The X-Files: Cold Cases

oh, how I missed it.

absolutely loved every second of it. everything I cherished about X-Files and more. My Mulder and my Scully how I remember them from 25 years ago. thank you so much!

25 people found this helpful

Already listened to this twice - doesn't improve

Hmm, thought it was only fair if I listened to this twice before typing my review.

This is the third audio-drama I’ve listened to this year that has involved Dirk Maggs and sadly like Alien: River of Pain, it just isn’t very good.

Stepping away from his usual Directors chair, Dirk adapted the X-files graphic novels by Joe Harris into audio. Though I found these stories stale. With audio the story can take you anywhere, without the budget constraints that affect TV/film production, so I was hoping this would be big, bold and move the story along with energy. Oh and that’s something that was missing in the recording booths.

The biggest frustration I had is with the cast as there are so many instances when they went out of acting mode and just read the script without emotion. Wham. And that’s you jolting out of the story wondering what just happened. It breaks the illusion, the immersiveness of audio. Not sure why the Director didn’t realise how ‘dry’ their performances were.

And what’s with Dirk’s obsession with CB radio chat, just like ‘River of Pain’ there are a lot people saying “Copy That”. Arghhh.

Lastly it was good to hear Laurel Lefkow again, she played Ripley in Alien: Out of the Shadows - still sounding like Sigourney Weaver. She was the narrator in this.

Just didn’t live up to the hype; overall 2 stars

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What is it with the Audible review system. If a review is negative it is down voted, but Audible asks “Was this review helpful to you?”. Not whether you agree with it. To me it seems that the system is being manipulated. I’d rather read all positive and negative reviews and judge myself whether to purchase it. Just because I don’t agree with something, doesn’t me that it wasn’t helpful. A review with just some random words, now that’s something to click ‘No’.

95 people found this helpful

Good, but not as enjoyable as I expected...

Firstly, this audiobook is broken down into 5 or 6 short stories, of which all are continuations from episodes/plot lines within the TV series.
It was great to hear the original cast again reprising roles, but the storylines were sometimes difficult to follow. That said, I will try the second audiobook in this series.
If you were a big fan of the TV series, then this is a must listen - though as I said, it may leave you slightly underwhelmed, as it did me....

10 people found this helpful

Okay but not brilliant

Would you try another book written by the authors or narrated by the narrators?

Maybe, but this was not the stellar experience I was expecting based on the many effusive five star reviews from other listeners. It fell short in almost every aspect and I was a quite disappointed.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I may be in the minority here but I found all of my favourite XFiles stories in the tv series were the stand alone episodes which had nothing to do with the persistent alien conspiracy arc. I was hoping for a collection of strange tales from the files themselves which we had not encountered before. Unfortunately, this was just the same familiar trope bolstered by the wheeling out of many familiar characters.

Would you listen to another book narrated by the narrators?

The narration was the weakest aspect for me. Both Mulder and Scully (in fact most characters) sounded unnaturally stilted, just like they were reading from a script. Given the pacing, I would hazard a guess that the dialogue for each of the characters was recorded separately and stitched together afterwards. I have listened to podcasts with much more convincing ensemble acting.

Did The X-Files: Cold Cases inspire you to do anything?

Erm, not really.

Any additional comments?

I would be interested in more non conspiracy-centric stories with a strong creep factor. Perhaps try a Reyes and Doggett collection? They were far more out interesting as a couple.

4 people found this helpful

Maybe its me but this was dreadful

What would have made The X-Files: Cold Cases better?

Better script. The actors are, of course, first class but they sounded wooden, like they were turning up just to get paid. Gillian Anderson especially is an astoundingly good actor and she was the best out of a bad bunch. It's not her finest work. David Duchovny was not good. He came across as bored and his jokes were painful. Generally speaking the acting did get a bit better towards the end.

What could the authors have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Better story line. It was trite and cliched. Needed a more genuine and original Sci-fi story.

Would you be willing to try another one of the narrators’s performances?

Of course.

What character would you cut from The X-Files: Cold Cases?

The whole storyline I'm afraid. Its more suited to young adult scifi.

Any additional comments?

Overall a wasted opportunity for what could have been the audiobook of the year.

39 people found this helpful

The Truth Is In Ear...

Really loved this audiobook. I'm a big fan of the series, used to watch it on the BBC when it first aired in the UK. I thought the audiobook was well produced, good to hear all tge original cast, and some nods to the old storyline (Host for example). Great story and sound. Looking forward to the next audiobook in the series...

12 people found this helpful

Decent book, but difficult to follow the story at times

Good acting, and a couple of good stories. Some of the stories were difficult to follow at times as there wasn't enough building of the characters to remember them when they reappeared in the story.

3 people found this helpful

.

A little more narration would have been good. It felt a little like a tv episode without the pictures. Otherwise fantasic performances and I enjoyed hearing from old characters!

3 people found this helpful

An okayish audiobook, but worth a listen

If you're a big fan of the series, I guess you'll like it... Doesn't work as a standalone audiobook, though.

2 people found this helpful

The truth was (mostly) in here

Enjoyed it. Some of the exposition made sections of dialogue a bit cheesy; is necessary in an audio drama but jarred against the usual quality of the x-files.

Brilliant stuff, I hope they make another one.

2 people found this helpful