The X-Files Will Focus On Stand-Alone Stories In Season 11

There are two types of X-Files fans: people who like the ongoing story of the alien mythology and people who just want to see some monsters-of-the-week. 

Those in the second camp will rejoice at the news from Fox entertainment chairman David Madden, who revealed to Entertainment Weekly that the upcoming 11th season will largely consist of stand-alone episodes with few ties to the overarching plot of the series.

"We're really proud of last season," Madden said, fending off criticism about the 2016 revival's focus on the show's sometimes-convoluted story. "We had the responsibility to explain to the audience what had happened in the intervening seven or eight years. We're free from that responsibility this time and can just plunge in and tell the stories. We're having a lot of fun doing it. Eight of the episodes will be stand-alone stories, so they will be classic 'Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) plunging into new adventures.'" 

It's a welcome course-correction that stands a chance of bringing back fans who felt burned by the revival, perhaps edging the new season closer to the classic X-Files stories that we all know and love. The next season won't totally rid itself of the mythology, however—there are still loose ends to tie up.

At the start of season 11, Madden said, "You'll be launched into a very urgent adventure that has a lot to do with William, Mulder and Scully's kid. So the search for William will be a significant thread through the show. You will see the Cigarette Smoking Man. You may see The Lone Gunmen somewhere along the line. There will be other characters from the previous mythology that will be reprised." 

Here's hoping the new season can get fans excited the way the last one couldn't. In the meantime, revisit some old episodes and go hunting for some easter eggs you may have missed the first time around.