Opening The X-Files: A Critical History of the Original Series

I heard the author on The X-Cast podcast, and really enjoyed his contributions. I’m so glad I read this book. It’s smart, affectionate, critical analysis of the series. I like how he puts the show in the context of it’s time and the evolution of television. I got a kick out of how, even though I’ve watched through more than once, there were many things referenced in the book I’d either forgotten or failed to notice. With no new episodes to look forward to, it was great to once again immerse myself in the X-files, and think about the show in new ways.

Not that the book is misleading, but the book definitely is more about Financials, production, writing, and those involved that way. Much also on the cultural and ratings impact.The latter part of the book starts to dig deeper into the show's storyline and arc.Good book, but don't get if you're looking for deep analysis or discussion of episode/storyline content.

Great read and a concise review of seasons and comparisons to today's television. Must read to recollect how influences of the time affected episodes. Worth time to read!

Darren Mooney has written something quite unique for texts on a modern television series.First off, it's immensely readable and paced incredibly well, considering the scope of his arguments and analyses.Second, some texts are skewed primarily towards an academic audience (e.g., 'Full of Secrets' - for Twin Peaks, or 'The Unfolding Text' for Doctor Who), others have synopses for hardcore fans (e.g., 'the Discontinuity Guide' / Pearson's 'I, Who'), behind the scenes ('Blake's 7: The Inside Story') or light coverage for newcomers and folks with only a casual interest in the show. What Mr. Mooney has constructed, I believe, would appeal to all of these audiences incredibly well, with newcomers who are concerned about spoilers (of course) being an exception.The book is organized by season for each chapter and describes some of the practical issues around the show (media context and 'behind the scenes' creator anecdotes), some very brief episode synopses, but most importantly (to me) analyses of the seasons with ethical/philosophical/political/historical frameworks that are wonderfully grounded. It's not necessarily the case that everything he observes and presents the creators intended, or that the context directly inspired it, but they have a veracity in the sense that any reflexive examination of art like this can have (particularly something with so many cooks in the kitchen, as the X-Files has). Yet, so many things he comments on, I completely missed on the first viewing and it adds much more to a viewer/fan to appreciate and consider. While some could argue that the X-Files is excessively didactic at times, Mooney's presentation of the core text of the show illuminates a degree of nuance and subtlety that is very, very rare in television and provides further justification for the X-Files' place in television history, as well as culture and media studies. However, crucially, Mr. Mooney is in no way a sycophant and readily criticizes the problematic and weak aspects of the show.While there are brief synopses of the episodes in this text, Mooney has written extensive analyses of each episode that you can access on his website. I've found as I was reading this book that I would occasionally go read a full review of a particular episode and then come back and continue reading the book.Finally, this book is simply fun to read. Even if someone is only vaguely aware of the show, there is so much for a reader to learn about television in the 90's, culture in the 90's, politics, history, etc.(Purchased the e-book)

This is a must read, not only for fans of the X-Files but for anyone interested in the development of recent and contemporary American popular culture and its connection to real world events. In a series of tautly written chapters Mooney sets out the background of the X-Files and describes how the series came about. He follows each series and both describes and analyses the events and themes of the episodes and the way these fit into the larger emerging story arc (of the 'colonists' and their malign intentions and the machinations of their human collaborators). The work is not merely descriptive or a handbook for people swotting up for a pub quiz. Instead it explores the themes and imagery used and the development of both characters and plot, soother is indeed a narrative running through the book, which makes it indeed a history rather than just a descriptive account. As such it provides a constant stream of insights into both the production history and the 'meaning' of many of the events and characters in terms of their location in the wider story arc. The most interesting aspect of the book for me is the way Mooney relates the themes and ideas of a very popular and influential TV show to wider social and political phenomena, in particular the decline of American self-confidence and of popular and elite belief in the future and the gradual formation of a much darker and more pessimistic vision that has come to shape much sentiment and perception of the world in the contemporary US - with far reaching effects that we have not yet seen worked out fully. As such this is not just a book for nerds and fans of the series - although they will love it - it should be read by anyone interested in recent to contemporary social and cultural history, of the US and beyond.

I made this purchase thinking I would get a nice compilation or summary of Darren Mooney's exhaustively researched reviews published on them0vieblog. Thankfully this book offers much more. For a 25 year old show, "Opening the X-Files" surprisingly brings new (or obscure) behind the scenes information. There are quotes from interviews that took place at the time the show was being broadcast. Its first broadcast was at the dawn of the internet age, so assembling the information from these interviews in an accessible way is a gift to all manner of fans.But the book also serves to place the series squarely in the context it belongs, discussing the 1990s as a decade, the historical and cultural attitudes of the time as well as changes in the television landscape. The X-Files worked so well as a show because it played with those timely ideas in a thought-provoking way. Here, Darren Mooney helps ensure that context won't be forgotten. This book is the best supplemental work I have found anywhere for this great series.

Great overview of the series. Wonderful analysis and extremely well-written.

This is a must read, not only for fans of the X-Files but for anyone interested in the development of recent and contemporary American popular culture and its connection to real world events. In a series of tautly written chapters Mooney sets out the background of the X-Files and describes how the series came about. He follows each series and both describes and analyses the events and themes of the episodes and the way these fit into the larger emerging story arc (of the 'colonists' and their malign intentions and the machinations of their human collaborators). The work is not merely descriptive or a handbook for people swotting up for a pub quiz. Instead it explores the themes and imagery used and the development of both characters and plot, so there is indeed a narrative running through the book, which makes it indeed a history rather than just a descriptive account. As such it provides a constant stream of insights into both the production history and the 'meaning' of many of the events and characters in terms of their location in the wider story arc. The most interesting aspect of the book for me is the way Mooney relates the themes and ideas of a very popular and influential TV show to wider social and political phenomena, in particular the decline of American self-confidence and of popular and elite belief in the future and the gradual formation of a much darker and more pessimistic vision that has come to shape much sentiment and perception of the world in the contemporary US - with far reaching effects that we have not yet seen worked out fully. As such this is not just a book for nerds and fans of the series - although they will love it - it should be read by anyone interested in recent to contemporary social and cultural history, of the US and beyond.

A fantastic and well structured analysis of The X-Files and will enhance and add to the episodes, themes and arcs of the series, even if you've watched the series once or numerous times.

Interesting and insightful look at a genre defining series.

An exhaustive history of The X-Files that is a superb read. Would wholeheartedly recommend this book.