The X-Files (TV Series) My Struggle III (2018) User Reviews

My Struggle III

[bobcobb301 · 7/10 · 28 January 2018]

Season 10 of this show was a good idea, but one that just wasn't executed properly. I think we were all hoping the new season would wash that taste out of our mouths.

This was better than most of the last season, but it is still not The X Files many of us know and remember.

I know some will object to the revelation about Scully's son, but for the sake of a new season I think they needed a way to make The Smoking Man as villainous as possible and this certainly did that.

A strange mix of past and present

[stanicnenad · 7/10 · 5 January 2018]

This show needs more episodes with monsters, friks and bizarre moments like in the past. Conspiracy theories, extraterrestrials, and government intrigues do not have that quality and that charm.

The series needs more episodes such as: Squeeze, Ice, Darkness Falls, Tooms, The Host, Firewalker, Irresistible, Die Hand Die Verletzt, Dold Kalm, Soft Light, Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose, 2Shy, Pusher, Unruhe, Leonard Betts, Detour, Chinga, Folie à Deux, Drive, Field Trip, Agua Mala, Hungry , Orison, Signs and Wonders, Patience, Roadrunners, "Badlaa" and so on...

The good side of this episode is Mulder and Scully. In the last season they were too soft and comical, especially Mulder. Here, they are again dark and serious.

Addicted

[chucksoldconcrete · 5/10 · 4 January 2018]

I became addicted to the X-Files one night, on 10/01/1993, when "Conduit" first aired, and when Scully climbed the stairs and saw that the hand drawn binary papers, laid out on the floor, made a picture of the missing girl, Ruby. Nothing on tv was that interesting and the background music was movie quality.

I fear that "My Struggle III" will draw negative reviews. I thought it was interesting but quickly realized that there have been so many copy cat shows (of the X-Files), since 1993.

If you're not a fan of last night's episode (and you never saw season 1) purchase season 1 used from amazon and watch the first four episodes. I will make you see "My Struggle III" with a different perspective.

Thank you Chris Carter, Gillian Anderson and David D.

convoluted and sporadic

[alienf3tus · 4 January 2018]

Had so many problems with this wow. Ok, first off, the camerawork and editing was WAY too flashy for The X-Files. Why were there car chases in this? why did they look so flashy? this isn't a Fast & Furious movie, they were just so unneeded. Also, the small zooms when Mulder is talking to the other smoking man and Erika Price added absolutely nothing and got annoying and overused super quickly. Not only that, but throughout the entire episode, random pictures from other episodes kept flashing on and off screen and I felt like I was about to have a seizure.

Other issue was the Cigarette Smoking Man's continuity. If Scully's vision was a premonition of the future, why does he look so much better now than he will look in a few weeks(?), seeing as though he was completely burned in season nine's The Truth. Will he be hurt again, leading to that appearance we saw last season?

Also personal opinion: I don't like the decision to make CSM William's father. Sure, it explains Scully's drugging in En Ami, but it makes the flashbacks in Per Manum confusing. I've always seen that episode as the explanation behind her pregnancy.

Overall, pretty convoluted and sporadic episode, but I'm looking forward to the Monster of the Week ones, as those were the better episodes last season.

actually pretty good

[berkovich-76592 · 7/10 · 10 January 2018]

Longtime X-Files fan, from the beginning, the movies, all of it. I actually liked Doggett, for instance. Anyway, I didn't mind this episode. I do not think it's as bad as many here think, though I respect those views. Actually liked it. It will lead to more things as the season progresses. All that said, I think they ought to have put the series to rest when it originally ended but since they've chosen to bring it back, I think this episode opens some doors to further exploration. And, if Gillian Anderson/Scully does leave, if they so choose, they'll continue the series as they did when Duchovny/Mulder essentially left in season 9. Hope I do not sound like a shill because I'm not; I do like how they have advanced the series in this episode, we'll see what happens the rest of the season.

What is wrong with people?? I miss the 90s, people were way less whiny. This was great X-Files and I am beyond greatful that we get more of this beloved series.

