The Nitpicker's Guide for X-Philes

by Phil Farrand, Kymberlee Ricke

The truth is, the nits are out there....

What's weird about Samantha T. Mulder's birthday?

(She has two of January 22 and November 21.)

What's amazing about Mulder's cell phone?

(It operates inside a metal boxcar, buried in a canyon, out in the deserts of New anywhere!)

Scully and Mulder, you have reason to be paranoid.  Armed with keen detective sense, attention to detail, and a VCR, author Phil Farrand has done some forensic work of his ownííand dissected every technical foul-up, plot oversight, and alien intrusion on the X-Files (r).  Paranormal he's not, but he'd like to know why T.A. Berube has a six-digit zip code or how the VCRs at the 2400 Court motel in Braddock Heights, Maryland, can play a tape after it's been ejected.  Nitpicking?  You bet.  So join his conspiracy to have hours of mental stimulation and fun

Equipment flubs

Changed premises

Plot oversights

Fun facts

Trivia questions

Reviews of every show for all four seasons

And more

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Media Tie In, Aliens

400 pages, Paperback

First published November 10, 1997

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book represents a first for me. Instead of checking this out from the library, borrowing it, or buying it as a present for someone else, this was the first book that I found (while shopping all by myself) and then decided, “I want this, so I shall buy it, and celebrate at the bookstore coffee shop by drinking coffee with cinnamon.” (Yes, this was a LONG time ago, but still...)

I was afraid this book would be kind of know-it-all and smug, but the author walks a fine line between cynical and fanatical. He has a lot of love for the subject, but he also doesn’t take it too seriously. There are great examples of continuity problems, unworkable technology, bizarre reactions, and otherwise intelligent people who have to play dumb so another character can give the audience some exposition. But it’s also clear that the author enjoyed the heck out of putting together this book, and he even does a little “are they or aren’t they” research on Mulder and Scully’s relationship (definitely a plus for me and my little obsession). This was published after the fourth season, so it’s WAY out of date, but still fun.

[Jeff Koeppen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm in this and am included in the acknowledgments! I submitted the nits for "Small Potatoes".

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mourn that there was never a second edition of this book, covering later episodes. My copy is falling apart, and also has notes written in the margins.

[Tara]

Found this at a thrift store for a dollar, I had it as a teenager so I read it while doing another rewatch, it was fun for the nostalgia.

[The_J · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you care enough to demand the very best. It is akin to close reading a wonderful novel.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I watched the X-Files from the day the pilot aired until it's last episode. I watched all the movies. Yet I wouldn't consider myself a geek about it because I just enjoyed the stories. The author, Phil Farrand, is definitely a geek about the X-Files (and other science fiction shows). He nitpicks to a degree I find irritating.

I bought the book on ebay just for fun. I thought I'd enjoy re-living the episodes with a bit of trivia thrown in. Unfortunately, Phil Farrand is the type of guy who really nitpicks, as in he appears to think that tv time moves at the same speed as real-time. One of his nitpicks was it only took seconds for a character to change clothing to move to the next scene when in real-time it would take minutes for a change of clothing to occur. Dude, artistic license occurs on tv because reel space is precious.

On the other hand, I enjoyed the trivia which did come along, such as the advice to watch Mulder's tie to determine which Mulder was which in a doppelganger episode. I also liked the mapping out of the various locations to determine where exactly Mulder sleeps.

I would not recommend this book to anyone. It's going to Half Price Books today. It took me too long to finish the book. It's size meant it kept getting buried underneath other books whenever I cleaned my room. It just wasn't a fun read like I'd hoped. It came really close to being a book I couldn't finish.

I'm disappointed.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

This guy may be an even bigger X-File nerd than I am. His nitpicks are thoroughly researched, sometimes incredibly abstract, and provide a greater appreciation of the show than you may have had otherwise. My only two quibbles were that his jokes are sometimes incredibly nerdy and directed toward Star Trek fans, and his inclusion of "Musings of a Cigarette-Smoking Man" in his worst five episodes list is a bit snarky and unfair. Otherwise, great stuff. A must-have for any fan of the show.

[Allyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

as a bonafide x-phile, and fellow nitpicker, i couldnt resist grabbing this one. it's was an entertaining read. the author did add some comments, that he probably could have dont without adding, but i could see past that. this was a fun read. i only wish he'd put one out for seasons 5-9.

[Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book!!! Heaps of valuable information for every x-phile out there:)I wish there was a next volume covering seasons 5-9 and both movies.