Thanks for your appreciation post about The X-Files, Alan. It’s my all-time favorite show.
(‘93 was a great year for tv drama debuts - Homicide: Life on the Street, Deep Space Nine, Babylon 5, & NYPD Blue)
The one thing about the first movie and S5 is that the studio/network (which was all FOX) wouldn’t let Carter conclude the series and transition the franchise to become movies-only due to the high ratings. If the show had existed in a different ecosystem, I think FOX would’ve listened to him (ala the endgame agreement for LOST).
Yup, I remember this, too. But I've also interviewed practically the entire writing staff from that period at different points. What's fascinating is how much disagreement there is over whether Carter was ready to wrap up the mythology around the end of season 5, whether or not the show continued or segued entirely into movies. Some have argued that the conspiracy only became indecipherable and unwieldy because Carter had to keep it going far longer than it could sustain itself. The counter-argument, though, is that he simply didn't know where it was all meant to lead, and so he kept vamping.
Thanks for your appreciation post about The X-Files, Alan. It’s my all-time favorite show.
(‘93 was a great year for tv drama debuts - Homicide: Life on the Street, Deep Space Nine, Babylon 5, & NYPD Blue)
The one thing about the first movie and S5 is that the studio/network (which was all FOX) wouldn’t let Carter conclude the series and transition the franchise to become movies-only due to the high ratings. If the show had existed in a different ecosystem, I think FOX would’ve listened to him (ala the endgame agreement for LOST).
Yup, I remember this, too. But I've also interviewed practically the entire writing staff from that period at different points. What's fascinating is how much disagreement there is over whether Carter was ready to wrap up the mythology around the end of season 5, whether or not the show continued or segued entirely into movies. Some have argued that the conspiracy only became indecipherable and unwieldy because Carter had to keep it going far longer than it could sustain itself. The counter-argument, though, is that he simply didn't know where it was all meant to lead, and so he kept vamping.