FIRST CONTACT YOUR letters
Your reactions to the new X- Files, plus Deadpool, Doctor Who, David Bowie and more.
Adam Harvey, GamesRadar+ The first two episodes of the X- Files revival were soooo dull. Retconning the original mythology to fit 2016 felt like a complete cop- out. David Duchovny still can’t act, and Gillian Anderson looks bored with the appalling dialogue.
Neil Hickman, email After nine series and a movie ( the first one that is) I’m pretty sure the aliens were real, even if Mulder isn’t. It felt very strange to be giving Truthers a little validation too.
Kaija Blue Sky, Twitter I think The X- Files has grown up. It’s trying to be more realistic and represents more of the values of our time. SFX Hmm, I’m guessing Kaija wrote that before seeing episode three…
h1tman007mcr, GamesRadar+ I really enjoyed the first and second episodes. The third was absolutely ridiculous.
Eduard Korhonen, Facebook I started to watch the first episode, got bored and drifted out, and never bothered with the rest.
Keith Tudor, email I found the first episode slow, but the second episode had some great dramatic moments, and we then had one of the funniest episodes in The X- Files’ history – the Were- Monster was a great spin on a classic theme.
Eloxia, Facebook I think a lot of people have nostalgia syndrome – the acting was terrible back in the day, worse than soap opera acting. I’m especially impressed with the improvement Gillian Anderson has made over the years.
Mark Crawley, Twitter Get two new leads – Scully and Mulder look old and knackered. SFX Charming, Mark! And if you think Gillian Anderson looks “knackered”, god help the rest of us; you’d think she’d been in cryogenic suspension since 2002.
Pete Woolman, GamesRadar+ The series has been such a mixed bag. On the one hand “Mulder And Scully Meet The Were- Monster” is up there with the best episodes; but “Babylon” was so misjudged that it almost ruined the entire revival.
Michelle Ferry, Facebook It’s refreshing to see a show that’s come back acknowledge that yes, time has gone by, and they’re not the exact same people they were when the show stopped in the early ’ 00s. SFX They’re not the only ones who’ve changed, Michelle. I was replaced by an alien shapeshifter in 2011, for example.
Gaspar Garção, GamesRadar+ The conspiracy “turned on its head” ( ie alien technology used by the military- industrial complex for controlling the population, not an alien invasion), is a strong concept, but I’d prefer the conspiracy plot to stay unresolved; for me, The X- Files is about the journey, not the conclusion. Definitely worth another series.
MediumAtomicWeight, GamesRadar+ By 2002 I thought the show had definitely run its course. How wrong! A decade later and the conspiracy theories have become reality – our privacy eroded, surveillance by the state the status quo. The X- Files feels more necessary than before.
PeterParker83 I was both excited and worried about the revival. And I was right to be, on both counts, because it’s been such a mixed bag.
Rob Horrocks, Twitter It’s been a return to the glory days of the show, and I’d love to see more.
SFX Not sure I agree with the first half of that, but I definitely agree with the conclusion. Head to page 122 to read my verdict on the season!
# DEAD GOOD Mike Garner, email Deadpool is easily one of the best Marvel films. It’s pitch perfect! Ryan Reynolds is the best casting since Robert Downey Jr put on his Iron Man suit. The writer should receive serious accolades – although they won’t, because it’s wee and fart jokes. It also has the funniest minute of any film, ever, a scene that has to be this generation’s Black Knight from Monty Python And The Holy Grail – I laughed so hard I peed slightly. SFX If any PR people for Marvel are reading, there’s your quote for the DVD cover.
# DEFENDERS ATTACKED
Craig Waterworth, email As a long- time Defenders fan I hoped that one day I’d get to see Dr Strange, Silver Surfer, the Hulk and Namor do battle with the cosmic and the bizarre in their uniquely dysfunctional way. It would have been fantastic to see this bunch of heavy- hitters bickering and bantering their way towards saving the world in an anti- Avengers style. The Defenders are also defined by the fact that though they’ve had more line- ups than a ’ 70s police station, the central core of team members has always been the foundation.
I nearly fell off my seat when I heard Netflix were taking this on as a TV show; then sinking disappointment set in as I read the line- up: Daredevil, Iron Fist, Luke Cage and Jessica Jones. To the best of my knowledge, Jessica Jones has never been a Defender, and the other three have only been part- time members at best. Marvel/ Netflix are doing the franchise a great disservice by ignoring the Defenders’ founders. It smacks of “let’s use the characters with the cheapest visual effects to get an Avengerslite TV cash- in”. Not good! SFX Cheer up Craig, it could be worse – it could feature Forbush Man, Squirrel Girl and Bessie the Hellcow.
