Cobra Kai and holding grudges

If there's something I learned from Cobra Kai, it's that we should avoid holding grudges. Holding a grudge, that lifetime resentment of yours, would not do anyone any good. It affects everyone around you--your family, your friends, and even the community.

Well, yes, it's just a television show, but the parallelisms in the real world is glaring.

It happens.

Art imitates life.

We hold grudges. Most people do. It's probably human nature. And more often than not, it's petty.

Imagine if people would just listen to what the other has to say. Talk to and with each other. Imagine if Daniel and Johnny just talked and listened, their rivalry would have not escalated like it did. Imagine if people STOPPED assuming like they know everything or what everyone's going through, we would probably be living in a more peaceful world.

Just imagine.

TV REVIEW: The X-Files - "Babylon"

[POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD]

Babylon received a lot of flak it did not deserve. Well, for someone who loved the episode, I'd definitely say that. Let's just say, when Chris Carter writes a story about religion, faith, and humanity, it's something I take into heart. I love when he writes about these themes not because we're on the same page, but because his stories help me keep an open mind. For me, religion should not be black or white, nor should it interfere with one's faith and being. Yes, faith and religion aren't the same (for me). There must be respect for human beings regardless of ones beliefs, faith, or religion. I, however, will not go into that.

First up, Agents Miller and Einstein. They are the "Mulder" and "Scully" of their generation. The believer and the skeptic/medical doctor. Miller's more laid back and Einstein's just really aggressive. I'd prefer Miller over Einstein. She's just not a Scully. Einstein is so full of her "I'm a medical doctor" status, but I applaud her for the placebo. Props to Robbie Amell and Lauren Ambrose.

I thought the Mulder-Scully-Miller-Einstein scene in the basement office was probably one of the highlights of the episode. Some fans hated it because they just hate the idea of a new "Mulder" and "Scully", but then again, Chris had done that before. He's probably just making a point that Mulder and Scully, David and Gillian are irreplaceable. It's just nice watching Mulder and Scully seeing themselves in others. It's funny.
 
Oh, and of course, "nobody down here but the F.B.I.'s most unwanted" coming from Scully was simply brilliant. We've all been waiting for that to come out from your mouth, Scully. 23 years!!! I thought it was a smart move.

There was also a moment when I thought that Scully calling Miller and Mulder calling Einstein were part of a Mulder and Scully plan for I really don't know what. I was wrong, of course. I guess they're just drawn to work with their opposites. It kind of challenges them. They have their reasons and it was kind of explained in the episode. I'll just leave it at that.

The Miller and Einstein moment towards the end was pretty cool too. Talking about the value of an open mind, the power of suggestion, and the nature of reality. These are the things we should contemplate on.

Mulder's 'Magical Mystery Tour' is one of the funny moments in Babylon. It had mixed reactions. I thought it was weird, but found it funny. Symbolism at its finest. Read this review. It best explains that scene. All I can say is, Mulder had a time of his life. The Lone Gunmen being there was priceless. A bit longer of the 'Gunmen' would have been better. I agree with the majority sentiment that Byers, Langly and my favorite Frohike deserved more than that tiny bit. Nonetheless, we were really happy to see them back on The X-Files.

Finally, in this world of political correctness, I understand certain critiques about the episode (I,  too have some), but the hate it's getting, I really don't.

When it comes to themes like faith, religion, and humanity, the message is what I'm after. It's probably why I loved Babylon. Thinking about perceptions, generalizations, faith, religion, and humanity. I have only read one review, which I have mentioned above, that really explained this episode very well. It's worth reading. It's an affirmation of what some of us have been saying all along, not in the open, just a small group discussion on why we actually like, or in my case love, this episode. The intricacies of Babylon not many people appreciate, we appreciate.

I'm not from/in the United States so I can't really comment on American stereotypes, but I can comment on stereotyping terrorists. Terrorism is a worldwide problem, after all. In my point of view, Babylon successfully presented that point--it's why it is receiving such flak. The good news is, we, as citizens of the world, were able to determine that. For me, that's basically the point. We see what's wrong yet we do nothing about it. We get mad, but not do anything about it. We are offended by what others say or do, yet we do the same to them. It took shows like The X-Files just to prove that point.

The final conversation scene between Mulder and Scully effectively summed up the episode, for me--the perceptions, the realizations, faith, God, religion, and unending questions. This is also my favorite scene from Babylon. Imagine, the shippiest moment yet from the revival came from an episode penned by Chris Carter who have always loved to troll with the shippers! It's not only shippy, it's very insightful.

Mulder: I saw things, though, Scully. Powerful things. I saw deep and unconditional love.
Scully: I saw things, too. I witnessed unqualified hate that appears to have no end.
Mulder: But how to reconcile the two? The extremes of our nature.
Scully: That’s the question. Maybe the question of our times.

That conversation alone speaks volumes about humanity. "Unconditional love" and "unqualified hate" are, indeed, the extremes of our nature. How do we reconcile these two? A question no one could truly answer.

We abhor terrorism, yet we spread hate in our own little way. Some days, we are full of love. Other days, we're full of hatred. In life, there's always a middle ground, but sometimes we just forget about it. It's a never ending cycle of our extreme nature. It seems Scully's right, we should just..."open our hearts and truly listen."

