Vote for why you think it jumped
Exit... Stage Left (Mulder)
Never Jumped
Death (The Lone Gunmen)
The Movie
Moving (Vancouver to L.A.)
Shark Bytes
> electricity man (played by jack black)
That's wrong.
The electricity man was played by a young Giovanni Ribisi. Jack Black was playing his best friend.
That's wrong.
The electricity man was played by a young Giovanni Ribisi. Jack Black was playing his best friend.
Having recently purchased the deluxe box set, I was happy to watch episode after episode without once seeing the show jump the shark ... until the end of Season 7, and then there are 3 episodes in a row that are really, hum, how shall I say, lame?!
The Agent Doggett episodes are good -- lots of classic X Files -- but they just don't hold the same interest. Although it's hysterical when Robert Patrick decides to push the NY accent after 7 or 8 episodes into the season!
The Agent Doggett episodes are good -- lots of classic X Files -- but they just don't hold the same interest. Although it's hysterical when Robert Patrick decides to push the NY accent after 7 or 8 episodes into the season!
The standalones quickly got repetitve.
Nearly everyone of them is a man who has special powers that kill people. THATS IT.
e.g.
msn who can stand in your blindspot
man made of cancer
metal bones man (who broke the car)
electricity man (played by jack black)
man whose shadow kills you
fire man
and MANY MANY more
Mulder always guessed what was killing people as if he was a psychic.
After all the weird stuff Scully had seen she was always playing the skeptic role.
The skeptic role was handed over to skinner after scully had seen some weird stuff which was a good move.
The main-story episodes always amounted to nothing, another exercise in stretching the show to last as long as possible.
A great premise for a show with some good episodes but it needed some more original ideas for episode plots like Star Trek had.
Nearly everyone of them is a man who has special powers that kill people. THATS IT.
e.g.
msn who can stand in your blindspot
man made of cancer
metal bones man (who broke the car)
electricity man (played by jack black)
man whose shadow kills you
fire man
and MANY MANY more
Mulder always guessed what was killing people as if he was a psychic.
After all the weird stuff Scully had seen she was always playing the skeptic role.
The skeptic role was handed over to skinner after scully had seen some weird stuff which was a good move.
The main-story episodes always amounted to nothing, another exercise in stretching the show to last as long as possible.
A great premise for a show with some good episodes but it needed some more original ideas for episode plots like Star Trek had.
[quote]Did anyone else notice that Scully turned from a pudgy and plain woman into a sculptured beauty?Was she just growing out of her babyfat or did she have work done?[/quote]
Gillian Anderson was pregnant in seasons 1 and 2, that's where the abduction storyline came from, giving her time off to have the baby. And that's why they tended to put her in unflattering trenchcoats in late season 1 and early season 2
Gillian Anderson was pregnant in seasons 1 and 2, that's where the abduction storyline came from, giving her time off to have the baby. And that's why they tended to put her in unflattering trenchcoats in late season 1 and early season 2
The JTS of the x files was slow and PAINFUL it started out so great: season 1 and 2 were classic, in season 3 however something was missing, 4 was kept afloat by scully's cancer storyline then BAM season 5 appears suddenly there is two alien races running about - honestly it was like friggin doctor who, the movie was good but then season 6 began and the comedic episodes were the first nail in the coffin, season 7 gave us the pathetic and deeply unsatisfying climax to the samantha story arc, the trend continued in the last two seasons as Carter and co systematically destroyed the show (Killing off characters needlessly) (Dogget, Reyes) (Scully having baby)(Scully giving up her baby) The final episode of the show was dire, making little sense and alienating the show's hardcore fans by being a clip show (how original) I want to believe that the last four seasons never existed.
X-Files jumped the shark after season 5. In the first season there were the writing team of Glen Morgan and James Wong (who would go on to do Space: Above and Beyond) and a writer named Howard Gordon that paired up with various others including Chris Carter. This gave the show it's solid foundation.
In season two Glen's brother Darrin played the "Flukeman" in the second episode and shortly after was recruited as a writer. Darrin would go on to write some of the X-Files top favourite fan episodes like "Blood," "Humbug," and "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose."
