The X Files Discussion Thread

Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,644MI6 Agent
edited January 2018 in Off Topic Chat
I recently purchased the third season of The X Files second-hand and I was wondering if there were any fans of the TV supernatural show here on AJB? (It's not something I'm normally drawn to, but I've also recently purchased the X Files novelisation of the episode Squeeze and I remember seeing it on TV. I had a best friend who was a big fan of the series.)

I see how the show may have influenced or at the very least complimented some of John Gardner's later James Bond continuation novel work, especially Never Send Flowers (1993), which features a serial killer character called David March who is a serial beheader of blonde women and who keeps their heads floating in solution in his refrigator, offering them up as sacrifices to the Egyptian God Osiris. David Dragonpol is also a rather twisted serial killer in the novel, being the main villain of the piece.

If there are any fans here, which of these X Files series/episodes would you recommend and what do you think of my theory that The X Files has links back/forward to the James Bond phenomenon?

As always, I'd really love to hear from you on all of these points raised here. :)
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
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Comments

  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I'm always a little wary of answering to one or your Posts SILHOUETTE MAN, as
    We never seem to understand each other. :))
    But .........................................

    I was a big fan of The X-Files never missing an episode. I've always had an interest in
    UFOs, Strange phenomenon and conspiracys. ( I don't believe :)) in them,just
    interested ).
    Many great stories, Pitty the First Movie was so Bad ( well I didn't like it ), the
    second was much better.
    I had a huge crush on Gillian Anderson :x I think the early advertising for it mentioned
    that they were based on Real case files from the F.B.I. Which helped in the Publicity for
    the series.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,644MI6 Agent
    I'm always a little wary of answering to one or your Posts SILHOUETTE MAN, as
    We never seem to understand each other. :))
    But .........................................

    I was a big fan of The X-Files never missing an episode. I've always had an interest in
    UFOs, Strange phenomenon and conspiracys. ( I don't believe :)) in them,just
    interested ).
    Many great stories, Pitty the First Movie was so Bad ( well I didn't like it ), the
    second was much better.
    I had a huge crush on Gillian Anderson :x I think the early advertising for it mentioned
    that they were based on Real case files from the F.B.I. Which helped in the Publicity for
    the series.

    Thanks, Thunderpussy. Some interesting comments there. As a kid I hated anything gory, so The X Files was off the menu for me the, but I wouldn't mind seeing some of the early episodes now. I think I remember Squeeze.

    I can't really fathom why you're reluctant to answer one of my posts, Thunderpussy, please don't feel that way. I love to hear from you. I'm a nice chap, really. :)
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    There were many great stories, I remember a really creepy one about
    a family of "Inbreeders", where they kept their handicaped mother on a trolly
    under the bed. a really skin crawling episode. Although for a Kid like me
    into Horror films etc ,Wonderful. :))
    Wasn't squeeze about a seriel killer who pops up every 10 years or so and
    could "squeeze" through any space.
    It also lead to a spin off "The lone gunmen " I liked it but it only lasted one
    series I think, and the same team went on to make Millenium which
    dealt alot more with Profiling and catching serial killers.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,644MI6 Agent
    There were many great stories, I remember a really creepy one about
    a family of "Inbreeders", where they kept their handicaped mother on a trolly
    under the bed. a really skin crawling episode. Although for a Kid like me
    into Horror films etc ,Wonderful. :))
    Wasn't squeeze about a seriel killer who pops up every 10 years or so and
    could "squeeze" through any space.
    It also lead to a spin off "The lone gunmen " I liked it but it only lasted one
    series I think, and the same team went on to make Millenium which
    dealt alot more with Profiling and catching serial killers.

    Well, thanks for this extra info, Thunderpussy. I'd not heard of those spin-off shows before, by the way. Thanks! :)
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I think You'd enjoy Millenium. There was also a Kind
    of British version or at least with similar themes.
    http://youtu.be/bAhT1CbuWNg Eleventh Hour
    http://youtu.be/s8NNSVDGA0I US Version

