#xfiles rewatch

[scullyitsme]

one thing i need you to understand and truly appreciate about the x-files is that it could do comedy.

like, yes, it's a critically acclaimed, iconic sci-fi drama with a myth arc. it has cinematic moments of monster-of-the-week horror, thriller, and suspense.

but it was also incredibly funny at times.

we got some irreverent and even absurdist humor that didn't just get the characters, it got the audience.

it knew when to pull out the jabs and the slapstick. it knew when to get self-referential and tongue-in-cheek. it could give you laugh-out-loud setups and snarky one-liners.

obviously, a large part of the reason it worked was that david and gillian can be comedians while also maintaining the truth of mulder and scully.

you never could have an episode like "bad blood" (vince gilligan script) or "dreamland" 1+2 (vince gilligan, frank spotnitz, and john shibaneven) with actors who don't get that, no matter how punchy the writing is.

i think there was also an element of truly understanding pacing and respecting the fans enough to wait until the show had hit its stride before taking those brief, witty exchanges that had been peppered in as moments of levity earlier in the series and cultivating them into these comedic storylines that still had depth—they weren't just throwaways.

i mean, i know some of you haven't been in the fandom 20 years but "jose chung's from outer space" and "clyde bruckman’s final repose" (darin morgan's scripts) was not like "oh, this just a farce." and even "bad blood" is one of the most quotable episodes in the entire series ("it wasn't even real cream cheese!"). they were gifts we didn't even know we wanted! that we needed.

and chris carter even got it enough to give us "how the ghosts stole christmas" and "triangle." david went there with "the unnatural" and "hollywood a.d."

i mean, the x-files never went so hard that it forgot what it was; it never tried to be a sitcom. not even "x-cops" was legitimately trying to genre-bend.

and sure, some episodes were just...not it. and us laughing at them was not intended. they were just...kinda bad (sorry, "teso dos bichos").

it's been really something to watch a new fandom discover the show for the first time, and in such a different way than we did when it was airing weekly, we had to sit down and stay sat for it. or we had to tape it (and some of us did, and kept those vhs's until they wore out).

then we had the vhs sets. the dvds. the blu-rays. we wondered if it would ever show up on streaming. and now, there's free tv streaming it 24/7 (thanks, pluto).

when i tell you that my 12 year old x-phile heart would fucking ASCEND if you told me that??

well...ranks right up there with getting a pony and learning to braid my own hair.

[xfile999]

Journey to the Truth - tangent: Scully's Cancer Arc Fanfic Recs (S4 E12 - S5 E02) Part II: Short Series and Episode Fics

Life is messy. The best part of the CancerScully X-Files is the way that part of life translates onto the small screen, into the lives of Mulder and Scully. It's because they care about each other that their sympatico falls out of sync in this unknown territory. They're nervous, scared, and trying to hide it in order to be strong for their partner. All of those bottled up emotions sneak out in unexpected ways and times, as it does for all of us. Of course, some writers portray this better than others, both on the show and in the fic.

I've made an effort to tame the messy into broad chronological categories. I feel like there is an emotional undercurrent to the msr at these various stages of the cancer arc. I'm attempting to set 'hooks' along the way so I don't go too far adrift (àla Rob Bowman in José Chung?). Let's see how it goes.

Stage 1: Admitting that you have a problem

A lot of the stand-alone fic from early days are covered ground. I've made fic recs for each individual episode through Demons and more extensive recs for Never Again, Memento Mori, Tempus Fugit/Max, and Small Potatoes. If you're looking for anything in particular, just let me know.

I do want to start here by mentioning several Cancer Arc series that span across the time frame. I love when writers do this. They get drawn into a period or scenario and immerse the reader in so much more than CC and Co allowed. It also is an opportunity to become more familiar with their particular voice, which I value. (Sometimes you just want something that hits the spot, you know?)

xxxxx

'In the morning, when you finally go' by spookysoph

I have already recommended Chapter 2 - Small Potatoes, but this entire series is excellent. spookysoph is prolific in the cancer arc, and it is a gift to us all. Love, love, love, love, love.

'Me and You Against the World' by lots_of_oranges_outside

I have also already recommended this series, back on Never Again. I like that sometimes the work is tied to an episode, but not always. This author is right at home in S4, so settle in for a bit.

'In Times of Trouble' by stolendreams

This one is live in progress, so go send some support or just follow along. I really enjoyed Chapter 3 - Chores.

'Our Moments' by tatooedlaura

I've also recommended from her before, on Max 2.0. This series follows through to the end of the arc as well.

And just one single MM fic that I came across after my post:

'Healing' by Spooky66.

Stage 2: Facing your fears

There's a great post by @randomfoggytiger 'Elegy: A Lie Between Two Truths.' It captures the enigma of Elegy, an episode that starts so light and ends with M&S so unsettled. I give Mulder a LOT of shit over the end of Elegy. It's not fair, considering he didn't write it (and there is some payback up the line). Say what you will, but the tension between them here is primo.

