Dead/Alive
Why do we talk about Mulder as a Christ-like figure and not a Christ figure? Well, Christ only needed one resurrection, for one. What are we on with Mulder, now? His fourth? Somebody, somewhere, seems to be running out of ideas! Understandably, I suppose, for a show in its eighth season.
Whichever way one chooses to look at it, the X Files is ‘DeadAlive’ at this point in its run. It had always been the case that an average episode of the X Files exceeded most other TV shows for writing quality and production values and this definitely remained the case throughout Season Eight. But it wasn’t quite the show it had been in its heyday back in the 1990s. Putting aside Mulder and Scully, for a moment, characters like Skinner, Cigarette Smoking Man, Krycek and, even, John Doggett were fascinating and well-wrought.
The show never quite knew what to do with Alex Krycek yet, still, he was a figure of weight and significance – an air of expectation existed every time he made an appearance.
Monica Reyes’ appearance only served to prove that the show, much like Mulder in this episode, was DeadAlive – she moved, she breathed, but for no real purpose.
Even in its twilight years, the X Files offers us an object lesson on life.
Charles Darwin lived to be 73 years old. He lives on in history for he changed the way we see our life on this Earth. Albert Einstein lived to be 76 years old and changed the way we see the Universe in which our Earth has its place. Both men are known for one thing – natural selection and relativity, respectively. But both changed how we see ourselves and the world in which we live.
William Shakespeare, died at 52, is accredited to have written thirty-nine plays. Joseph Conrad lived to be sixty-six years old and wrote eighteen novels. I would argue that these two men had every bit as much an influence on Western culture as the two scientists.
‘DeadAlive’ is the 175th episode of the X Files.
In its old age, it is still striving for life. Not just breathing, as most of us hope for, but actual, self-determined, risk-taking authentic existence. Monica Reyes, for all that she is a weak character, is a justifiable choice for a show that seeks to continue exploring extreme possibilities. In reality, she should have added a whole new perspective on the show’s central premise. That she failed is neither here nor there. What is important is that, even as it is dying – in full awareness of its fate – the show throws out shoots that could have taken root and flourished, if only the energy had been there to provide the necessary care and attention needed.
Even as it dies, the X Files sought to give voice to the idea of life. ‘Trust No One’ or ‘The Truth is Out There’ were never the real mantras of the X Files. If one really needs to reduce the X Files to a single phrase it would surely be, as Mulder told Scully way back in Season One’s ‘Squeeze’, ‘Respect the Journey’.
Overwhelmingly, if Scully and Mulder have anything to say to us today – and, clearly, I think they do – it is that life, no matter how hard or how frustrating, is worth the effort. It’s worth the risk and the danger because without those things what the hell is it, anyway?
That the mythology turned out to be a convoluted mess; that both Mulder and Scully should have been sacked by the F.B.I. so many times; that both should have died more times than any one person deserves to, is all irrelevant. All that matters, is, out of all that chaos and turmoil and tragedy, they both stayed strong in their faith in one another and in their purpose. Mostly.
Whichever way one chooses to look at it, the X Files is ‘DeadAlive’ at this point in its run. It had always been the case that an average episode of the X Files exceeded most other TV shows for writing quality and production values and this definitely remained the case throughout Season Eight. But it wasn’t quite the show it had been in its heyday back in the 1990s. Putting aside Mulder and Scully, for a moment, characters like Skinner, Cigarette Smoking Man, Krycek and, even, John Doggett were fascinating and well-wrought.
The show never quite knew what to do with Alex Krycek yet, still, he was a figure of weight and significance – an air of expectation existed every time he made an appearance.
Monica Reyes’ appearance only served to prove that the show, much like Mulder in this episode, was DeadAlive – she moved, she breathed, but for no real purpose.
Even in its twilight years, the X Files offers us an object lesson on life.
Charles Darwin lived to be 73 years old. He lives on in history for he changed the way we see our life on this Earth. Albert Einstein lived to be 76 years old and changed the way we see the Universe in which our Earth has its place. Both men are known for one thing – natural selection and relativity, respectively. But both changed how we see ourselves and the world in which we live.
William Shakespeare, died at 52, is accredited to have written thirty-nine plays. Joseph Conrad lived to be sixty-six years old and wrote eighteen novels. I would argue that these two men had every bit as much an influence on Western culture as the two scientists.
‘DeadAlive’ is the 175th episode of the X Files.
In its old age, it is still striving for life. Not just breathing, as most of us hope for, but actual, self-determined, risk-taking authentic existence. Monica Reyes, for all that she is a weak character, is a justifiable choice for a show that seeks to continue exploring extreme possibilities. In reality, she should have added a whole new perspective on the show’s central premise. That she failed is neither here nor there. What is important is that, even as it is dying – in full awareness of its fate – the show throws out shoots that could have taken root and flourished, if only the energy had been there to provide the necessary care and attention needed.
Even as it dies, the X Files sought to give voice to the idea of life. ‘Trust No One’ or ‘The Truth is Out There’ were never the real mantras of the X Files. If one really needs to reduce the X Files to a single phrase it would surely be, as Mulder told Scully way back in Season One’s ‘Squeeze’, ‘Respect the Journey’.
Overwhelmingly, if Scully and Mulder have anything to say to us today – and, clearly, I think they do – it is that life, no matter how hard or how frustrating, is worth the effort. It’s worth the risk and the danger because without those things what the hell is it, anyway?
That the mythology turned out to be a convoluted mess; that both Mulder and Scully should have been sacked by the F.B.I. so many times; that both should have died more times than any one person deserves to, is all irrelevant. All that matters, is, out of all that chaos and turmoil and tragedy, they both stayed strong in their faith in one another and in their purpose. Mostly.
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