We want to believe

‘The X-Files’ reboot stumbles but shows promise

Any news of a television revival makes me anxious. When Netflix successfully brought back Fox’s cult classic “Arrested Development” a few years back, other studios quickly followed suit. In addition to “The X-Files,” this year will see revivals of, among others, “Full House,” “Gilmore Girls,” and “Twin Peaks.” Exciting news for fans, but recapturing the magic that made these shows so beloved is a herculean task.  Can’t we just let them rest in peace? 

In the case of “The X-Files,” I’m unfashionably late to the party—I was two when it premiered in 1993 and 11 when the finale aired in 2002. (My sci-fi horror fix came from “Are You Afraid of the Dark?”) So, with only the barest idea of the show’s dense mythology and no nostalgia clouding my emotions, I dove into “My Struggle,” the premiere of “The X-Files”’ new six-episode season, currently wrapping up on Fox.

I’d rather not go too in depth on the groan-inducing premiere in lieu of the improved later episodes, but here’s what you need to know: Set in the present day, the FBI has shut down the X-Files, Fox Mulder’s (David Duchovny) and Dr. Dana Scully’s (Gillian Anderson) old paranormal investigation stomping grounds. Mulder is still the believer and Scully still the skeptic, separated with a kid who gets the exposition-filled flashback treatment in later episodes. Joel McHale shows up as Ted O’Malley, a conspiracy-minded conservative talk show host seemingly modeled after Glenn Beck, Alex Jones and Bill O’Reilly, and the catalyst for bringing the band back together. 

Even a ho-hum mystery involving aliens and shadowy agencies can be interesting with good acting, interesting characters and production values. The problem is, they didn’t show up for the reboot. Duchovny and Anderson are accomplished actors, yet they appear lethargic and uninterested from scene to scene. The wooden dialogue doesn’t help, filled with tired clichés and lines that are obvious fan service (“Mulder, you want to believe! You want so badly to believe!”). 

Without character chemistry, nuance, or visual flair, “The X-Files” reboot premiere stumbles out of the gate. Luckily, the next few episodes bring self-containment, levity, and promise.

I expect that episodes like “Founder’s Mutation” and “Mulder & Scully Meet the Were-Monster” were what captivated original fans. They aren’t flawless, but focusing on a stand-alone horror instead of overbearing mythology is more welcoming to new viewers, like me. In “Mutation,” the horror is genetically altered children and mad scientists. In “Were-Monster,” it’s a very confused “horned-toad lizard-creature” played by New Zealand comedian Rhys Darby. Outlandish, goofy plotlines and game guest stars (Kumail Nanjiani was born for his role as a fidgety Animal Control officer) bring much-needed fun to the formula. 

Still, laziness persists in the writing. Neither episode’s premise is particularly novel and references to the character’s traumatic pasts (those flashbacks I mentioned) seem ham-fisted and lack pathos. Crucially, “The X-Files” fails to give its viewers a reason to connect to present-day Mulder and Scully.

Why did creator Chris Carter feel the need to revisit this world 14 years later? It would make more sense if the new episodes better depicted how the world has changed. The horrors of the 21st century look a lot more like the black mirrors of technology and the constant intrusion of our surveillance state. The premiere falls short of truly incorporating the zeitgeist and the following two episodes don’t register it at all. 

I get it. Nearly every science fiction show, or serialized show for that matter, running today owes a debt of gratitude to this show. It pioneered government conspiracy in pop culture and allowed for the creation of an overarching mythology that few shows had ever attempted. Still, you can’t judge a book by how much you liked the author’s previous work. 

The reboot shines when it doesn’t linger on the past and feel the need to explain how it all connects. If the back-end of this run can better embrace the present with wit and absurdity through sharper writing, the idea of a proper full season follow-up (as Carter is pushing for) might be more appealing. I want to believe. “The X-Files” still has some convincing to do.

For more from Landry, read his top TV picks of 2015.