MandyMulder, It's Me: Jumping On The X Files Bandwagon
August 28th 2008 09:57
I really didn't want to write this. I really, really didn't. But something cataclysmic has occured. I would almost go so far as to say the unthinkable has happened.
I've fallen out of love with Buffy. And head over heels for The X Files.
Why do I feel so guilty now that I've typed those two sentences? Seeing it in print (so to speak) is so final. My heart is tripping and my hands are sweating. I still adore you, Buffy, and I always will. You guided me through my turbulent teens and you were always there for me when I came home from a lonely day at work. Honest to God, you changed my life. For the better. And now I'm breaking up with you?? Phew, I almost shed a tear. Let's be fair and just say that our relationship has cooled.
As with Buffy, I spent the golden years of The X Files barely aware of its existence. Scully? Mulder? These are people, you say? Of course, I was in preschool when the first season aired and my mother would never have let me watch it anyway. But it doesn't matter. I've found you, my heart. And we shall never be apart. See what I did there, with the rhyme? The creative writing student strikes again!
The X Files entered my life on a happy chance. I might even go so far as to say it was serendipity. A few days after my twentieth birthday, my friend and I, lacking a better movie to see, caught a screening of I Want To Believe. The movie itself had a quiet intensity not typically found in your standard Hollywood fare. I have enough perspective to say it's not a particularly great movie, and though I'll buy the DVD when it comes out, it won't be on my list of favourites. But like legions of fans before me, it was the relationship between Scully and Mulder that drew me in. What is that thing that exists between Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny? It's intangible, yet practically visible. I'm not a scientist, but I think the formula is one part history, two parts chemistry. It's an intoxicating thing.
From there, things kinda snowballed. Not two days passed before I purchased the X Files Essentials collection and watched the eight episodes, plucked from across five seasons, with growing eagerness. A week later I took a calculated gamble and bought the first three seasons. Two episodes in and I was whipped. I bought seasons four through nine AND the first movie in one fell swoop. And I saw the movie again with my newly-converted sister, and stayed for the scene after the credits. There isn't much to spoil but it was a sweet moment, especially in light of a certain conversation between Mulder and Scully in the film.
The X Files is slower-paced, less melodramatic and, despite its "out there" premise, a more real show than Buffy. To be succinct, it's more adult. An appropriate conclusion, in my circumstance, as I dicovered the show mere days after I left my teenage years behind forever.
I'm up to the season four episode "Tunguska", and I've laughed, squeed like a shipper and been grossed out more times than I can remember. Anyone remember the exploding pustules from season two? The guy coughing up the flukeworm from the first season? How about the crazy inbred freaks who breed with their own mother in "Home"? The X Files is often simply ew, but the fleeting moments of tenderness between Mulder and Scully are like sweet, sweet nectar to my soul.
I'm not completely immune from spoilers (reading Television Without Pity's great recaps will do that to you) so I have some idea of what's to come. I know that both good and bad times are ahead for Mulder and Scully (forehead kisses? miracle alien baby?) but I look forward to it all. It's going to be some ride.
And if things get unbearable, there's always the hilarious bloopers from all nine seasons of the show. At the risk of sounding like a total stalker, Gillian Anderson's awesome laugh never fails to make me giggle. Her acting's pretty good too. I watched The Last King of Scotland, the BBC's Bleak House, and Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story just to get more Gillian, and Evolution and Californication to get a fix of David. As you can see, we're on first name terms. But the devotion doesn't stop there. I write the names Mulder and Scully (and occasionally "Mulder loves Scully") over and over in my notebook at uni. When I take the rubbish to the bins at work, I kick the door open and yell "Freeze, FBI!" as I brandish my finger gun like a total badass. I fantasise about going to London for the sole purpose of hopefully running into Gillian at the supermarket.
But seriously, I'm not a stalker.
A nerd, though… definitely.
I've fallen out of love with Buffy. And head over heels for The X Files.
The dynamic duo: Mulder and Scully
Why do I feel so guilty now that I've typed those two sentences? Seeing it in print (so to speak) is so final. My heart is tripping and my hands are sweating. I still adore you, Buffy, and I always will. You guided me through my turbulent teens and you were always there for me when I came home from a lonely day at work. Honest to God, you changed my life. For the better. And now I'm breaking up with you?? Phew, I almost shed a tear. Let's be fair and just say that our relationship has cooled.
