Mundane observation dome

[Warbodog]

Do you have any miscellaneous insights on the series that may be worth contemplating for a few seconds before moving on with our lives? Here are some of mine.

1. The four regulars have names that can work any way around, though this would have been more obvious if David Ross had stayed and wouldn’t work if Chris Barrie used his real name.

2. The series’ lax attitude to continuity extends to the setting. Outside of Holly’s distress calls, I don’t think three million years is mentioned all that much after series I and before VI (not sure about later years). Instead, we get the extremely fudged “dead for centuries” and “travelling for thousands of years” – not actual retcons, but suggesting a more conventional setting for casual viewers tuning in and the sort of stories they’re telling. It’s only millions when they need it to be.

3. 200 years of stasis between series V and VI means that the earlier series took place in their equivalent of the early 19th century by comparison (e.g. Blackadder the Third). Since they didn’t run into a long-lived Camille or one of her great-great-etc grandchildren, it didn’t come up.

4. Although Lister is routinely slagged off in the series, he’s spared the level of seemingly authoritative character assassination that Rimmer gets, because the audience is aligned with Lister’s viewpoint most of the time. For example, we see Kochanski Camille belittling Rimmer’s interests, but we don’t get the equivalent of Hologram Camille reacting to Lister’s pickup lines, we’re left to form our own opinions on those. This flimsy point has not been considered much beyond this single example.

5. Cat’s costumes are overwhelmingly referenced more than anyone else’s in the series, but the least discussed by fans.

6. Ace Rimmer and Duane Dibbley were so seemingly ubiquitous in canon and tie-in merchandise through the 90s (Smegazine strips, T-shirts) that they still feel overused today, even though it’s been over 20 years since they appeared. Maybe they’re allowed back after all.

7. Only series III & V and maybe XI & XII (not as familiar with those) don’t have any sense of an arc whatsoever (though IV’s minor Kryten disobedience arc was already fucked up by episode shuffling). Series III is just about the only series where no episode directly references any previous episode, but it still has the Backwards scrolling text and general references to Rimmer having died and stuff.

8. One of the series’ most famous and quoted scenes – everybody’s dead, Dave – is a straight-up 2001: A Space Odyssey homage and would have been received that way at the time, but doesn’t work like that for most people coming to the episode later on or new viewers who are young or don’t watch old films.

9. Sometimes dismissed as lightweight and gimmicky today, Backwards was designed as an innovative interactive experience to reward extracurricular effort. As well as inviting fans to work out the backwards events and filming logistics, Arthur Smith’s eugolonom is teasingly long and “you scoundrels” is clearly a cleaned-up translation gag even before you’ve heard it. Unfortunately, by the time technology caught up with the intent and the ability to reverse media files properly on home computers became commonplace, Backwards Forwards came out and everyone just cheated with the walkthrough.

Imagine the quality of the musings I left out!

Topic

[Moonlight]

I always wished that show went full comedy like that and toned down the bleak gang stuff, but I know that’s a minority view.

If you want a show with Vince Gilligan on the writing staff doing straight comedy you should watch The X-Files spinoff The Lone Gunmen. Or, on second thought, stop after you’ve watched the first episode and then looked up when it aired. That date is much funnier than the show.

[Ben Saunders]

I always wished that show went full comedy like that and toned down the bleak gang stuff, but I know that’s a minority view.

I like how it maintained comedic elements throughout most of its run, and how the seemingly filler, low stakes plotline of the first season has ramifications all the way to the end. It does feel like two shows at points, though, there’s one episode where Jimmy & Kim aren’t even in it until around the 20 minute mark. When they turned up the friend I was watching with said sarcastically “oh I forgot he was in this show”. 

[Warbodog]

you should watch The X-Files spinoff The Lone Gunmen

I made myself watch all of The Lone Gunmen and Chris Carter’s Harsh Realm, but only because there wasn’t too much of it to deal with.

