Nothing Important Happened Today

Really, nothing important happens. Looks like not even the writers know where Mulder is, they should have at least said something about this in season 8 finale. I makes no sense to ask a 100 times in this episode where Mulder is just to mention his name. Stop making him linger....if he is gone, let him be gone and focus on the new "main" characters, this new "wtf are you" Assistant Director and Monica Boring Reyes. Gillian Anderson has done some impressive performances in the past....now she is just moaning around the house playing mommy, doing a stupid autopsy and running away when trouble arises. Dogget and Skinner stand out but aren't given enough room to play, they are arguing all the time between them and the other characters....so many characters. I hope the next chapter is less chatting and more action. And please give Scully a gun and start kicking some a**es.

Yep. Mulder is gone from the x-files for an entire season. Nothing Important Happened Today begins the post-Mulder era of the X-Files. A conspiracy is covering all the evidence up from the season 8 finale and Doggett is mad about it.

To start off, I found it very interesting that we get shots of both Doggett and Reyes waking up topless in their respective beds. If there is supposed to be some symbolism there, I'm missing it.

Cary Elwes, a favorite actor of mine from "The Princess Bride", comes to the show for a few guest appearances. He does a fine job as the sneaky, slimy, A.D. Brad Follmer.

I feel sorry for Doggett in this episode. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is telling Doggett to drop his case of investigating Kersh and trying to find Mulder. They just treat him badly and he doesn't deserve it. He's just doing his job. It's a very abrupt about-face by everyone, and it leaves Doggett confused.

Reyes finally agrees to go along with Doggett so that he's not completely alone. Then Skinner, who appears to be the most adamant about Doggett dropping this case, surprisingly goes along with Doggett to the plant. He can't seem to make up his mind.

There is a scene of Reyes finding Mulder's pencils in the ceiling of the x-files office. It's a nice tribute. Also, Scully needs to get a new mobile for William. That thing squeaks too much when it turns.

Overall, Nothing Important Happened Today is a good episode with the new x-files team, and Scully kind of tagging along. However, the new Super Soldier angle doesn't do it for me, and prevents this episode from being something extra special.

When "The X-Files" premiered in 1993, it fundamentally reshaped the television landscape. Combining supernatural intrigue with grounded character dynamics, the series turned skepticism and belief into thrilling drama. Its blend of conspiracy, horror, and wit made it a touchstone for sci-fi storytelling, influencing countless successors. Unfortunately, as it progressed into its later seasons, the magic began to fade, weighed down by convoluted storylines and the departure of lead actor David Duchovny as Fox Mulder, and season nine premiere, "Nothing Important Happened Today," exemplifies how far the series has fallen. There's barely a glimmer of intriguing drama left to be spotted, despite the crew's best efforts.

The episode introduces a new potential antagonist, Shannon McMahon, played by Lucy Lawless, who is a genetically modified super-soldier with the eerie ability to survive indefinitely underwater. While Lawless brings charisma and presence to the role, her introduction feels like yet another desperate attempt to prop up the floundering super-soldier storyline - a thread that had already exhausted its intrigue by this point in the series. The writers seem unsure of where to steer the show's mythology, recycling old ideas with diminishing returns. Kim Manners' direction and the show's polished production values remain high points, yet these technical strengths feel hollow when paired with a narrative that treads familiar ground without any fresh ideas. The slickness of the production serves to remind viewers of how innovative the show once was - and how perfunctory it feels now. Doggett and Reyes step up as the show's primary protagonists, continuing to investigate the murky dealings of Deputy Director Kersh and the government conspiracy. While both actors are committed to their roles and bring interesting quirks to their characters their chemistry never quite clicks. Compared to the iconic dynamic between Mulder and Scully, Doggett and Reyes' partnership lacks emotional depth and narrative spark. Perhaps the episode's most glaring flaw is its treatment of Mulder and Scully. Gillian Anderson's Scully, a character who had once been a linchpin of the show, is relegated to the sidelines, her role reduced to a shadow of its former self. The episode struggles to justify Mulder's absence, settling for vague allusions to his safety being in jeopardy. This lack of effort to address his departure in a meaningful way undermines the emotional stakes of the story.

