Season 8: What has gone wrong?
By Tud Thomas


On the eve of yet another Mulderless episode, I have been considering why it is that we seem so underwhelmed and disconnected from the episodes. Not focused like we are so used to. The problem lies in two areas: What 1013 has failed to do and in the very nature of the situation.

Regarding the former point, it has become glaringly obvious that Chris Carter et al, have completely missed the boat on how to handle Mulder's absence and have, as a direct consequence managed to turn a real winner situation into a dud which has only served to alienate and disconnect a huge proportion of the fan base.

What they needed to do and what they failed to do was so simple that it makes you wonder whether the actions they undertook were purposeful. What was needed was to mention mulder, the pregnancy and the fact that Scully misses him....not since Without have we had any sense that she needs him and the only mention of the pregnancy since “Roadrunners” exploitive inclusion of it was in “Via Negativa”. Even then, there has been no examination of how Scully is handling all of this, of who she is turning to or anything at all. In short we have been presented with a big fat nothing in this area. As a result, not only have Chris Carter and company squandered a great opportunity for establishing a grand arc throughout the first half of the season, they've disheartened large portions of the fan base to the point where people are emotionally disconnecting themselves from the show.

Another part of the problem lies in the fact that due to our knowing that Mulder is coming back, all of these episodes have taken on the patina of filler. Like we are marking time until the real season begins. The problem is that the knowledge of his return has us all looking past the episodes which are presented (which have been very well done if you consider them on their directing and cinematography merits alone). Knowing that Mulder return in February makes me wish that the intervening episodes would just get done..essentially, get out of the way for the real X-files.

Talk about a tin ear and missed opportunities.

Turning to the second problem, it lies in the nonsensical way that they are handling Mulder's return. He returns for six episodes and then is abducted again? Leaves? Is killed? Does that make sense to anyone? I've been bothered by it since Requiem. At least if he was there on a limited basis in the ninth season, it could be handled as he and Scully being on a leave of absence due to the birth of the baby and his health. That would make sense. It didn't help me to hear David Duchovny on Access Hollywood ...he isn't returning for the ninth season? Then why bring him back at all? What are they going to do? Kill him off again after six episodes?

In the same vein, what is with the way that they are having Scully hide her pregnancy? Why? What in the world is going on that she has to hide this? Not that she could anyway, eventually she has to either reveal it or skipout of town to have her child in secret. What will she do with the baby? Give it to Mrs. Scully to raise? Where is Mrs. Scully anyway? Did she ever return her daughter’s call? So far season eight has created more questions than answers. Nothing about the way in which they have handled this makes sense.

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