Truly listen.

TV REVIEW: The X-Files - "Home Again"

[POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD]

You have probably read reviews about this episode and yes, most of them have been great reviews. It would be difficult to top those solid reviews, but then again, that is not the goal. While a lot of the reviews were solid, some pointed out that The X-Files Revival lacks direction or focus. I'll get back to that after my own little review of Home Again.

Home Again is probably one of the episodes I was most excited to watch because Glen Morgan wrote it. He just gives all the creeps in The X-Files and I live for it! "Give me the creeps!" Also, it's a Scully-centric episode, which I always love. Expect beautiful drama and lots of MSR moments. Guaranteed. Indeed, it was everything I had hoped for, except that I wish it was scarier. It was creepy, heartbreaking and a lot of "oh-my-shipper-heart" moments. 

 

Trashman was not as scary as expected but he's just plain creepy and violent. If pulling someone apart and turning their body parts into pieces isn't gory and violent then, I don't know what is. The song Downtown has also never been creepy 'til after watching the episode. It's a Glen Morgan thing, I suppose. Remember Home? Yeah. Glen Morgan and his song choices will give you the creeps. 

Home Again had been considered a Monster of the Week episode, but again, it's a mixture of both MOTW and mythology, in particular the William arc. Glen Morgan succeeded in connecting the "responsibility" and "guilt" in both story-lines. It was through the artist that Scully had the chance to reflect on the choice she made in giving William up for adoption and it was also her who pointed out that the artist was responsible for the Trashman. It's simple: We should always take responsibility of our creation. The artist took responsibility in the end because he had the opportunity to. Enter "smiley face" art. Scully, on the other hand cannot undo what she has already done. Putting William up for adoption has haunted her for years. She felt guilty. She felt responsible.

All throughout Gillian Anderson was at her best. She deserves all the awards!!! Kudos to David Duchovny too. The subtleties were wonderful! Amazing performance by those two. When we thought the crying was over, we were wrong. The end scene between Scully and Mulder, and the conversation they had was simply moving. Indeed, when Scully cries, we cry.

I know now why Mom asked for Charlie, even though he was out of her life. She wanted to know before she left that he'd be okay. She gave birth to him. She made him. He's her responsibility. And that's why she said what she said to us. She wanted to make sure that we'd be responsible to know that William's okay. Even though we can't see him. I know that as parents, we made a difficult sacrifice to keep him safe. That it was for his own good to put him up for adoption. But I can't help but think of him, Fox. I can't help it. I believe that you will find all of your answers. You will find the answers to the biggest mysteries, and I will be there when you do. But my mysteries...I'll never have answered. I won't know if he thinks of me, too, or if he's ever been afraid and wished that I was there. Does he doubt himself because we left him? What questions does he have of me? The same that I have with this quarter? And I want to believe...I need to believe, that we didn't treat him like trash.

know now why Mom asked for Charlie, even though he was out of her life. She wanted to know before she left that he'd be okay. She gave birth to him. She made him. He's her responsibility. And that's why she said what she said to us. She wanted to make sure that we'd be responsible to know that William's okay. Even though we can't see him. I know that as parents, we made a difficult sacrifice to keep him safe. That it was for his own good to put him up for adoption. But I can't help but think of him, Fox. I can't help it. I believe that you will find all of your answers. You will find the answers to the biggest mysteries, and I will be there when you do. But my mysteries... I'll never have answered. I won't know if he thinks of me, too, or if he's ever been afraid and wished that I was there. Does he doubt himself because we left him? What questions does he have of me? The same that I have with this quarter? And I want to believe... (sniffles) I need to believe, that we didn't treat him like trash.

Read more at: http://transcripts.foreverdreaming.org/viewtopic.php?f=174&t=25088

know now why Mom asked for Charlie, even though he was out of her life. She wanted to know before she left that he'd be okay. She gave birth to him. She made him. He's her responsibility. And that's why she said what she said to us. She wanted to make sure that we'd be responsible to know that William's okay. Even though we can't see him. I know that as parents, we made a difficult sacrifice to keep him safe. That it was for his own good to put him up for adoption. But I can't help but think of him, Fox. I can't help it. I believe that you will find all of your answers. You will find the answers to the biggest mysteries, and I will be there when you do. But my mysteries... I'll never have answered. I won't know if he thinks of me, too, or if he's ever been afraid and wished that I was there. Does he doubt himself because we left him? What questions does he have of me? The same that I have with this quarter? And I want to believe... (sniffles) I need to believe, that we didn't treat him like trash.

Read more at: http://transcripts.foreverdreaming.org/viewtopic.php?f=174&t=25088

That last line, nobody but Gillian Anderson can deliver that line as compelling and as believable as she did. Also notable, Mark Snow's music. It simply captured that particular moment beautifully. He is a musical genius.

Clearly, Scully had a lot of realizations in this episode and I think we did, too. "People treat people like trash", even with or without "responsibility", is true these days. The kind of society we have right now is enough proof. I think it's something we all should ponder about. That is, if we want to have a better society--people should treat people like they would treat themselves. Definitely, it's not trash.

