TV With a real X-factor

Forget your ‘talent’ show squawk-fests, it seems that the only show with an ’X’ at the front worth watching, The X-Files, might be coming back to our screens.

The US Sci-Fi-horror-drama managed nine seasons between 1993 and 2002, plus a couple of big screen outings afterwards.

Dark, brooding, paranoid, mysterious and sometimes deeply disturbing - these were just some of my personality traits that neatly matched those of the show. That the Fox network are seriously considering bringing it back is great news indeed for people like me, who badly need some complex conspiracy theories and a spot of sexual tension in their lives. And aliens. Or ARE they?

For those too young to remember, the show was based around two central characters, played by David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, both of whom seem to have taken every available opportunity to get their kit off in subsequent acting gigs.

The two FBI Special Agents, Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, have the slightly tricky task of investigating cases that suggest some kind of paranormal phenomena is at play. Whilst Mulder believes in aliens and just about anything his nickname ‘Spooky’ implies, Scully is the sceptic, partnered with the social outcast in the basement to debunk his findings by her shadowy superiors.

Slowly but surely, Dana starts to believe her partner, via a series of weird, creepy, terrifying and confusing episodes, skilfully allowing the viewer to start believing one thing whilst something altogether different sneaks up behind and taps you on the shoulder in the dark.

And there was a lot of dark. My highly scientific analysis (OK, I guessed) suggests that at least 75% of the shows featured our heroes stumbling around in the dark with torches.

The paranoia was neatly ramped up by fleeting hints of some greater force at work, shadow governments running the ‘real’ ones, cover-ups, misinformation and outright lies.

As with all long-running shows, a story arc gradually appeared that was so complex, and had so many dead-ends, reversals and false-reveals, that I remember wandering around after later episodes had aired with a facial twitch and tightly furrowed brow.

On the bright side, the seemingly never-ending “will they/won’t they” element of the lead characters’ relationship was endlessly tense and exciting, and there was always one episode per series that could loosely be described as comedic, as long as you like your humour so dark it makes a black hole look dazzling.

Apparently, executives will only push on with the idea of it returning if it’s leads, and writer, Chris Carter, are all willing to sign up. With the considerable success of Anderson meaning she’s in huge demand, and Duchovny and Carter’s other commitments, this could take a while to figure out. The great news is, they do all seem interested.

It’s time to stick the “I want to believe” poster back up on the wall, make sure you’ve got some fresh batteries in the torch, and wait patiently to find out if “The truth is out there” still.

This post first appeared as my "Thank grumpy it's Friday" column, in the North West Evening Mail, on the 30th of January 2015. You could read it on the paper's website, if only they'd put it on there. If you'd like to keep an eye out for it, this is the place to look On the plus side, this does mean it's the first time it's been on the web. I'll accept a small round of applause at this point, if you fancy it. No? Oh.

I am genuinely excited by the idea of a return of the X-Files. I bloody loved that show. I also loved Ghostbusters - still my favourite film - and that's semi-definitely making a comeback next year... with an all-new, all-female, cast. True, of the original big three actors from the first film, only Ackroyd and Murray are still alive, and both are 30+ years older, but I'm hoping for cameo appearances, if nothing else.

In the meantime, I'll quietly whistle the X-Files theme at random intervals, and try and slip "I want to believe" into meetings. Such larks.

(Cassetteogram tonight is a BASF Sound Level II - nope, me neither - from 1999, featuring an 80s Mix, They Might Be Giants and Brian May. Yes, you're right... that IS an odd selection.)

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