While The X-Files revival - seasons 10 and 11 - proved to be uneven in quality and exhibited many problems, here's why it was still worth making. Successfully reviving a TV show can be a very tricky thing. This has been especially evident in the last five or so years, when all of a sudden trying to revisit past glories became every TV network and streaming service's big idea. There have arguably been many more misses than hits as a result of this quest.
When reviving an absolutely iconic, genre redefining show like The X-Files though, expectations are magnified tenfold. The X-Files wasn't just some cult favorite like Arrested Development or Futurama, it was one of the most popular shows to come out of the 1990s, and maintains a slavishly loyal fanbase. If an actor was anyone even semi-important on The X-Files, they're probably going to have fans for life, even if their career isn't exactly full of big roles in the years afterward.
Now though, almost three years removed from season 11, many would argue that The X-Files revival years were a mistake, and that the franchise would've been better off left alone. We disagree, as even with its myriad flaws, the revival still ended up worthy of its existence.
Why The X-Files Revival Was Worth Making (Despite Its Problems)
The biggest problem with The X-Files revival was the quartet of "My Struggle" episodes, which served to further the series' alien conspiracy storyline. Unfortunately, they were almost universally disliked, being considered underwhelming at best and disastrous at worst. However, many would argue The X-Files' greatest strength was always its ability to craft unforgettable individual episodes, and seasons 10 and 11 produced their share of those. At the top are the two hilarious episodes written by Darin Morgan, season 10's "Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster" and season 11's "The Lost Art of Forehead Sweat."
There was also the dramatic and intriguing "Kitten," which looked into Walter Skinner's origins, the amusing and energetic "Rm9sbG93ZXJz" that looked at the perils of reliance on technology, and "Nothing Lasts Forever," which saw The X-Files get creepy and gross again in the best way. While it's true that season 11 was much better than season 10, the former couldn't have happened without the latter setting the stage. Plus, there's one more major factor to consider, and that's how The X-Files should end. While season 11 was far from perfect, it was a much better way to go out than the largely woeful season 9 or the dud X-Files: I Want to Believe movie.