The X-Files

The truth is animated out there.

The first X-Files revival had fans questioning the series’ role in modern times, to say nothing of the poorly-received return this past week. Star Gillian Anderson also suggested that Season 11 might be her last, and now both FOX and creator Chris Carter seem to be jumping ship without Scully at the helm.

The X-Files have officially re-opened and the story remains as crazy as ever. Now that Wednesday’s Season 11 premiere thoroughly reversed the 2016 finale and dropped one whopper of a twist about Scully and the Smoking Man, Chris Carter tells angry fans that they’d always intended as much.

We’re quietly optimistic for more X-Files, even after last year’s six-episode return brought little more than cliffhangers and one-off ideas. And while our first photos from the 2018 return don’t offer much, we do know about an upcoming time-jump, and a trip to the Smoking Man’s past.

The last X-Files revival seemingly introduced two Mulder and Scully-esque agents to carry the torch, so might Season 11 make the same effort? We’ll find out, as Season 10 stars Robbie Amell and Lauren Ambrose have also booked their return tickets.

The shortened run of The X-Files’ first FOX revival left little room for meaningful cameos of prior cast, so will the eleventh season make up for it? We’ll find out, as Annabeth Gish’s Agent Reyes books yet another return, potentially joined this time by Robert Patrick’s Doggett.

Standing beside X-Files fan disappointment that Season 11 would lack key franchise writers was the realization that again, only men were invited to pen Mulder and Scully’s return. Star Gillian Anderson certainly noticed as well; voicing her disappointment and adding a low quotient of female directors.

A gentle understanding behind The X-Files’ latest return held that Season 11 would correct the missteps of its predecessor; namely, more balanced writing. We’ll at least have more episodes to that effect, but the full writers list for the next X-Files revival is still missing some key names.

Well, they couldn’t wait eight years to reopen The X-Files, just to leave off on that insane cliffhanger, right? FOX finally got their act together, preparing a proper revival for Mulder and Scully with an expanded-order eleventh (and final?) season.

Once the nostalgia abated, FOX’s X-Files revival pretty quickly started to sour fans by its awkward mix of mythology and stand-alone episodes, as well a cliffhanger ending that immediately demanded resolution. Well, strap in for another long wait, as FOX won’t get around to an X-Files Season 11 until at least 2017.

A comparatively short run and split mythology-standalone balance gave an inkling FOX’s X-Files revival might not offer the kind of closure fans have hoped after twenty years, and it may be longer yet before we have any real answers. X-Files creator Chris Carter confirms the revival series will end on a cliffhanger, but what format might pick up the ball down the line?

Who's ready? The truth is out there and I am so ready. How about you? A new trailer has just been released of the new X-Files that starts up in January.