The Truth Is Out There X-Files Rewatch: Season One

The X-Files: The First Season

On September 10, 1993, audiences first met FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. Played by relative unknowns, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, there was no way of knowing that they were about to embark on a fascinating, funny, tedious and frustrating journey that would span 9 season and two movies. Fox revived it's seminal sci-fi series last year for a 6 episode run and it proved successful enough to warrant a second go round that is expected to premiere early next year.

There was no way of knowing at the time that the show would become the worldwide phenomenon it is today. That it's catchphrases would be spewed by everyone from hardcore fans to people who have maybe never watched an episode before. So much of the show's DNA has been ingrained into our popular culture. The believer and the skeptic. The will they/won't they back and forth. Little gray men. "The truth is out there." The show has inspired almost every sci-fi show that has come after it and it's rabid fan base is still as passionate about the show as it was when the show first premiered 24 years ago.

As we prepare to re-open the X-Files once again, let's take a look at the show season by season, starting with the one that started it all. These look backs will be structured in a way to help people who maybe want to binge the show but aren't sure they can make it through 208 episodes and 2 feature length films before the show returns early next year. So, we will take a look at each season's mythology episodes, the very best standalone episodes, better known as "Monster of the Week episodes, the season has to offer, the episodes you can skip and end with an overall grade.

Now, without further adieu, let's go back to where it all began.

Stop! Collaborate and Listen: Native Invader by Tori Amos

Tori Amos, Native Invader

This was not the record that Tori Amos initially planned on making. Last summer, she took a trip with her family through the old Smoky Mountains and songs began to take shape. Then, two things happened that caused her to make some changes. The first: Donald Trump winning the 2016 presidential election. The second: Her beloved mother, Mary Ellen Amos, suffered a stroke in January, leaving her without the ability to speak. So, the album Tori had planned on making was pushed to the side and the muses brought her to her 15th studio album, "Native Invader," which, song-for-song, is one of the strongest in her impressive catalogue.

Revisiting the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Marvel's The Avengers

"Marvel's The Avengers" (2012)

It felt like we had been waiting forever. We had been patient. We watched as each one was introduced, some in their full length feature, while others just made appearances in said features. Then, on May 2, 2012, four years and two days after the premiere of "Iron Man," the Avengers assembled.

The movie brought together Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Scarlet Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson. Mark Ruffalo replaced Edward Norton as Bruce Banner/the Hulk. Cobie Smulders joined the cast as high ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, Maria Hill. Tom Hiddleston reprised his role as big bad, Loki and pretty much solidified his claim as the best Marvel villain of all time. Joss Whedon made his MCU debut, writing and directing the movie.

Revisiting the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Captain America - The First Avenger

"Captain America: The First Avenger" (2011)

This is it. The final piece of the Avengers puzzle was put in place on July 22, 2011. Here comes Captain America. Cap may be the most important Avenger. In the regular Marvel U, it always comes down to Tony and Steve and their differing ideologies. It's fitting for "Iron Man" and "Captain America: The First Avenger" to be the bookend films before the Avengers assemble.

Marvel cast Chris Evans to play Steve Rogers/Captain America. He seemed like an odd choice to play the Star Spangled Avenger, mainly because he'd already had his shot at bringing a super hero to the big screen. Evans portrayed the Human Torch, Johnny Storm in the middling "Fantastic Four" and again in the much worse "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer." Tommy Lee Jones, Dominic Cooper, Sebastian Stan, Hayley Attwell, Toby Jones, Stanley Tucci and Hugo Weaving round out the top notch cast. The film is directed by Joe Johnston who also directed "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids," "Jumanji," and "The Rocketeer."

Revisiting the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Thor

"Thor" (2011)

If you stuck around for the after credits scene of "Iron Man 2," (and why wouldn't you) then you probably knew that Thor was going to be the next future Avenger being introduced into the MCU. This was going to be a trickier proposition than the other three films released up to this point. The other films were grounded in a more science fiction, somewhat realistic setting. "Thor" is full on fantasy. He is the Norse God of Thunder. He lives in a mythical realm called Asgard that has a rainbow bridge. Marvel had only been releasing films for 3 years and they were asking a lot of non-comic reading movie goers.

Relative unknown Chris Hemsworth was cast as the titular Thunder God. Marvel wasn't afraid to round out the cast with some big guns. Anthony Hopkins plays Thor's one-eyed father, Odin. Natalie Portman is astrophysicist and Thor's love interest, Jane Foster. There's also Stellan Skarsgard, Idris Elba, Rene Russo(?!) and of course, Tom Hiddleston as Loki's trickster half-brother, Loki. Kenneth Branagh, yes that Kenneth Branagh, was hired to direct and help bring some gravitas to the whole affair.

The film was unleashed on the general public on May 6, 2011.

Orphan Black Re-Watch: The Girl with My Faces

"Orphan Black," Episode 2: "Instinct"

In it's second episode, "Orphan Black" continues to do the things that a great serialized drama does. It answers questions, but replaces them with even more questions. You're already hooked and they want to keep it that way. In this episode, Sarah learns more about Beth's shooting and why there are so many women running around with her face.

Revisiting the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Iron Man 2

"Iron Man 2" (2010)

It was an exciting time leading up to the release of "Iron Man 2." Everyone was watching the film as it rounded out the cast and was curious to see how this whole shared movie thing was going to work. The film wasn't without it's share of drama. Terrence Howard was replaced by Don Cheadle due to reports of on set friction between himself and star, Robert Downey Jr. Scarlett Johansson was cast as Natalie Rushman, but really Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow. Remember when Mickey Rourke was having that career resurgence after "Sin City" and "The Wrestler?" Marvel snapped him up to play villain Ivan Vanko/Whiplash. Sam Rockwell's sleazy Justin Hammer rounded out the cast.

With the majority of the team from the first film including director, Jon Favreau, returning, it seemed like Marvel was headed towards another critical hit/fan favorite. Not exactly.