The X-Files Embargo is Over

So after I finished watching X-Files season 7, I decided not to continue with the series for a few reasons. Mulder shows up less and less, and also Chris Carter expected season 7 to be the last season, so that's how he wrote it. It is, essentially, the last real X-Files season. I decided not to buy the last two seasons UNLESS I saw them for less than 20 dollars. Incidentally, after that I began to see them everywhere for 19.99. But I resisted temptation because I had to save my money, and I was also afraid that seasons 8 and 9 would make me hate X-Files. After the fourth time I saw them for 19.99, my sister convinced me to buy them.

I'm watching X-Files season 8 right now and I never realized how much I MISSED new episodes. At this point, I've rewatched my favourites like five times each and I'm getting sick of them, frankly. I've missed Scully's red hair and her weird eyebrows and Skinner and the Lone Gunmen and Scully's philosophical voice-overs (superior to Mulder's philosophical voice overs in EVERY WAY). I can only hope that Mulder will cry sometime soon, and then all my favourite X-Files things will be back! However, I'm still a little wary, for several reasons:

1) Mulder doesn't feature prominently anymore, and even though Scully has always been my favourite character, the dynamic between Mulder and Scully is what makes the show great.

2) It has that weird, soap opera camerawork. Soap operas always LOOK different. The movement is smoother and the colours are brighter and it just looks weird. They have evidently decided to make X-Files look like a soap opera, which is odd because Chris Carter is still in charge of the show, and Kim Manners directed the episode I'm watching right now, and he's been with the X-Files since the very beginning.

3) In season nine, Mulder and Scully are virtually replaced by two new agents.

4) Scully and Mulder get all lovey-dovey, and unlike every other show in which the main characters have hardcore UST (cough Bones cough), I DO NOT want it resolved. AT ALL. The "will they or won't they" is so much better than "they did." I mean, even after we found out Scully was pregnant, it was still unknown as to whether they were really getting it on. And that is the genius of Chris Carter. One episode SHOWED Mulder in Scully's bed, and then she got pregnant, and we're still like, "they're not REALLY having sex, are they?" That seems like it should be impossible, and yet it's not.

5) Some good characters and plot lines have been killed.

KILLED OFF CHARACTERS

Krycek- CMS's henchmen, resident antihero and possessor of AWESOMENESS.

Marita- Replaced Deep Throat and X as the resident quasi-informant. Hated her, but for some reason I loved Marita and Krycek together. They kind of remind me of that couple who in their young days, the guy tried to have the girl killed by getting someone to throw acid in her face. She's blind now, and I actually think they're married.

CSM- Was pushed down the stairs by Krycek. I'm confused because on the back of my DVD set I see a picture of him with creepy, wispy long hair. Maybe he comes back! That would make me so happy.

The Lone Gunmen- Not killed as of yet, but I know it's coming in season 9. I'm still debating whether to watch that episode. On the one hand, it will tie up the Lone Gunmen series, but on the other hand, they die and I love them.

Spender- I didn't love him that much but I still kind of miss him. I think he was killed by CSM, HIS FATHER, but I could just be making that up.

Mulder's mom- I fucking HATE her, so I don't care that she's dead.

TIED UP PLOTLINES

Mulder's sister's disappearance, an integral part of the mytharc throughout the whole series, is finally tied up in the finale of season 7.

The alien colonization- I can't remember if it was actually tied up, but it doesn't seem to be too prominent so far in season 8, or in the recent movie.

The Syndicate's purpose- all explained.

However, I'm kind of excited for this season, for a couple of reasons:

1) I BELIEVE Skinner makes series regular sometime soon.

2) Scully is all badass now. I love it.

3) Robert Patrick is a series regular. How can you NOT love the T-1000? Also, he was on Stargate Atlantis.

4) I'm reading the episode summaries, and they look like old school X-Files monster of the week.

5) There is another mystery, what with William's miraculous birth. Also, according to the episode summaries, an evil cult wants to kill him. That is campy and awesome and looks like it will provide Scully with the opportunity to show off some hardcore fighting skills. Also, I think this was the plot of a Dean Koontz book, and Dean Koontz is never wrong.

6) I thought Scully's mom died but she didn't, and I love her, so this was an unexpected and happy surprise.