"Nothing Important Happened Today" fails to establish a compelling new direction for "The X-Files'" final season. The episode is bogged down by tired mythology and lack of narrative focus, while the most baseline qualities are underscored by uninspired writing and the absence of the show's original heart. For a series that once dared to believe in the extraordinary, this premiere feels like an admission of mediocrity.

...So Mulder just left. That's the explanation for Mulder not being in in Season 9. That's all we get. Season 9 couldn't have started worse. They should have ended it after Season 8. Season 9 may had one or two episodes to check out, but believe me folks, most eps this season were TERRIBLE. Even the talented writers like Vince Gilligan failed to bring anything good this last season. I haven't been as excited as i was during the Vancouver years (S1-S5) but at least every season after S5 still contained some classic standalone eps. Now the mythology eps weren't that interesting anymore after S5, but it just gets ridiculous here. Mutant water supplies???? I mean come on!!! Supersoldiers??? The worst idea ever???!!!

Which was why I LOVED this episode. As much as I loved Mulder, I was willing to see a X-Files without him. I loved the addition of John Doggett and I knew Monica Reyes would eventually take over Skully's place in the show, had the show gone on longer.

It's because, the X-Files is a CONCEPT, it's NOT strictly about Mulder or Skully, or even CGI Spender or Geoffrey Spender or The Lone Gunman or X or Deep throat. Or Agent Fowley, or Skinner or Kirsch. Or Carey Elwes.

The X-Files was not about one single character or pair of characters, but that was the format of the show - Two individuals go it alone against The World and All the Lies and try to find The Truth, which is blocked to them at every avenue - And the bad Guys are always 10 steps ahead. Sound Familiar? Because we can just assume FRINGE is this same story continued.

Mulder is GONE - He's just Gone, and he's in danger. Skully may be able to get in touch with him, but will not jeopardize his safety.

Doggett had determined to investigate Kersh in the 8th Season Finale. But by this time, he's blocked in like a sardine, and all the evidence and witnesses have been spirited away. Welcome to The basement, Doggett! Skully's baby William has some abilities and that makes him a target. And now Doggett finds a relation to his "friend" Knowle Rohrer and Shannon McMahon - What are they? We saw these guys basically re-assemble from a silver piece of Vertebrae last season. This episode is the start of the last Mythos Arc of The X-Files: The "Super Soldier/Alien Replacement" Arc.

I was glued to the TV when this was first-run because of course, Xena was going to join The X-Files. I was SO excited about this, and I thought she did an incredible believable job - This was the perfect Role for Xena. I always think of Lucy Lawless as Xena more than Lucy, it's just implanted in my brain that way.

This is the first of only two episodes that Lucy was in - It was intended that the character come back and be the best antithesis of Knowle Rohrer, but complications with a pregnancy prevented her from coming back.

But what we have here, is the hand-off, Mulder and Skully hand the X-Files over to Doggett and Reyes, their worthy successors. I liked the Doggett/Reyes team just like I liked the Mulder/Skully team.

It was just that, Well Mulder and Skully, had an impact on us for seven long years. The X-Files as a Concept and as a Show COULD have continued, with different people. It's like Life, things change. People come and go in the Telling, like Lord of The Rings, the narrative starts with Bilbo Baggins and is handed to Frodo, who hands it to Samwise.

It's just the nature of the 'verse - And now, the work done by Mulder and Skully has been handed to Olivia Dunham, Peter Bishop, Walter Bishop and Astrid Farnsworth in FRINGE.

It had been 7 years since TV had an X-Files type show until Fringe aired in 2009. Honestly, did anyone expect to see shows like The X-Files and Fringe from 2002 to 2008? Not in THAT Administration of Lies. An Administration Mulder would have fought with all his Might.

I'm hopeful our current Administration will continue for another 4 years. Then maybe even The X-Files could come back, if just as another Movie. If it does, I'd like to know the fates of John Doggett and Monica Reyes, because Carter made us care about them, as much as most "X Files Fans" did not care for them.