# REASONS TO FEAR CHIBNALL, PART THREE
The Llama God, email So, Chris Chibnall’s taking over Doctor Who. And there’s plenty of reasons to be worried. Yes, Broadchurch was superb, but let’s not forget Torchwood series one and two, and the assumption that people are incapable of growing or changing after a decade of experience…
When Russell T Davies took charge of Who, he brought in his insidious “gay agenda”. Steven Moffat brought in his married
I started to watch the first episode, got bored and drifted out
We need to know what we’re railing against week on week
person/ mediocre story/ too- busydoing- Sherlock/ not-doing- thingsexactly-the- way- fans- wanted agenda. What, we have to ask, is Chibnall’s agenda?
We don’t know! Which is distressing. As a Doctor Who fan I need to know what it is we’re railing against week on week. And right now I don’t! I hate it already!
Change, my dear... I don’t like it. SFX Chill out Who fans! “Dinosaurs On A Spaceship” was great fun! And “Cyberwoman” was... er... well... let’s just move on to the next letter, shall we?
# BOWIE BALLS- UP John Kirtley, Newcastle Your “Bowie Tribute” in issue 271 is just so offensive. First you choose the only bad picture of the man ever taken, and once you read the copy you see that it was meant to be an awful picture of a shocked/ gurning Bowie. Then the last line [ about his role in Labyrinth] reads, “complete with fright wig and giant codpiece”. Really! After a lifetime of creative exploration and artistic bravery.
To end this trite and dismissive article with an inaccurate description of his crotch ( it wasn’t a codpiece, just an adult male penis and testicles seen briefly in his dance tights in a few fulllength shots) is offensive and lacking in respect.
Listen to Blackstar; you’ll hear an elegant, daring and brilliant artist take on themes of identity, death, time, our place in the universe, and a whole lot more. Then write something worthy of both him and your magazine. SFX News editor Will replies: Sorry you didn’t like the tribute. I’m well aware of Bowie’s legacy, having been a fan since I was six ( now 35). I was devastated by the news of his death. One thing that Bowie never was, however, was po- faced. He was well- aware of how his crotch ( you’re right – codpiece was an error on my part) had become a talking point since Labyrinth was released, and I’m certain it bothered him not a jot.
# WE ALSO HEARD FROM James Kinsley, Norwich As someone who’s stuck with the middling, bumbling adventures of those Agents Of SHIELD, I was astounded to suddenly be rewarded with one of the most absorbing and enjoyable hours of genre TV in years: the alien planetbased Jemma Simmons episode “4,722 Hours”. Utterly brilliant! It felt like a self- contained movie. SFX Agreed. Definitely one of the most memorable episodes, just because it was so different.
Jon Bower, email Syfy US managing to commission and air a decent, high- budget, modern SF series is about as rare as Millwall beating Barcelona. But The Expanse seems to be different. So, one may reasonably ask, might we get to see it Blighty? Don’t ask me. I wrote to Syfy US and they didn’t bother to respond. So, we’re all in the dark. Meanwhile, we can all feast instead on such gems as Zombies Vs Strippers and Three- Headed Shark Attack. Bliss. SFX We asked Syfy UK but unfortunately they’re not able to confirm anything at this time. Fingers crossed!
David Cookson, email Thanks for your Time Machine feature on Starcrash in SFX 271! I’d love to see a feature on the 1981 film Condorman. And if you’re feeling particularly bold, how about one on The Return Of Captain Invincible ( 1983), another guilty pleasure of mine – especially the bit where Alan Arkin and Christopher Lee sing a duet! SFX You’re clearly a connoisseur of classic cinema, David. Any more requests, people?
Mike Poole, Bexhill- on- Sea I have one enormous problem with John Constantine on TV. Didn’t like his solo series, and his guest appearance in Arrow was no better. It’s not his lack of charisma, the needlessly vague details on his abilities, or his seeming lack of interest. It’s his bloody tie.
Why does he wear an undone tie? Having a sagging tie like that makes it look like you had a few too many at lunchtime. But it’s clearly been deliberately tied to be like that, as it’d never reach his trousers if he did it up properly. The man is a sartorial disgrace! SFX Mike, don’t ever watch Columbo – it’d be very bad for your blood pressure.