A Spooky Kind of Love

Recently, the hubby and I have decided to re-watch the entire X-Files series.

Because, you know, with a baby due in about five weeks, we figured now is as good a time as any to jump into a new project. 

We probably won't watch the entire entire series; let's face it, at some point the show jumped the shark, turned around, jumped it again, and then did one more for good measure. It just so happens that this moment coincided with David Duchovny's leaving the series, but I like to think he left because the show went downhill, and not the other way around. I remember trying to watch it without D.D., for Gillian Anderson's sake, because feminism, but it was so painfully bad it made my eyeballs hurt. (What's Gillian Anderson up to these days, anyway?)

Right now, though, we're still in the middle of season 2, and aside from a few groan-worthy Creature of the Week eps (S2E7, "3" is so bad it made me want to punch myself in the throat, especially coming hot off the heels of the kick-ass 2-parter where Scully gets kidnapped by that crazy guy and sent in his stead to the aliens), it's still really good.

Back in the 90s, my brother, Mr. Funny got me into the X-Files. There's something tremendously satisfying about rewatching a favorite TV series, especially one as smart and fun as The X-Files. Like hanging out with old friends you haven't seen in a while. And it's especially awesome to watch the show with my husband, whom I didn't even know back in the 90s when The X-Files originally aired. We're both coming to the show with our own memories of it, and sharing those memories, and creating new ones together.

There's also a certain sentimental value to rewatching a show from the 90s: seeing those enormous cell phones, watching people use microfiche instead of the internet, the photos of Janet Reno and Bill Clinton in Skinner's office. I mean, honestly, what would Mulder have done with himself had he access to the internet in his cases? 

Actually, after the first episode I had an idea to start a blog from Scully's POV called "Shit I Have to Put Up With," where I'd write her thoughts from each episode. But, you know, baby coming. I swear kids ruin every damn thing.

Sample blog entry for the non-existent "Shit I Have to Put Up With: Agent Scully's Rantatorium" 

I was a little gassy today. Mulder thinks it's aliens.

Other things Mulder thinks are alien-related:

• It's raining
• He found a grey chest hair
• Someone pressed all the buttons on the elevator
• The roach coach across the street stopped selling chimichangas 

At least I got to do an autopsy, so the day isn't a total fail. Mulder was all, "The guy's not even dead yet, Scully!" but whatever. He was dead *enough*.

Because Scully has a total boner for doing autopsies. Like, all the time. You could make an entire drinking game out of Scully's autopsy boners and be drunk, like, every episode.

One of these days Mulder will let me autopsy him. And that? Will be a great day, indeed, my friends. I wonder what the inside of his stomach looks like? I bet its sexy. Whew, is it getting hot in here, or is it just this dissected lung I'm holding?

And:

So this new guy, Krycek. Is. Totally. Hot. I keep asking Mulder if Krycek has asked about me, but you know my stupid partner. He's all, "Aliens!" and trying to cockblock me. Douche.

Krycek was totally my X-Files boyfriend back in the 90s, and we've finally hit the part in the series where he shows up. Except now his character seems so young and naive, and instead of being a horny late teen/early twentysomething, I'm now a mid-30s wife and mother and I feel a little dirty crushing on him. Oh, Krycek. You are so shady, and it's totally sexy.

Rewatching the show, I'm also reminded of the political tone of the 1990s, and how The X-Files helped usher in an era of government conspiracy porn: Men In Black, Conspiracy Theory, Independence Day, Alien Autopsy, etc. Remember the good ol' days, when we all thought our nation's biggest threat was secret aliens? *wistful sigh*


So. Have any of you ever re-watched an old favorite TV series? How was it?