At the end of season five all four of these writers bailed, and the show shifted production from dark Vancouver to bright and sunny LA. This is where the show "jumped the shark."
Howard Gordon went on to do the brilliant but short lived "Strangeworld," and is now a head writer and producer for the series "24."
In season two Glen's brother Darrin played the "Flukeman" in the second episode and shortly after was recruited as a writer. Darrin would go on to write some of the X-Files top favourite fan episodes like "Blood," "Humbug," and "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose."
At the end of season five all four of these writers bailed, and the show shifted production from dark Vancouver to bright and sunny LA. This is where the show "jumped the shark."
Howard Gordon went on to do the brilliant but short lived "Strangeworld," and is now a head writer and producer for the series "24."
X Files is one of my favorite shows of all time. I watched it from the first episode until its overdue demise, and now I have all the seasons on DVD and watch the first 7 seasons often. I do think the show jumped around season 7, and much of season 8 and pretty much all of season 9 are a hot mess. I think the decline in script quality, "supersoldiers" plot, and Mulder leaving have been covered in great detail, so I will leave those topics alone.
However, I will bring up something I noticed as I've been watching the last few seasons recently--the gross factor was definitely kicked up a few notches. Of course, the show always had its disgusting moments, but in seasons 8 and 9 (9 especially), the violence often seems gratuitous, and dare I say it, just plain icky as opposed to appropriately creepy. I would guess this was firstly a result of the poor scripts and secondly a possible attempt at shock value for ratings grabs--but I thought I would throw it out there as an interesting fact.
However, I will bring up something I noticed as I've been watching the last few seasons recently--the gross factor was definitely kicked up a few notches. Of course, the show always had its disgusting moments, but in seasons 8 and 9 (9 especially), the violence often seems gratuitous, and dare I say it, just plain icky as opposed to appropriately creepy. I would guess this was firstly a result of the poor scripts and secondly a possible attempt at shock value for ratings grabs--but I thought I would throw it out there as an interesting fact.
I don't think it did. I take jumping the shark to mean a show has past its peak and has become unrecognizable. It might have had some twists fans may or may not have liked, but it kept a pretty solid fanbase and stuck to its constants until the end. I find the worst episode to be better than practically everything else currently on TV.
This show in all actuality jumped so many times, it's not even funnny though I loved it. The film was only OK as was the last and I'm always dissapointed when an actor conducts themselves extremely intelligently onscreen and sans script turns into the dufus they really are. Such was the case with Gillian Anderson last night on a late-night talkshow.
Well, I saw the 2nd movie opening day....I know BIG geek 
& while the plot is a tad convoluted, it was SO great to see Mulder & Scully, together again, that I just about plottzed. One of my favorite character actors Billy Connolly is in it, & to top it all off Skinner makes an appearence {I LOVE Skinner, to me "The X Files" was alway's a 3 character show} As some previous poster mentioned STAY thru the ending credits....there is a nice little Chris Carter flourish @ the end
& while the plot is a tad convoluted, it was SO great to see Mulder & Scully, together again, that I just about plottzed. One of my favorite character actors Billy Connolly is in it, & to top it all off Skinner makes an appearence {I LOVE Skinner, to me "The X Files" was alway's a 3 character show} As some previous poster mentioned STAY thru the ending credits....there is a nice little Chris Carter flourish @ the end
I don't think The X-Files ever jumped the shark.
For all nine seasons, it remained such a thought-provoking show with hidden implications that reflected on a larger grandeur for the audience to find and interpret for themselves. It had all the elements to be entertaining - drama, intrigue, suspense, mystery, action, intellect, wit, and emotion. Many of the monster-of-the-week episodes were quite creative and unique, as were the ones that showed the evils of human nature being as dark and sinister as any X-File. A common thread running throughout the entire series, the alien mythology and government conspiracy, really took a lot of interesting twists and turns that kept me guessing.
David Duchovny's departure was certainly a downside, but I think the show recovered by adding more layers to Scully's character by showing her journey from the skeptic to being more open to the paranormal while interacting with a new partner and trying to carry on the quest for the truth in Mulder's absence. His cause became hers.
