The X-Files - X-Files Discussion - Would you have watched if...?

**JayDeeMac** · 07-15-2006, 08:19 AM

Would you have watched the X-Files if the last 2 seasons had been how the show was throughout its run?

Obviously some of the storylines couldn't have been the same but just judge it by the overall quality. Look at the standalone Monster of the Week episodes and go from there

Personally I feel the quality dipped quite a bit in the last 2 seasons. I think however because of the subject (paranormal events, aliens etc) I would have watched the show because it's my kind of thing.

I would not however have fallen in love with the show, not made sure it was appointment viewing. I certainly would not have collected so much memorabilia or become a moderator of a board that discusses it.

I also don't think the characters would have been able to carry the show along the same way. Doggett did not work as well in the sceptic role and Scully not as well in the believer role. Though to be fair maybe I wouldn't have had such a tough time with them if I hadn't gotten used to Mulder and Scully for so many years previously

Probably got more to say on the subject but will leave it there for the moment

girl in a cardigan · 07-15-2006, 10:02 PM

I don't think I would have watched. I never watched the show because of the paranormal/scifi aspect of it. Not even the conspiracy/mythology stuff really hooked me. It was the chemistry and relationship between Mulder and Scully that made me sit up and take notice on this show. Without that relationship, I probably would have kept on channel surfing.

**JayDeeMac** · 07-20-2006, 07:43 AM

Anyone else got an opinion on this?

Kaholli · 07-20-2006, 09:58 AM

I probably wouldn't have watched it either. I loved this show for two reasons. The initial reason was the scientific aspect of the show. I've always been interested in unexplained phenomena (not necessarily aliens or myths, but simply open problems) and I just loved how Scully always tried to come up with scientific explanations and in the process I actually learned some stuff.

Of course it didn't take me long to catch up on the shippiness factor of the show. I adored their relationship, because it was so subtle.

I don't think one of these aspect had a lot of relevance in the last two seasons - at least not to a random watcher.

I do like both Dogget and Reyes, but the stories just were way too week and confusing for me to keep watching.

Holli

G_Woman · 07-21-2006, 05:26 AM

I agree, I probably would not have watched if the last two seasons were reflective of the first seven.

Although I did like the introduction of Doggett and his initial interaction with Scully in the first few episodes was fantastic ( Has me on the floor when I watch it – Go Scully!) I only felt that way due to the relationship that was developed throughout the previous seasons with Mulder and Scully.

Replace Mulder with Doggett in the first seven seasons and reverse the believer / septic roles and I still don’t think that it would have worked. The chemistry between Mulder and Scully is one that could not be recreated between other subsequent characters given to the slow and unique build of tension and relationship over seven years. Also the baggage that Doggett carries given his previous relationship and his son was – in a way – a mirror of what happened to Mulder and his sister, however he chose do deal with it in a different way and it did not consume him.

Without the relationship and the witty interaction between the two most loved characters it doesn’t work.

Ooops went on a bit there he he Sorry.

DeepThroat · 07-23-2006, 10:55 AM

The first episodes I´ve seen were 8th Season episodes, and I liked the show.
Now I´ve seen the first seasons and they are also great, but the last two seasons are not the same without Mulder and Scully.Dogett and Reyes and the storries are also good. > So I can answer the question with yes

weird-x-sister · 07-25-2006, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Jenn-

I don't think I would have watched. I never watched the show because of the paranormal/scifi aspect of it. Not even the conspiracy/mythology stuff really hooked me. It was the chemistry and relationship between Mulder and Scully that made me sit up and take notice on this show. Without that relationship, I probably would have kept on channel surfing.

-- I feel exactly the same way.

Kier · 07-26-2006, 05:25 AM

In my opinion the last two seasons are vastly under-rated.

