Three episodes into its six-episode arc, and the reviews are already in for the revival of X-Files. Reporters and bloggers observe that the show which made conspiracy an art form on TV has already been overtaken by shows that are darker and with more complicated plot lines since its run the past 20 years.
The sexual and romantic tension between the two leads Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) has almost faded away. And yet, like a sick close friend you can't turn your back on, the show still packs enough mystery and familiarity to make viewers want to give it a second chance.
TIME Magazine concludes it review with a double-edged complement: "The great success of The X-Files's paranoid vision may be that its popularity made a series revival feel, ultimately, behind the times.' It observes that one of the core appeal of the old series in the 1990s was that it introduced conspiracy theories - and made following and tracking them down fun. The two FBI agents unraveled mysteries with the seriousness of a scientist, but without losing its sense of humor."
That approach does not resonate with viewers now. Conspiracy theories have become part of the culture and are nothing new. Moreover, in a society that is coming to grips with terrorism, economic crashes, and dubious leaders, they are never regarded with tongue-in-cheek. That was one reason why X-Files: I Want To Believe, the show's second movie incarnation, lost to other contenders like The Dark Knight.
Entertainment Weekly gives it an overall average review. It says one episode was brilliant, the other was a disaster. Tying that together, that means the show merely gives a so-so performance.
Slate echoes the other two reviews, saying it is "uneven." However, it also says the show is "promising". The third episode brings us back to familiar territory as the two hunt down a were-lizard. Mulder reverts back to his "bat crazy" self, as Scully puta it. And in those few minutes, the sparks do fly. The viewers feel hope - and like all travellers tracking down a conspiracy, trudge on in the hope that not all is lost.
