By Chris Snellgrove | Published
Some of it may seem dirty now, but X files known for pushing the envelope back in the ’90s, like when they made “Home” so bad that the Fox network repeatedly refused to air it except for the 1999 Halloween event. Still, the network clearly had a lot of faith in the show and rarely pushed back against the writers because Mulder and Scully’s adventures fit right in with the network’s dangerous programming. However, Fox worried about that one X-Files The story would ruin the show, forcing the writers of “Lazarus” to change the place where another man would live in Mulder’s body.
The IX-Files The Lazarus Plan
That might sound like a pretty bonkers plot even by the standards of X filesbut “Lazarus” is the tale of a bank robber who has the ability to put his mind into the bodies of others. Strictly speaking, the story plays out like one of the show’s myths, with Mulder adamantly believing the hopping is real and Scully expressing polite clinical skepticism. Originally, however, the writers of this episode didn’t want Mulder to think about body hopping. Instead, they wanted him to see for himself.
Original Mulder Idea
In accordance with X files writer and producer Howard Gordon, the Fox network wanted to change the plot point of Lazarus which involved a criminal putting his mind directly into Mulder’s body. In his words, “the network […] he balked at the idea of ​​Mulder directly experiencing, for the first time, such a supernatural phenomenon. ” In addition to directly objecting to the idea of ​​a “soul change,” Gordon said that Fox was strongly opposed to their main character being used in such a way.
As we mentioned earlier, Fox generally didn’t dispute much of that X files the writers wanted to do so, and this made their backlash against the key plot point of “Lazarus” all the more remarkable. According to Gordon, things turned sour: “we were angry and we were holding each other’s arms.” In the end, it is almost impossible to win the battle with the network, and the writers and producers are forced to reluctantly make changes in their episode.
However, later Gordon saw Fox’s decision in this regard X-Files The story as a “wise decision,” which made “Lazarus” a powerful episode. Honestly, as longtime fans of the show, we have to agree…in any given episode, it’s very rewarding to see the tension between Mulder’s beliefs and Scully’s doubts, and it’s equally rewarding to decide for yourself what is “really” going on with these seemingly supernatural things. sites. In fact, if the show had explicitly confirmed supernatural beings in season 1, it would probably have lessened the impact of the later seasons.
The conflict between Mulder’s and Scully’s beliefs was effectively seen as a conflict between them X files writers and network “Lazarus.” However, it’s hard to deny that the network made the right call here, one that kept the mystery of the narrative while ensuring that future episodes walk the line between revelation and suspense. This episode finally resolved the soul change the writers originally planned, but that might be too good…like, you can think How would fanfic fans be surprised by the show if season 1 revealed another man inside Fox Mulder?