Robert Patrick is a brilliant actor and was the perfect replacement for Duchovny, he brought something really new to the show and took to the show like a duck to water. He shoucl have been brought in before season 8, the one episode where he was paired with Mulder worked a treat in Vienen, they should have done similar things with Mulder possibly pairing him with Skinner in previous seasons.

As for Reyes, she was also good but not to the same level as Patrick, however she brought something new to the show and throughly deserved her part in season 9, she is also extrememly pretty and sexy!

In my opinion 8 and 9 were much better than Season 7, by far the weakest series, 40% of the episodes were pure dross.

frvs · 08-08-2006, 09:12 AM

I would have watched if the entire series from beginning to end had been with the characters of seasons 8 and 9. I like the M&S only years, but I like TXF even better with more people in the cast. I love Doggett, Reyes is ok, Follmer is adorable, Knowle Rohrer is hot (Adam Baldwin, yummy!), Skinner, Shannon McMahon... with more characters the writers would have been able to tell more stories and would have been able to characterize everyone so much more than with just focusing on Mulder and Scully (which really started to bore me around season 6).

I don't think it was the last two seasons of the show that started to dip, I think it started the moment XF production moved to Los Angeles, season 6 just isn't as good as the previous 5 seasons, season 7 just sucked imho, season 8 was better than season 7 but still doesn't compare to my favorite season (4), and season 9 was just out of control, the writers had no idea what they were doing with the characters, the plot and the mytharc which had become retarded by season 9.

If TXF had all those characters around in the earlier seasons it would have made the series as a whole even better than how it was in its glory days.

Doggett worked as a skeptic imho, Scully didn't pull off the believer role because she was only really believing so she could feel more connected to Mulder (yet another way TPTB weakened her character), Reyes could have remained more mysterious as she was in season 8 rather than the fluffy/smiling sidekick she became in season 9, the last few seasons of TXF are such a mess. I'm just glad I was able to find something to enjoy in them (Doggett, Doggett/Scully and gawking at the beauty that is Knowle Rohrer).

antillesrogue · 08-09-2006, 09:33 AM

I'm with John. I think the show dipped a bit in its last two seasons, but I love the concept of the entire series so much that I'd have watched it no matter what--I just wouldn't have been as obsessed with it.

But I did really like Doggett, and I thought the Super Soldiers storyline was really interesting.
Overall, though, the beginning of the series was my favorite.

-CherryPixie- · 08-13-2006, 09:51 AM

I agree with John, I'd probably have watched it because the whole concept of the show is great. But I don't think I'd have fallen in love with it that much. I just love GG and DA too much, I can't really imagine the XF without them

I think that's a very interesing question though, great discussion idea John

imation_itjj · 08-19-2006, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Jenn-

I don't think I would have watched. I never watched the show because of the paranormal/scifi aspect of it. Not even the conspiracy/mythology stuff really hooked me. It was the chemistry and relationship between Mulder and Scully that made me sit up and take notice on this show. Without that relationship, I probably would have kept on channel surfing.

I think the same.

**JayDeeMac** · 08-21-2006, 12:37 PM

Well certainly an interesting mixof opinions, nice to see a few people agreeing with my opinion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by -CherryPixie- (View Post)

I think that's a very interesing question though, great discussion idea John

Thank you very much *takes a bow* Anyone got any suggestions for the next discussion?

imation_itjj · 08-21-2006, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayDeeMac (View Post)

Thank you very much *takes a bow* Anyone got any suggestions for the next discussion?

What do you think of "How did M&S get back from Antartica if they you ran out of gas in their Sno-cat?"

Muldz · 03-04-2007, 05:33 AM

Well i was one of the ones who did watch it to the end, although i can see why people stopped watching.Once David left it busted up the chemistry and it has always been a mulder and scully show. You cant introduce 2 new characters after 7 years and expect them to be accepted. Didn't help frankly that the second conspiracy wasnt very good. The whole super soldier thing was not very good. With them flying into rocks and stuff and the whole william thing was not very popular with me.

Muldz