[joshbeatty-39947 · 9/10 · 14 January 2018]

Perhaps it's the generation we live in, I'm not sure, but at some point we stopped watching our favorite TV shows and started dictating how they should unfold. Instead of going on an amazing journey of conspiracy and plot twists, we fixate on our own personalized expectations of how we think the story should unfold. Back in the 90's fans didn't give a shit about the petty issues that arise in some of these reviews. Of course fans were jarred or shocked here and there, but that was all part of the fun. It's one thing to talk about it and get emotionally charged in fan discussion, but to write the show off because it "shocked" or "disappointed" them, after the first episode???? To each their own, but wow, that's not the kind of fan I am. I love to be shocked! I love to be surprised. Don't get me wrong, I love when expectations and predictions come to fruition, but if that happened all the time, things would get boring. The fact that after 26 years I can still jump out of my chair and yell "wholly shit" is a testament to how great this show still is. The fact that fans are upset that CSM impregnated Scully, or at the least said he did is rediculous. It's a classic X-Files scenario that nobody expected. It's not rape, it's science fiction. But as I said, to each their own. If you don't like it fine good bye, go watch something else. If you were a fan and can't remember what it was like to watch the show in the 90's and not bitch about unexpected plot twists and just enjoy good science fiction and escapism, then I pity you. For me, I am enjoying going on this journey with these beloved characters in the here and now. It may be 2018, but it's still X-Files and I still want to believe. I never thought I would be sitting in the basement with my wife watching all new X-Files. CSM, you are still one vile SOB!!! Can't wait to see what happens next!!!!!

Karl Gerhardt Busch - Mein Kampf Drei

[birkuc · 7/10 · 9 January 2018]

Fox kept seek his sister til he finally found 2 brothers...wonder if Scully is Mulder's real mom!?

Shamefully bad

[treborbasset · 2/10 · 27 July 2021]

The cliffhanger from the previous season finale is discarded like a piece of used tissue and we are given some nonsense about it all being a dream Scully has, because she can predict the future. Really?

The episode itself is abysmal. Nothing really happens in it. It's just a lengthy recap of previous events, before discarding them. Mulder has a needlessly long car chase that seems completely against the nature of the show. And about half the episode seems to be Mulder narrating what he does and thinks via monologue - the laziest exposition technique and one that was never used before on the X-Files.

This is worse than all episodes of the previous season. In fact it's one of the weakest across all 11 seasons.

Good episode, but best understood by original fans

[realdr123 · 8/10 · 21 January 2018]

I liked the episode. I was a fan of the original series, including the mythology. I'm looking forward to seeing where Chris Carter takes it from here.

This episode plays on some old themes and yet re-invents the mythology which is now loosely tied to the original series. It also drastically alters events of the previous season in a surprising way. The season 11 storyline explains that Scully has a seizure at some point during the 10th season and receives very vivid visions of events that are to take place in the future if not prevented in time. These visions were sent to her from her son, William, who apparently has some paranormal or psychic qualities.

So the major events of the previous season did actually happen, but in the future, as seen by Scully, through William's visions. Season 11 picks up at a time before those major events have actually occurred and after her seizure ends.

Though sporadic and scattered, the episode does deliver its message and clarifies the discrepancy in the plot between season 10 and season 11. Mulder discovers, while pursuing the truth about Scully's visions, that there are now two conspiracies orchestrated by two opposing factions of the original syndicate from the original series.

After being out of the game for many years, Mulder stumbles upon the latest discovery about plans to wipe out the entire human race, with the exception of a few chosen survivors. These are the plans to be carried out by the Smoking Man, Mulder's long time nemesis in the original show. However, instead of aliens delivering the final blow to humanity, it's now humans using an alien bio-weapon. Aliens have left the earth and the Smoking Man is apparently planning to release this bio-weapon at the behest of the long gone aliens. In exchange for betraying all of humanity, he is allowed to save himself and a few others of his choosing. The other opposing faction of the syndicate plans on moving themselves and a chosen few off planet while the Smoking Man destroys all of humanity. Both groups are evil and Mulder and Scully must now somehow save everyone and everything from these evil forces by finding their son, William, who is somehow the key to everything. Although, at the end, we find out who the real father is.

Assistant Director Skinner has his usual forward, direct, tough personality, and the Smoking Man is just as evil and manipulative as he was in the original show. Agent Spender makes an appearance too as well as Monica Reyes.

It's great to see Mulder and Scully back! I'm looking forward to the next episode!

"What their father did had to be done."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 4 January 2019]

Ah, I get it now. Remember when Stephan Curry stated in an interview that he thought the moon landing was fake? He must have just watched the Season 11 opener of 'The X-Files' and stopped his research right there. That would explain a lot.

