Pop Culture TMS - X-files

Recently I decided to rewatch the entire series of the X-Files in preparation for the upcoming rebooted series. I was too young to see it entirely on original run but always remember how scary and intriguing it was.

For those unfamiliar with the X-Files it involves two FBI agents investigating the Paranormal and the Unexplained. Agent Fox Mulder is a gifted Psychological profiler who studied at Oxford but whose career has been stunted by his obsession over his sister going missing under mysterious circumstances. He is convinced it was a UFO and so uses his investigative skills to find evidence to back this up. The FBI tolerates him because he is so gifted and they use him for regular work in catching serial killers etc. They set up 'The X-Files' in order to collate this work.
Enter Agent Dana Scully, a medical Doctor who took up a career with the FBI . She is equally brilliant and the FBI partners her with Agent Mulder in order to scrutinise his kooky work and establish whether or not it is a total waste of time and taxpayer dollars. She is intensely sceptical and must have evidence to back up any claim, and repeatedly refuses to read between the lines. Her character is also interesting as she has a conflict over faith and her unfulfilled desire for motherhood that has been foregone for career success.

At times during my experience with Sarnos work I have veered from one of these archetypes to the other, taking Mulders stance because I felt vast relief from pain and at other times reverting to Scullys stance... ''show me data!!'' As the show progresses Scully alters her beliefs in the face of overwhelming personal experience but can't show actual evidence of the vast government conspiracy involving aliens/ufos/etc.

I think the two characters act as helpful lense through which to view TMS.

A frustration familiar to all who know about TMS, constantly reviewing(especially for me) whether or not you've lost the plot.

There are a few episodes that reference TMS type phenomena directly/indirectly but the most interesting is the episode 'Rainman' from Season 6 Episode 8. Plot from Wikipedia

On Valentine's Day in Kroner, Kansas, Sheila Fontaine and Daryl Mootz get into an argument. Fontaine had put their engagement news in the paper, but Mootz had wanted to keep it a secret for as long as the drought makes business poor. After the argument, Mootz goes for a drunken drive but crashes after heart-shaped hailstones wreck his car.

Six months later, Mulder and Scully arrive in Kroner by request of the mayor. For several months a terrible drought has plagued the region. However, Mootz, now styling himself as "The Rain King", seems to have the power to control the weather. For a hefty sum, he is able to make it rain. Mulder and Scully obtain a client list and head to the local television station to talk to the weatherman, Holman Hardt. Hardt admits that while Mootz's talents are odd, he appears to truly have the power to control the weather. Mulder and Scully, both skeptical, attend one of Mootz's rituals. Despite their preconceived notions, Mulder and Scully witness Mootz bring rain to a dry farm.

Mulder and Scully check into a motel, where a cow crashes through the roof of Mulder's room. After the incident, a tearful Sheila confesses that the cow might have been her fault. She admits that she's experienced a strange history of weather-related phenomena, and believes that she can unconsciously control the weather. Mulder assures her otherwise. During the conversation, Hardt over-hears that Mootz was drunk the night of the accident, and is relieved. Immediately, Mootz's rain powers seem to disappear.

It is revealed that Holman Hardt is actually the one controlling the weather. All of the bizarre weather was the side-effect of his long-silent love for Sheila. He felt guilty that his weather-related problem caused Mootz to crash his car, so he would cause it to rain for Mootz. Once he realized Mootz had been drunk the night of the accident, however, he stopped. Unfortunately, Mulder begins to unintentionally attract Sheila, resulting in a massive thunderstorm that materializes due to the meteorologist's emotions. At the town's high school reunion, however, Hardt admits his love for Sheila, who accepts him. The storm stops, and Hardt and Sheila live happily ever after.


So this Weather guys Unconscious rage was able to produce Meteorological effects. his inner storm was manifest in reality.....badabing boom! TMS

Sorry if this is long but it really hit me as a great explainer.

Also please watch the X-files from start to finish. I hate TV generally but loved it, really deep and excellent acting from all..even if it gets really far fetched

 

Lol I have one complaint with your posts... Please can you add the words "spoiler alert!" Haha

I, too only ever saw a few when it first aired so I've began to watch it in it's entirity before the new season airs. Binge watching 202 episodes is heavy going though.

If you get a chance I highly recommend Fringe.

 

I considered adding one but felt the general point would have spoiled the ending anyways cause that is the big reveal! its a really enjoyable episode
One really funny scene is this mini-tornado

 

One of my favorite episodes.

 

I might be interested in watching this show. Does it hold up well by today's standards? I wonder if it's on Netflix?

I never really watched it, except one time. I don't remember the exact plot, but it was about 2 faith healers, one adult and one child, both part of some evangelical church. Mulder and Scully were trying to determine if they were fakes. It had a very interesting plot twist and a surprising ending.

And yes, there were definitely some Sarno-esqe /TMS elements to the show.

 

It's one of my favorite shows. Well worth a watch! That and Twin Peaks.

 

Yeah its really remarkable how good it stands up and was actually pretty revolutionary in terms of story arcs etc. It was one of the first major big budget TV shows and the creators have since produced Breaking Bad, recognised as one of the best TV series in recent history

 

It's a great show, aside from some of the effects which are a little dated, the stories still stand up. I thoroughly recommend it.

 

I actually like that the effects are dated... plus the clothes and electronics in the beginning - awesome.

 

It's interesting, nowadays, that you see tms and related things everywhere. They talked about Mindfulness in the new Big Bang episode for example, pretty funny.

 

Hi, Irish. I also notice some TMS-type references in X-Files, although I am not a frequent watcher. I prefer more restful stuff, but then I am an old geezer who grew up on Cary Grant and Errol Flynn movies.

 

I get that. As a sensitive person, sometimes when I'm watching things like The Walking Dead (for example), I'm wondering what the heck I'm doing.

 

Walt you have no idea how lucky you are...in spite of the horrible experience of the Great Depression. I'm only in my twenties but find myself fretting about the impact on our civilisation of mass media/TV etc. Especially internet porn/gambling, two incredibly addictive and harmful things. I'm no prude but these things really mess with the brain over time and affect every aspect of our lives

I yearn for the olden times when we weren't exposed 24/7 to social media and feeling left out if we aren't on trend etc.
Of course personal choice takes a role but the masses want to be part of the next 'thing'. Argh!!

 

I totally agree. The dream is to live a simple life close to nature and stay away from media and TV as much as possible. It's nice to be able to escape once in a while, though, especially when you're in this situation with constant pain and whatnot.

 

Well put the 24/7 of social media cell phones... Porn gambling its sickening

 

Hey Irish, I recently deactivated my facebook account and it's quite liberating. I usually restrict myself to funny TV - Peep show being my favourite at the moment (the British comedy that is)! Only got half way through Breaking Bad and had to stop as I spent too much time hiding behind cushion!

 

I think the internet is great for finding information (and places like this one), but the thought of being constantly online stresses me out. I think it's a good idea to be very selective and restrict what you read/do online. It's all about using the technology in a way that improves your life, instead of doing the opposite.

 

Hi Colly, the final season of Peep Show is currently airing in the UK. I was going to add it to the comedy thread, but it's politically incorrect and probably not to everyone's liking. Super Hands is a riot.

 

LOVED THAT SHOW…THX FOR SHARING IRISH

 

It's coming back in January only 6 episodes though.