And of course, the MSR moments! Chris may have wanted us to believe that Mulder and Scully have really broken up, but after watching this episode and the episodes before it, it did not seem like it. I mean, really, CC? You call this a break up? Hahaha. Mulder knows when something's up. The moment he heard Scully's "Okay..." while she was on the phone with her big brother, he knew there was something wrong. Even in that moment, Mulder was touchy-comforting Scully. The "I'm here" scene. The hospital bench scene. The "I want to work" scene. The flashlights. The log scene. I know, there are too many fragments in this paragraph, but if you think of it, it has a complete thought esp. if you have seen the episode. There's just too much love.

Finally, my take on the lack of focus and/or lack direction comment on the revival. I completely disagree.

Where does this lead to? Why was there a need to revive this show? These are the questions that linger the curious minds. Having watched the episodes more than I needed to, I would have to say that the revival has obviously been focusing on the William arc. Yes, the premiere gave too many conspiracy theories that have yet to be answered--alien DNA and government involvement, to be exact. However, the William story lines seem to be the more obvious focus in relation to alien DNA and the massive government conspiracy. Focus is clearly there. We asked for it, we got it. You just need to put all these pieces together, like a puzzle.

My theory, all 6 episodes are connected and we'll get to figure it all out once My Struggle II comes out. Just my 2 cents. William-alien DNA-government conspiracy. Also, SCULLY.

TV REVIEW: The X-Files - "Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster"

Photo credit @thexfiles

[SPOILERS AHEAD]

Critics have been raving about 'Were-Monster' for weeks and now, I know why. This Darin Morgan penned episode was funny, deep and moving. It really, really is funny. Truly hilarious! More importantly, it had a touch of philosophy--on finding oneself, acceptance, and life in general.

Darin Morgan just has that gift--a balance of comedy and depth. He's not just being funny for the sake of being funny. It's silly, yes. But, we learn from his stories. He clearly is a comedic genius, yet he makes us think about life and the choices we make. That is his gift. A great storyteller who makes us laugh, think and understand--all at the same time  in one episode!

It's easier to believe in monsters out there in the world than to accept that the real monsters dwell within us here... and sometimes here. Maybe sometimes here. (chuckles) Not everything can be reduced to psychology. That's what you think.

Read more at: http://transcripts.foreverdreaming.org/viewtopic.php?f=174&t=24987

And speaking of gifts, Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster is indeed a gift given to us fans. We spotted the 'Easter Eggs'--War of the Coprophages, Quagmire (Queequeg!), Moby Dick (Daggoo), Red Museum and Psycho (peeping Tom!), Scully and Mulder's tie (oh, she loves playing with them ties), RED SPEEDOS (come on!), Kolchak (that outfit!) and a whole lot more! The Kim Manners homage was everything! I thank you, Darin Morgan. Kim means so much not only to the people involved in the show, but to the fans, as well. We miss you, Kim Manners! ♥

Now, onto my favorite scenes because there are a lot of them.

The scene between Mulder and Dr. Rumanovitch about humans and psychology, for me, was eye-opening. It made a point. It made me realize, "yeah, that is so true".

Dr. Rumanovitch said,

It's easier to believe in monsters out there in the world than to accept that the real monsters dwell within us...

whereas Mulder replied,

Not everything can be reduce to psychology.

It's easier to believe in monsters out there in the world than to accept that the real monsters dwell within us here... and sometimes here. Maybe sometimes here. (chuckles) Not everything can be reduced to psychology. That's what you think.

Read more at: http://transcripts.foreverdreaming.org/viewtopic.php?f=174&t=24987

It's easier to believe in monsters out there in the world than to accept that the real monsters dwell within us here... and sometimes here. Maybe sometimes here. (chuckles) Not everything can be reduced to psychology. That's what you think.

Read more at: http://transcripts.foreverdreaming.org/viewtopic.php?f=174&t=24987

Now tell me that ain't superior! Darin Morgan speaks superior script and we have tons of that in this episode.

Even when Guy Mann was talking about the only thing humans can understand--revenge. That speaks reality in this world. Our vengeful instinct. We see other people as monsters but fail to look at ourselves. We refuse to see the monster within us. This whole 'monster within us' have always been part of The X-Files philosophy as can notably be seen in Irresistible or Milagro. It's something we often overlook and this show challenges us to examine these realities about humans and monsters. For me, this episode effectively gave that message. It did. To me.

Too many things to contemplate about life in this episode. It gave us a glimpse of what would happen if we stop looking for our own purpose in life, or if we're simply convinced that there's nothing more to life...

Because if there's nothing more to life than what we already know, then there's nothing but worries, self-doubt, regret and loneliness.

Again, that speaks superior script.

Darin even took time to address people (maybe, indirectly) who might think that the whole episode is silly. After all, it's been Mulder's life. Some people think his theories were really silly and in a way, Mulder kind of mocked them by mocking his own theories. Heh

Mulder: Sounds a bit silly, doesn't it? 

Scully: Yeah. 

Mulder: You're really enjoying yourself, aren't you, Scully? 

Scully: Yeah. I am. I forgot how much fun these cases could be.

