The episode starts out with a bunch of the stiff, exposition packed, emotionless and dumb dialogue that plagued the last episode and has been there in some capacity throughout the entire revival. It's painful to watch, and makes the plot seem stupider than it is. Once the plot really picks up, this dissipates a bit since the focus is more on action. While the writing was really off, the directing was great. The second half of the episode was very tense. Once they stop telling you how bad this conspiracy is and actually start showing you, it's hard not to get swept up in it.
There are some great tie-ins to the original series that make it seem more plausible. There is a great fight scene. The smoking man is scarier than ever, and his ultimate plan is finally revealed. Just when you think that you can forgive the stiff first half because you're enjoying the second half so much, the episode ends. It ends on a cliffhanger that will surely make a lot of people very angry.
To be fair, the X-files has always been about not giving us the answers. But what the later seasons and this revival have shown us is that simply teasing us is not enough when people start to feel like the show-runners don't know either. It shows how the X-files paved the way for modern television to the degree where it has now become obsolete. It's like the original telephone; worthy of recognition for being revolutionary for its time, but nothing compared to the things that have come after and built on it. Seeing it next to modern television now, that relationship becomes clear.
Ultimately, I did enjoy watching the episode. There is a certain campy thrill to all of it. But the writing and the ending will frustrate many and are perfect demonstrations of why the show has become obsolete.
There are some great tie-ins to the original series that make it seem more plausible. There is a great fight scene. The smoking man is scarier than ever, and his ultimate plan is finally revealed. Just when you think that you can forgive the stiff first half because you're enjoying the second half so much, the episode ends. It ends on a cliffhanger that will surely make a lot of people very angry.
To be fair, the X-files has always been about not giving us the answers. But what the later seasons and this revival have shown us is that simply teasing us is not enough when people start to feel like the show-runners don't know either. It shows how the X-files paved the way for modern television to the degree where it has now become obsolete. It's like the original telephone; worthy of recognition for being revolutionary for its time, but nothing compared to the things that have come after and built on it. Seeing it next to modern television now, that relationship becomes clear.
Ultimately, I did enjoy watching the episode. There is a certain campy thrill to all of it. But the writing and the ending will frustrate many and are perfect demonstrations of why the show has become obsolete.