X-Files Xtras: Thoughts on Season 5

The season four finale is one of the biggest cliffhangers imaginable. Scully reveals that Mulder committed suicide after facing more obstacles and proof that his journey has been a lie. Season five kicks off with one of the most elaborate openers to the X-Files yet, it's hard to believe how much more entertaining the series grows.

Yet we have plenty of layers and scenarios left to play out just from the first episode alone - did Mulder truly end his life? What's revealed is some of the best partnering between the agents to uncover the government's games yet. And, this is just in the first episode.

Perhaps all of the twists in the first episode is what leads the rest of the season to be sporadic with excitement. Chris Carter's creation is not as tightly written as in the past. Instead, a lot of the episodes aren't that memorable, making this post a little shorter of categories than previous X-Files posts. As much as I love The X-Files, it starts to struggle with the next twenty episodes.

Cases are recycled with gusto forcing Mulder and Scully's individual and collective journeys to be intermittent - something the show relies on to keep the standalone stories from being too repetitive. It's a tug-of-war the series had from the beginning, but the disconnect between the Cancer Man arc, Mulder/Scully's partnership, and monster-of-the-week singlets start to show more strongly.

The show is far from falling into a million pieces but parts of the whole are beginning to show. Hope you enjoy anyways with my favorites, scariest, and more!

5 Favorite FRIENDS Thanksgiving Episodes

Halloween has its horror movie marathons. Christmas has it's A Christmas Story 24-hour takeover on TBS. And, Thanksgiving has to be all about Friends.

Perhaps the best moments of the gangs' dysfunctional friendships and mishaps came out around the holidays, just like all of us normal folk. One of my favorite ways to get into the holiday spirit is to watch their awkward and funny Thanksgiving episodes full of sisterly quarrels, secrets coming out of the closet, and the Gellar competition out in full swing. Hope you enjoy this post, the one with the Friends Thanksgiving Episodes! Which ones are your favorites? Feel free to share in the comments!

The Walking Dead - S6x07 Heads Up

Photo Credit: The Walking Dead / Gene Page

Straight off the heels of Daryl, Sasha and Abraham finally heading home, we returned behind Alexandria's barriers to see what's going down with this band of survivors. The latest episode of The Walking Dead episode Heads Up was chalk full of warnings, dangerous tarzanian escapades and a long-awaited resurrection. Below include spoilers of the series's so far. You've been warned but hope you enjoy!

X-Files Xtras: Thoughts on Season 4

I wasn't quite sure which direction season four was going to dive into. As much as I love Mulder and Scully, some episodes hinges so deep into his truth-seeking escapades Scully is left in the dust. This season was surprising because their dynamics really grows leaps and bounds. More details of Scully's abduction comes to light deepening both of their connections to the governments' alien programs.

As for theme or genre, The X-Files still manages to be a little bit of everything; mostly drama and mystery sprinkled with comedy. The characters continue to deal with the obstacles in their way set forth by Cancer Man. Much more than the series solely centering on Scully/Mulder, we're also treated to more insight about his work as a master puppeteer behind the shadows. His organization's scope is much larger and treacherous than had been expected before. The bad guys' reach is really unlimited, and the questions posed about how much the government controls raises some true doubts and fears.

Here is a list of scariest, least favorite, and favorite episodes - and then some! Enjoy!

The Walking Dead S6x06 Always Accountable

Photo Credit: The Walking Dead / Gene Page

Last week Rick emerged in a sea of the quarry walkers strolling up to the gates of Alexandria. The civilians dealt with the invasion in various inactive ways, while the whereabouts of Sasha, Abraham, and Daryl were a mystery. This week's installment Always Accountable showed a continuing breakdown of one day's timeline dealing with walker march. Below includes spoilers of the series so far. You've been warned but hope you enjoy!

The Walking Dead S6x05 Now

Last week's episode focused on an extended flashback on Morgan, leaving us with heavy-loaded questions about Rick and Glenn's survival as hoards of zombies came their way.

Episode 5 titled Now returned us to Alexandria following the Wolves' attack and how the dwindling number of civilians would move on despite such a severe blow to their community. Below includes spoilers of the series so far. You've been warned but hope you enjoy!

Old Isn't Bad: Spreading the Love for Classic Film

Entering the film world in college, I expected to hob-knob with classmates over movies we loved, hated, seen recently, and so on. Disappointingly, I realized so many students don't actually like or even love movies - or if they do, so many have only seen newer releases from the past five, maybe ten years. Even more disappointing, is that teachers, as well as student, had a distaste for Classic Hollywood films, mostly because they are just old.

The disturbing trend about film is that apparently, it has an expiration date. Anything beyond 2005, or 2000, or sustains a Star Wars-like reputation, is not worthy or interesting to watch.

In and out of the classroom what is disheartening is not only the lack of interest in classic films but the disconnection of what they are: out of date, not worthwhile, useless. So, I'd like to put an end to the stigma about older films with these simple steps.

1. Don't Add 'Well It is OLD'. With Facebook status posts and tweets every nanosecond, often my generation likes to go for what is new, current, and so not fifty years ago. If you add 'It's Old', or the old 'Back in my day, kid', our attention is lost. There's no need to make a big deal about age - whether it is relatively young or entering it's senior years.

2. Don't be surprised if they haven't seen it. Ever not listen to a certain type of music or never gone skydiving, and made to feel like you are the biggest outcast in the world for having missed out on that once-in-a-lifetime, life enhancing opportunity? Yeah, when you mention a classic film someone hasn't seen, don't go for the big gasp, hand to the forehead, "Oh my gosh, you haven't?! WHY NOT?!". You just turned a potential fan into someone carrying a sour attitude towards classics forever.

3. Share but do not preach. John Brunner once said, "There are two kinds of fool. One says, 'This is old, and therefore good.' And one says, 'This is new, and therefore better.'" When we talk about classic films, there's no need to go off into film lingo about the production, cast, etc. To a fan who hasn't seen many classic films, talk about them like you always do with a movie you just watched last weekend; conversational and fun.

4. Tell them where to go. Old Hollywood films are rare but don't have to be completely dismissable. Suggest where they can be watched. Turner Classic Movie channel plays all classic genres uncut and commercial free. Suggest your friends to check out The Essentials to ease their way into the genre. There's also Netflix, Amazon, and even YouTube. Try to sound like the movies can be at your friends' fingertips ready to watched like so many modern movies are.

5. Don't be ashamed. I'm often guilty of this. When talking to other students, and they have no idea what the heck I'm talking about, I'm often interrogated about why do I like classic films, aren't they in black and white and so on... Well, yes, they are. Soon I'm shamed or quieted because other students find it weird I like older movies. Simply, don't! Share your love for them when you can...and don't make a big deal that they are old(er).