Well, it's been a while since I watched the Season 10 episodes, but now I'm back with the entire eleventh season that I can watch without the week long wait in between shows. This one felt like a catch up for viewers who might have forgotten what the series was all about, but just when it seemed like human/alien hybrids were disavowed last season, the idea is reintroduced again with the Cigarette Smoking Man offering cryptic suggestions about the identity of Scully and Mulder's son, William. I don't know, the back and forth with the conspiracy theories gets overwhelming at a certain point, and even if you were a regular follower of the X-Files back in the day, it's difficult to keep track of who's who and what's what after so many shows.

If you weren't a follower of the series and this was your first opportunity, it would be pretty easy to get turned off by David Duchovny's portrayal of agent Fox Mulder in this story. He's so intense over Scully's (Gillian Anderson) hospitalization that he comes across as entirely unlikeable pretty much from beginning to end. When he slashed the assassin's throat that tried to kill Scully, I thought he might have gotten it out of his system, but he still had to deal with Skinner (Mitch Pillegi), and figure out how to deal with the Cigarette Smoking Man (William B. Davis). Smoking Man appeared to have convalesced pretty well between seasons, he looked terrible in the Season Ten cliffhanger with the disfigured face and phony nose. Man, but didn't he look awful?

Well, what we know now, at least for the time being, is that Smoking Man claims that HE's the father of Scully's son (don't worry, it was done via insemination), and that William's still in hiding. Smoking Man is in possession of an alien pathogen, and needs William somehow to wipe out humanity!!! A new character 'Y' (A.C. Peterson) is introduced and in league with Erica Price (Barbara Hershey), offering Mulder information and advice to entice him to take out the Cancer Man. It all sounds intriguing enough for an X-Files episode, but the rushed nature of this one has a tendency to bring the quality of the show down from where it used to be. Time will tell I guess.

Sadly, not a joke

[skteosk · 4/10 · 7 February 2018]

This is quite possibly one of the worst pieces of television ever made.

It starts off with a pompous pre-credit sequence designed to have the audience laughing in derision as the credits role.(The Smoking Man faked the moon landing!)And then it goes downhill from there, as it becomes clear that Chris Carter had no idea how to get out of the corner he wrote himself into at the end of the last series...so he writes off the previous season's finale as a dream.Yes, really.And just when you think it can't get any worse, Mulder starts doing voiceovers.I'd like to think this is a deliberate pastiche of film noir detective stories but given how ponderously serious the rest of the episode takes itself, it's probably not meant to be as funny as it is.

Sadly, two of the worst parts of The Dream are apparently true.The Cigarette Smoking Man is alive and Monica Reyes is working for him.The latter feels like an attempt at camaraderie with everyone who thinks Season 9 isn't proper X-Files.("Hey, that character you hate for not being Mulder or Scully has turned evil!")But it's a slap in the face for anyone who followed the show loyally.The only thing this character has in common with the kindly quirky Mulder-substitute of the original run is that they're played by the same actress.Fan favourite Skinner isn't treated much better, abruptly being shady and untrustworthy.Meanwhile, likable new additions Einstein and Miller are reduced to a cameo, as if they only had the actors for a day and wanted an excuse to put them in the credits and pretend this is a continuation of the previous episode.

On the plus side, the mythology is starting to at least vaguely resemble that of the original run and it looks like we can write off the non-sequiturs of the previous season premiere as another smokescreen like Gethsemane/Redux.And the idea of two ex-Syndicate members creating a rival conspiracy to the Smoking Man is intriguing.But there's no plot, no story, just exposition that may or may not be contradicted later and action sequences thrown in to make sure people are awake.At the end, having neither learned nor achieved anything of significance, Mulder and Scully just shrug their shoulders and decide to investigate some unrelated cases.

Oh, except it's not over as we get a final revelation to make us all groan in disbelief as Chris Carter once again decides to explain something he's already explained differently.And it's an explanation that people joked about 18 years ago then waited to hear what the real story was.Honestly, how many times is the Cigarette Smoking Man going to be proclaimed as someone's father?This is at least the fourth.

It's the 21st century and The X-Files still doesn't have a clue where it's going.

This is The X Files full of surprises

[mkanderson1 · 9/10 · 21 January 2018]

Well Chris Carter has an interesting way of surprising you about a previous season. But once you watch the entire episode, it makes perfect sense. Mulder jumps into action as he seems to be closer to the truth than ever in this episode. I'm surprised the cigarette man (CGB) can still play such a good villain this season as he was already pretty old in the 90's, but he pulls it off well. Scully is now the believer here because of what happens in this episode while Mulder is somewhat skeptical, but his characteristic openness to the possibilities eventually takes over and off he goes in search of the truth, just like old times.