With the first movie, I think it really propelled the government conspiracy into a more worldwide conspiracy. It was also the beginning of what would eventually lead into the revelation that an alien colonization is scheduled in the future and must be fought against.
With the current movie, I think it served its purpose in re-introducing the characters so a potentially bigger story (perhaps the colonization?) can be the sole focus. I think it also served to prepare Mulder and Scully for their destinies of 'fighting the future.' After spending nine years with the truth being the driving force in their lives, making so many sacrifices to their cause and having their lives under constant threat, the last six years were a taste of the simplicities that have eluded them both. My impression is they've been living a normal, low-key life since we last left them in the hotel room in 'The Truth.' They have experienced a happiness and comfort from the domestic that neither have ever really known before. That their quest prevented. Which is where the new conflict is for them. Mulder's obsession is just brimming below the surface, evident in his reclusion to his office where he apparently spends his days clipping articles about the paranormal and living vicariously through those. He wasn't able to 'move on' from the past as completely as Scully could because, like he said in the movie, it was who he has always been even before he met her. He wants to be out there, still pursuing the unexplainable, but knows the futility of it without the other half to the X-File team. I could feel their chemistry/passion just as strong as ever during their clashings and angst, and I could feel an added new tenderness that was more open than before. Scully seemed to be quite content with this openness and their domestic life. After spending season 8 wondering if she would ever see him again while trying to continue the investigations as he would and briefly mourning for him after his presumed death, then season 9 not knowing where he was and having to again be faced with the possibility of losing him when he was sentenced to death, I think she has enjoyed having him alive and safe. Throughout the series, we saw different moments where she questioned if this was the kind of life that she wanted. She chose to give William up for adoption after painfully realizing that she didn't want their son to know the same dangers that came with their lives. Having that comfort she was on the outside of in 'all things,' she understandably didn't want to bring the darkness from their past into their present. She was afraid of what it would do to them - and especially him. However, in spite of his continued insistence that he needed her, it was the personal conflict she had to realize on her own. As much as she didn't want to be involved, all it took was discovering that Mulder was in trouble and needed her for her to come to his rescue and be there when the case was solved. Her continuous theme was don't give up - don't give up on Mulder, don't give up on her faith in herself and in God, essentially don't give up on their quest. Her full-circle growth came at the moment she accepted that the darkness from their past probably would always follow them and it's just something she has to live with. In the final scene of the series finale, after everything they had been through during nine years, the last line spoken was "maybe there's hope." This was one of the dominate themes to the TV series - that the truth was out there, but so was hope. In their final scene together in the movie, Mulder echoes those same sentiments to her again, solidifying that theme - that, even if she's afraid of the darkness, together they have what it takes to overcome it. His full-circle growth, though much more subtle than hers, came when he promised to take her out of the darkness, just the two of them. For her to accept his obsession will always be a part of him and they always have a certain responsibility to it was a selfless act, and for him to be able to step away from that obsession when she needs him to is a selfless act. For the first time, his quest is only the second most important thing to him. She is first. I think the credits were especially significant to the theme of hope as well. The snow melting into water, then transforming into an ocean is symbolic to the winter succumbing to hope and the darkness succumbing to a bigger grandeur. Ultimately, Mulder kept his promise in taking her away from the darkness. This movie is dark, and in the show and previous movie, a lot of lighting was dark. There, being in the middle of the ocean with a remote island behind them, they had come out of the dark. They had a new hope, if you will.
