I've seen my fair share of declassified files-most of them stamped "Top Secret" with a side of alien DNA. So when I heard about Secrets Declassified with David Duchovny, I thought, "Finally, a show that'll dig into the real stuff: Roswell cover-ups, MKUltra mind control, or why my expense reports from 1993 are still 'under review.'" But instead, I get Duchovny strolling through history's greatest hits like he's auditioning for History Channel: The Chill Edition.
Don't get me wrong, the production's slick, and Duchovny's voice is smoother than a UFO gliding over Area 51. But where's the spice? Where's the "the government's hiding Bigfoot in a bunker" energy? The show's got experts like Martin K. A. Morgan and Sami Jarroush dropping knowledge, but it feels like they're reading from a declassified script that's too declassified, if you catch my drift. I kept waiting for a grainy photo of a mothership or a memo about time travel, but it's all "here's how the Cold War worked." Yawn. I chased paper trails for less in an FBI basement.
The episodes are solid, sure-well-shot, decent pacing, and just enough intrigue to keep you from switching to Ancient Aliens. But it's like they're teasing the truth without going full tinfoil hat. Duchovny's charm carries it; he's got that "I've seen weirder" vibe, probably from years of dragging Scully into cornfields. Still, I wanted more X-Files weirdness, not 60 Minutes with better hair.
Here's my pitch: Season 2 needs Gillian Anderson narrating. Scully's skeptical drawl would ground this thing, maybe even call out the show for not chasing the wilder conspiracies. Imagine her saying, "Mulder, you believe this declassified memo about weather balloons? I've got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you." That's the spark this show needs to go from "interesting" to "I'm canceling my weekend to binge this."
Rating: 6/10. It's a good start, but the truth is still out there. And probably redacted.