Indeed, it is fun. I've missed seeing them investigate such fun cases. Remember Bad Blood, Jose Chung's, War of the Coprophages. Live a little, people! Take time to laugh! I think it's what makes this show different from others--it can go all dark, scary, intriguing, and dramatic, or go all light, funny, and silly, or best, do both. The X-Files has always been able to do everything. It crosses all genres and I call that The X-Files magic!

Finally, my favorite moment from Were-Monster, the motel scene. The one where Mulder was debating with himself in front of Scully. Haaaaa! He knows her too well. Good thing FOX uploaded a clip of that scene. Watch it here. I can't help but laugh every time Scully tries to interject her ideas, but she just can't because Mulder knows what she was gonna say.

David did a great job in this scene. Gillian just really had great timing. This speaks CHEMISTRY. Out of this world chemistry. Unequaled. Unparalleled.

Because I truly love this scene, I have a couple of gifs for you! ♥

All I'm saying is...

And she simply says,

Yeah, we feel you, Scully. Your Mulder. It didn't end there! Mulder goes on and says, "So, you're agreeing with me?" To which our classic Scully exclaimed, "NO!"

YOU'RE BATCRAP CRAZY!

TOO FUNNY. 

Darin Morgan brought back a true fun classic X-Files episode. Most importantly, for bringing Mulder's mojo back--his willingness to believe. That last scene said a lot. "I want to believe", says Mulder. It what makes this episode very significant. It was moving. Again with that Mark Snow music. He truly knows how to end a scene so beautifully.  

Thank you Mr. Darin Morgan! Here's to more! 

There will be more.

Believe it.

I know it.

TV REVIEW: The X-Files - "Founder's Mutation"

@thexfiles

My initial reaction after watching the second episode of The X-Files revival was: That was beautiful! It truly was beautiful. Founder's Mutation is the quintessential X-Files episode we have been waiting to see! Mulder and Scully back at the F.B.I, being the "special" agents that they are, and investigating government conspiracies and paranormal phenomena together is simply amazing. My favorite show is really back with all the feels. LOTS AND LOTS OF FEELS.

[SPOILERS AHEAD]

We were led to believe that Founder's Mutation was a standalone or 'Monster of the Week' (MOTW) episode. It was; and then, it wasn't. In fact, it was a mix of mythology and MOTW. It captured both elements of what made The X-Files a unique show. It's a MOTW episode because Mulder and Scully were dealing not with monsters, but with individuals who have special abilities, which could have been genetically engineered by important and powerful people. It was bloody, too. Lots of blood out there. Heh.

It's a mythology episode for an obvious reason, the William arc. The case involved children who underwent genetic experimentation all their lives, and it hit them. It hit them hard. It hit fans real hard too. Fans have longed for this arc and we finally got it--just not the way we wanted it. This was extremely heartbreaking. Yes, it was beautiful, but damn was it heartbreaking. We get to see Mulder's and Scully's individual dream sequence--as "Dad" and "Mom" to William, and their greatest fear...of losing him. This Mulder/Scully different point of views reminded me of the film, The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby. If you've seen the movie, I think you'd understand why. That, or it's probably just me.

Understandably, one of Scully's fears is William getting hurt, similar to what other moms fear. What makes this unique, however, is her greatest fear that William might actually be part alien--considering that the children involved were genetically experimented on--that "what if" had a huge effect on her.

Mulder's dream sequence, for me, is this episode's highlight. We have never really seen Mulder as a dad to William since Existence. It is probably why the scenes between Mulder and William had so much effect on the fans. Watching TV, eating popcorn, setting up a rocket, flying a rocket--it was everything we've imagined, a perfect father-son moment. And then, gone! Just like that! It's Samantha all over again. Mulder's greatest fear: losing William as he lost Samantha. That was simply heartbreaking. 

You know what made the dream sequence scenes and that end scene even more heartbreaking? Mark Snow's music. It beautifully captured Mulder and Scully's pain.

"Bad things happen when birds gather" is one of the best and memorable lines in this episode. James Wong, you are one heck of a writer. Of course, thank you for this: "You're never just anything to me, Scully".  Squeeeee ♥. MSR is alive more than ever, not even Chris Carter can kill it hahaha.

In one scene Scully asked Dr. Goldman as to whether or not alien DNA was involved, but to no avail, the question was not answered. The Department of Defense was also involved in the case, thus Mulder, Scully and Skinner's hands were tied. I say that Founder's Mutation has a connection, story-wise to My Struggle--alien DNA vis a vis government conspiracy--that the government had the direct hand in genetic experimentation that resulted to Kyle and Molly's special abilities, and maybe, William's? Or, Scully's immortality?

Oh, by the way, was it "DANA is the key" or "DATA is the key"? I really heard DANA is the key and it might have something to do with the mythology. Maybe.

All in all, I really enjoyed this episode. I enjoyed the creepiness of the birds, the blood, the would-have-been, the pain, the sorrow, the heartbreak, and the hope. All the love to James Wong for writing a great story and to The X-Files team for the great execution! Simply beautiful!