As with Buffy, I spent the golden years of The X Files barely aware of its existence. Scully? Mulder? These are people, you say? Of course, I was in preschool when the first season aired and my mother would never have let me watch it anyway. But it doesn't matter. I've found you, my heart. And we shall never be apart. See what I did there, with the rhyme? The creative writing student strikes again!
The X Files entered my life on a happy chance. I might even go so far as to say it was serendipity. A few days after my twentieth birthday, my friend and I, lacking a better movie to see, caught a screening of I Want To Believe. The movie itself had a quiet intensity not typically found in your standard Hollywood fare. I have enough perspective to say it's not a particularly great movie, and though I'll buy the DVD when it comes out, it won't be on my list of favourites. But like legions of fans before me, it was the relationship between Scully and Mulder that drew me in. What is that thing that exists between Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny? It's intangible, yet practically visible. I'm not a scientist, but I think the formula is one part history, two parts chemistry. It's an intoxicating thing.
Twue wuv?
From there, things kinda snowballed. Not two days passed before I purchased the X Files Essentials collection and watched the eight episodes, plucked from across five seasons, with growing eagerness. A week later I took a calculated gamble and bought the first three seasons. Two episodes in and I was whipped. I bought seasons four through nine AND the first movie in one fell swoop. And I saw the movie again with my newly-converted sister, and stayed for the scene after the credits. There isn't much to spoil but it was a sweet moment, especially in light of a certain conversation between Mulder and Scully in the film.
The X Files is slower-paced, less melodramatic and, despite its "out there" premise, a more real show than Buffy. To be succinct, it's more adult. An appropriate conclusion, in my circumstance, as I dicovered the show mere days after I left my teenage years behind forever.
I'm up to the season four episode "Tunguska", and I've laughed, squeed like a shipper and been grossed out more times than I can remember. Anyone remember the exploding pustules from season two? The guy coughing up the flukeworm from the first season? How about the crazy inbred freaks who breed with their own mother in "Home"? The X Files is often simply ew, but the fleeting moments of tenderness between Mulder and Scully are like sweet, sweet nectar to my soul.
Like this. I don't know when it's from, but I like it.
I'm not completely immune from spoilers (reading Television Without Pity's great recaps will do that to you) so I have some idea of what's to come. I know that both good and bad times are ahead for Mulder and Scully (forehead kisses? miracle alien baby?) but I look forward to it all. It's going to be some ride.
And if things get unbearable, there's always the hilarious bloopers from all nine seasons of the show. At the risk of sounding like a total stalker, Gillian Anderson's awesome laugh never fails to make me giggle. Her acting's pretty good too. I watched The Last King of Scotland, the BBC's Bleak House, and Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story just to get more Gillian, and Evolution and Californication to get a fix of David. As you can see, we're on first name terms. But the devotion doesn't stop there. I write the names Mulder and Scully (and occasionally "Mulder loves Scully") over and over in my notebook at uni. When I take the rubbish to the bins at work, I kick the door open and yell "Freeze, FBI!" as I brandish my finger gun like a total badass. I fantasise about going to London for the sole purpose of hopefully running into Gillian at the supermarket.
But seriously, I'm not a stalker.
A nerd, though… definitely.
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Comment by Cheryl J
Rhythmatism
Budget Centsability
You wait until you get to Season 5 episode 12 called 'Bad Blood'. Not only is it about vampires it is bloody hilarious (no pun intended). The episode is cleverly split into two halves, Scully's version and Mulder's version. It's the same story but with completely differing viewpoints and worth it to hear a drugged out Mulder sing the theme from 'Shaft'. I think it's my favourite.
Enjoy your new love affair. As a Matter of fact you've made me want to revisit the whole series all over again.
Comment by Mandy
Love of Pop
Ooh, Scully and Mulder and vampires? It's like a dream come true!
Hehe, a revisitation would be timely indeed. What were your thoughts on IWTB?
Thanks for stopping by!