As exciting as it is that The X-Files will be returning to screen in any way, shape, or form, the relatively short run of the miniseries felt like a bit of a bummer at first. Sure, six episodes will dish up more material than a third film, but it's still slightly painful to look back at nine seasons of 20+ episodes and compare. Even cable shows without the massive built-in fanbase and not coming off of a 13-year small screen hiatus have longer runs. On the other hand, only six episodes could be a good thing, and not just because the in-demand Duchovny and Anderson would need to limit their time on screen if tasked with a longer series. With six episodes, Chris Carter will be able to focus on what he truly wants to get across to the audience without worrying about filler material for low-rated non-sweeps months. The dialogue will be sharper. The characters will be nuanced. The actors will be invested. The continuity will...make sense. Hopefully. These six episodes will not be paint-by-numbers installments featuring cardboard cutout characters facing generic monsters. Honestly, considering the successes of shorter runs on cable channels and across the pond in Britain, six episodes can more than suffice for a return to The X-Files on American network television.
Fiction buff and writer. If it's on Netflix, it's probably in my queue. I've bought DVDs for the special features and usually claim that the book is better than the movie or show (and can provide examples). I've never met a TV show that I won't marathon. Follow on Twitter @lah9891 .