TV REVIEW: The X-Files - "My Struggle"

c/o Giphy | The X-Files Facebook Page

Our favorite show is back and cliche' as it may sound, it was AWESOME! It got mixed reviews from the critics, but I think fan reviews are way more important than the critics', right? Looks like majority of us, XPhiles, loved it. I mean, truly loved it. And of course, it brought back great memories.

It had to begin with a voiceover. Oh how I've missed it! Lots of nostalgia!


I am not going to recap the episode(s) because I suck at it. I will simply write about my thoughts, feelings and emotions, and my theories about the mythology--especially the mythology.

[SPOILERS AHEAD]
 
The X-Files is, among other things, a show about government conspiracies and the revival episode just gave us that. Some have complained that My Struggle gave too much of it, but not  me. Having seen the second episode, Founder's Mutation, it became clearer that they just had to lay down the basis. They may have presented too much of these conspiracies in one episode, nonetheless it needed to be done. Season 10 will only have six episodes. It's probably why there's a conspiracy overload and it's a little bit fast paced. Still, it was better than expected. The office basement shift, in particular, was kind of out of place, but the dialogue was on point. I particularly loved "it's fiction masquerading as fact"--great delivery by David Duchovny. There are lot of truths in that particular statement, by the way. Relevant and current.

Mulder realizing the "what ifs"--what if the alien conspiracy was a lie, or what if everything they were led to believe in was all a lie? It would definitely change everything, wouldn't it? Everything was simply orchestrated by the government, but what if this sudden shift was just a decoy? Or, a ploy to confuse us. I mean, this is Chris Carter--that man, the myth, the legend of conspiracy theories--alien, government or both. Also, government conspiracies have always been part of the show. I mean, these are all WHAT IFs, and just like the 90's, uncertain. In The X-Files, you can never be certain, except the love between Mulder and Scully--that, definitely, is certain. Oh, my shipper heart!

Yes, the shipper heart. Not even TAD can destroy that. Let's talk about Tad for a minute. You don't call Scully, Dana, okay? Especially when you're not Mulder. The Tad Hate Is Out There. He's the male version of Diana Fowley. He won't stand a chance. On another note, I think Joel McHale as Tad O'Malley was convincing enough, if the goal was to annoy us, or as what Scully said, "a charming man full of charming BS". In that case, he succeeded. I'll have to leave it at that. Oh, Annet Mahendru was pretty good as Sveta. Props to the both of you!

Watching The X-Files felt like I was watching a movie in prime time television. I guess it has always been that way, even Vince Gilligan would agree. My Struggle had that feel, only it's 2016 and the visuals are amazing. Finally, the studio has given this show the support it deserves--comes with technology, I guess. So, technically, I have no complaints. Fantastic visuals!

The premiere also brought a lot of nostalgia. Just seeing them back together brought back great X-Files memories, fangirl memories and simply, everything about The X-Files. It was special. Plus, the old title sequence is back with minor changes. It's old new. It's chilling. Classic. X-Files. Mark Snow is a legend. The X-Files theme will forever be remembered. The Mulder/Tad conspiracy monologue was Kritschgau-esque. Redux, And then, the voice of reason, Dana Scully, just shuts them down. "Your test came back negative. She has no evidence of alien DNA" was a great Scully exit. BOOM!

Now, these are my theories. I think Sveta is alive. As Scully said near the end, Sveta has alien DNA. Scully had it re-tested, and apparently, "She (Sveta) is not the only one". It is implied that Scully has alien DNA too. Makes sense, if you ask me. And more importantly, I think Scully's alien DNA might have something to do with her "immortality". It has been said that Season 10 will tackle Scully's so-called "immortality". It's why I also think Sveta's still alive aside from the "no dead body, not dead" principle on TV. We'll have to wait and see if these theories prove correct.

Finally, how the hell is the Cigarette-Smoking-Man still alive? I have no explanation, except that he survived the "blast". Or, he may have alien DNA too? Haaaaaa!

What matters is, The X-Files is re-opened and our favorite agents are back! ♥

The light in dark places.

The X-Files is coming back and I am more excited than ever. Waited 13 years for this, and IT IS HAPPENING.

The 7.7.15 tweet was a pure X-Files message. Cryptic. It could be a promo. Well, it was. Sort of. When you've been waiting for years, even little details matter--chairs, hairs, maps, shoes, boots, or whatever. FOX's 201 days of The X-Files promo simply gave us all the feels. Classic 90s moments, right here. Moments.

Most importantly, they gave us a 3-second clip of new material and THAT was probably the best 3 seconds of this year, so far. A new material giving us all ICONIC X-Files feels. The word "feels" does not even justify how we truly feel. Haaaaaa! 

Imagine 3 seconds. Worth. Every. Moment.

World, our favorite F.B.I. Agents are baaaaack!

Slowing it down a bit...

People thought the storyline and characters for ‘X-Files’ made it a 'dark’ show, but I never saw it that way. I always thought Mulder and Scully were the light in dark places.