Overall, a good episode.

Disappointing

[brian-wiz · 7/10 · 30 May 2019]

After the great My Struggle II, we are given this mess. I like season 11, but this was the nail in the coffin...for now at least. Despite many strong episodes to come the viewers started to disappear. Understandably so.

Bad writing. Bad cinematography. Bad directing. Just bad.

My least favorite X Files episode by far.

The twist about William actually makes sense. And was always a possibility. Just not the one we wanted. But in the context of this episode it fails.

Does Carter hate his show?(SPOILERS)

[canaryalive · 1/10 · 8 January 2018]

I think the biggest conspiracy of the X files is the reason why Carter wants to sabotage his own show. After disappointing movie in 2010, people would think that he would try to regain his glory days and put an effort and a little bit talent in what he is doing. I was his biggest fan, I think the man was a genius. What happened? Does he hate his fans and his characters. Everything in this episodes is total nonsense. Never have watched so rushed plot lines, empty dialogues and characters with no motivations. Mulder is an empty shell, a shadow of his previous self, he has no agency. Scully is definitely the driving force but her character is used again in a story line no one liked 15 years ago. Why revisit and revisit and change something people want to forget or move on. Put an end to this - 'who's the father stupidity' and lets focus on more complex interesting story lines. This starts to look like a bad meme of Star Wars and Darth Vader, where the Smoking man will turn out to be the father of everyone in the end. Why doesn't Carter just bring in new characters, new conspirators and try to tell a new story? Why is he erasing everything he showed us in season 9? Or why not continue his old story? There is no way Smoking man survives his death. Who stands behind him now? Where is the logic behind his desire to finish the world. The X files used to be the most complex story of conspiracy and now is just so foolish that I don't know to laugh or cry. Skinner is an empty character too. Monica is totally ruined, why is she even there. It looks like a big middle finger to the small amount of remaining fans of this show.

Awesome!

[josua_daniele · 10/10 · 18 January 2018]

This episode is awesome! I must admit that CC came up with an easy solution for the season 10 finale, but I really really loved this episode! The last ten minutes were "wow". I didn't expect that ending! I¿m glad The X Files is back!

Absolutely lost the popcorn.

[jonathancrossland · 1/10 · 1 January 2021]

The xfiles has crept so far up the creator's arses that there is nothing left but crap.

Why the 'modern' new camera angles? Whats with the camera focus experiments? A car chase? Car scenes, mustang? Fight scenes? Gore, blood? Back story diarrhea. The scripts use of exposition is putrid. Out of character plots. Suspense music during a chat? A soap opera dream/vision plot? Agent Einstein? What did they do to Reyes? Our of character. Mulder cuts his throat? There would be no reason to doubt Skinner after all the history. Out of character. Smoking man, was blown up in previous season in a non recoverable way.

Can't have a show about FBI without mentioning FBI.

[XweAponX · 10/10 · 2 February 2018]

So, the biggest complaint is that this episode mentions the Mueller investigation?

'Sad".

It's pretty Sad because this episode goes straight back to Season 10 and explains "My Struggle II" as something Skully experienced but did not really happen. But could happen.

And once again we have the mystery of why people who despised something RUSHED to their computers to write 1-star reviews. From personal experience, and I have hated a lot of episodes of shows, I've never raced to my PC to write 1-star reviews. Usually, when people are elated, or happy, or they just had an awesome experience, they have to record their feelings as quickly as possible. But this is only for positive experiences. For negative experiences, well, I for one don't want to re-enforce the negative experience by writing a review of it immediately. Does this make sense to anyone? I'd rather forget the experience. And it is not just individual 1-stars that appear occasionally, it's that numerous identical 1-stars appear within the first day, with bulleted lists of what's wrong. I mean, who does that?

This episode ignites the "Williamhunt". Not only Mulder and Skully, but CGB Spender and someone called "My Y". And of course Monica Reyes.

This episode mirrors reality, the reality of the executive branch attacks on the FBI, which are unprecedented. I watched a similar kind of thing when Nixon was around, so nobody can tell me this is not relevant to the show. And as I recall, it did not work out too well for Nixon when he fired his special investigator. Meanwhile, our so called president brings Russians into the Oval Office, unvetted. So you are outraged because X-Files mentions "Mueller", but not because a president compromised himself?

The heart of this real life conflict is in the heart of this episode, even though this episode is about Skully and William. It reflects the level of Obstruction Mulder and Skully have met with during these last two seasons of X-Files. Just like the level of Obstruction related to the Comey Firing and now pushing out McCabe. In the X-Files, we've been prepared for this, because of it happening to Mulder and Skully repeatedly during the 11 seasons of this show.