As far as the Mulder and Scully 'romance,' I think it helped to enhance the show and bring a very human dimension to their characters. They were so intense and complex with their relationship, transcending any I've ever seen before. They're equals. They're best friends, two perfect opposites who embarked on a journey together and balance each other in all of the best possible ways, but are more intimate than your typical friendship. They love each other with an unconditional love that's rare to find, yet are closer than many lovers are. It was fascinating to watch. I think what kept it from 'jumping shark,' like so many relationships have done in other TV shows, was the steady but gradual progression. One of the quotes that has stood out to me is one Frank Spotnitz said while describing them: "Love it's the only truth we can hope to know, as human beings. That's what Mulder and Scully found after nine years. And that's a lot." Essentially, I think this was one of the most personal truths they found during their quest to find 'the' truth amidst the paranormal and government conspiracies. Their investigations into the complicated webs of lies and the unexplained were the main focus, as it should be, but there was so much in the subtleness of the deepening of their relationship after everything they had been through together and everything they had encountered. We saw the beginnings of their partnership, when Scully was assigned to debunk Mulder's work and put logic to his consuming obsession, and the clashings of their very different perspectives. We saw partnership lead into trust while they endured the dangers together. We saw trust lead into friendship, their pursuits strengthening their connection and binding them together. And, we saw that friendship finally turn into love as they individually realized at various points that they were the one constant in each other's lives. They found a geniune acceptance with each other that no one else provided or could provide. The intricacy makes for some great debates between the Shippers and NoRomos, but I think it was only human of them to ultimately 'go there.' The implications of a more romantic relationship, particularly around season 6 and on, started to become more frequent to ignore. Whether it was the small gestures or the outright and heartfelt ones, it conveyed so much emotion and depth. And, I enjoy that much of their relationship is left to the imagination, which for me has preserved the chemistry between them. Their different perspectives challenged and balanced each other perfectly in the series, and their different perspectives continue to challenge and balance the other.
So, long story short, I firmly believe X-Files stayed true to itself...which is why it remains to be my all-time favorite television show. They'll never be anything quite like it again.
For all nine seasons, it remained such a thought-provoking show with hidden implications that reflected on a larger grandeur for the audience to find and interpret for themselves. It had all the elements to be entertaining - drama, intrigue, suspense, mystery, action, intellect, wit, and emotion. Many of the monster-of-the-week episodes were quite creative and unique, as were the ones that showed the evils of human nature being as dark and sinister as any X-File. A common thread running throughout the entire series, the alien mythology and government conspiracy, really took a lot of interesting twists and turns that kept me guessing.
David Duchovny's departure was certainly a downside, but I think the show recovered by adding more layers to Scully's character by showing her journey from the skeptic to being more open to the paranormal while interacting with a new partner and trying to carry on the quest for the truth in Mulder's absence. His cause became hers.
With the first movie, I think it really propelled the government conspiracy into a more worldwide conspiracy. It was also the beginning of what would eventually lead into the revelation that an alien colonization is scheduled in the future and must be fought against.
With the current movie, I think it served its purpose in re-introducing the characters so a potentially bigger story (perhaps the colonization?) can be the sole focus. I think it also served to prepare Mulder and Scully for their destinies of 'fighting the future.' After spending nine years with the truth being the driving force in their lives, making so many sacrifices to their cause and having their lives under constant threat, the last six years were a taste of the simplicities that have eluded them both. My impression is they've been living a normal, low-key life since we last left them in the hotel room in 'The Truth.' They have experienced a happiness and comfort from the domestic that neither have ever really known before. That their quest prevented. Which is where the new conflict is for them. Mulder's obsession is just brimming below the surface, evident in his reclusion to his office where he apparently spends his days clipping articles about the paranormal and living vicariously through those. He wasn't able to 'move on' from the past as completely as Scully could because, like he said in the movie, it was who he has always been even before he met her. He wants to be out there, still pursuing the unexplainable, but knows the futility of it without the other half to the X-File team. I could feel their chemistry/passion just as strong as ever during their clashings and angst, and I could feel an added new tenderness that was more open than before. Scully seemed to be quite content with this openness and their domestic life. After spending season 8 wondering if she would ever see him again while trying to continue the investigations as he would and briefly mourning for him after his presumed death, then season 9 not knowing where he was and having to again be faced with the possibility of losing him when he was sentenced to death, I think she has enjoyed having him alive and safe. Throughout the series, we saw different moments where she questioned if this was the kind of life that she wanted. She