by Chris Snelgrove
| Published
Some of them may seem tame now, however X-Files It was known for pushing the envelope back in the '90s, like when they made “Home” so terrible that Fox refused to air it in reruns outside of the 1999 Halloween event. However, the network clearly had a lot of faith in the show She rarely contradicts the book because Mulder and Scully's adventures fit perfectly into the network's exciting programming. However, Fox is concerned about this X-Files The story would ruin the show, forcing the “Lazarus” writers to change the plot point in which Mulder's body is inhabited by another man.
The X-Files Lazarus Conspiracy
This may seem like a pretty crazy plot even by standards X-FilesBut “Lazarus” is a story about a bank robber who has the ability to put his mind into other people's bodies. Overall, the story plays out like one of the show's typical tales, with Mulder fervently believing body-hopping is real and Scully expressing clinically polite skepticism. Originally, though, the writers of this episode didn't want Mulder to simply theorize about body hopping. Instead, they wanted him to try it himself.
Mulder's original idea
according to X-Files Writer and producer Howard Gordon, Fox wanted to change the plot point of “Lazarus” which involves a mugger placing his consciousness directly into Mulder's body. As he put it, “the network (…) rejected the idea of Mulder experiencing a first-hand, direct supernatural event like that.” In addition to specifically protesting the idea of a “soul swap”, Gordon said that Fox generally objected to using their main character in this way.
As mentioned before, Fox usually did not object to much of what happened X-Files The writers wanted to do that, and that's what made their response to a major plot point of “Lazarus” so notable. According to Gordon, things got ugly: “We were angry and rebellious.” In the end, a battle with the network was almost impossible to win, and the writers and producers were forced to make changes to their episode very reluctantly.
Eventually, though, Gordon came to view Fox's decision on this X-Files The story as a “wise decision,” one that ultimately made “Lazarus” a stronger episode. Honestly, as longtime fans of the series, we have to agree… in any given episode, it's extremely rewarding to witness the tension between Mulder's beliefs and Scully's suspicions, and it's equally rewarding to decide for yourself what's “really” going on with these seemingly supernatural people. Conspiracies. Frankly, if the show blatantly asserted supernatural shenanigans in the first season, it would likely diminish the impact of subsequent seasons.
The tension between Mulder and Scully's beliefs is effectively reflected in the tension between them X-Files Book and network on “Lazarus”. However, it's hard to deny that the network made the right decision here, one that preserved the narrative's ambiguity while ensuring that future episodes walk the line between revelation and skepticism. This episode ultimately scrapped the soul swap that the writers had originally planned, but that might be for the best… Like, would you? imagine How weird would this show be if the first season was canonically showing another man in it Fox Mulder?
