Those wacky aliens are up to their old tricks!
An online conspiracy theorist named Tad O’Malley (Joel McHale) brings Agent Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Agent Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) out of retirement to investigate new claims of a government-alien conspiracy. As Mulder and Scully investigate O’Malley’s claims, they discover just because they’ve left the X-Files that the mysteries have not continued. If O’Malley’s discoveries prove true, Mulder and Scully might have uncovered the biggest conspiracy ever.
The X-Files—Season 10 aired on FOX from January 1, 2016 to February 15, 2016. The series is also referred to as The X-Files—The Event Series and has no ties to the IDW comic book series The X-Files—Season 10.
Don’t worry, the series isn’t that bad
I loved The X-Files and have even checked out things like The X-Files—Season 10 comic books. A lot of these relaunches and renews of series almost feel like fan fiction…they feel cheap, gratuitous, and unnecessary. The X-Files feels a bit different, I do feel that the short six episode “season” captured a lot of The X-File’s feeling.
The X-Files had a great “conspiracy” going in the series and both “My Struggle” and “My Struggle II” feel like they carry on the main series’ conspiracy and seems to up the ante. A lot of the original series was the idea that the characters aren’t able to find proof…technology and times have changed. Now, Mulder and Scully seem to have the access to more technology and the danger is bigger and more evident. The truth doesn’t seem to be nearly as hidden as it was…now it is up to them to expose it to the world (and protect them from it as seen in the last episode).
Weird episode to go to complete levity
The original series also realized that the series was so absurd that they needed humor. Episodes like “Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster” harken back to the classic “Jose Chung’s From Outer Space” and is a lot of fun with lots of in-series references to old episodes and an homage to the X-Files’ inspiration Kolchak: The Night Stalker (with Rhys Darby’s costume). Add to the comedy with a creature-of-the-week episode “Home Again” and the season is pretty balanced.
It is nice to see Duchovny and Anderson together again and they slip into their roles perfectly. The last outing (The X-Files: I Want to Believe) was a disappointment, but here, it seems rectified. The series doesn’t make much use of Skinner (Mitch Pileggi) and it takes a while for the Cigarette Smoking Man (William B. Davis) to come into play. It is good to see Monica Reyes (Annabeth Gish) back for an episode and the all-to-brief cameo by the Lone Gunmen Byers (Bruce Harwood), Frohike (Tom Braidwood), and Langly (Dean Haglund).
The truth is…looking right at us
It becomes obvious that the compact season has allowed a bigger budget for The X-Files. The episodes look great and are much more special effect laden than the early seasons. This doesn’t make much sense if you consider this series as part of a whole…why have the ships and sets gotten better? Maybe Mulder & Scully are in the Matrix…
The X-Files—Season 10 proves to be a good thing in a world of relaunches and remakes. The series ends in a complete cliffhanger so I’m glad FOX has confirmed that it will return for another season (or I’d be pretty angry). With this new format of programming, the return and rebirth of shows will surely continue…we’re just waiting on that Manimal relaunch!
The X-Files—Season 10 Complete Episode Guide:
“My Struggle”
10.1 My Struggle Airdate: 01/24/16
Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) find themselves pulled out of retirement from the X-Files by a web conspiracy theory broadcaster named Tad O’Malley (Joel McHale) who presents them with a woman named Sveta (Annet Mahendru) claiming to be able to provide concrete proof of alien abduction. As Scully questions if O’Malley could be telling the truth about Sveta and potential alien DNA, Mulder finds he is learning a different side of the X-Files and the government cover-up that could reveal the truth once and for all!
“Founder’s Mutation”
10.2 Founder’s Mutation Airdate: 01/25/16
A suicide in Nugenics Technology has Mulder and Scully called in to investigate. A revelation that Nugenics is experimenting with genetically mutated children lead Mulder and Scully to question the life of their own son William. Mulder and Scully track the cause of the suicide and could unleash horror as a result.
“Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster”
10.3 Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster Airdate: 02/01/16
A mysterious murder in Shawan, Oregon sends Mulder and Scully on a monster hunt for a possible lizard man. As Mulder hunts the “were-lizard”, a man named Guy Mann (Rhys Darby) could be the key to the mystery…but his story might be something even Mulder can’t believe.
“Home Again”
10.4 Home Again Airdate: 02/08/16
As Philadelphia cracks down on the homeless, the murder of an official (Alessandro Juliani) has Mulder and Scully on the case. The murders appear supernatural in nature, and Mulder might have to search for the killer alone when Scully suffers a personal crisis.
“Babylon”
10.5 Babylon Airdate: 02/15/16
A terrorist suicide bomber strikes an art display on Muhammad and agents Miller (Robbie Arnell) and Einstein (Lauren Ambrose) are assigned to root out a potential terrorist cell tied to the attack. The only source is one of the terrorist survivors who is in a coma. With Mulder and Scully’s help Einstein and Miller hope to find the terrorists before it is too late.
“My Struggle II”
10.6 My Struggle II Airdate: 02/15/16
Tad O’Malley has released a shocker. Human DNA has been tampered with and a contagion has been unleashed that could threaten the world. Scully’s discovery that her alien DNA seems immune to the virus. While Scully and Einstein work on a cure for the spreading crisis, Miller sets out to rescue Mulder from one of the people responsible…the Cigarette Smoking Man (William B. Davis).
Related Links:
The X-Files—Season 1 Review and Complete Episode Guide
The X-Files—Season 2 Review and Complete Episode Guide
The X-Files—Season 3 Review and Complete Episode Guide
The X-Files—Season 4 Review and Complete Episode Guide
The X-Files—Season 5 Review and Complete Episode Guide
The X-Files—Season 6 Review and Complete Episode Guide
The X-Files: Fight the Future (1998)
The X-Files—Season 8 Review and Complete Episode Guide
The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008)
The Lone Gunmen—The Complete Series Review and Complete Episode Guide
