The X-Files...

Kelly Goden · July 5th, 2006, 02:58 PM

Shallow as it is-I liked the old show only because of the cylons, and as a cheap Star Wars rip-off.
I think the idea of making them more sympathetic would work in a single shot episode like a Star Trek or even the episode of Galactica 1980 where Starbuck revives one(the only good episode of that show).

Maybe once the show ends I can watch them all in a row.
:)

Keith Loh · July 5th, 2006, 03:07 PM

You can rent the season 1 DVD and the opening 3-part miniseries.

Yi Fong Yu · July 6th, 2006, 07:34 AM

i've seen every single episode of the original BSG '77-78 and '80 and honestly, both of those weren't anything to write home about. 'The Return of Starbuck' was OK, but wasn't groundbreaking.

the new BSG is really nothing like it =).

Joe Carney · July 7th, 2006, 03:40 PM

Yes, having seen both, the new BSG is far and away better. The new cylons are smarter, more sinister, more evil, more inisdious, sexier, better looking, cooler...I want one for myself. I really can't blame the weak, cowardly Doctor for succumbing to their charms.

Yi Fong Yu · July 7th, 2006, 04:58 PM

lol, that's only one of the "models".

Kelly Goden · July 7th, 2006, 06:52 PM

The cylons were cool though in a classic science fiction sense(same school as Robby the robot and the Lost in Space robot) and it sure didnt hurt to have MacQuarrie as conceptual designer. I dont have an interest in re-watching the old shows, though I have a sense of nostalgia about that era of television--the Hulk, Buck Rogers, etc, and the character actors on them. The term "cheese" doesnt enter my vocabulary--I like man in a monster suit type stuff as much as the CG variety, as long as its imaginative.

And I just feel the spaceship crew series model has been done to death--and needs a break, whether it is Star Trek or BG. We are talking about a remake afterall. Also reminds me a bit of Space: Above and Beyond, with "Seven of Nine" thrown in.

The X Files reminded me of the short lived Project Bluebook, but it was quite different from anything else. It was innovative.

BTW-the only other dramatic show I watched religiously since the end of the X Files is the Sopranos--and it is really difficult to go from that kind of quality to the regular television stuff(and the Sopranos hasnt been that good in the last 3 seasons).
24 is another series I will have to watch in a long marathon. :)

Marcus Marchesseault · July 9th, 2006, 07:43 AM

"I havent watched the new Battlestar Galactica."

You should. Do yourself a favor.

"I just feel the spaceship crew series model has been done to death--and needs a break"

It didn't need a break. It needed to be done properly.

"We are talking about a remake afterall."

Not really. The character names and ranks are the same, but the characters are very different. Heck, even the genders have changed.

The new cylons are human clones and updated centurions. The centurions don't talk, but they are still more intelligent. They are soldiers and now have battle tactics. If they can't find the humans, they will build an artillery battery and flatten the whole area. If they board a ship, they will de-pressurize the atmosphere and kill the whole crew. That is just the infrequent occurences of the centurions. The clone cylons are everywhere and do everything. They lie, cheat, murder, screw, cry, manipulate, pray, etc....

The humans do much of the same. Both sides are ruthless in battle. The first thing the cylons do when they arrive on scene is launch a few nukes. There is no stupid laser battle with nobody taking any real damage. Two ships fight and either one runs or one gets destroyed. That is just the spaceship part.

The real substance to the show is the character interaction and development. There is significant interaction between human and cylon. Sometimes it is not known who is on which side. Both sides take an emotional toll from the conflict, although it is not known what emotions mean to cylons.

BG is one of the only motion picture works where I think the people do what real people would do in the same situation. The writing is rarely forced to simply expose a plot angle. Plot elements occur and the characters react as would seem expected of real people. The best part is that even with the realistic reactions, I can rarely predict what will happen in an episode.

Kelly Goden · July 9th, 2006, 09:27 AM

There just isnt anything in the descriptions of it that makes me interested enough to rush over and check it out. It doesnt help that it is named after another show even though it isnt apparently a remake.

X Files, Babylon 5, even Sliders, there were things in the descriptions of each show that made me curious enough to look into it--but nothing about BG makes me curious. A "who's the real monster?" kind of twist isnt enough in itself for me to watch it.
And even if they were faithful to the original series--I would have probably checked it out once or twice for the cylons and production design--and flipped the channel.