    It crossed the Atlantic to be made in to an American series.
    But I'd rather have the original with Patrick Stewart. :)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • James SuzukiJames Suzuki New ZealandPosts: 2,406MI6 Agent
    X files, no not really. But I like Gillian!
    A friend of mine (a lady friend that is) is a huge fan of X files and this TV show called Fringe. She likes it how they can cover a lot of new ground in the show and they like to ignore the same cliche plot lines.
    I wouldn't call my self a fan of Sci-fi, I'm a casual fan of Star Wars, Star Trek means nothing to me but I thought they Abrams movie was good and I HATE Dr Who, but I can see how people enjoy X Files and the show is a whole lot better then some other stuff thats been churned out and 'praised'.
    Connections with Bond?
    I don't think so, Bond had the chance to explore that area with LALD and MR but it was always been a one of film.
    Wouldn't mind a Time Travelling 007, that would be pretty cool. :) -{
    “The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning. "
    -Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
  • YouknowthenameYouknowthename Carver Media GroupPosts: 500MI6 Agent
    There were many great stories, I remember a really creepy one about
    a family of "Inbreeders", where they kept their handicaped mother on a trolly
    under the bed. a really skin crawling episode. Although for a Kid like me
    into Horror films etc ,Wonderful. :))

    Yeah, I remember that one as well - creepy! A very enjoyable series, though later on they got stuck in this conspiracy storyline for several episodes. As for a Bond-link: Gillian Anderson is a friend of Maryam d'Abo, and was present at her book presentation (way) back in the early 00's.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    True I got a bit Bored with the later series as it was all
    Conspiracy, and they dropped all the Interesting Si-Fi
    story lines.

    http://www.avclub.com/articles/guide-x-files-top-ten-xfiles,82714/
    10 must-see episodes of The X-Files
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,644MI6 Agent
    True I got a bit Bored with the later series as it was all
    Conspiracy, and they dropped all the Interesting Si-Fi
    story lines.

    http://www.avclub.com/articles/guide-x-files-top-ten-xfiles,82714/
    10 must-see episodes of The X-Files

    Thanks for that list of Top Ten episodes, Thunderpussy. I see that Season 3 is well-regarded. :)
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    No problem SM, I like to think we're all here to Help each other. :)

    You with your knowlege of the novels etc and Me with my
    Knowlege of .....Well,........ Er,....... umm, .......... ah,... ?

    As I said you have a Great Blog site.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,644MI6 Agent
    No problem SM, I like to think we're all here to Help each other. :)

    You with your knowlege of the novels etc and Me with my
    Knowlege of .....Well,........ Er,....... umm, .......... ah,... ?

    As I said you have a Great Blog site.

    Why, thank you, Thunderpussy. This is what makes AJB such a great site, isn't it? :)
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • JarvioJarvio EnglandPosts: 4,234MI6 Agent
    edited February 2016
    I loved the show in it's early days. From about season 7 onwards it kind of went downhill though.

    I didn't mind Doggert (spelling?) as Mulder's temporary replacement. I thought he was good actually, but it just wasn't the same. Although I did really like the oil rig episode in season 8 with Mulder and Doggert.

    Favourite episodes of the show include:
    Ice
    Fire
    Our Town
    The Field Where I Died
    and of course, Never Again, with the talking tattoo!
    1 - LALD, 2 - AVTAK, 3 - LTK, 4 - OP, 5 - NTTD, 6 - FYEO, 7 - SF, 8 - DN, 9 - DAF, 10 - TSWLM, 11 - OHMSS, 12 - TMWTGG, 13 - GE, 14 - MR, 15 - TLD, 16 - YOLT, 17 - GF, 18 - DAD, 19 - TWINE, 20 - SP, 21 - TND, 22 - FRWL, 23 - TB, 24 - CR, 25 - QOS

    1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
  • TheWorldIsEnoughTheWorldIsEnough Posts: 296MI6 Agent
    Who's watching the new episodes??? I thought both episodes were good so far.
    Some thoughts:
    Mulder and Scully have aged, obviously, which for a fan of the show, is hard to watch. The plastic surgery that David and Gillian have had looks out of place on Mulder and Scully to me. But they still look good.
    Scully seems to mumble every line. Mulder was always a mumbler, so nothing new there.
    I hope they try to offer an explanation on how the smoking man is still alive.
    And I hope there is at least some small reference to the character 'Deep Throat'.

    Some of my favorite episodes of the original series were:
    Pilot
    Deep Throat
    Ice
    Beyond the Sea
    Duane Barry
    Ascension
    3
    Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose (possibly my favorite episode)
    Gethsemane

    After Gethsemane I think the show 'jumped the shark' and while I still enjoyed it, nothing could live up to seasons 1-4.