 -Chris Carter

They truly are. Thank you, CC! ♥

Life, fairness and TV shows

The past few days have taught me a lot about life. You see, the semester I thought would be the final semester was not exactly THE final semester I was hoping for. Good thing I didn't get my hopes up. Still, you can't help but feel sad or even angry especially when you know that certain things aren't supposed to be right but are nonetheless treated as such. It would make you think, "Yeah, life isn't fair. Deal with it" (Subconsciously, "Karma's gonna get you"). Indeed, life isn't fair and I have learned to accept that fact for so long. People can't please everybody. Hell, I don't even expect myself to please everybody. Luck wasn't on my side. Or, I was probably not ready. *rolls eyes* lol. Maybe, just maybe, God knows that I can do better next semester and that I would be more ready to face the next step. Well, I will try my best--to understand and to study harder. I wish, hope and pray that people would see the light--that in order to get what we want, we should work hard for it and earn it, fair and square. By the merits--nothing more, nothing less.

Clearly, I am upset. Then again, I have to deal with it. Somehow, I have. In fact, I am more determined than ever. This is probably one of the reasons why I was able to make this 'Friday Night Lights' inspired Facebook cover, one of the fastest covers I've made so far. I'm creative when I am determined.

CLEAR EYES. FULL HEARTS. CAN'T LOSE. I am ready for you, final sem!

 

Before I begin with the final sem, the break must end first. I still have a day to enjoy watching my favorite TV shows. Vacation is not a vacation without TV shows.  I've caught up with them and I must say that 'Agents of SHIELD' and 'Gotham' have been awesome this season. Well, it's  Shield's second season, and Gotham's first. We need more of these shows! (I am intentionally ignoring CW). 'Homeland' has come back and it's crazy good--mostly because of Peter Quinn! Haaaa! Aaaand, Claire Danes' brilliant acting. The Fall, Grimm, and The Newsroom have premiered as well. So, there's a lot of catching up when the next semester begins!!!! For now, I've caught up and I'm enjoying lots of shows. I am looking forward to the returning shows and the new ones as well. Oh, lots and lots of them.

Here's to life, fairness and TV shows! *cheers*

Celebrating 20 Years of The X-Files

2013 would not be complete without my little tribute to the best TV series that changed my life, The X-Files. I’ve always wanted to pay tribute to The X-Files not only as a series which helped revolutionized TV, but also one which have greatly influenced me. The truth is, The X-Files helped shaped the person who I am now. Although this may not be that entry, it would still give you a glimpse of what I have been wanting to write about as a tribute to my favorite show. I want it to be perfect, yet I know that this would not be as perfect as I want it to be. But hey, this year marked the 20th Anniversary of The X-Files and this blog would not be complete without this entry.

Cheers to 20 years!

This is just the beginning.

My real ‘journey’ with The X-Files began during my teenage years. I was probably thirteen at that time. I can’t remember my exact age but I remember the episode I first saw—‘The Musings of the Cigarette Smoking Man’. I say ‘real’ because it was the first time I had actually seen an episode—in full. I had seen clips thanks to several award shows. Yes, I did watch the Globes, the Emmys and the SAGs. I still do. Let’s just say The X-Files sweeping the Globes by winning Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Drama got me curious. And, I must say, it did not disappoint. I finally found a show that I would watch. Let’s be real, ‘Musings’ was intriguing. Although it was Mulder-less and Scully-less, it had JFK. It had the element of conspiracy theory. The execution? It’s flawless. I just knew from that moment on that I would like the show. I mean, REALLY like the show. I did not expect the magnitude of me liking it; but, as time went by, I grew up loving the show even more. The rest, as the say, is history.

It became more that just a TV show. The X-Files made a huge impact in my life. It sure did.

The Revolution.

September 10, 1993 marked the beginning of a revolution. A TV revolution. It was the birth of The X-Files. An uncanny show premiered on the FOX network. Two FBI agents—one a believer and the other a skeptic. Together, they explored the existence of the ‘little green men’, government conspiracies, and the paranormal. There was nothing like it on TV. It’s probably one of the reasons why it became a cultural phenomenon. The writing’s just brilliant.  Plus, there’s Mulder and Scully. Pop culture at its finest.

It was also the beginning of the X-Files fandom—the mother of all fandoms, the group that started it all—the Shippers, the NoRomos, the USTs and everything about fandoms. This is not just a mere claim. It is a fact. Heh.

The internet might have just been a baby during that time, but with The X-Files, its emergence was undeniable. Internet forums and message boards were on fire with episode and series discussions. X-Philes can be very passionate. I learned how to gather my thoughts, share my opinions and even argue with fellow fans through the FOX forums. Oh, how I miss those times!

Who could forget the fan fiction? I’ve never read one but I am quite aware of the stories fans write—some are really awesome, others can be hilarious but all of them equally good. I think. Hahaha. I guess, the viewers were inspired by the brilliant X-Files writers to write their own stories, following (or not) The X-Files storyline. These would show how a television series can actually influence people—individually, creatively, or even emotionally.

The X-Files clearly revolutionized the internet landscape. They did so, too, on TV with their monster-of-the-week episodes, the mythology episodes and of course, the scary and controversial ones (uhm, does ‘Home’ ring a bell?). As creator Chris Carter would say, it’s all about timing. Luckily for The X-Files, they had what other shows did not have, TIMING. Alien and government conspiracies were quite a thing during the 90s. A number of people were interested with a show that would give them the creeps. Plus, they had (still have) the fans—the ever supportive and rabid ones. And, they (WE!) are smart too. Ha!

