The X-Files Season 11: 10 Things We Learned From My Struggle, Part III
8. The Show Has Plenty To Say About America's Social And Political Climate
Two figures really stand out in My Struggle, Part III — and they are not Mulder and Scully. Not even Jeffrey and CGB Spender.
No, the pair that stands out is U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un. The feuding world leaders are part of the backdrop of the episode, which reminds us that science has been discarded, and that the truth has become fluid. For a show that has always dealt in the quest for truth, and the need for scientific rationale, the message is clear. The truth is still out there, but it's harder to find than ever. And when it is uncovered, it might be dismissed as "fake news."
It's underlined when the show's "I want to believe" catchphrase dissolves to "I want to lie."
The show doesn't stop there, however. It has quite a bit to say about technology having become our new religion, and frankly, it's not wrong. Whether this concept becomes a theme for the season remains to be seen. More importantly, it never comes off as preachy, though your interpretation may vary based on how glued to your iPhone you actually are.
It's clear, however, that The X-Files is as timely today as it ever was, in a world where what is deemed true seems more reliant on how many likes a story gets than how accurate it actually is.