If its a space opera kind of series like B5--then its all the more reason for me to ignore it until the run is over--and then catch it in syndication. I watched X Files week by week, and the alien story ran out of steam to the point where the final episode had no impact at all.
Ditto for TNG, Ds9 and Voyager.

The Sopranos is leagues above writing-and characterwise--and even that show has been dull--the demands of stretching it out season after season just cant hold it together.

Keith Loh · July 9th, 2006, 10:20 AM

Kelly, you've had a number of people tell you to check it out.

It sounds like you are building up an idea about the show without bothering to walk over to the video store and rent a couple episodes. What is the great effort in that?

Kelly Goden · July 9th, 2006, 11:29 AM

Being a stubborn curmudgeon takes a lot of effort(I even had to look the word "curmudgeon" up to make sure I spelled it right).
:)
I have checked it out online.

It just doesnt intrigue me enough to rent it-and my tv viewing habits are way more restricted than it used to be. I hardly have the tv on except to watch movies(I havent even watched Masters of Horror which I have been taping-though that's no big deal--I still havent watched B5 Crusade, and I think i recorded it in 1999)

And if I do check it out after the series is done-and am pleasantly surprised--how would I lose? I would just feel a bit silly for waiting so long to do so.

But Tricia Helfer a number 6? A 10 out of 10! Way better than 7 of 9 for sure.

Keith Loh · July 9th, 2006, 11:56 AM

I know what you mean. I took a year to watch Doctor Who (the new series) even though I had it all. But then I didn't go back and forth in a thread a number of times saying I didn't feel like watching it either.

Mathieu Ghekiere · July 9th, 2006, 01:49 PM

Maybe you guys could make an seperate thread about that other show, Battlestar Gallactica?

Because this is still the X-Files thread :-)
btw: now, finally having those beautiful digipacks, I'm now into watching the first X Files Season, and I really love it. Every episode has it's strong points, and the scripts are really great.
I know the last seasons aren't that great, I've heard, but still, I love it. It's indeed a bit of a regret they just can't stop when it's time to stop.

Kelly Goden · July 9th, 2006, 01:54 PM

I havent said I dont feel like watching Crusade--I just havent got around to doing so. BG is a different matter. I havent even recorded it! :) At least I am not an old show fan with a gripe(beyond the cylons)--could care less if they revived it or not---I am just cynical about episodic corporate television and its hard to get me to tune in to something.
I cant even tell you what channel BG is on locally--I assume its on Space, but i havent tuned into that station in a while either.

In fact--my vcr timer is screwed- and I havent bothered to fix it-so I cant record things by auto. Kinda sad isnt it? I used to have a serious distrust of people who didnt watch television and I am turning into one of them.

BTW
I havent watched much Doctor Who even though I have known about it for many years. I did catch the 96 movie--but that is thanks to the X Files--since it was aired on Fox so i caught the promo. X Files probably got me to watch alot of stuff I wouldnt have bothered with(Milennium, Strange Luck, the Lone Gunmen, Alien Autopsy etc).

There. I made the comments relevant to the thread.
:)

Yi Fong Yu · July 10th, 2006, 01:42 AM

good stuff matthieu. i'm also going through XF myself. i missed lots of season2-4. so perhaps we can do it together =). heheheh. i finished s1 a long while ago. but from my memory, it's a solid season. not much mythology remember, just a lot of monster of the week. tooms is the best character from s1 =). very memorable eyes. be sure to take note of "billy" from the piliot, since he'll be back (how's that for continuity? heh). i'm currently on season2 started a little bit on end game, after watching colony. both of these 2 eps are HEAVY into mythology. besides the 1st ep of s2, these 2 eps really kick off the mythology. it's very interesting knowing all of what will happen to watch the "mystery" or developments of these mythologies. i just luv the writing, it throws you off and then keeps you staying on it.

PS i didn't know Mr. X was such a badass!!!!!!!! oh YEAH!

Mathieu Ghekiere · July 10th, 2006, 04:59 AM

Yeah, the writing really is superb, there are many twists in one episode, you really think: damn, so much information in only 40 minutes...

And the best things, not always, but mostly, are just the beginning sequenses. They really capture your attention!
(ps, love the beginning credits too, saw them over a 100 times, but they never get tired!)

