The X-Files

Shadowy conspiracies and the supernatural... I was a huge fan of this show and its fantastic mix of fascinating mythology and stand-alone episode weirdness. And it, of course, taught me two important lessons: you should trust no one, and the truth is out there. Ah, the nostalgia!

A landmark TV series by any standard. Combined sharp writing, great acting, and an evocatively cinematic look to create a fascinating, paranoia-fueled experience. Not every episode was a winner, but when it was good, it was amazing.

TV: Seasons 1-5 represent classic TV - some of the best written and produced entertainment ever. To a certain extent, it's fair to say that 'you had to be there' to experience the best of a cult sci-fi show thriving on its symbiosis with burgeoning internet sub-culture. Whilst the episodes continue to thrill, the feverish speculation and obsession of the 90s X-Files experience is a novelty lost to the ages. You can (and maybe should) stop watching after S6. S1:90|S2:93|S3:95|S4:93|S5:97|S6:92

Until Lost this was my favorite. There are a bit too many monster-of-the-week episodes, but I can accept that. And the X-files theme still makes me excited.

I am part of a unique age-group of men and women around the world, whose left eye will twitch whenever someone mentions 'The X-Files', because this was the first time we learned that grown-ups lie. 'The X-Files' was NOT based on real FBI files. There are no moth men! It's all bullshit! So when all is said and done, and you have to ask yourself "Is this 'The Wire'?" You'll answer: That's a stupid fucking question. Don't ever talk to me again.

One of my favourite shows of all time. This came out when I was 15, during the pinnacle of my occult and supernatural phase. I ate this shit up like candy. This was "Freak of the Week" before it was a thing. The seasons with Duchovny and Anderson were great, but I kinda lost interest once Duchovny left and Robert Patrick came on board. At least Mulder came back for the series finale (and then for the reboot!) The "COPS" episode is still one of my faves.

There's no denying that when X-Files came around it set new standards for how well produced TV could look, and me being a young teenager, its extensive sic-fi universe resonated deeply. Still, the lack of plot progression, as evident in the almost none-existing character development (Scully still being a sceptic even after being chased by monsters and kidnapped by aliens), slowly took the air out of the series. I stopped watching somewhere around season five.

OK to be honest I have seen very little of this program. But what I am going to reveal to you now is true, really. The very first time I ever saw this program occurred when I flicked to the channel at the precise moment when the character of Scully was bent over, getting a tattoo on her ass, seemingly enjoying it a great deal. At that point I wanted to believe. But I believe now it was just providence that I tuned in at the very moment something rather unusual for television was taking place.

Inconsistent, dragging and dramatically repetitive but priceless as a celebration of genre fiction. Pretty amazingly for such a long run it manages to be interesting and engaging most of the time. Massively commendable in its openness and generally very well produced. I would have to admit to some nostalgia points but seriously, this used to creep the shit out of me as a child.

Not so great as a series, but there are some seriously good episodes out there. That’s the truth.