How did the "X-Files" change television?

The final episode of the six-part revival of the classic series "The Secret Materials" on American television closes the next part of the paranormal adventures experienced by the special agents of the FBI Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. The long-running fantastic series taught the audience to expect the unexpected. His premiere was on September 10, 1993, but initially no one expected it at all - all attention was paid to a steampunk project called "The Adventures of Briscoe Jr." But over time, the "X-Files" gathered an impressive audience until they reached their peak (around 1998, when the feature film was released) and did not become a real global sensation.

Farewell to the series

After reaching the peak, the ratings began to fall until the series ended in May 2002 with the ninth season. By that time, many already considered the series to have served their own - naturally, apart from true fans, who until the very end adored the paranormal adventures of two heroes. A much more profound and serious feature film followed in 2008, but he started at the box office just one week after the release of the sensational "Dark Knight" Christopher Nolan. The fever of the "X-Files" instantly dissipated. And then it seemed that the last thing that the audience will see about the FBI's favorite agents is the scene after the credits, where they float in the tropical ocean.

The success of the "X-Files"

Expect the unexpected - in April 2015, mostly due to the increased popularity of the original series on streaming platforms on the Internet, it was announced that the show would return in mini format in early 2016. When in January the series finally began to air, the reaction of critics and fans turned out to be mixed, although the ratings literally went off scale, which is rarely seen in modern conditions. At the moment it is clear that the new episodes in the future will be photographed accurately. Perhaps the biggest surprise was that the show, though in every way acknowledged and showed that it was a long time, remained itself in matters of structure and approach. And this he is able to confuse, intrigue and inspire. What is the secret of the success of the "Secret" materials? How does he manage to retain his grip for such a long period of time?

The truth is somewhere near

The original series was aired during an impressive transition period for television. Series such as The Miami Police: The Department of Morals and Twin Peaks have already laid the foundation for projects that are more complex from an aesthetic and thematic point of view. "The X-Files" took this new freedom - the creator of the series Chris Carter has repeatedly noted that he and his team sought to create a mini-film every week - impressive work at 20-25 episodes in the season, while still using enough good old television Receptions. In the series there was a long story arc, which became a novelty for that time. The so-called mythological episodes demonstrated the invasion of the aliens to Earth - as a result, this arch stretched out for all nine seasons. And it began because of the unexpected pregnancy of Gillian Anderson towards the end of the first season. These series, including intricate storylines and a series of constantly emerging characters like the Man with a Cigarette, have foreshadowed the serialization of television, although their plot lines were often rather meaningless. This was a rather risky move, in the performance of which there were many dramatic mistakes and shortcomings, which, fortunately, rarely led to any serious problems.

Formula

Despite the serial elements, the project often pressed the stop button or even restart so that Mulder and Scully could explore and present new monsters in several separate episodes. In relation to the development of the plot, this move was due to the era in which the series was shot - to DVR, Hulu and Netflix, when there was a possibility that the viewer would not be able to watch the series again, or he would not be able to follow the plot on a regular basis. The main goal was to find the ideal formula, which implied the creation of separate watch parts, and then stick to it.

Dynamic relationships

The dynamics of the Mulder-Scully pair relied on this formula - he believed, she was a skeptic. Just put these characters in a strange situation and see what happens. Repeat the required number of times. But it was impossible to predict the development of that mysterious and striking connection that was formed between Mulder and Scully. Even when the heap of plot turns overwhelms the series, and there comes a lull, the relationship of these two characters continues to develop. This is one of the best love stories, one in which even a short glance or a light touch seems epochal. Between them there is an incredible interaction - according to some sources, the creator of the series had to compete seriously to get Anderson in the "X-Files". And this gives the series, which is already full of secrets of all sorts, its mysterious center is the one that a group of writers and directors have been using in various ways for more than 200 series.

New is a well-forgotten old

This is what really separates the "X-Files" from the background of other American TV series. Many of them are strongly prone to the same type of tone and approach, in large part due to the fact that now in most cases one director or executive producer is regarded as the leading force of the series, and all the contribution of other people passes through him. The "secret materials" became something like a bridge between the ages, which used what had been before, while developing new narrative and aesthetic approaches that became key in more modern series, such as "Staying Alive" and "In All Serious. " Carter created a template, and his example allowed other outstanding projects to be born. The unevenness of the approach of the series itself eliminated possible homogeneity. The series, shot by Gilligan in the third season, was strikingly different from the one that was shot by Daryn Morgan. There were also directors Kim Manners, Rob Bowman, David Nutter, Tony Warmby and many others, whose unique styles helped to expand the aesthetic pattern of the series, thereby winning the hearts of a wide variety of fans.

The perfect combination of elements

Almost every element of the "X-Files" stands out against the others, but at the same time contributes its invaluable contribution to the series as a single whole. This music, and noir filming, and an unusual selection of guest stars. So the best solution that the creators of the new mini-series could take is to preserve the concept of the original.