Comment No more quirkiness (Score 1) 352
The reason I liked the X-files was not just the government conspiracy angle, but because once it was established, Carter knew that he had the heft to do pretty much what he wanted, and we got all sorts of strange little quirky episodes like the Cops episode, or the B&W one. Originally, the open-ended episode format, where almost nothing is really and truly resolved by the end of the episode, worked to keep the stories moving and keep you watching from one episode to the next.
In time, though, Carter ran out of ideas, and he ended up having to give away plot secrets he should have held onto as a way of filling episodes. What we got was a schizophrenic show - the characters were achieving what seemed like major victories, but at the same time, the X-files format _demanded_ that nothing ever really be resolved. In time, this led to the current 'doldrums' that they've been suffering for the past season or two. We know all the secrets, we know why everything is happening and how. Now won't someone do something about it, rather than just jerk around?
Oh, and my all-time favourite episode is still Cancer Man's History. One of the best character sketches I've ever seen on TV.
-Seraph
In time, though, Carter ran out of ideas, and he ended up having to give away plot secrets he should have held onto as a way of filling episodes. What we got was a schizophrenic show - the characters were achieving what seemed like major victories, but at the same time, the X-files format _demanded_ that nothing ever really be resolved. In time, this led to the current 'doldrums' that they've been suffering for the past season or two. We know all the secrets, we know why everything is happening and how. Now won't someone do something about it, rather than just jerk around?
Oh, and my all-time favourite episode is still Cancer Man's History. One of the best character sketches I've ever seen on TV.
-Seraph
