10 Problems With The X-Files Revival Nobody Wants To Admit
7. There's No Pleasing X-Philes
Sadly, the X-Files fanbase - known as X-Philes - is a kingdom divided. That goes back to the early years of the show, but the conflict between "sides" really reared its ugly head towards the end of David Duchovny's run as a series regular. Season 7, his last as a full-time player, happens to generally be regarded as the low point of the show. The tone changed, from dark and moody to lighthearted and comical in more than a few episodes. Duchovny looked bored, mailing it in for many an episode. Fans were growing tired of the "will they or won't they" Mulder/Scully dynamic.
The problem: the two sides - Shippers (those who wanted a Mulder and Scully relationship, and the origin of the term 'shipping') and NoRomos (those who wanted nothing to do with the romantic side of the show) wound up in heated battles over the course of the show. As events onscreen were drawn out, fans began to drop off on both sides. By the time the mostly-Duchovny-less season 9 rolled around, viewership was at its lowest levels since the early years. A shame, since Robert Patrick did an excellent job as Agent Doggett in seasons 8/9, but fans of the romance (the aforementioned shippers) attacked the character, and actor, in posts online.
The revival will have a hard time catering to both sides.