10 TV Shows That REALLY Should Have Stayed Dead
8. The X-Files
The X-Files is a "Monster of the Week" sci-fi drama, centring around two FBI agents with a "will they, won't they" dynamic. When you phrase it like that, the series sounds pretty silly. But thanks to the actors' chemistry, a tight script, and some genuinely unnerving moments, The X-Files became a global sensation that sci-fi fans couldn't get enough of.
Until... they did. Even though the first seven seasons were solid, Season 8 and 9 were let down by rehashed ideas and the absence of Mulder. Because The X-Files didn't have a satisfying ending, you can understand why the showrunner, Chris Carter, brought it back after a 13-year gap.
At first, the revival seemed promising. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson's chemistry is so effortless, it's like they've never been apart. It was also a nice touch to switch the characters' traits so Mulder is the skeptic now, while Scully has become the believer.
But the show goes downhill when it starts focusing on the same alien conspiracy plot viewers grew tired of years ago. The episode centring around a monster transforming into a human was praised for its unique premise and clever writing, making critics wonder why the creators didn't try writing compelling material like this more often.