⚠️ Content Warnings ⚠️ Self-Harm/Suicidal Thoughts and/or Actions ⚠️ ⚠️ Warnings Thru Redux ⚠️

'faith' by kittenscully

'Another Swim' by Joann Humby (on gossamer)

'maniacs in the fourth dimension' by illinoise*

Of course, Special Agent Fox Mulder is one unstable man at the best of times, so, Demons...In the light of Elegy, the events of Demons make a lot of sense to me. But they only further complicate those partner emotions that no one is talking about regarding a certain terminal illness.

'too tired to fight' by belledamn

'Not Waving but Drowning' by spookysoph

'Subarachnoid' by Jennifer272

'Bleed After Bleed' by icedteainthebag

'Everything In It's Right Place' by theongayboy

Is it any wonder, then, the divide between M&S during Gethsemane? The alien divide is predictable. The physical distance probably surprises Mulder. (She's not going with him?) But she does have family visiting, and this isn't a case. (Neither was rescuing him from his Demons, actually.) And he DID ask, but letting Mulder walk away with the cancer line hanging in the air at the end of the episode? Yikes! (This would be said payback.)

xxxxx

'Schrödinger's Question' by california_112*

'Preventative Measures' by california_112*

* The one by illinoise above and these two by california_112 specifically reference suicide and self-harm. They're grim and fit with my perception of Mulder. That does not mean they are a good fit for everyone.

Thankfully, that was not the direction the show chose to take. (They just wanted us to think it for five months.)

xxxxx

'Gethsemane' by 30xf, Part 96 of 201 Days of X-Files - This is the last work in this series that I've read from the beginning. I've recommended them time and again and will miss having the regular installments.

Stage 3: United we stand, divided we fall

During the Cancer Arc, but at an Unspecified Time - The Sweet Stuff

'beautiful' by ContentsPriceless

During the Cancer Arc, but at an Unspecified Time - The Spicy Stuff

'Hands' by ScullyGolightly

'La Petite Mort' by spookysoph

During Redux II

'Make the Most of It' by arcadianfalls

Current/ongoing AU story that begins during Redux II.

'always in sickness, never in health' by thesameface

'A Change for Us' by lots_of_oranges _outside, Part 30 of You and Me Against the World

'End of the Road' by tatooedlaura, Part 8 from Our Moments

'Rebehold the Stars' by nightoncydonia

'Asking for Miracles' by Baroness_Blixen

'Redux II' by spookysoph Chapter 5 of In the morning when you finally go

Stage 4: Happily ever after or whatever

'Produce and Other Miracles' by saintscully

'Loving Frankness and Truth' by backatpatrickpark

'Melioration' by Oracle

'Rhode Island Sunrise' by DarlaBlack

'Bestow' by o666666

'that's why I know, oh, I know' by idontshave forsher_yesyoudo

'in this moment now' by bravest_person_in _Wonderland

'Post Moments' by tatooedlaura, Part 9 from Our Moments

xxxxx

Confession: My storage 'system' is screenshots. My devices are about to have the biggest purge. The episode rewatch will likely pick up again, too. At least until the movie...Say, while we're here, I'll gladly take fic recs. I'm a fan of Antarctica! 😉 Thanks so, so much for sharing in the Journey!

[overcaffeinated-underwhelmed]

OH MY GOD I TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT SPENDER. HOW??????

[kindalikerackham]

his loserboy charm and devil's luck compel me

[lightsaber-life]

this x-files rewatch is actually driving me insane why is this show so beautiful

like the care and attention given to framing and lighting and editing is making this rewatch so much more rewarding than i thought it would be. this show is so pretty.

[basnatural]

X-Files rewatch...

Over 10 years since I watched Tunguska last and completely forgot about the scene where Mulder hits his boyfriend for a “stupid ass haircut”...come on Fox, that was a weak excuse to touch him 😂😂

[scullysexual]

X-Files Live Rewatch

To help anyone out who’s having issues with remembering the dates/time we watch.

Every Tuesday and Friday at 8:00pm BST, please be on the chat ready for this time.

We press play at 8:05pm. This seems to work for everybody currently, no one is falling behind.

I’ll send out a reminder post at 7:30pm BST (so half an hour before you should be on if you’re planning on watching) You can join any time between 7:30 and 8:00 though the earlier you join, the less stress.

I can also have reminders going out through the day if that also helps. There’s also this post that has all the details on if you need it.

Follow me if you want instant reminders but of course you have to be online for those reminders. 

If you’re struggling, write the days and time down, set an alarm on your phone. I’ll do my bit from my end but ultimately it’s down to you to remember. 

[lexi-lucy]