Lastly, The X-Files have Mulder & Scully. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. The best duo ever with the best chemistry forever. A lot of shows today have patterned their lead characters/actors after Mulder and Scully (David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson). I won’t name names. It’s nice that they do/did because the formula has certainly been a hit in most shows. That says a lot. As a fan, I am proud of that. Sure, it pisses us off sometimes (considering the fandom clashes lol) but there’s that sense of legacy—a continuing X-Files legacy—that it has remained relevant for 20 years now (and counting). That’s something! That, my friends, is THE X-FILES.

20 Years.

‘OMG’. By simply typing "’20 years”, I can’t help the ‘OMG’ feels. Hahaha! A lot happened this 2013. FOX might not have The X-Files Anniversary Special I have been asking all year; nonetheless, the people behind the amazing series, the fans, the lead actors and fellow cast members, made the 20th Anniversary of The X-Files really special. They did it for the show and for the fans. We really are the luckiest bunch out there ha.

We got The X-Files Season 10 comics, which is amazing, by the way. It’s like watching the series, only you’re reading a comic. Hahaha. You visualize it. I mean, you’re reading it like you’re watching it. You’re hearing David and Gillian’s voices and imagine how they may act the scenes out. It’s a Phile thing!

XFilesNews had the tweet-a-thon. It was a worldwide hit. #XF20 brought back a lot of great memories esp. the interactions we had with fellow fans—whether they be the old ones or the baby new ones. The fact that we had a 140 character limit to show our love and support for the greatest TV show ever is a challenge but we managed. It’s amazing how we came up with our sweet little tweet tribute to the cast and crew. They deserve all our love support—be it with or without The X-Files.

THE CONS!!! I can’t even. Many thanks to TV Guide, EW, SDCC, NYCC, reddit and everyone who made the 20 years of The X-Files so special. The David and Gillian moments are priceless. Those moments will forever be cherished—the photos, the conversations, the questions, the answers, the gazing, the smiling, the everything. Again, THE E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G. OF. EVERY. MOMENT. So much love and support. ♥

The X-Files Collection.

Me buying X-Files stuffs is not something new. I’ve been doing it since I was a teenager. Hahaha! I save money so I could buy a magazine, a VHS tape, a DVD, a poster, an episode guide or any X-Files collectible. I still have them all. In celebrating the 20 years of this great show, there have been a lot of additions to my collection this year. They can best be shown through photos, as seen below. All I can say is, I have finally completed my DVD series set, thanks to Amazon’s Black Friday sale! :)

The 20th Anniversary is a legitimate excuse! :)

		XF20 Collection VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Certainly, 2013 is the year of The X-Files. I would have loved to have attend any of the cons but I couldn’t. I wanted to. I couldn’t. This, however, did not stop me from celebrating the 20th Anniversary of The X-Files.

A milestone. 20 years. The X-Files.

Kudos!

THANK YOU, 2013!

‘We can do better.’

The Newsroom (TNR) is one of those shows that just hits you. It challenges the way people think, the realities of life, human nature, their principles, morals, and beliefs, the media, the news itself, and the ‘self’. Best of all, it challenges us to be better. The pilot episode says it all. Will McAvoy’s rant/speech is simply powerful, inspiring and honest. Aaron Sorkin just gave us the reason why this show is worth watching. There, I said it. Boom!

The Newsroom Clip via YT user Larry Fritzlan

Current controversies triggered The Newsroom reference. In fact, entries re: politics have been scarce on my blog heh. I am definitely not disinterested. I am just too tired to dedicate a blog about my political views/rants. I’ll settle with 140 characters, for now.

I have yet express or openly share my opinion on Napoles, the ‘Pork Barrel Scam’, the alleged lawmakers involved or how it’s being handled. I’m not playing safe. It’s just that I am trying to see and understand the whole picture. I’m being cautious. I’m staying true to what I have been fighting against—the public is out for blood for the sake of it all—condemning people without knowing the whole story. That is my position.

It’s the “been there, done that” kind of thing. And, this is actually a media thing. Hence, the TNR reference.

A lot of you would say that everything about the world would still depend on the person. True. For me, however, it’s not entirely true. Deny is as much as you want, the media is a powerful tool that influences people. It always has been. Information is power. Power is information. You can’t make an informed decision when the information you are getting has been twisted/fixed to satisfy your taste, and vice versa. Apparently, the media has been guilty of this. They try not to, but they can’t seem to.

They have seen this before and even recognized the fact that they have done it before to the detriment of another (case in point ‘Juan Dela Cruz’, Hubert Webb, Paco Larrañaga, etc. etc.), but they continue to do it today—again, and again. This, for me, is unacceptable.

It’s nice that people are involved. We should be. Sometimes people just need to learn how to hold their horses. We are dealing with people who have rights too. We have the rule of law. Hindi lahat ng taong inaakusahan, naaakusahan, kinasuhan o nakakasuhan ay guilty na agad. Hinay-hinay lang din naman po tayo. (Not everyone who has been accused or charged of a wrongdoing is already guilty. Hold your horses, people.)