    Now the best tongue in cheek episodes:
    Jose Chung's From Outer Space
    Bad Blood
    Je Souhaite
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,988Quartermasters
    Big fan here! Enjoying the revival thus far; pity it's only 6 episodes :#
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • HardyboyHardyboy Posts: 5,882Chief of Staff
    I'm enjoying the revival myself--it's enough to make me forget those final Robert Patrick seasons and that dreadful second theatrical film. . .
    Vox clamantis in deserto
  • herbie123herbie123 Posts: 47MI6 Agent
    Have not seen any of the new series yet, looking forward to watching it.
    Enjoyed the previous series.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I think the new series is coming to channel 5 over here.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,644MI6 Agent
    edited January 2016
    I think the new series is coming to channel 5 over here.

    Yes, I was just about to ask when we get this new season in the UK. Thanks, TP. :) -{
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • LargosSharkLargosShark Posts: 35MI6 Agent
    Big X Files fan. I'm currently working my way through the full 9 series (plus movies) boxset before watching the new ones. I know they start here in the UK on 8th Feb, Channel 5. I'll be recording them in the first instance and watch them when I get thought the whole series. I'm currently about half way through Season 4 so still plenty to be getting through.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I'm looking forward to it, as I was a big fan of the original show. Although I
    Didn't watch the Robert Patrick series, and didn't think much of the films.
    I am looking forward to watching it. {[]
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • TheWorldIsEnoughTheWorldIsEnough Posts: 296MI6 Agent
    Oh goodness. The episode 'Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster' is an instant classic!! I won't spoil it for those across the pond who won't see it for a while. But anyone who enjoys the lighter, comedic entries will love this one. This show can transition from alien mythology, to comedy, to horror and back again, flawlessly.

    Extremely well-written, and the dead-pan jokes are hilarious.
    Ah, now that I've had my X-Files comedy, I can't wait for the final three thrillers.
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,988Quartermasters
    Oh goodness. The episode 'Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster' is an instant classic!! I won't spoil it for those across the pond who won't see it for a while. But anyone who enjoys the lighter, comedic entries will love this one. This show can transition from alien mythology, to comedy, to horror and back again, flawlessly.

    Extremely well-written, and the dead-pan jokes are hilarious.
    Ah, now that I've had my X-Files comedy, I can't wait for the final three thrillers.

    Yeah, that one was very funny. A great example of how far the show could stretch! :)
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • TheWorldIsEnoughTheWorldIsEnough Posts: 296MI6 Agent
    When I first got started in the series, I didn't like the comedy episodes because I thought it would reduce the series to 'Roger Moore-esque' camp. But somehow, they pulled it off. And David, Gillian and the writers' ability to poke fun at themselves, while still keeping the serious nature of the series intact is brilliant.

    And revisiting them now is much like revisiting a Bond film. You need to watch the show that matches your current mood.
    'Were-Monster' had a little bit of a 'Twilight Zone' feel to it.
  • JagJag Posts: 1,167MI6 Agent
    We've had 2 episodes in Oz, but here they do not have any titles!
  • TheWorldIsEnoughTheWorldIsEnough Posts: 296MI6 Agent
    Jag wrote:
    We've had 2 episodes in Oz, but here they do not have any titles!
    They're not titled in the credits here, either. Have to look them up on wikipedia.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Finally caught the first of the new episodes, and really enjoyed it. -{
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,644MI6 Agent
    Finally caught the first of the new episodes, and really enjoyed it. -{

    Are they being shown on Channel 5, TP?
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Yes, just started this week I think -{
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,644MI6 Agent
    Yes, just started this week I think -{

    Sadly I now can't get it due to my crap satellite TV called "Freesat". :(
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • Westward_DriftWestward_Drift Posts: 3,085MI6 Agent
    edited February 2016
    Been a fan of the X-Files since it started back in the 90s. I loved most of the first five seasons, and liked most of the later ones. I think I've blocked out much of seasons 8 and 9.

    The revival is okay, but hasn't reached the heights of the first seasons. "Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster" is the best of the four episodes so far. Not the best Darin Morgan penned episode (tough to beat "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose", "Humbug" or ""War of the Coprophages") but on par with "Jose Chung's From Outer Space". Certainly better than his scripts for Millenium.
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