The X Files (1993 — 2018)

The American science fiction drama television series, The X-Files (1993–2018), was created by Chris Carter and originally aired on Fox from September 1993 to May 2002. It ran for nine seasons with a total of 202 episodes. In January 2016, a short tenth season of six episodes was released, followed by an eleventh season of ten episodes in January 2018. The show was a hit for the Fox network and received mostly positive reviews, although some criticized its long-term story arc towards the end. Despite initially being considered a cult series, it quickly became a part of popular culture, tapping into public mistrust and embracing conspiracy theories and spirituality. Lead actors Duchovny and Anderson also received multiple awards and nominations. By the time the series concluded, it had become the longest-running science fiction show in U.S. television history.

The series The X-Files follows the personal and professional lives of FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. Mulder, skilled in profiling, strongly holds onto his belief in supernatural forces and the existence of intelligent extraterrestrial life on Earth. This conviction earns him the nickname ‘Spooky Mulder’ and a position in the lesser-known department called the X-Files, which handles unresolved cases. His belief in otherworldly phenomena stems from his younger sister Samantha’s alleged abduction by aliens when he was 12 years old. This event continues to drive Mulder throughout the series, fueling his desire for validation and uncovering hidden truths suppressed by those in power. As a result, he struggles to maintain objectivity in his investigations.

Agent Scully complements Mulder in this aspect. As a medical practitioner and natural skeptic, she maintains complete objectivity while Mulder, despite his extensive training, may lose his. Initially paired with Mulder to debunk his unorthodox theories, Scully consistently offers logical and scientific explanations for seemingly inexplicable cases. While she is often able to provide scientific alternatives to Mulder’s deductions, they are rarely enough to completely dispute them. As the series progresses, Scully becomes increasingly dissatisfied with her own scientific approach towards these cases. However, after Mulder’s abduction by aliens in the season seven finale Requiem, Scully becomes a ‘reluctant believer’ who utilizes her scientific knowledge to rationalize paranormal events.