My Struggle
- Episode aired Jan 24, 2016
- TV-14
- 44m
After the collapse of their relationship, former FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully are reunited by a TV host who promotes conspiracy theories about the government and believes that alien... Read allAfter the collapse of their relationship, former FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully are reunited by a TV host who promotes conspiracy theories about the government and believes that alien abductions are actually false flag operations.After the collapse of their relationship, former FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully are reunited by a TV host who promotes conspiracy theories about the government and believes that alien abductions are actually false flag operations.
- O.R. Surgeon
- (as Shaker Paleja)
- Self
- (archive footage)
- (uncredited)
- Self
- (archive footage)
- (uncredited)
- Self
- (archive footage)
- (uncredited)
- Self
- (archive footage)
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaGillian Anderson was really keen to return to the character of Dana Scully but was hesitant about signing on for a 20-episode run. When she learned that Fox was only going to do a limited series of just six episodes, she was overjoyed.
- GoofsWhen Mulder arrives at his former X-Files office at the FBI, he kicks at and tears the 'I Want To Believe' poster lying on the ground. However, in The Truth (2002) (end of the series' original unbroken run), Agent John Doggett rolled up the poster and took it with him.
- Quotes
[first lines]
Fox Mulder: [as narrator] My name is Fox Mulder. Since my childhood, I have been obsessed by a controversial global phenomenon. Since my sister disappeared when I was 12 years old... in what I believe was an alien abduction. My obsession took me to the FBI, where I investigated paranormal science cases through the auspices of a unit known as the X-Files. Through this unit, I could continue my work on the alien phenomenon, and the search for my missing sister. In 1993, the FBI sought to impugn my work, bringing in a scientist and medical doctor to debunk it... which only deepened my obsession for the better part of a decade, during which time that agent, Dana Scully, had her own faith tested. In 2002, in a change of direction and policy, the FBI closed the X-Files, and our investigation ceased. But my personal obsession did not.
- Crazy creditsThe opening credits montage after the prelude are the same as the first season credits with the addition of Mitch Pileggi as Walter Skinner.
- SoundtracksThe X-Files
(uncredited)
Written by Mark Snow
Performed by John Bael
It's a fairly standard mythology episode that follows the main story arc set out from the pilot (aliens and their existence or purpose) and the reuniting of a separated Mulder & Scully. But my only real gripes are:
1) The story ignores where season 9 ended. What happened to the super soldiers, apparently being in the government, in the FBI etc? The aliens were supposed to invade earth on 22 December 2012, this was the main revelation from the final episode. They kinda glossed over this, without mentioning it, an annoying continuity error.
2) The revelation in this episode, though feasible seems to come out of nowhere with little to explain why Mulder would be drawn to this conclusion, the catalyst for this unexplained conclusion also seems to go against the vast wealth of knowledge the viewer and surely Mulder has from past episodes. This is a shame as past x-files episodes always worked hard to have intelligent or as realistic as possible explanations for even the most unlikely of scenarios, they were quite detailed. There's really not much meat on the bone here. Maybe it was rushed or less experienced writers helped?
The acting is ok but being the first episode after so long, can feel a tad stiff and may take a few episodes to get the gears oiled again.
Overall not a terrible return by any means, but more thought and better pacing that doesn't rush revelations with weak explanation, could've made this first episode even more solid. From reviews I've seen it does get much better after 2-3 episodes so will continue watching.
- derangedxzombie
- May 9, 2023