Pilot.Written by Chris Carter. Directed by Robert Mandel.
Original Airdate: September 10, 1993
It is a pretty difficult thing to write this review. What I want to see the grand scheme revealed as I go along, and have the same suspicions and theories as I would have were I watching the episodes as they originally aired. Basically I have to try and get myself into the state of mind of an X-Virgin. But this is impossible, at the end of the day I know the outcome, I know The Truth. So this little adventure will always be like knowing how you will die from the moment you are born.
Basically, this episode, like any pilot, has the job of establishing the fictional universe in which our characters exist and the stories will unfold. It has to introduce the audience into this world, and make them believe in it. It's no easy task - and there are countless examples of the failures to do so out there in the big world of television pilots.
The X-Files pilot is pretty clever. The production team obviously know who is going to be watching, the Sci-Fi fan. But they also want to ensnare viewers who are maybe not so familliar with this type of television. To accomplish this the show uses a fairly typical device. And that is character identification.
For the less hardened Sci-Fi fans or casual viewers we have Dana Scully. The character, who like the viewer, is new to this world. She will learn it's rules as the story progresses. Just like the viewer. It's all about identifying with this one character and using her as the key into this world.
Like I said earlier, this is a pretty common device in all types of fiction. From novels to television to feature films. We're used to it, we know what is being done as we see it happen. So it takes exceptional writing to make it work. Does Chris Carter suceed in this endeavour... well, not for me.
It probably worked for those casual viewers who had seen little to no Sci-Fi. But my window into this world, was Fox Mulder. Y'know this is a Sci-Fi show. I'm a Sci-Fi fan. I'm coming into this wanting Aliens and exciting investigations into Paranormal activity - I'm not going to connect with Scully the sceptic, at least not immediately. We need to see her character fleshed out a little more first.
Fox Mulder is the sci-fi fan. He's obsessed with UFO's, Aliens and all kinds of bizzarre happenings. Muler, looking for conspiracy under every rock is my key into this world - since I already share his interests and beliefs it's much easier for me to put myself alongside him. But like I said, that's how clever Chris Carter has been. He's catering for both audiences - we both have characters we can latch on to and who perpetuate our own beleifes or hobbies. Damn clever stuff.
Whilst the characters are being introduced, there's also a story going on. Whilst many pilots are short on story, so as to focus on establishing the characters, the X-Files has a full-blown investigation. It's all to do with abductions and missing teenagers and Government conspiracy's and kids in coma's and alien experiments and mutated corpses and... phew, there's a lot going on. And it's a testament to Carters writing that he suceeds in making it all very easy to follow. It even manages to set up events and characters that we will still be feeling the shockwaves from nine seasons later...
The X-Files pilot is excellent. It gives you good character, an exciting multi-layered story and sets up future events. It leaves you hungry for more, as it should.
October 2nd. Day two of the X-Files diaries.
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