StephaNiaZ

I've bent over backwards and given the show 3 weeks to suck me in. I can do bad TV as long as it's not too stupid, or the characters intrigue me. I've stuck with "Prison Break," because of the characters, although I'm hanging on by a thread. I've stuck with "24" because it moves so fast and furiously and throws in so many curves I don't have time to suspend disbelief.

Now I've had it with the "Fringe." There's only one character I like and that's the main guy, and he has no business in the show. His only reason for being there is to act as a balance for his crazy father, and yet they have him acting like Torv's FBI partner. He has no discernible professional reason for being part of the group. His humor is the best thing in the show.

Then there's the cute FBI agent in the lab, who has no science skills, and who seems to be there to look cute. Then there's the crazy scientist whose crazy as a loon, until he's focused on doing some sci-fi magic, thanks to a bunch of machinery that's been rusting away in a lab for 3 decades, but now seems to be just right for every wacky project that comes their way.

The sci fi is ludicrous! It doesn't have to be accurate, obviously - it's fiction - but it has to be believable.

It has to be semi rational. In the last show a guy gets on a bus, puts on a gas mask, gases the entire bus, then waits for the bus driver to crash so he can get off with something he's stolen. Excuse me? You're going to risk your life on a careening bus? They love to show people with bulging veins, a la "scanners," who then survive what would certainly result in a brain hemmorhage.

Worst show ever

The X-Files was an original, thought-provoking show that managed to grow from a cult favorite to an international phenomenon by two very important assets: terrific writing and an unmatched team made up of two polar opposites. This show proves that opposites do attract; together, Mulder and Scully are better than what they would have been alone. The plots simply back up this common theme, while also establishing what the X-Files were-scary, daring, unique. Intertwining mythology and stand-alones with the characters, The X-Files is an instant TV classic, sci-fi or not. Mythology set the stage for some great emotional episodes (i.e. "Memento Mori"). The stand-alones were individual brilliances. They strengthened the different beliefs of Mulder and Scully: Mulder was the first to believe in the supernatural, while Scully provided a more scientific explanation. And this is one of the achievements of the series: that despite their differences, Mulder and Scully trust each other without judgment. That's a joy of watching the entire show all the way through-we see the slow progression of the tight-knit relationship between Mulder and Scully. Immediately, there is a respect for each other, and as the series continues, that respect fades into an unbreakable trust. Their dynamic bond fuels the series, and supports the plots of the various episodes. And we see that they love each other-whether romantically or as great friends. Mulder and Scully sacrifice many things for each other: Mulder sacrifices his quest to save Scully, and Scully sacrifices a life away from work to help Mulder. Not only were Mulder and Scully fantastic, but we had the Cigarette Smoking Man, a multifaceted, mysterious villain; Skinner, the assistant director who shows his devotion to Mulder and Scully by risking his career and his life (the most underrated character in the series); and the Lone Gunmen, who were entertaining and helpful, more than anything. Watching Mulder and Scully mature and being tested both physically and emotionally is the real reason for watching. Most of the episodes were well-written; some classic stand-alones like "Ice," "Beyond the Sea," "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose," "Wetwired," "Small Potatoes," "Bad Blood," and "Triangle," all proved what the series was: versatile. It could one week make you laugh, thanks on part to David Duchovny's clever wit, and the next scare the pants off of you. The classic mythologies like "Duane Barry," "Anasazi," "Paper Clip," "Memento Mori," etc added layers to the series and provided excellently written emotional episodes for Mulder and Scully (i.e. "One Breath," and "Memento Mori"). These episodes were some of sci-fi television's finest-thrilling, chilling, and altogether cool. All in all, The X-Files was a landmark series in the science fiction genre, proving that you can combine mythology and stand-alones well and also providing a strong female character that continues to influence today's shows. X-Files inspired countless future shows, most notably Lost and Fringe. Mulder and Scully were fascinating, imperfect characters that made you root for them-for them to find the truth, and for them to remain the best of friends throughout all hardships. There will never be a show quite like X-Files ever again.