# I'm going to start the X-Files (a show I've never seen before). Ongoing thread about my opinions **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [February 19, 2014, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-start-the-x-files-a-show-ive-never-seen-before-ongoing-thread-about-my-opinions/681740 "2014-02-19T23:14:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-start-the-x-files-a-show-ive-never-seen-before-ongoing-thread-about-my-opinions/681740/1 "2014-02-19T23:14:14Z")
So I know the X-Files is an extremely popular show. I’ve never actually seen it before (not one episode, not even a bit of any episodes) and figured it’s time to give it a try. I know almost nothing about the show, other than the bare facts: Two agents, investigating paranormal things, one is a skeptic and the other believes in that stuff. Oh, and I know that there’s a character called “The Smoking Man”, but other than his name, I don’t know anything else about him. And other than that, I don’t know anything about the show. So I was thinking of making this topic because of past topics of people watching shows for the first time (example: Buffy the Vampire Slayer) seemed to be pretty popular. I know this is probably obvious, but: No spoilers, please. Or hide them under spoiler boxes if you want to talk with other X-Files people who have seen them all. I’ll try to watch an episode a day or, at least, every other day. Maybe 2 if I have the time. Yes, that will probably make this a long ongoing topic, but I’m not going to bump it up after _every_ episode, maybe just every 5-8. Lastly, if this seems popular, I wouldn’t be opposed to doing it a few more times with other shows that I’ve never seen but that are extremely popular, for example: The Wire. Never seen any of those and may do a thread on that once I’m done with the X-Files. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-start-the-x-files-a-show-ive-never-seen-before-ongoing-thread-about-my-opinions/681740/2 "2014-02-20T01:43:27Z")
Cool, I never saw it until it had finished airing. I own the entire series on DVD and burned through it in about a year. I think you will like it. ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-start-the-x-files-a-show-ive-never-seen-before-ongoing-thread-about-my-opinions/681740/3 "2014-02-20T02:08:25Z")
Have fun! I really loved this show, and rewatch a favorite episode every couple months on Netflix. Sometimes it seems a bit amateurish, but that can be part of the charm. I’d like to tell you something that shouldn’t be spoilery, because I would have been much less confused had I known early on. There are two types of episodes: the first type has some continuity of story and fleshes out the politics and intrigue of the main characters’ career, and the second type are stand-alone “weird case of the week” episodes, that are rarely referred back to. Anyway, I’ll be checking in to see what you think of it. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-start-the-x-files-a-show-ive-never-seen-before-ongoing-thread-about-my-opinions/681740/4 "2014-02-20T02:11:22Z")
I watched the first three seasons. The series got a little too complicated/weird and I lost interest. There are some great episodes in those early seasons. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-start-the-x-files-a-show-ive-never-seen-before-ongoing-thread-about-my-opinions/681740/5 "2014-02-20T03:28:21Z")
Just a reminder: The first movie, 1998’s _The X-Files_, actually takes place \*\*between \*\*seasons five and six. You won’t be lost if you skip it, but it was a good film (saw it in the theater) so there’s no reason to… ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-start-the-x-files-a-show-ive-never-seen-before-ongoing-thread-about-my-opinions/681740/6 "2014-02-20T04:00:15Z")
I loved this series. I didn’t watch it from the very beginning, so I had a friend being me up to speed on all the background weirdness, but then I **really** got into it. I thought Gillian Anderson was absolutely gorgeous, and I (and about a zillion other people) liked the will-they-won’t-they sexual tension between them. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-start-the-x-files-a-show-ive-never-seen-before-ongoing-thread-about-my-opinions/681740/7 "2014-02-20T04:07:47Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Just a reminder: The first movie, 1998’s _The X-Files_, actually takes place \*\*between \*\*seasons five and six. You won’t be lost if you skip it, but it was a good film (saw it in the theater) so there’s no reason to… Yep, it’s pretty good and is basically a decent episode between seasons. And an essential one for the story at that point. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-start-the-x-files-a-show-ive-never-seen-before-ongoing-thread-about-my-opinions/681740/8 "2014-02-20T08:06:03Z")
X-Files started off GREAT, and then it started to wander off here and there, and then it went off onto a few oddball tangents, and then it just got fuckin’ stupid. We hung in there until the bitter end, but like many shows (LOST being a prime example), I think the writers never really had an idea where the show was going and just sort of meandered their way to the end. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-start-the-x-files-a-show-ive-never-seen-before-ongoing-thread-about-my-opinions/681740/9 "2014-02-20T08:20:59Z")
