'The X-Files' Season 11, Episode 1: 'My Struggle III'

When Fox brought "The X-Files" back last year for a six episode mini-series, one would have assumed that the intent was to tie up loose ends and allow the franchise to end on a higher note than the second movie. This assumption would have been proven wrong, as the last batch ended on a cliffhanger.  On the plus side, it did well enough in the ratings that we have another go.  Whether THIS turns out to be the end, or if there's still enough draw to keep it going remains to be seen.

Like the season before it, this one doesn't get off to the most auspicious start.  Actually, that's being generous.  This episode's a hot mess.  Apparently, when the producers came up with the "My Struggle" episodes, they were talking about the viewer's.  Really, these three have been the weakest of the relaunch.  I shudder to think of what will come in "My Struggle IV".

Right off the bat, the episode commits two rather egregious sins.  It shows that the moon landing was staged.  I face palmed at that.  I know government conspiracies are this show's thing, but really?

Even worse, it completely negates the preceding episode by making it all a dream.  They try to keep it relevant by saying it's a vision of things to come, but it still feels like taking two steps backward to take one step forward.

I thought that the last few "myth-arc" episodes did a disservice by trying to rebrand the whole plot, but that was child's play compared to what this episode does.  Inane plot twists abound as everything that was established is tossed aside.  Yet at the same time, nothing's changed.  Smoking Man wants to release an alien virus.  The difference is that, rather than try to salvage some bit of humanity in the wake of alien colonization, he wants to kill them because....eeeevil.  Yeah, he's always been a villain, but there was more nuance to him. Now, he's a two-dimensional mustache twirler.

It's not helped by the fact that the dialogue is clunky as all get out.  That exchange between Smoking Man and Reyes?  Oy.

In addition to clunky dialogue, we have incredibly flat acting.  None of the cast seem like they want to be here.  They're all clearly phoning it in for a paycheck.  Amid all the episode's problems, this one is probably the most damaging.  If the cast can't be bothered to care, it makes it really hard for us the viewers to do the same.

Chris Carter directed the episode, and he does what he can on that front to pick up the slack and add some excitement to the proceedings.  Mulder engages in a solid car chase and a vulnerable Scully is attacked in a fairly intense scene while she is bed-ridden in a hospital.  There's also the noticeable attempt to try to add a "ticking clock" factor to the situation.  It helps, but the aforementioned hurdles are way too high for these small perks to jump.

The first two "My Struggle" episodes failed to impress.  Following the general pattern of the third entry in any trilogy stinking, this one follows suit.  Hopefully, this is the last struggle because it's dead in the water.

Hopefully, the subsequent episodes can help the season save face.  I do hope we get another entry in the vein of "Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster" this season. Man, that was a fun episode.  Go watch that instead.

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