# Do you prefer mythology or monster of the week episodes (not just for X-files)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [February 1, 2023, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-mythology-or-monster-of-the-week-episodes-not-just-for-x-files/979165 "2023-02-01T15:59:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 1
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2023, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-mythology-or-monster-of-the-week-episodes-not-just-for-x-files/979165/1 "2023-02-01T15:59:08Z")
The terms were originally applied to _X-files_, but they can apply to a lot of procedurals and detective shows. The various iterations of _Law & Oder_ and _NCIS_, for example, can be broken down into the two types of episodes. I prefer the monster of the week episodes of these types of shows, mostly because I don’t like bad stuff happening to the main characters who then proceed to act out of character to how they would normally approach a monster of the week scenario. Whether it’s a family member being kidnapped, an old villain coming back to seek revenge, a main character being blackmailed because they screwed up a previous case, ongoing problems with substance abuse, and worst of all the death of a main character, I just can’t get into those episodes. What do you all prefer? --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-prefer-mythology-or-monster-of-the-week-episodes-not-just-for-x-files/979165)._