Saturday, February 27, 2016

TV Reviews #13 - The X-Files Season 8 (2000-2001)

             Season 8 of this series marks a big changing point. Mulder spends most of it being abducted by aliens. A new agent, Doggett (played by Robert Patrick – Terminator 2), joins the X-Files to replace him. The tone of the show in general gets darker, there is a real feeling of hopelessness.

The dynamic between Scully and Doggett is interesting. Scully has now become the believer and Doggett is the skeptical one. It reinvigorates some new life into the series but on some occasions Doggett is too skeptical, even more than Scully was in the first season, and it can get to be too much. Seeing is believing and if you see a man survive an explosion unscathed, you need to start believing in the paranormal a little more.

The alien conspiracy becomes much more confusing this season. I thought the whole thing was made clear enough in seasons 6 and 7, but in season 8 they add all these new aspects that I can’t even begin to explain. Alien/Human hybrid babies, government super soldier program, these are some of the elements brought in that seem to complicate the show just for the sake of keeping it running.

The season is not bad by any means. In fact there are many great character moments where Scully comes to terms with how she has changed over the past 8 years and becoming a mother. Doggett has an unexplained past I would like to learn more about. However, it does feel like the show is trying hard to come up with ideas to keep itself going.


Score: 7/10

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