[Roll Your Own Life] The TV That Shaped Me (Part 4)

The X-Files (1993-2002, 2016-2018)

Number 4 chronologically in my "Ten TV Shows that had an impact on my life" brings us from one FBI agent, investigating the strange and unnatural in a town called Twin Peaks, to two FBI agents venturing around the States to track down the paranormal.

The X-Files

Oh my god did I love this series. From watching the pilot episode in September 1994 (nobody had Sky so I had to wait for the BBC2 showing almost a year after the US), I was instantly engaged. It was as close to Twin Peaks as I could get without it actually being Twin Peaks. Heck, one of the leads, David Duchovny, was even in Twin Peaks (as DEA Agent Dennis/Denise Bryson).

It had UFO abductions, lost time, weird goings on in small towns, and conspiracies.

It's like they read my mind for a series that would appeal to me.

I bought the books, taped the episodes off the TV, bought the VHS releases in their weird plastic evidence boxes and the limited series sets, bought the books, the action figures, the magazines, and then the DVDs (twice), the collectable card game, the video games...

I loved The X-Files. So very much. I stuck with it, after David Duchovny left (for large chunks of the series) and they replaced Mulder and Scully with Doggett and Reyes. I watched the Lone Gunmen spin off, Millennium and Harsh Realm (as there ties to the X-Files behind the scenes).

I was there at the midnight screenings of Fight the Future and I Want To Believe.

Of course, it was my love of The X-Files that introduced me to the tabletop game (thanks Jason), Conspiracy X, which lead to me working on the game for two years, converting it to Unisystem.

When the announced its return I was cautiously optimistic. It had been a long time, and I think Philes everywhere were worried that they'd ruin it...

Series 10 happened, with some good episodes, and the biggest shark jump in the finale since The X-Files episode in season 9 called "Jump the Shark". So badly received was that series ending that Series 11 tried to ret-con the whole thing, hoping to fix what they'd done. Series 11 was better, though again the non-mythology episodes were the best...

And then, as quickly as it returned, with two seasons that didn't amount to a full season of the original run, The X-Files were decommissioned again. The filing cabinet was closed again, possibly for good.

I hope, now that Disney owns , they bring it back - with two new FBI Agents, finding Mulder's files, and continuing the investigations. New team, with the odd cameo here and there to remind you it's a continuation, and not a reboot.

If anyone from Disney wants to chat about my ideas, you know where to find me.

No reason for this pic on the blog, but always nice to see more Scully.