Is it just me of does season 8 and 9 feel more like a soap opera than previous seasons? Didn’t Chris Carter work on soap operas before The X Files? Didn’t he at one point vow that he would never turn the show into a soap opera?
This is in no way a knock on the guy, just a funny observation and I want to know if you or anyone else agrees.
I think melodrama, definitely.
Not all of Season 8, but it is present in parts. I think Scully's theme really contributes-- but then again, Gillian worked with Mark Snow to compose it, so she must have liked it.
If I were to take a guess: Season 8 was the first where Spotnitz and CC had to double down and write an over-arching story (they mentioned this once or twice.) It was also the first season where they both decided characterization came first, and serialized that-- in part to explore the characters' growth in Mulder's absence, in part to establish Doggett as a trustworthy replacement when Duchovny decided not to come back. Season 8 definitely had more... emotions; but they were deserved, I think-- Season 8 wasn't ONLY emotions (we'll get to Season 9....) Essence - Existence is where the "soap opera" REALLY peeked through. Hate most of that two-parter with a passion (NO, it did not happen that way.)
If I were to take an even more pointed guess: I think CC equates character exploration ('domesticity") with melodrama; but it's not a Season 8 and 9 exclusive thing. Gillian and David mentioned that they played their characters low-key because A. it was their acting style and B. because so much (shall we say) melodrama happens that it would become absurd, quickly. The purple prose and pastiche language was always there, for example. Season 8 and 9 were the same concepts with fewer guardrails.
If I were to take an even more zoomed-in guess: Season 8 was relying on characterization (in the writers' looser definition of that word) to flesh out the new dynamic in the show. Season 9, however, took those newer aspects and shaved off their substance-- i.e. a good reason for Mulder's absence, a good reason to explore Scully's motherhood, a good reason to follow Doggett as he becomes acquainted with the files and Skinner, a good reason to follow Kersh's new rise to power, a good etc.-- which left us with Cops and Robbers and Crying Mothers.
For as many faults as Season 8 had, it had a goal and a vision.. By Season 9, Spotnitz and CC outright admitted it was harder and harder to write X-Files episodes; and Spotnitz, at one point, even had to face a potential future of helming the ship alone if CC lost his gamble with the FOX higher ups (pay, position, another season, etc.) That vision for Season 8 excited Gillian and Mitch Pileggi and TLG actors and Robert Patrick-- it did the impossible by (temporarily) reviving GA's dying embers of enthusiasm. Season 9? There was NOTHING for Scully to do, there was no place to take the show-- because CC and Spotnitz wanted a MOVIE for Mulder and Scully (which DD and GA were on board for) and a series for Doggett and Reyes-- there was only barreling burnout.
So: Season 8 had a goal... but what do you do when you have nothing to do? TURN UP THAT MELODRAMA, BABY, TEN FOLD. Thus, S9 Scully weeps without abandon. Thus, S9 Scully can't make a solid choice because it will force the plot to develop. Thus, we are stuck with no forward momentum-- e.g. S8's find Mulder, mourn his absence, keep the pregnancy secret, bury Mulder, mourn his loss, bring him back to life, watch him readjust, watch him and Scully disconnect from the files in order to become parents-- and only the emotions, only the fatigue, only the S9 tears.
Only the melodrama.