Millennium was pretty good (seasons 1 & 2), but I never felt like rewatching it.

[Nick R]

OK, one more talking toilet clip:

[Warbodog]

The X-Files spinoff The Lone Gunmen

Just remembered I also saw Dean “Langly” Haglund do his ‘X-Files Improv’ audience-participation stand-up show at the Edinburgh Fringe around the time I Want to Believe came out, and it proved to be the better TXF event that year, even if it was just themed Whose Line Is It Anyway.

[Rushy]

I’ve considered getting into the X-Files, mainly for Duchovny who I really enjoyed on Twin Peaks. Any Peaks or David Lynch fans here?

[Moonlight]

I first watched Eraserhead in high school while robotripping at 2 AM and I’m still not sure if it was the best or worst movie-watching experience I’ve ever had.

I need to watch more Lynch stuff.

[Warbodog]

Watching the first few episodes of The X-Files will give you an idea whether you like it, though it takes quite a while to develop a sense of humour. But if you’re the kind of person who has to commit to the entirety of something even when you’re no longer enjoying it, then probably not worth starting.

[Warbodog]

Although, seeing as it’s you, you might think it finally hit its stride in season 9 or something like that.

[Dave]

The first two or three seasons of The X-Files are pretty fantastic TV. After that it becomes a lot patchier but still has its moments.

[Technopeasant]

Don’t remind Doug he wrote a talking crapper.

…Don’t tell Vince Gilligan either. Or Chris Carter.

[Technopeasant]

Although, seeing as it’s you, you might think it finally hit its stride in season 9 or something like that.

Any Peaks or David Lynch fans here?

Kinda surprised you neved bumped the thread that asked that exact question, honestly.

[Technopeasant]

It was actually Rushy’s own thread.

Any David Lynch fans here?

[Podey]

I rewatched all of The X-Files during the early pandemic and my view was it remains good for a lot longer than people generally think. I even enjoyed some of the non-Mulder-and-Scully stuff.

And just to note Better Call Saul is abso-bloody-lutely phenomenal television. 

[International Debris]

I’ve considered getting into the X-Files, mainly for Duchovny who I really enjoyed on Twin Peaks. Any Peaks or David Lynch fans here?

The first season of The X Files in particular bears quite a strong Twin Peaks influence. Can’t say whether that’s a positive or a negative.

[Unrumble]

The first two or three seasons of The X-Files are pretty fantastic TV. After that it becomes a lot patchier but still has its moments.

I’d say the first season has a few real duds (alongside some absolute classics), finding its feet properly in season 2, but it certainly has a unique atmosphere that dissipates later on.

[Warbodog]

It started as another weird show my dad let me stay up for on a school night (Thursday?) and was Saturday-prime time mainstream by season 4, even my mum and nan watched it.

[Dave]

The first two or three seasons of The X-Files are pretty fantastic TV. After that it becomes a lot patchier but still has its moments.

I’d say the first season has a few real duds (alongside some absolute classics), finding its feet properly in season 2, but it certainly has a unique atmosphere that dissipates later on.

From my memories of when it originally aired, the period from the back end of season one going into the premiere of season two (and then the storyline early in season two with Scully’s abduction) was as exciting as the show ever got. People were going crazy for that season two premiere.

Honestly the second half of season one is just the show firing on all cylinders. So many classics.

[Dave]

(Can we officially add the X-Files as a G&T Secondary Fandom alongside Sonic The Hedgehog, Doctor Who and the Masked Singer?)

[Rushy]

And just to note Better Call Saul is abso-bloody-lutely phenomenal television. 

I generally love Better Call Saul, but I feel they got a bit carried away with the 3D chess war between Lalo and Gus. 

[Unrumble]

Honestly the second half of season one is just the show firing on all cylinders. So many classics.

Totally, the wobbly ones as I recall (it’s been many years since my last watch) were from earlier on. 