Let’s all take the high road. Be fair. Be vigilant.

With these, all I can say is, it’s not impossible.

5% more of anything makes a difference. | Clip via YT user pesman5

Idealistic as this may appear. This is reality in itself. We can do better.

The Beauty in Drama and Music.

The X-Files would definitely give you the creeps, the conspiracies, the science, and the paranormal. More than that, it gives you the beauty of drama. It's not just a science fiction series. It's more than that. This is why it is unique--you can explore the paranormal and at the same time maintain the character of a drama series. The X-Files is genuinely a magnificent work of art. This is why it has been a huge part of pop culture not only during the 90s, but up to now. It stood the test of time. This amazing show has the biggest fandom ever. This is not an exaggeration, it is a FACT. The X-Files Fandom is the mother of all fandoms. It is the spark that lit the fandom flame.

Way before these fandom videos took the YouTube stage, The X-Files fansites and message boards were everywhere. They were the life of the internet. The X-Philes began the fanvideo journey--most, of course, were shipper videos. You either stream the video directly using real player, quick time or windows media plugins. Indeed, YouTube was not in existence during those times, but the brilliant minds and the artistry behind these fan videos are undeniable.

Today, the brilliant mind and the artistry of these X-Philes are still unparalleled. Having captured and summed up The X-Files storyline so beautifully in fan videos just prove how great this fandom is and why it will always be relevant. But, what is to be admired most is how they have presented the drama and the Mulder/Scully story through their videos. If you have seen the videos, you will definitely know why. Below are two amazing videos that truly captured the beauty of The X-Files drama as well as the music from the point-of-view of the fans.

The Cancer Arc

The song and the clips used in this video is fantastic. This video was created by Lyle and it remains to be one of the best videos out there. You can't help but feel the emotions.

The Abduction Arc

  

This video captures so much sadness, but presents it so beautifully. Talk about death, friendship and love. The song simply makes this video more beautiful. Brilliant presentation from duchesscloverly!

The fan videos just gets better and better--just like a pro! There are out there. Be amazed. Be inspired

Taking a Stand on the Death Penalty.

Here's a scene from one of the best television shows of all time. The Practice takes on the Death Penalty. Powerful scene. Brilliant writing, David E. Kelley. Genius.

A scene so powerful. Always relevant.

This is Eugene Young's take on the Death Penalty.

While I may not agree with his firm position against the death penalty, I strongly agree with him as to why he is against it on his second point. The judicial system is flawed. Innocent people are being convicted. It needs to be fixed. If we fix this, then I am for it.

Best line:

One of the biggest problems we have today--our children are being raised in a culture that not only condones revenge, but perhaps even celebrates it as a societal good. It's wrong.

Compelling.

I miss shows like this. David E. Kelley, I have said it before, I will say it again, you are a genius!

'U Got It Bad' was soooo good that it's not even 'bad'.

If that title even makes sense...

Phillip Phillips'd it!

There is no doubt that Phillip Phillips is my favorite 'Idol' this season. I have been a fan since Day 1--the audition, that is. Every week, he has been consistently great. Well, of course they had to throw him under the bus somehow (not this week, of course), to challenge him even more. I believe a lot of people appreciate his style, passion and soul. His music, I can't wait for everyone to hear. I've heard one original song and for sure, the rest will be awesome.

This week, I just can't seem to get over his cover of U Got It Bad. Not a fan of Usher but I do appreciate his music. Phillip Phillips just made this song his own as he always does but there's just something about this which makes it different. He made this R&B song bluesy at the same time soulful and current. The musicianship, the artistry, it is undeniable. One of the best this season. Definitely. Maybe not the vocal pipes some people are looking for but when you talk about being a true artist, Phillip Phillips is D' Man!

My favorite part, 1:11-1:21. The way he sang the lyrics, just brilliant. FULL OF BRILLIANCE. Feel the song, the soul, the passion. He delivers everything so perfectly. The studio version is FULL OF WIN as well. 'Full of win' seems to be my phrase of the week. It just is. U GOT IT BAD IS FULL OF WIN. You may download the studio version on iTunes. In the Midnight Hour was a great performance too. The dance is priceless.

Purchase the studio versions on iTunes!

iTunes link: U Got It Bad | In the Midnight Hour

Top 5: American Idol Auditions.

You probably know by now that I have a number of blogs and you've seen similar posts from these blogs. Now, I aim to make each blog unique despite its parallels. This is a blogger exclusive, the Top 5s. 10 is too much and I might not reach the number. So, let's stick with 5. Top 5 of anything--favorite movies, artists, series and just other random stuffs. I'll take suggestions when I ran out of ideas. (laughs)

Since I am in the American Idol zone right now, let's have my top 5 favorite American Idol auditions. American Idol was not shown on this side of the world 'til Season 3. With this reason, I'll be considering auditions from Season 3 up to the present only. Most of the auditions that made it to my top 5 came from my favorites--the so-called instant favorites. 

Let us begin.

5. Chris Medina (Season 10)

Chris Medina was not my favorite last season but he delivered a great audition. Yes, it has all the drama but I don't think it would make his audition less great if you take out the drama. This says it all, memorable.

4. David Archuleta (Season 7)