Winter of Dis Content

I've got your bloody back

Heading into the home stretch at the end of The X-Files Season 11, I was not expecting much from episodes 8 and 9. I was pleased to discover that episode 8 was well-paced and not too annoying. In contrast, episode 9, "Nothing Lasts Forever", seemed to last forever. This story might have made a lame 30 minute Twilight Zone episode, but as a one hour X-Files case, it seemed absurd and repetitive.

Kokor Hekkus
Some of my dissatisfaction with "Nothing Lasts Forever" arises from the fact that I'm a fan of Jack Vance. Vance's story "The Killing Machine" includes the idea of a "bad guy" who has the secret of eternal youth, which involves taking special youth-conferring substances from the bodies of young people.

Lame horror episodes distracting
you from the search for William?
Wait... there's an app for that.

Of course, Vance deployed this plot element in a far more entertaining way than did The X-Files. "Gratuitous and shock value is boring"... exactly how I would describe this episode.

Dis Content

Season 11 summary:
"Let's throw Scully in the trash".

I suppose that Chris Carter (and his buddies like Wong) feel that The X-Files is their baby and they can do what they want to do with the show. They probably get tired of being told how to run "their" show. "You want female writers, okay, here you go." Here is an episode that does nothing to advance the story arc, even though we are now just one hour from the end. Anderson complained about not getting equal pay? Okay, we'll throw her in the trash. It is not a good look for any television show when the show runners seem to be dissing the fans.

Get the point?

Most of my dissatisfaction with "Nothing Lasts Forever" arises from the fact that I don't like horror. For 50 years the mad scientist/doctor has been doing vampire-like experiments in life extension, but now, because we have no idea how to advance our television show, we'll cold open with a crazed sister who has penetrated the dark cult and is taking revenge. Is she one of the telepathic kids like William, so she was able to discover the super-secret cult? Nobody associated with The X-Files cares, so another opportunity for some actual science fiction is lost.

Next: wishes for episode 10.

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