There’s a lot about it to love. A lot to be frustrated with too, but I find binge watching will often lessen that factor, as you don’t dwell on speculation as much. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-start-the-x-files-a-show-ive-never-seen-before-ongoing-thread-about-my-opinions/681740/10 "2014-02-20T08:37:15Z")
“Please explain to me the scientific nature of ‘the whammy’”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-start-the-x-files-a-show-ive-never-seen-before-ongoing-thread-about-my-opinions/681740/11 "2014-02-20T13:23:52Z")
I watched _X-Files_ in its original run–and loved it. Toward the very end I lost interest, but the show offers many hours of excellent TV. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-start-the-x-files-a-show-ive-never-seen-before-ongoing-thread-about-my-opinions/681740/12 "2014-02-20T23:41:50Z")
Watched the first two episodes so far. Good start. I like how one is a natural believer in things and one plays the hardcore skeptic. It seems to be building up (already) to an eventual moment where the skeptic believes (somewhat), but no idea how far off that is yet (or to what extent it will be). ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-start-the-x-files-a-show-ive-never-seen-before-ongoing-thread-about-my-opinions/681740/13 "2014-02-20T23:51:26Z")
Far. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-start-the-x-files-a-show-ive-never-seen-before-ongoing-thread-about-my-opinions/681740/14 "2014-02-20T23:57:28Z")
I loved the first 4 or so seasons. I’d go so far as to say the X-files was one of the harbingers of the more complicated T.V. show that’s the defining feature of the Golden Age of TV that started with The Sopranos. Sadly it’s also a precursor to the line of ‘great series initially that lost itself in it’s own convoluted story arcs’ as well. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-start-the-x-files-a-show-ive-never-seen-before-ongoing-thread-about-my-opinions/681740/15 "2014-02-21T00:08:33Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > Far. No kidding. Don’t hold your breath. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-start-the-x-files-a-show-ive-never-seen-before-ongoing-thread-about-my-opinions/681740/16 "2014-02-21T00:13:39Z")
The “standalone” episodes are almost always better than the “myth-arc” ones. In fact, IMO, the episode “_ **Home** _” is probably the best episode of the entire series. It certainly is the most disturbing. You do need to watch the series BEFORE you attempt to watch the films. If you don’t you’ll be lost. You’ll be lost anyway as neither of the films were very good; but if you don’t watch the series, you’ll really have no idea what they are talking about in the films. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-start-the-x-files-a-show-ive-never-seen-before-ongoing-thread-about-my-opinions/681740/17 "2014-02-21T00:21:43Z")
> [@nevadaexile](#): > > The “standalone” episodes are almost always better than the “myth-arc” ones. In fact, IMO, the episode “_ **Home** _” is probably the best episode of the entire series. It certainly is the most disturbing. A few months ago, I watched “Home” for the first time in over a decade. It didn’t hold up as well as I remembered it. [spoiler]It wasn’t half as scary as I remember it being and a lot of inbred brother/hillbilly stuff looked really amateurish. It was still entertaining, but I’m not sure I’d consider it part of the X-Files pantheon anymore.[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-start-the-x-files-a-show-ive-never-seen-before-ongoing-thread-about-my-opinions/681740/18 "2014-02-21T00:36:10Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > A few months ago, I watched “Home” for the first time in over a decade. It didn’t hold up as well as I remembered it. > > [spoiler]It wasn’t half as scary as I remember it being and a lot of inbred brother/hillbilly stuff looked really amateurish. > > It was still entertaining, but I’m not sure I’d consider it part of the X-Files pantheon anymore.[/spoiler] Different strokes. I actually thought that it was most likely to occur in the “real world.” ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-start-the-x-files-a-show-ive-never-seen-before-ongoing-thread-about-my-opinions/681740/19 "2014-02-21T00:42:37Z")
Loved the one with the Alex Trebek cameo. Also the Genia that needed a REALLY specific wish ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-start-the-x-files-a-show-ive-never-seen-before-ongoing-thread-about-my-opinions/681740/20 "2014-02-21T01:00:21Z")
We’re into the third season on Netflix, and I’m loving seeing all the cameos of people before they were famous (or “famous”). Hey, that’s Gabrielle Miller (Lacey from “Corner Gas”)! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-start-the-x-files-a-show-ive-never-seen-before-ongoing-thread-about-my-opinions/681740.md?page=2)