Case 8.5, File 09: Diagnosis: Jimmy

AKA: Prognosis Negative!

The core strength of the Lone Gunmen (the characters, not the show) is the same thing that I think makes it hard to base an entire show around them; Their group dynamic. While they can be quite an entertaining trio, bouncing off each other and bickering, the additions of two new characters will, definitionally, alter that dynamic. I would say the dynamic has been altered for the better, but I can imagine the writers, who were probably fans of the characters on The X-Files, might want to see the original dynamic play out a little bit.

Case 08, File 17: Empedocles

AKA: Empedocles Sucks, In This House We Love Diogenes

I've made it clear in the past that I think the Monster-of-the-Week episodes are the core appeal of the series, but I don't always think the series agrees with me. Season 8 has more Myth Arc episodes than any season since 4, and even a lot of the Monster-of-the-Week episodes have the Myth Arc woven into them. I think having that many Myth Arc episodes is a function of having a lot of ground to cover. Season 4 had the complex cancer storyline for Scully, while Season 8 is tasked with introducing two new agents and having to hit the ground running with their characterization and backstory.

Case 8.5, File 08: Maximum Beyers

AKA: So We're Just Naming Episodes After The Gunmen Even If It Doesn't Make Sense Huh?

One of the problems with making a move to direct comedy is that it limits the subjects you can realistically cover. That's not to say that comedy can't address certain themes, it definitely can. It just means that, the more serious the issue you're address, the more difficult a tightrope walk you're on. If you fuck up a serious subject in a serious movie, eh at least you're taking the subject seriously, and you can usually skate on by (unless you REALLY fuck it up). But if you fuck up a serious subject in a comedy, then you're not just fucking up, you're "Making light of it."