"The X-Files" Recap: "My Struggle"

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

I distinctly recall the last time I saw Fox Mulder and Dana Scully on my television screen. They were in a motel room in Roswell, New Mexico, having just survived one incredible final showdown near Anasazi ruins where The Smoking Man met his final demise but not before revealing that the alien colonization of earth was coming on December 22, 2012.  I also remember feeling cheated immediately after the end of that episode.

After all, this was it, The X-Files was going off the air. We would never know how mankind would fight or even potentially survive the alien threat, and while we were gifted with one more motion picture, none of that was addressed. It was another moment where I felt cheated because let's be honest, the alien stuff was the cornerstone of this show and while it branched out into so many incredible places storytelling wise, we always wanted to see that plot line resolved and because of I Want to Believe...I never thought I would get my wish. That is until Fox announced a six episode revival of the show, and after an excruciating wait and endless teases by way of pictures and advertisements...the wait finally came to an end last night with the season ten premiere, "My Struggle".

So let's get one thing out of the way...who didn't lose their absolute mind when Mulder and Scully reappeared on the screen after all this time? Because...I know I did. It was a total reunion with old friends and seeing the two of them together once again was simply magical. I appreciated the fact that the characters were still true to who they were on the show so many years ago, especially Mulder who is still as driven and bullheaded as ever and I also appreciated the fact that the show wasted no time getting into this season's juicy plot. I mean seriously, this was an episode that moved at a breakneck pace, something I'm not used to when it comes to The X-Files. This was a series that liked to slow cook its conspiracies and while I'm sure it's related to the short season order, it was a wonderful change for the show.

But, the centerpiece of the night was one thing and one thing alone...the return of the alien conspiracy. It's what brings Mulder and Scully back together and it's what will clearly fuel season ten and quite frankly, I'm beyond excited about last night's twist to the whole thing...the fact that in essence man is behind everything. It explains why the colonization never occurred since the threat of it was central to control and well, there's something far more ominous about the fact that many of the horrible and crazy things our two favorite agents have squared off against over the years are more or less a product of the evil that men do. Man always makes for the finest villain and this little twist puts Mulder and Scully up against their greatest challenge yet...

Either way, this was a damn fine season premiere. Sure it started off a little clunky but I think we all expected that, seeing as to how it's been fourteen years since the show was last on the air, but it doesn't take long for the magic to reappear and really that final scene where we learn that the X-Files have been reopened and that the Cigarette Smoking Man is alive and well is the one that sticks with me the most. It embodied all the magic of the series in that short little window and managed to give me chills as well, simply because it summarized so much. For one, the truth that we have been seeking after all this time has been revealed to all of us, and it's awful...but more importantly...everything we know and love about this show is back and with the truth in hand...nothing will ever be the same. Until next time.

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