July 5th, 2006, 03:07 PM	#47
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	You can rent the season 1 DVD and the opening 3-part miniseries. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

July 6th, 2006, 07:34 AM	#48
Yi Fong Yu Trustee Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vulcan Posts: 1,564	i've seen every single episode of the original BSG '77-78 and '80 and honestly, both of those weren't anything to write home about. 'The Return of Starbuck' was OK, but wasn't groundbreaking. the new BSG is really nothing like it =). __________________ bow wow wow

July 7th, 2006, 03:40 PM	#49
Joe Carney Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Centreville Va Posts: 1,828	Yes, having seen both, the new BSG is far and away better. The new cylons are smarter, more sinister, more evil, more inisdious, sexier, better looking, cooler...I want one for myself. I really can't blame the weak, cowardly Doctor for succumbing to their charms. __________________ Boycott Guinness, bring back the pint!!!

July 7th, 2006, 04:58 PM	#50
Yi Fong Yu Trustee Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vulcan Posts: 1,564	lol, that's only one of the "models". __________________ bow wow wow

July 7th, 2006, 06:52 PM	#51
Kelly Goden Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Surrey BC Posts: 259	The cylons were cool though in a classic science fiction sense(same school as Robby the robot and the Lost in Space robot) and it sure didnt hurt to have MacQuarrie as conceptual designer. I dont have an interest in re-watching the old shows, though I have a sense of nostalgia about that era of television--the Hulk, Buck Rogers, etc, and the character actors on them. The term "cheese" doesnt enter my vocabulary--I like man in a monster suit type stuff as much as the CG variety, as long as its imaginative. And I just feel the spaceship crew series model has been done to death--and needs a break, whether it is Star Trek or BG. We are talking about a remake afterall. Also reminds me a bit of Space: Above and Beyond, with "Seven of Nine" thrown in. The X Files reminded me of the short lived Project Bluebook, but it was quite different from anything else. It was innovative. BTW-the only other dramatic show I watched religiously since the end of the X Files is the Sopranos--and it is really difficult to go from that kind of quality to the regular television stuff(and the Sopranos hasnt been that good in the last 3 seasons). 24 is another series I will have to watch in a long marathon. :) Last edited by Kelly Goden; July 8th, 2006 at 12:52 PM.

July 5th, 2006, 02:58 PM	#46
Kelly Goden Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Surrey BC Posts: 259	Shallow as it is-I liked the old show only because of the cylons, and as a cheap Star Wars rip-off. I think the idea of making them more sympathetic would work in a single shot episode like a Star Trek or even the episode of Galactica 1980 where Starbuck revives one(the only good episode of that show). Maybe once the show ends I can watch them all in a row. :)

July 9th, 2006, 07:43 AM	#52
Marcus Marchesseault Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,961	"I havent watched the new Battlestar Galactica." You should. Do yourself a favor. "I just feel the spaceship crew series model has been done to death--and needs a break" It didn't need a break. It needed to be done properly. "We are talking about a remake afterall." Not really. The character names and ranks are the same, but the characters are very different. Heck, even the genders have changed. The new cylons are human clones and updated centurions. The centurions don't talk, but they are still more intelligent. They are soldiers and now have battle tactics. If they can't find the humans, they will build an artillery battery and flatten the whole area. If they board a ship, they will de-pressurize the atmosphere and kill the whole crew. That is just the infrequent occurences of the centurions. The clone cylons are everywhere and do everything. They lie, cheat, murder, screw, cry, manipulate, pray, etc.... The humans do much of the same. Both sides are ruthless in battle. The first thing the cylons do when they arrive on scene is launch a few nukes. There is no stupid laser battle with nobody taking any real damage. Two ships fight and either one runs or one gets destroyed. That is just the spaceship part. The real substance to the show is the character interaction and development. There is significant interaction between human and cylon. Sometimes it is not known who is on which side. Both sides take an emotional toll from the conflict, although it is not known what emotions mean to cylons. BG is one of the only motion picture works where I think the people do what real people would do in the same situation. The writing is rarely forced to simply expose a plot angle. Plot elements occur and the characters react as would seem expected of real people. The best part is that even with the realistic reactions, I can rarely predict what will happen in an episode.

July 9th, 2006, 09:27 AM	#53
Kelly Goden Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Surrey BC Posts: 259	There just isnt anything in the descriptions of it that makes me interested enough to rush over and check it out. It doesnt help that it is named after another show even though it isnt apparently a remake. X Files, Babylon 5, even Sliders, there were things in the descriptions of each show that made me curious enough to look into it--but nothing about BG makes me curious. A "who's the real monster?" kind of twist isnt enough in itself for me to watch it. And even if they were faithful to the original series--I would have probably checked it out once or twice for the cylons and production design--and flipped the channel. If its a space opera kind of series like B5--then its all the more reason for me to ignore it until the run is over--and then catch it in syndication. I watched X Files week by week, and the alien story ran out of steam to the point where the final episode had no impact at all. Ditto for TNG, Ds9 and Voyager. The Sopranos is leagues above writing-and characterwise--and even that show has been dull--the demands of stretching it out season after season just cant hold it together.

