Discussion Post: Converting The Masses

[amalnahurriyeh]

This is the first part of a two-part question, but I'll do them on separate days.

You want to convince a friend to get excited about The X-Files. (Assume the person is someone who wouldn't be automatically averse to the idea, but hasn't previously encountered the show, presumably via living under a rock for the 1990s.) What episodes would you use as the introduction? And, just as importantly, how would you frame them--that is, what would you tell them about why these episodes are awesome, and represent only selections from a more awesome whole?

Comments

[amalnahurriyeh]

I was going to say something about not knowing you were so new to the fandom, and then I did some basic arithmetic about how 2006 was four years ago, and then I had to go breathe into a paper bag for a while and count my grey hairs again.

Rain King, while an episode I rather love, would be entirely baffling if you didn't know the characters or the general tone. Funny how I think this is true of a lot of fan favorites--Triangle is actually fascinating once you know who these people are; ditto something like Rain King. I sometimes wonder if my Bad Blood missionary work goes astray, because it's too meta. Ditto for any attempt to convert people with, say, Jose Chung.

[naraht]

Yes, I agree. There are entry-level episodes (some of which are fan favorites, possibly, though I can't think of any) and then there are the deep meta ones like Jose Chung that only really appeal once you know the genre.

The other thing is that there are different kinds of fans. I don't think I'd ever succeed in converting someone who was predisposed to like the mytharc, because I'd never think to show someone those episodes...

[yvi]

*nods* I think decent stand-alone episodes like "Drive" might be better suited for such purposes.