When Fox's The X-Files returned with a brand new season last year, the reception was rather mixed, and it wasn't necessarily the effort many fans were looking for. During a new interview, X-Files series creator Chris Carter addressed some of these criticisms, which he says aren't entirely unfounded. The series creator revealed that everyone was just a little bit rusty, so to speak, but he thinks that X-Files Season 11 will be much better. Here's what Chris Carter had to say about the show's criticisms below.

"We [relaunched] from a standing start after not having been on the air for 12 years, there was some reacquainting that had to be achieved. It was like old friends getting back together. We had to shake some of the stiffness out. I think that we're all in fighting shape now."

Chris Carter was also rather confident about the X-Files Season 11 premiere, written and directed by Darin Morgan, which he calls "original, smart, funny... everything you expect" from the acclaimed writer. When asked to provide a tease for the premiere, Chris Carter revealed that, "It has a big link to previous X-Files episodes." Of course, he wouldn't offer what that connection is, but fans will have to wait until January 4 to find out.

The all-new, 10-episode second installment of The X-Files (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) event series once again will be executive-produced by creator Chris Carter, with stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson returning in their roles as iconic FBI Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. Mitch Pileggi also returns as FBI Asst. Director Walter Skinner. Additionally, the all-new episodes will feature guest-star appearances by Annabeth Gish, Robbie Amell, Lauren Ambrose, Karin Konoval, Barbara Hershey, Haley Joel Osment and William B. Davis, who reprises his role as "Cigarette Smoking Man." In 2016, The X-Files drew an average multi-platform audience of nearly 16 million viewers and was the season's No. 2 broadcast drama, as well as the most talked-about event series on Twitter. Along with Carter, series veteran Glen Morgan serves as an executive producer.

Last month, actress Gillian Anderson said she's done with The X-Files after this season, so it's possible the upcoming 11th season will be its last.The X-Files originally premiered in September 1993. Over the course of its nine-season run, the influential series went from breakout sci-fi favorite to massive global hit, and became one of the most successful television dramas of all time. The show, which earned 16 Emmy Awards, five Golden Globes and a Peabody Award, follows FBI special agents Scully (Anderson) and Mulder (Duchovny), as they investigate unexplained cases - "X-Files" - for which the only answers involve paranormal phenomena. TV Line first reported on these revelations from X-Files creator Chris Carter.