Can "Fringe" Replace "The X-Files"? (Joshua Jackson comments)

From the June 2010 VIP Newsletter

CAN FRINGE REPLACE THE X-FILES?
The Digital Spy website reports that Fringe star Joshua Jackson has designs on replacing The X-Files as the gold standard for science fiction. Jackson told Los Angeles radio station KROQ: "I'm a huge X Files fan… That was sort of my show growing up. And I really feel like we're getting into the place of becoming a proper replacement for that show."

"The difference is - and we talk about this a lot on set - I think [we] have not gone off the rails," Jackson added. "Sometimes sci-fi shows become so convoluted, they become sort of a chore to watch. Our guys try to answer as many questions as they can."

Can "Fringe" replace "The X-Files"? My answer to that is "no". TXF was groundbreaking for its time. I love "Fringe", I see the similarities in episodes like MOTW vs. mythology. I think that "Fringe" is better thought out than TXF ever was in terms of its mythology, but I don't think that it can ever replace TXF. I'm trying to figure out what Joshua is saying when he says that they're getting to a place of "becoming a proper replacement for that show". Replacement of what? Being groundbreaking? Filling a void that TXF left when it left TV air waves back in 2002?

In the second quote it actually seems as if he's comparing "Fringe" vs. "The X-Files" in terms of planning and understanding mythology and providing answers unlike how TXF made things up as they went along and eventually lost sight of itself and became "off the rails".

Thoughts?

"Sometimes sci-fi shows become so convoluted, they become sort of a chore to watch."

I have to agree with this statement. I've been doing a LOST re-watch lately and it goes by so quickly. 24 goes by so quickly. Even Fringe went by so quickly when I was watching season 1. But when I watch The X-Files, I get so bored it is a chore to watch!

As for replacing the X-Files, well... I don't know. XF in its time was ground breaking as Cassie said, but I don't think that's what he's talking about. They can't re-do what XF did and still be groundbreaking, but in terms of writing, and stories and characters they - in my opinion - have been a good replacement for the show, even though I put it in a level higher than XF.

I agree. I love "The X-Files" and all, but it does feel like a chore to do the rewatch (especially when no one else is participating in talking about the current rewatch season). I think the reason why it's such a chore to rewatch is due to the fact that the quality of episodes and continuity of each episode of "The X-Files" is different. You may get one really, really good episode, followed by a really shitty one, then just an ok one and have to sit through ok ones before hitting another brilliant one, and that's what makes it a chore. The quality consistency is so poor with TXF, especially in comparison to newer shows where it seems they learned from the mistakes made by the writers of TXF.

You know... after our "LOST" rewatch, we should do a "24" rewatch before the season 8 DVDs are available.

Nothing will ever "replace" "The X-Files", it's such a classic series on its own. It may not be the best series ever made, but it set a standard and then other shows jumped high above that standard.

With the shows of today (that I watch anyway) it seems to me that the writer's meetings are productive in comparison and everyone works together to make the show work.

Little Albatross wrote:With the shows of today (that I watch anyway) it seems to me that the writer's meetings are productive in comparison and everyone works together to make the show work.

It also feels like everyone is treated fairly and the final script isn't looked at and "fixed" by someone like Chris Carter. It aggravates me so much that Chris Carter was allowed to write for his own show. Without him writing "The X-Files" would have been so much better.

I hope Fringe doesn't end up the same way.

I hope not too. I worry though because it's on FOX. I do not trust the FOX network to do anything right. Then again they did put out "24".

Yeah, Fox does have a habit of doing that. But I'm glad for 24.

Did you watch "Firefly"? That was the best show ever, and FOX foxed it prematurely. Shame on them. 24 is my addiction, I can't stand not knowing when the final season will be out to buy on DVD. I need my fix.

Grrrr. Just the mention of the canceling of Firefly makes my blood boil.

I tried to watch Firefly Cassie, but couldn't do it. Don't know why?

Oh you so should check it out if you can. It's such a good show. I haven't met one person who watched an episode who said afterwords that they didn't like it. Even my parents loved it, it's truly a show for everyone IMO.

Gosh, it's been nearly 8 years since FOX canceled "Firefly", has it really been that long? I still remember getting home just in time to see the beginning of the very first episode that aired ("The Train Job"), that was the day that a good friend of mine went into a coma after complications giving birth to her daughter. September 20, 2002...

My Mom wouldn't watch it, Dad might? He's a Trekkie, he also likes horror, some fantasy and historial stuff.

"Firefly" is like a space western, and there are no aliens :) The characters are the best written in TV history.