A few thoughts after watching a "Cops"-style X-Files episode:

(a) Dana conspires to make us believe Fox.

There's an old play about a magician, in which his antagonist constantly inspects and tries to debunk his tricks -- only to prove them all the more. In reality, the antagonist is a co-conspirator, planting the appearing objects while seemingly verifying the emptiness of the containers in which they appear.

Dana works the same way, appearing the critic and being stumped. Gosh, if even she, the sceptic, can't deny the evidence, there's got to be something to Fox's theory.

(b) Stereotype reversal

Dana presents a strong, intelligent, fearless woman: a role model, even. So much so that sometimes Gillian Andersen basks (undeservedly) in her credibility. (Don't get me wrong, Gillian is a great actress. But she's no Dana Scully.)

In contrast, Fox is the sensitive, nervous, hysterical character. Fox is the one prone to see things. Fox is the more emotional of the two, usually. He's a touchy-feely kinda kinda guy. You just know it.

(c) Chemistry

I remembered that when Roger Ebert first saw and reviewed the X-Files movie, he commented that although he'd never seen the TV show, Mulder and Scully seemed to have a unique chemistry that made him interested in watching the TV show. I agreed.

[Perhaps my memory is wrong, or perhap Ebert redacts his reviews, but when I went to find the supporting quote, the review seemed to have changed -- Ebert seemed to have more knowledge of the TV show in his review now, and his former comments are now missing from his review.]

(d) "The truth" and the threat were connoted, not denoted.

The ultimate truth, and thus the ultimate threat, was always "out there". It was implied, hinted-at, and danced at the edge of the series.

I love music. I've noticed a lot of my favorite classic rock and pop songs have lyrics which are, shall we say, less than totally clear. (Think "Leave It!" by Yes.)

Often, when the hinted-at is brought into focus, shown clearly on camera, or explained fully, it loses all of its romance. Some reviewers said this happened with the menace in the TV version of Stephen King's "It." Likewise, most of us were thoroughly disgusted with Lucas's explanation of "the force" in Episode I.

(e) Creativity

You had the idea that the folks making X-Files were having fun. As I mentioned above, there was this Cops-style documentary tone to one episode. Then there was the southern, crooked-toothed deputy sherrif vampire. And every other comic book villian you might imagine. The "What if?" question was asked often, and answered in fun, unexpected ways. Some episodes were funny and self-mocking, some scary, and some just puzzling.

That said, I've only seen a few episodes. Its not really my kind of thing.