THE X-FILES:  Gillian Anderson.  The next mind-bending chapter of THE X-FILES debuts with a special two-night event beginning Sunday, Jan. 24 (10:00-11:00 PM ET/7:00-8:00 PM PT), following the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, and continuing with its time period premiere on Monday, Jan. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT).  ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co.  Cr:  Ed Araquel/FOX

I think the biggest issue for me is that Mulder hasn’t changed a bit, while it’s obvious that Scully has. I wanted more cynicism from Mulder. I wanted to see the years, the lies, the work have taken their toll on his relentless zealotry to uncover the truth. There are moments where it seems that might be the case, but then he immediately just accepts the next conspiracy fed him…I don’t know. It just bothered me.

Scully is still the ‘skeptic’ but she’s a lot more mellow now, too. I’m happy that even in her skepticism she still seeks out alternate truths, she’s logical but a bit more open minded now. And maybe I’m reading into things but did anyone else notice the “X” in blood across her collarbone in the episode? Maybe it’s because Mike’s TV is so large that I felt it was like a neon sign, but it really stood out to me. No? No one? Fine.

THE X-FILES: L-R: Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny. The next mind-bending chapter of THE X-FILES debuts with a special two-night event beginning Sunday, Jan. 24 (10:00-11:00 PM ET/7:00-8:00 PM PT), following the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, and continuing with its time period premiere on Monday, Jan. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). The thrilling, six-episode event series, helmed by creator/executive producer Chris Carter and starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as FBI Agents FOX MULDER and DANA SCULLY, marks the momentous return of the Emmy Award- and Golden Globe-winning pop culture phenomenon, which remains one of the longest-running sci-fi series in network television history. ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Ed Araquel/FOX

I could say something about Tad O’Malley and Sveta, but why? They were just props to get the X-files reopened. And this is no aspersion on the actors, just the way their characters were written. I mean, what was the purpose of the maybe/maybe not date between O’Malley and Scully? And Sveta was only there so Scully would take her own blood and test it for anomalies.

The entire episode was very jumpy. It just tried to fit too much into 45 minutes (I figure that was run time minus commercials) and never really focused enough on one thing so the audience really got to explore the new conspiracy theory(ies) and how they all tie in with the original plot(s).

I struggled.

However, that being said I was still riding the NEW X-FILES…OMG… (&(_@%_(@&#%_)@)(%&)%(&)*$@_*($)@*Y#%!!!!!!!! *commence flailing* high.

So overall it wasn’t the worst but not the best.

THE X-FILES:  L-R:  Guest star Megan Peta Hill, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson in the "Founder's Mutation season premiere, part two, episode of THE X-FILES airing Monday, Jan. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.  ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co.  Cr:  Ed Araquel/FOX

FOUNDER’S MUTATION (10×2):

HOLY HELL THIS WAS AMAZING!

This was an episode of The X-Files!!!! I mean the way it was filmed, the way it was obvious that the janitor was involved and how, the way they interacted with each other, their suits, Skinner’s office, the basement office….SMOKING MAN!!!!!!!

THE X-FILES:  L-R:  David Duchovny and Mitch Pileggi.  The next mind-bending chapter of THE X-FILES debuts with a special two-night event beginning Sunday, Jan. 24 (10:00-11:00 PM ET/7:00-8:00 PM PT), following the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, and continuing with its time period premiere on Monday, Jan. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT).  ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co.  Cr:  Ed Araquel/FOX

Did anyone else think the lady at Scully’s hospital looked like one of the Eves, just a little older? And did anyone else have a Scarlet Witch/Quicksilver moment when those two kids finally met? It also made me think of “Firestarter”…but I digress…

Where do I start with the goodness? The man driving a letter opener through his ear? The murder of crows landing on lawns? The kids? The shots and angels? Mulder using a smart phone? You know you missed that huge clunker from TLG flashback episode ;P
These all felt like homages to the early seasons.

THE X-FILES:  L-R:  Gillian Anderson and guest star Jonathan Whitesell in the "Founder's Mutation season premiere, part two, episode of THE X-FILES airing Monday, Jan. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.  ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co.  Cr:  Ed Araquel/FOX

Then there were the moments about Will. I know a lot of people may want to just forget he exists, but I’m glad they’re touching on the subject – which will probably be part of the conspiracy… I really liked the daydream moments where each of them imagined what it would have been like to watch him grow up, to interact with him through the normal stages of his growth, and then see their darkest fears played out upon their son.

JUST BREAK MY HEART WHY DON’T YOU!

Geez!

THE X-FILES:  L-R:  Gillian Anderson as Dana Scully and David Duchovny as Fox Mulder.  The next mind-bending chapter of THE X-FILES debuts with a special two-night event beginning Sunday, Jan. 24 (10:00-11:00 PM ET/7:00-8:00 PM PT), following the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, and continuing with its time period premiere on Monday, Jan. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). The thrilling, six-episode event series, helmed by creator/executive producer Chris Carter and starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as FBI Agents FOX MULDER and DANA SCULLY, marks the momentous return of the Emmy Award- and Golden Globe-winning pop culture phenomenon, which remains one of the longest-running sci-fi series in network television history.  ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co.  Cr:  Ed Araquel/FOX

However, did anyone else get that they were telling us that Will isn’t actually Mulder’s son but the product of some abduction or experiment? I’m kinda lost there. I admit it. And, if that’s the case then why the Mulder/Will daydream sequence? Because Mulder would’ve raised Scully’s baby with another alien daddy as his own?

Anyhooo…

This episode definitely felt like coming home again. There’s just a nuance, an aura, a je ne sais quoi, to the X-Files that’s hard to explain and this episode had it in spades.

THE X-FILES:  David Duchovny.  The next mind-bending chapter of THE X-FILES debuts with a special two-night event beginning Sunday, Jan. 24 (10:00-11:00 PM ET/7:00-8:00 PM PT), following the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, and continuing with its time period premiere on Monday, Jan. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT).  ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co.  Cr:  Ed Araquel/FOX

OVERALL:

Despite mixed feelings about the first episode, I’m enjoying it. I mean how can I not? THE X-FILES ARE BACK!!! How can I not help but gush and tear up over this fact?

What about you guys? What did you think of the first two episodes?

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