July 9th, 2006, 10:20 AM	#54
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	Kelly, you've had a number of people tell you to check it out. It sounds like you are building up an idea about the show without bothering to walk over to the video store and rent a couple episodes. What is the great effort in that? __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

July 9th, 2006, 11:29 AM	#55
Kelly Goden Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Surrey BC Posts: 259	Being a stubborn curmudgeon takes a lot of effort(I even had to look the word "curmudgeon" up to make sure I spelled it right). :) I have checked it out online. It just doesnt intrigue me enough to rent it-and my tv viewing habits are way more restricted than it used to be. I hardly have the tv on except to watch movies(I havent even watched Masters of Horror which I have been taping-though that's no big deal--I still havent watched B5 Crusade, and I think i recorded it in 1999) And if I do check it out after the series is done-and am pleasantly surprised--how would I lose? I would just feel a bit silly for waiting so long to do so. But Tricia Helfer a number 6? A 10 out of 10! Way better than 7 of 9 for sure.

July 9th, 2006, 11:56 AM	#56
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	I know what you mean. I took a year to watch Doctor Who (the new series) even though I had it all. But then I didn't go back and forth in a thread a number of times saying I didn't feel like watching it either. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

July 9th, 2006, 01:49 PM	#57
Mathieu Ghekiere Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 2,195	Maybe you guys could make an seperate thread about that other show, Battlestar Gallactica? Because this is still the X-Files thread :-) btw: now, finally having those beautiful digipacks, I'm now into watching the first X Files Season, and I really love it. Every episode has it's strong points, and the scripts are really great. I know the last seasons aren't that great, I've heard, but still, I love it. It's indeed a bit of a regret they just can't stop when it's time to stop. __________________ http://productionsofthe3rdkind.com http://pr3k.com

July 9th, 2006, 01:54 PM	#58
Kelly Goden Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Surrey BC Posts: 259	I havent said I dont feel like watching Crusade--I just havent got around to doing so. BG is a different matter. I havent even recorded it! :) At least I am not an old show fan with a gripe(beyond the cylons)--could care less if they revived it or not---I am just cynical about episodic corporate television and its hard to get me to tune in to something. I cant even tell you what channel BG is on locally--I assume its on Space, but i havent tuned into that station in a while either. In fact--my vcr timer is screwed- and I havent bothered to fix it-so I cant record things by auto. Kinda sad isnt it? I used to have a serious distrust of people who didnt watch television and I am turning into one of them. BTW I havent watched much Doctor Who even though I have known about it for many years. I did catch the 96 movie--but that is thanks to the X Files--since it was aired on Fox so i caught the promo. X Files probably got me to watch alot of stuff I wouldnt have bothered with(Milennium, Strange Luck, the Lone Gunmen, Alien Autopsy etc). There. I made the comments relevant to the thread. :)

July 10th, 2006, 01:42 AM	#59
Yi Fong Yu Trustee Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vulcan Posts: 1,564	good stuff matthieu. i'm also going through XF myself. i missed lots of season2-4. so perhaps we can do it together =). heheheh. i finished s1 a long while ago. but from my memory, it's a solid season. not much mythology remember, just a lot of monster of the week. tooms is the best character from s1 =). very memorable eyes. be sure to take note of "billy" from the piliot, since he'll be back (how's that for continuity? heh). i'm currently on season2 started a little bit on end game, after watching colony. both of these 2 eps are HEAVY into mythology. besides the 1st ep of s2, these 2 eps really kick off the mythology. it's very interesting knowing all of what will happen to watch the "mystery" or developments of these mythologies. i just luv the writing, it throws you off and then keeps you staying on it. PS i didn't know Mr. X was such a badass!!!!!!!! oh YEAH! __________________ bow wow wow

July 10th, 2006, 04:59 AM	#60
Mathieu Ghekiere Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 2,195	Yeah, the writing really is superb, there are many twists in one episode, you really think: damn, so much information in only 40 minutes... And the best things, not always, but mostly, are just the beginning sequenses. They really capture your attention! (ps, love the beginning credits too, saw them over a 100 times, but they never get tired!) __________________ http://productionsofthe3rdkind.com http://pr3k.com