The X-Files revolutionized network TV when it hit screens in 1993, with a unique premise and an immediately lovable duo with great casting in David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. The series, created by Chris Carter, quickly became one of the most popular shows of its time, even going on to have a theatrically released film that became the highest grossing movie of 1997.
However, since then, the show has gotten lost in its own story, failing to hit the heights that it used to and stumbling through a second film, this time not a financial success, and two new seasons. The X-Files should take inspiration from another show that started out strong but eventually tapered off, Showtime’s Dexter, and make a reboot in the vain of New Blood.
Like The X-Files, Dexter arrived as a completely fresh and original show, with a premise unlike any other series on television or film. Dexter is a serial killer, but is positioned as the protagonist and an overall likable person, despite what he does to people. The ultimate reason why this works is because of Dexter’s code that he follows: he must only kill murderers, and needs undeniable proof that they are guilty of these crimes. Anything less than that and he risks killing someone who possibly doesn’t deserve it. This makes Dexter a vigilante of sorts, cleaning up the streets of Miami and ridding the world of vicious serial killers.
There’s certainly more nuisance to all of this, such as the morals of the fact that he seems to genuinely enjoy murdering others, and this is explored in more depth when his family and friends get caught in the crossfire of his actions. Dexter is also great with kids and young children, another reason why he’s so likable, as he seems to have a shred of genuine empathy for others despite claiming to have no feelings. Overall, Dexter’s uniqueness as a character is a massive reason of why this show became so popular in the first place.
Unfortunately, audiences soured on Dexter as time went on. Latter outings, such as seasons 6 and 8, were criticized for their overall lack of uniqueness, an ironic complaint given how earlier seasons were so original. Of course, Dexter season 8 also featured the infamous series finale, now dubbed the first finale by the show’s creators after New Blood’s release. This episode, Remember the Monsters?, was considered one of the worst endings to any show ever, and many claimed it even ruined the whole show.
Dexter: New Blood was born out of this reception to the original finale, with a reboot that channeled many of the early seasons’ best qualities to craft a new story. Dexter trying to balance his family life with his killing, such a crucial element of season 4 (the best received of the whole series), was present once again in New Blood. This reboot had Dexter, of course, but largely featured new characters in the town of Iron Lake, where he took up residence in his years since he left Miami. The setting is also unique, and practically the exact opposite of the original show. It provided the series with a freshness that helped it overcome some of the messiness of the latter seasons of the original run. This is, of course, in despite of the divisive finale of New Blood, which largely upset fans once again. Overall, New Blood is still a successful season and reboot.
This is exactly what The X-Files needs, bar a divisive finale of course. In the original run, the show seemed to fold in on itself, particularly as the main plotline became practically incomprehensible. Season 6 cleared up much of the confusion, but it quickly returned in the latter seasons. The alien invasion that season 8 ended with seemed to mysteriously disappear at the beginning of the next season, and were replaced with a bizarre super soldier plot that seemed to belong in a different show entirely.
At this point, it was essentially a different show, with David Duchovny leaving his series regular role after season 7 and Gillian Anderson appearing in only a few scenes an episode. They were replaced with Robert Patrick and Annabeth Gish, and they largely worked well if it was a spin-off or different show, but as a continuation of The X-Files, it just wasn’t right. It ultimately ended with a clip show style finale, intent on clearing up confusion (unsuccessfully) and teasing a 2012 disaster plotline that never came to fruition.
The second movie was also largely unsuccessful, failing to capture the magic of the early seasons. The new seasons, from 2016 and 2018 respectively, clearly suffered from fatigue. These were the same characters in the same setting with the same overarching plot line that’s been in place since the very first episode. It felt too much like a show from the 90s, which it is, but it clearly needs to evolve.
This is why a New Blood style reboot could be so beneficial to The X-Files. A new setting would freshen up the show, but in particular, a clear directing style would help significantly. More of a distinct visual style would help move The X-Files away from a procedural show and towards more refined television, just as what happened in Dexter: New Blood. Seeing Mulder and Scully in a brand-new setting and with a distinct visual style would be a major step forward for the franchise.
Most importantly, though, a new central plot line is needed. The Smoking Man, the villain of the entire show thus far, has run his course, and arguably should have left years ago. This has nothing to do with performance, but instead a tired central story. It also is outdated, as it was compelling in the post-Watergate era rampant with public distrust of the government, and although many of those feelings still exist, they’ve clearly evolved in a way the story of The X-Files has not.
One could even make the argument that not having any central story would be better than continuing this one, as The X-Files is still more than capable of making incredible isolated episodes. This has always been a strength of the show, as even when the main plot was struggling they always had one-off episodes to fall back on. Seasons 8 and 9, by far the weakest of the show, still had great episodes sprinkled in. Even the new seasons, not the worst of the show but arguably the ones in which the problems mentioned were most evident, could actually be considered worth it because of two episodes. Mulder and Scully Meet The Were-Monster and The Lost Art of Forehead Sweat are two of the best entries of the entire series, trading in the horror and suspense often used in episodes of The X-Files for comedy and genuine emotion.
The X-Files is one of the most successful shows of all time, and has two of the best central characters in Mulder and Scully. It made the careers of David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson and paved the way for many modern sci-fi and conspiracy theory shows today. However, it certainly lost its way, and is in need of a reboot. The writers should look to Dexter: New Blood for inspiration.