Discuss The X-Files
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Gillian Anderson to leave?
posted by write2topcatSTAFFMOD on February 20, 2018 at 3:41 PM
I just read that Scully, actress Gillian Anderson is leaving the show at the end of this season. I am disappointed to hear that.
The article opines that The X-Files "jumped the shark" years ago, and that the return of the show has only validated that view. I am not as negative as they are about the show however.
I will say that I think most hit shows begin to lose some of their appeal after the novelty of the concept wears off over time, and the writers find it more difficult to keep cranking out high quality material year after year. But I don't see some sort of apex which the show reached and from which it subsequently fell. I think there were some whacky episodes, some much better than others, and some worse, but I don't think the show ever took a nose dive, in my opinion anyway.
Anyway, there is something about the show I still like. Is it simply that it is familiar? That is part of it, but it's more than that. I happen to like the way they play the supernatural question, leaving the answer somewhat ambiguous, never quite giving us a definitive answer.
Whatever it is, its still there.
But the interaction between Mulder and Scully is an essential element of the show. Can there still be an X Files without her? Sure, but I think it becomes a substantially different show if Gillian leaves. Who plays the skeptical, rational counter-point to Mulder's wildly open mind? They can find someone to offer that perspective, but the personal dynamic between Mulder and Scully cannot be duplicated.
I know the show has to end sometime, but I was happy to have it back again. It is leaving too soon, in my opinion.
Reply by Dark_Sithlord
on May 10, 2018 at 2:53 PM
I was under the impression the show would be canceled after season 11. It's hard to imagine the show without Scully. If the show goes on, I hope Anderson comes back.
I agree that show has gone down in quality over the years, but to me, it was a gradual decline. I still find the show compelling and I look forward to every episode. If Anderson leaves, that might be enough to send the show into a full-blown, spiraling, out-of-control nosedive. Hope that's not the case.
Reply by write2topcat
on May 10, 2018 at 10:42 PM
That was my first impression on hearing that she said she wasn't coming back after this season. "Mulder" was gone for a couple of seasons but I thought the show suffered because of it. Mulder without Scully has never been done. I don't know how well that would work.
Reply by 2Ls1T
on October 17, 2019 at 7:58 PM
I think the show could be continued (as opposed to rebooted) with a different pair of agents, should Gillian Anderson refuse to return ever again and a network decides to give it a whirl again. The thing is, the longer they leave it, the less believable it'll to be to have Mulder & Scully as active agents and with Skinner as their supervisor (Duchovny will be 60 next year and Pileggi 68).
Perhaps what will happen one day is the show will come back with Mulder or Scully now in Skinner's role, guiding a fresh pair of younger agents - kinda "The X-Files: The Next Generation", haha
Reply by write2topcat
on October 17, 2019 at 8:52 PM
Sure, they could do that. They wouldn't even need anyone from the original series in Skinner's role for that matter. Several shows have been rebooted with new casts and done very well. But Duchovny is very well branded with the show and would be a draw if he were available, kind of like Shatner and Star Trek. But the format could work with new people. Many people didn't give the rebooted Star Trek good reviews at first. The die hard fans wanted to see the originals. But it didn't take long for the new show to gain a strong following.
Reply by 2Ls1T
on October 18, 2019 at 4:47 AM
I really like Star Trek and the reboot, too. I suppose what I meant by a reboot of The X-Files is basically the same characters and stories - the latest Trek show is within the rebooted universe (I think) but it is a prequel with (almost) entirely new characters so it works.
While I've enjoyed some reboots, they are kinda lazy - if you're going to piggyback an already popular brand, at least add to it rather than simply re-do with a new cast and modern filming techniques. Just my view, anyway.