Why The X-Files Is the Ultimate Sci-Fi Binge Alternative to Lanterns

Lanterns has concluded. Hal Jordan’s killer was revealed, and I will refrain from telling you who gets the ring in the end, just in case you haven’t caught up to the finale yet. But once you are done with the HBO Max show, you might need something that offers a change of pace. I know just the series to dive into next, and it was a massive sci-fi hit back in the 1990s.

The show is The X-Files, and even though it also features aliens and a pair of odd-couple cops, it could not be more different.

The X-Files is the perfect anti-Lanterns

Lanterns was a bold new take on DC Comics’ various Green Lantern heroes. While the character has most often been associated with grand, operatic space adventures, Lanterns was a grittier, more grounded affair. Hal Jordan, played by Kyle Chandler, is the cocky, go-with-your-gut veteran superhero selected to be Earth’s first Green Lantern. He is part of a universal protection force whose members use powerful green rings that generate whatever the wearer can imagine out of green light.

Tired of Jordan’s rule-breaking behavior, the Guardians—the alien beings who oversee the Green Lantern Corps—select serious-minded ex-Marine John Stewart, played by Aaron Pierre, to become Hal’s partner. This partnership is really a ruse to have Stewart replace Jordan. Together, the two investigate a deadly incident in the small town of Rushville, Nebraska.

The X-Files also starts out with a bit of a ruse. The show follows a pair of FBI agents who investigate cases involving paranormal phenomena. These cases are referred to as the X-Files and have become the obsession of Agent Fox Mulder, played by David Duchovny, who has a strong belief in aliens and other supernatural elements. Prior to the events of the series, Mulder was a hotshot criminal profiler in the FBI, and higher-ups at the agency look to bring him back into the fold by giving him a partner who will debunk his work on the X-Files. They select Agent Dana Scully, played by Gillian Anderson, a trained medical doctor who believes in hard science and remains skeptical about the wilder elements of Mulder’s work.

For both Lanterns and The X-Files, and pretty much all media about mismatched cops, the two partners gain a begrudging respect for each other. In Lanterns, Jordan and Stewart come to admire one another’s bravery and sense of honor. On The X-Files, Mulder learns to appreciate the tough questions Scully asks, while Scully comes to realize that Mulder’s theories and beliefs are not as wild as she originally thought. Mulder and Scully also develop a romantic relationship over time, but that takes several seasons to come to fruition and happens quite organically.

The X-Files is a totally different experience

While I realize that I am pointing out similarities between the two shows, they offer vastly different viewing experiences. Lanterns spans just eight episodes, and all of them are dedicated to one case. In contrast, The X-Files ran for 11 seasons, totaling 218 episodes. While the show features a central mythology that extends through the series, the vast majority of episodes are procedural, featuring new standalone cases every week. The series also covers a wide variety of subject matter. Sometimes the focus is on aliens, while other episodes deal with ghosts, urban legends, or elements of the occult. There is even an episode where Mulder is seduced by a vampire, though I recommend you skip that one.

The X-Files also has a very different tone. While Lanterns has a moodiness inspired by projects like True Detective, The X-Files relied on a lot of variety. The show can be deadly serious in one episode and then lean into an action or thriller vibe for the next. Some episodes are quite funny. The genre-hopping works well thanks to the chemistry between Duchovny and Anderson. As wild or heavy as the show gets, their partnership serves as the anchor, which explains why the show lasted as long as it did and became a massive success in the 1990s.

In a way, The X-Files is an inverted mirror of Lanterns. With The X-Files, the FBI agents are the most grounded element of the show, while the cases themselves are outlandish. In Lanterns, the Green Lanterns and their power set represent the most fantastic elements, whereas the investigation is somewhat more grounded. Even with the Manhunter component, Lanterns remains low to the ground.

Plus, there are no power rings in The X-Files, which is a major element in Lanterns.

The X-Files is available to stream on Pluto TV, Hulu, and Disney Plus.

Source: Polygon