From Vancouver Province; Transcribed by Megan

X-Files is old hat

Feb 18, 2001 - by Rob Owen

The longer The X-Files drags on, the less i'm able to remember how much I once liked the series.

Watching tonight's episode, "Per Manum" (Global, KCPQ, 9 p.m.), my frustration level began to rise to a point I can't previously recall. It's safe to say I now actively dislike this once-great show, creator Chris Carter and the Fox network for the way they're jerking viewers around.

Promos indicate watching the episode will reveal untold secrets about Scully's baby: Who's the father? Is it human or alien?

These key things viewers have been wondering since May. Prepare to wait longer. This week's show is all smoke and mirrors, revealing virtually nothing. The baby may be human or it may not be. Mulder (David Duchovny) may be the father or he may be not be. Maybe he and Scully (Gillian Anderson) had sex, maybe they didn't.

It's fine for Carter to tantalize viewers for a while but it's been nine months since we first learned Scully is pregnant and still there are no answers, still no payoff. My patience is exhausted. I just don't care.

Conventional wisdom in Hollywood says The X-Files has rebounded this season with the addition of Robert Patrick as John Doggett, Scully's new partner now that Mulder has gone missing (he's in flashbacks Sunday and supposedly returns from his presumed alien abduction next week).

I have nothing against Doggett, except that I can't stand Patrick's attempts at a dese-dem-dose New York accent that's as annoying as Rick Schroder's accent on NYPD Blue.

The Doggett character is fine but the show has lost all its allure. The X-Files mythology was exhausted long ago and now it feels as if everyone involved is making new episodes just to collect a paycheque.

Some viewers may enjoy the creepy stand-alone episodes this season but to me it's old hat. The only difference is now it's old hat stories with extra gore.

--Vancouver Province