chose to give William up for adoption after painfully realizing that she didn't want their son to know the same dangers that came with their lives. Having that comfort she was on the outside of in 'all things,' she understandably didn't want to bring the darkness from their past into their present. She was afraid of what it would do to them - and especially him. However, in spite of his continued insistence that he needed her, it was the personal conflict she had to realize on her own. As much as she didn't want to be involved, all it took was discovering that Mulder was in trouble and needed her for her to come to his rescue and be there when the case was solved. Her continuous theme was don't give up - don't give up on Mulder, don't give up on her faith in herself and in God, essentially don't give up on their quest. Her full-circle growth came at the moment she accepted that the darkness from their past probably would always follow them and it's just something she has to live with. In the final scene of the series finale, after everything they had been through during nine years, the last line spoken was "maybe there's hope." This was one of the dominate themes to the TV series - that the truth was out there, but so was hope. In their final scene together in the movie, Mulder echoes those same sentiments to her again, solidifying that theme - that, even if she's afraid of the darkness, together they have what it takes to overcome it. His full-circle growth, though much more subtle than hers, came when he promised to take her out of the darkness, just the two of them. For her to accept his obsession will always be a part of him and they always have a certain responsibility to it was a selfless act, and for him to be able to step away from that obsession when she needs him to is a selfless act. For the first time, his quest is only the second most important thing to him. She is first. I think the credits were especially significant to the theme of hope as well. The snow melting into water, then transforming into an ocean is symbolic to the winter succumbing to hope and the darkness succumbing to a bigger grandeur. Ultimately, Mulder kept his promise in taking her away from the darkness. This movie is dark, and in the show and previous movie, a lot of lighting was dark. There, being in the middle of the ocean with a remote island behind them, they had come out of the dark. They had a new hope, if you will.
As far as the Mulder and Scully 'romance,' I think it helped to enhance the show and bring a very human dimension to their characters. They were so intense and complex with their relationship, transcending any I've ever seen before. They're equals. They're best friends, two perfect opposites who embarked on a journey together and balance each other in all of the best possible ways, but are more intimate than your typical friendship. They love each other with an unconditional love that's rare to find, yet are closer than many lovers are. It was fascinating to watch. I think what kept it from 'jumping shark,' like so many relationships have done in other TV shows, was the steady but gradual progression. One of the quotes that has stood out to me is one Frank Spotnitz said while describing them: "Love it's the only truth we can hope to know, as human beings. That's what Mulder and Scully found after nine years. And that's a lot." Essentially, I think this was one of the most personal truths they found during their quest to find 'the' truth amidst the paranormal and government conspiracies. Their investigations into the complicated webs of lies and the unexplained were the main focus, as it should be, but there was so much in the subtleness of the deepening of their relationship after everything they had been through together and everything they had encountered. We saw the beginnings of their partnership, when Scully was assigned to debunk Mulder's work and put logic to his consuming obsession, and the clashings of their very different perspectives. We saw partnership lead into trust while they endured the dangers together. We saw trust lead into friendship, their pursuits strengthening their connection and binding them together. And, we saw that friendship finally turn into love as they individually realized at various points that they were the one constant in each other's lives. They found a geniune acceptance with each other that no one else provided or could provide. The intricacy makes for some great debates between the Shippers and NoRomos, but I think it was only human of them to ultimately 'go there.' The implications of a more romantic relationship, particularly around season 6 and on, started to become more frequent to ignore. Whether it was the small gestures or the outright and heartfelt ones, it conveyed so much emotion and depth. And, I enjoy that much of their relationship is left to the imagination, which for me has preserved the chemistry between them. Their different perspectives challenged and balanced each other perfectly in the series, and their different perspectives continue to challenge and balance the other.
So, long story short, I firmly believe X-Files stayed true to itself...which is why it remains to be my all-time favorite television show. They'll never be anything quite like it again.
I saw the X-Files movie and I thought it was excellent. It was done in Classic X-Files fashion. A lot of action, and kept me wondering what was going to happen next. My question, Did you stay for the credits? There was a little something for the fans, from Mulder and Scully. Plus lots of X-Files humor through out the movie. In one scene, on Mulder's cell phone he was trying to call Scully and the name listed on the phone was "Gillian"
Piece of X-Files humor indeed. Something of an inside joke.
Piece of X-Files humor indeed. Something of an inside joke.
I give the X-Files 2 movie a definite thumbs up!
I'm glad it got out of the aliens from outer space themes and focused on crime drama.
I'm glad it got out of the aliens from outer space themes and focused on crime drama.
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