The X Files - season 11 so far

Yes, we’re only 6 episodes into the new season (apparently, the very last season, as Gillian Anderson is not coming back for any more) and already I need a rewatch. Not in the sense that this season has flown by (which it has), but I’m pretty sure you need to remember about 10,000 things from season 10 to be in the loop with season 11.

For example - was it me, or was 11x01 My Struggle III all about Scully seeing most of the end of season 10 through William’s visions? So has it happened or not? Because either the episode was very close to the end of season 10, or it actually was the end of season 10. And another thing - how has William been sending all this stuff to Scully - why? Why her? Does he know he’s sending stuff, and if he does, can he control to whom it goes? And if he can, how does he know to send it to her - does he know she’s his mother?

Anyway, moving on, we’ve had a some very solid episodes since. 11x02 This is reminiscent of some of the best tech episodes. It had some nice touches and I liked the fact that it kind of confirmed what we thought had happened to the members of the Lone Gunmen. It reminded me of the episode 1x07, Ghost in the Machine, where the high-tech building may have murdered an exec and may be trying to kill them (not the movie of the same idea with Paul Reiser, The Tower). There were hints that maybe Scully hangs out at Mulder’s place much more than previous seasons let on - is this because they know it’s the last series so they’re settling it how they want? Hmm. Anyway, Skinner and the Cigarette Smoking Man are also putting in appearances, and it seems now that CSM may have more than just his hands in what Mulder and Scully have been up to.

11x03, Plus One is brilliant. The supporting cast are spot-on and as the episode gets underway we have typically X-Files type shenanigans and you begin to wonder how Mulder and Scully haven’t tumbled to the cause of the deaths sooner, the amount of times they’ve had something similar happen to them or those around them. However it is a great little episode made all the more fun by the this time in-your-faceness of Mulder and Scully’s confirmed shagging antics. If the last episode hinted at it, this once just shows it onscreen for the sake of complete clarity.

11x04 The Lost Art of Forehead Sweat is hilarious and exactly what was needed. It almost could have come from Ben Edlund, except this being The X Files and not Supernatural, it’s from Darin Morgan, the man behind such stellar episodes as Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-monster (10x03), Jose Chung’s From Outer Space (3x20), War of the Coprophages (3x12), Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose (3x04), Humbug (2x20), and Blood (2x03). Every single one of those episodes is reason for celebration and a rewatch - apart from Ben Edlund, it’s hard to find another writer who I can say that about. Back to the episode; a tongue-in-cheek good old fashioned fun-poking, this also advances a few plots quietly in the background, while bringing all your favourite tropes with it. Bryan Huskey does a very good job of bringing us poor beleaguered Reggie Something - you may have caught sight of his FBI badge in a previous episode (and I do mean ‘caught sight’ - blink and you’ll miss it). The episode deals with false memory, and in doing so clarifies how current society in the west uses and abuses real facts. Very pertinent, especially now, it goes on to explain how if everything Mulder is seeking to expose actually were revealed it wouldn’t make a difference - I’m reminded of a line in a Del Amitri song: the Martians could land in the car park and no-one would care.

The last act is genius and I could not stop laughing, even through the rather sober thought that it’s cutting close to the bone for a lot of viewers in the USA. But what the episode wanted to say had to be said, and go down in history as one of those times a writer said to themselves I dunno man, is this social commentary too much? I mean… No wait - fuck it. If people in charge can get away with what they get away with, then I’m allowed to do what I’m about to do. And he was right.

11x05 Ghouli felt like a Supernatural episode to me, and in fact for the first two acts my mind was splitting the episode off, Sliding Doors style, to follow what would have been happening if Sam and Dean had been the (fake) FBI agents on the case instead. But then it does reclaim the episode for X Files lore - the case is not what it seems and in fact has some very personal consequences for Mulder and Scully (I have to say, more Scully than Mulder. I mean, what did he ever have to do with William? He must have met him what, twice? When he was in nappies?). It had a great ending and I was looking forward to more on the subject, which was a surprise for me because up until now it’s not been the most exciting of topics.

11x06 Kitten featured Haley Joel Osment looking all grown up and able to handle two roles very well. A very good tale, a good way to bring in Skinner and also to bring home to Mulder and Scully just how many times he’s stepped in, protected or covered for them. More than a simple thank you is in order, but I think this episode deals with it well.

I think that’s us up to date - just have to wait until next Thursday for the next instalment. I refuse to look at spoilers, so I will wait and see what we have coming.

Soopy twist.