And today's issues have all worked out well for Cigarette Smokin' CGB. He's the most dangerous man in the world. Unless Mr Y's agenda happens first. Either way, the world ends.

And a madman has the Nuclear Football. It's like the worst scenarios of The X-Files are now all coming true.

The single worst episode of any TV show I have ever seen

[blueavenger · 2/10 · 3 October 2018]

I don't normally write reviews, just rate. Loved the first 9 seasons. There were some good episodes in season 10 too. This was just reprehensible. A 90 minute show compressed into 41 minutes. It was just condensed exposition with unrelenting music and laughable dialogue. I don't understand. I just don't...

A masterpiece

[strangecatdog · 10/10 · 4 March 2018]

I really can't understand all the bad reviews I am reading. If you didn't like the beginning please rewatch the season 10 finale, you will understand that Chris Carter knew exactly what would come next. If you didn't like the shocking ending, please rewatch the episode "En ami" (season 7). This explains so much from seasons 8 and 9. I personnaly really enjoyed this episode, one of the best of the series.

No story telling, rather a summary of a sequence of events. "Rushed" redefined. Bad. Very bad.

[boonhead-nl · 2/10 · 4 January 2018]

Gillian Anderson seems to hold her ground and surprisingly still comes across natural in an extremely rushed episode. David Duchovny's acting feels void of emotion, hinging on a weird kind of boredom; like a bored child with adhd. I'm not sure if the fault is his though. I suspect bad directing maybe? But then again, what do I know?.. all I know the whole episode left me thinking: "dafuq I just watch?"

I never write reviews.. in general I'm not even that critical.. but what I saw just compelled me to write something.. and to think this is one of my favorite shows.. :s Wouw.. I'm impressed.. still surprised.. baffled really..

Not happy, but still, this is X files

[MarQuilly · 5 January 2018]

I am not happy with Ep 1. It seems very rushed, without clear plan how to develop story further. I give credits for following: One is voiceover from Smoking man which gave me braingasm because I adore good conspiracy storytelling delivered by X files since 1993. Second is, no matter how bad new episodes can be, I will always return to characters and series like old friends which gave me so much joy in past that, now, almost anything goes as far as I am concern. So, keep them going, those new episodes.

Brilliant

[joburke-28303 · 10/10 · 18 March 2018]

In a word, brilliant! What is with all the bad reviews?! This is Xfiles at its best. I have watched this show since day one and love it. The ratings that have been given are in my opinion not a fair reflection on the shows or series. I have enjoyed season 10 & 11 so much, are the other reviewers watching the same show? Its the xfiles, conspiracy, secrets, lies and then the truth! Poor Skinner, poor Mulder, POOR SCULLY .... ! Come on guys this show is one of the great ones, enough of all the hate.

Well I'm all Conspiracy theoried out, don't know about anyone else!

[Sleepin_Dragon · 3/10 · 12 February 2018]

Oh No! I got back into X Files in the last series more then I ever thought possible, it all seemed to come together, acting, writing, plot etc. My Struggle III I hate to say is the kind of episode that put me off watching the show, it was ultimately a confused mess. They seemed to abandon the need for a plot, and substitute it with conspiracy theories about conspiracy theories, the writing was lazy, and felt as it was done in a rush. The family revelations felt like they belonged in a cheap Soap Opera rather then on a long running series like the X Files, it deserved better.

Gillian Anderson was the saving grace of the episode, making the most of the rubbish she was given to work with. Duchovny on the other hand seemed like he knew he was working with awful material and had no problems showing his feelings.

I'm bored with Smoking Man already, and I'm assuming it's the thread for the whole series!

Even the title was LAZY!!

Lame.

As a true X-Files fan you couldn't be more satisfied

[cristianosina · 9/10 · 30 April 2018]

Wow!!!! What a great episode, beautiful plot, loved how CC found ways to explain what was the smoke man plan all along, but you never know, it could be something else too! ;)

Amateur at best

[theredsox-24635 · 3/10 · 5 January 2018]

Some will point to bad acting, but I really don't think the cast was given anything to work with. Terrible script, directing, and editing. The pace of the episode felt all wrong. The dialog, voice overs, and rants. Bad paid product placement. Poor scene transitions and forced intensity that just came off as rushed. It was like they thought they were shooting an action movie. I thought this episode was worse than all 6 from last year.