Filed under X

Well, thats it. Years behind and many months after I begun (there where many breaks) I have finished my project to watch the entirity of The X-Files.

I think the show is really good for five years, shows flashes of genius upto until the end of year eight but the last season was a slog. It seemed to just drift directionlessly along trying to find itself a purpose after pretty much all the major plotlines had either reachd conclusion or been lost in a fog of half thought out ideas.

Anyway I thought I'd just quickly give my thoughts on the conclusion and I have to say that for a seires that last nine years the big finish was low key and underwhelming to say the least.

I have no problem with the actual plot of the thing or really where the characters were left (apart form the fact that I wonder why they bothered writing in Scully's child at all - hey the wrote around Gillian Anderson's first pregnancy) rahter the way it was all put together.

The first hour or so of the finale was a court room hearing which was used basically as recap of the story so far, including the use of clips from previous episodes. It didn't even work dramatically since it was supposed to be a trail for Mulder's life and all that happend is that Skinner would say "Hey there is a massive conspiracy that's at fault here, listne to this witness", said witness would then recant part of the arc plot before the prosecuter would demand proof and our band of heores would stand around going "Errmmm...".

After this pointless bit of drama was done, Mulder escapes with the help of Deputy Director Kirch who's suddenly decided he's not such a bad man after all. He then goes to see our old smoking friend who turns out not to be dead but does turn out to be uninteresting as he basically has to restate what Mulder saw at the begining before there is a undramatic chase leading to a low key final five minutes as Mulder and Scully reflect on nine years of basically getting no-where.

And the one interesting part with Mulder imagining long gone characters coming to him in his cell wasn't explored at all. Plus the chocies seemed strange, I understand the Lone Gunmen turning up but X and Krychek? Where were Mulder's father, Deep Throat, Fox's mom, his sister?

So it seems finales remain a tricky thing for people to get right. Quantum Leap's did it well, Buffy's worked for me, the final moments of Cheers are brillantly done but it does seem fewer getting right than those that don't at the end of the day.

The X-Files, great when on song but it was dragged along at least two (if not three) years too long.