X-Files: Cold Cases by Joe Harris, Chris Carter & Dirk Maggs – An Audio Book Review

Publisher’s Summary:

Set after the events of The X-Files: I Want to Believe and providing additional backstory to the incidents that pulled Mulder and Scully out of reclusion prior to 2016’s miniseries revival, a database breach at FBI headquarters allows an unknown group to access and capitalize on those investigations left unsolved – dubbed cold cases – by the secret department once known as The X-Files. As friends and foes of the agency long thought gone begin to inexplicably reappear, former agents Mulder and Scully come out of anonymity to face a growing conspiracy that involves not only their former department but the US government and forces not of this world.

Here, fans are treated once again to Mulder and Scully’s irreplicable chemistry as only the series’ leads could deliver, Duchovny’s deadpan and cynical aloofness finding its natural counterpoint in Anderson’s unwavering intelligence and rigidity. Appearances from series regulars and the actors who made them fan favorites round out this must-listen arc: the gruff, no-BS righteousness of Walter Skinner (Mitch Pileggi); the distinctive click-puff of the Cigarette Smoking Man (William B. Davis); and the stooge-like hijinks of three beloved conspiracy theorists called the Lone Gunmen (Tom Braidwood, Dean Haglund, and Bruce Harwood).

Whether you’re a believer or a skeptic, find your “I Want to Believe” poster. Break out that makeshift alien stiletto. Grab a pack of Morley cigarettes.

The truth is out there. You just have to listen.

 

Writers: Joe Harris, Chris Carter, Dirk Maggs

Narrators: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pilegi, William B. Davis, Tom Braidwood, Dean Haglund, Bruce Harwood.

Running Time:4 hrs 5 mins

Publisher: Audible Studios

Audio Release Date: 18/07/2017

Genre: Sci-fi

My Rating of ‘X-Files: Cold Cases’: 4 out of 5

Purchase: Audible

 

My Review:

Audible continue to reach into my mind and pluck out another one of my childhood favourites to produce as an audio drama. In the past, I sunk my teeth into the Alien audio dramas (and am still desperate for more of those) but this time I found myself just that little bit more excited for the X-Files: Cold Cases audio drama.

X-Files is quite easily my favourite TV series. Many others have come in and tried to knock that amazing show from the top of my list (Buffy, Angel, Supernatural, Peaky Blinders, Person of Interest) all seriously great shows, but none good enough to dethrone X-Files in my mind. I seriously doubt any show will ever come close to replacing that as my favourite (unless a novel I write gets turned into a show, of course!)

So, as you can imagine, I was more than eager to dive right into this. In fact, when I downloaded it, I very nearly took the day off work so I could enjoy it in peace. With my hopes I high I was seriously worried that ‘Cold Cases’ wouldn’t hit the sweet spot for me.

My verdict is that it did and didn’t hit that sweet spot. For the most part, it was utterly amazing. As ever, the guys and gals at Audible Studios have produced a top notch piece. It makes it extra-special that the main characters (Moulder, Scully, Skinner, Cigarette Smoking Man) are voiced by the actors that played them in the show. This made it so that I felt like I was listening to an episode rather than a story which, in my opinion, is what is needed for a piece like this.

One drawback is the first part. I know, I know, X-Files are supposed to be over the top and totally ‘out there’. It kind of felt a little too ‘out there’ for me. It was, however, incredibly necessary as the rest of the audio drama continued the storyline and, might I add, did so wonderfully.

I feel the wackiness in the first hour or so would have made total visual sense, but as an audio piece it kind of felt like it was lacking a little something. As I said, though, the other 3 hours more than make up for this and all the great parts totally overshadow the little drawbacks.

My only other niggle is that the actor who played Alex Krycek (Nicholas Lea) doesn’t voice Alex. But, other than that, I loved it. Took me right back to my childhood.