Looking at the episode list, I have less than fond memories of ‘Shadows’, ‘Ghost In The Machine’ and ‘Space’. 

[Warbodog]

Scully’s abduction arc was my peak childhood X-Files nostalgia.

When we eventually clocked that ‘The Truth Is Out There’ wasn’t the episode title and was just the same every week, my dad would always, and I mean always, amusingly say “we’ve seen that one!”

[Dave]

I got pretty obsessed with the titles in general after watching the show repeatedly. 

GOVERNMENT DENIES KNOWLEDGE 

[Jenuall]

I rewatched most of season 1 of the X-Files a few years back and the thing that really struck me was how explicit and undeniable it is almost right out of the gate about aliens being real – in my head the whole “is Mulder just making this shit up, Skully is there to be the voice of valid doubt/reason against his mad-cap theories” element of the show was much stronger early on. But no, it’s basically like “yep, it’s aliens. They’re everywhere doing shit. There’s loads of evidence for it. Skully just needs to get the fuck on board”

[Warbodog]

They tried to make it ambiguous at various points in the mythology whether it was the Syndicate etc. creating an alien hoax to cover their own actions. Which might work if you were only watching the mythology in isolation, but then the next, completely disconnected monster of the week episode would have an unambiguous mummy or some shit, so there was loads of paranormal stuff anyway.

[Moonlight]

The real fun of the X-Files is that Mulder is still a maniac who is completely out of control in some episodes, the world just contrives to make him right.

[Dave]

Clearly the best X-Files episode is the Simpsons crossover.

[Technopeasant]

(Can we officially add the X-Files as a G&T Secondary Fandom alongside Sonic The Hedgehog, Doctor Who and the Masked Singer?)

Make a thread, you have the power.

(Unless the mods intervene for some reason)

[Moonlight]

Please, I love The X-Files. I’ve been showing it in order to my girlfriend and we’re having a great time with it. I feel like I’m a kid waiting for Christmas with the season 2 finale looming like 18 episodes away with the astronomical rampage Agent Mulder goes on in that episode.

I still unironically enjoy the show a lot but I do get some ironic fun out of the cheesier or more unhinged elements. Took everything dead seriously as a 15 year old watching it for the first time. Scully may have fundamentally rewired my brain.

[Warbodog]

The comedy episodes from late season 2 to 5 were a real sweet spot (not just or especially Darin Morgan’s), before they lost the knack and often went too zany (still a couple of good ones in 6 & 7 at least). Those are the easiest to randomly throw on any time.

Bad Blood was an instant favourite episode when I saw it at about 12 at the height of my “lol, fictional gore!” phase. Gilligan has so much fun with the characters.

Post-Modern Prometheus became an adult favourite because of how clever I imagine it’s being with all the suggestive animal characteristics. But right now I’m gonna watch War of the Coprophages.

[Warbodog]

War of the Coprophages.

They break the fourth wall and make a bug cross the screen to freak viewers out. Amazing.

[Jonathan Capps]

my dad would always, and I mean always, amusingly say “we’ve seen that one!

When the satnav interrupts music in the car with directions, I always say ”’those aren’t the lyrics!”.

Repetition is key, until your ungrateful family fucking LAUGH. And even when they eventually do, out of politeness or fear, you still repeat the joke forever.

Your dad was fighting the good fight, and I applaud him.

[Flap Jack]

When the satnav interrupts music in the car with directions, I always say ”’those aren’t the lyrics!”.

Repetition is key, until your ungrateful family fucking LAUGH. And even when they eventually do, out of politeness or fear, you still repeat the joke forever.

Your dad was fighting the good fight, and I applaud him.

My version of this is that whenever someone mentions a 12-hour-clock time without specifying whether they mean the morning or afternoon/evening, I interject with either “AM?” or “PM?” – whichever is obviously not the time of day they mean.

It was funny maybe twice maximum, and it’s got to the point where people don’t even acknowledge I’ve said it. But now I can’t stop.

[Ian Symes]

Mine is “ah, this takes me back” whenever I’m in a vehicle that’s reversing.

[Jonathan Capps]

I borrow heavily from the greats as well, of course:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sedG1kBtn1M&pp=ygUabW9yY2FtYiBhbmQgd2lzZSBhbWJ1bGFuY2U%3D

This one has damn near had me throttled by my partner on a number of occasions.

[cwickham]

Clearly the best X-Files episode is the Simpsons crossover.

I am watching The X-Files for the first time at the moment (currently on early season 5) and one of my biggest takeaways is that I now find this episode about ten times funnier

[Unrumble]

Clearly the best X-Files episode is the Simpsons crossover.

I am watching The X-Files for the first time at the moment (currently on early season 5) and one of my biggest takeaways is that I now find this episode about ten times funnier

Don’t forget to watch the first film between 5 & 6.

[Dave]

Yeah, the “previously on” recap at the start of season 6 is really not sufficient. 

[Podey]

My daft thing I always say is whenever I spot a particular LBJ whilst birdwatching: “there’s Wren, but no sign of Stimpy”. 

On a similar note, if I ever spot a Goosander around my dad he has to say “a Goose and a what?”.

[Dave]

My favourite hilarious/annoying running gag is that if someone mentions “raw chicken”, I then loudly roar the word chicken.

(I didn’t realise when I was young that the annoying and unfunny things your parents say are very specifically designed to be annoying and unfunny, and parents need to have a healthy stock of them to get through being parents.)

[Rudolph]

The X-Files spinoff The Lone Gunmen
Just remembered I also saw Dean “Langly” Haglund do his ‘X-Files Improv’ audience-participation stand-up show at the Edinburgh Fringe around the time I Want to Believe came out, and it proved to be the better TXF event that year, even if it was just themed Whose Line Is It Anyway.

Amazingly, was talking to my manager about this today. Do you remember him stopping the show halfway through to pitch an icepack designed for keeping laptops cool?

[Rudolph]

I’ve considered getting into the X-Files, mainly for Duchovny who I really enjoyed on Twin Peaks. Any Peaks or David Lynch fans here?

The first season of The X Files in particular bears quite a strong Twin Peaks influence. Can’t say whether that’s a positive or a negative.

I’ve always pitched The X-Files to friends as ‘Dale Cooper and Clarice Starling look for UFOs’.

[Rushy]

I’ve always pitched The X-Files to friends as ‘Dale Cooper and Clarice Starling look for UFOs’.

I kind of imagine the X-Files as what Bob Iger wishes Twin Peaks was. Agent Cooper and a beautiful woman (Audrey Horne, before MacLachlan nixed their popular dynamic on the grounds of her character being in high school) solving strange and standalone mysteries. 

The serialisation of Twin Peaks was always what ABC hated the most about it. 

[Technopeasant]

I always shout “Yeah! End construction!” as if it were a protest sign.

[Moonlight]

My favourite hilarious/annoying running gag is that if someone mentions “raw chicken”, I then loudly roar the word chicken.

I’m going to trust that this makes sense with your accent because those are wildly different sounding words to me.

[Quinn: Clochebusters World Champion]

My favourite hilarious/annoying running gag is that if someone mentions “raw chicken”, I then loudly roar the word chicken. 

I’m going to trust that this makes sense with your accent because those are wildly different sounding words to me.

Raw and roar are homophones 

[Moonlight]

I speak the Queen’s English, American, where raw and roar sound nothing alike but merry, marry and Mary are all homophones.

[Warbodog]

[Dave]

merry, marry and Mary are all homophones.

(1:20)

[Nick R]

I speak the Queen’s English, American, where raw and roar sound nothing alike but merry, marry and Mary are all homophones.

And if you’re from Baltimore…

[Author]

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