What is the X-Files?
The X-Files story centers on two protagonists, FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. They are a contrast to each other particularly on their approach in handling their cases. Mulder is a believer in anything paranormal and the existence of aliens – he’s the more gullible one between them, and will pursue what he believes in, no matter how foolish it seems. Scully is the more skeptical one, and will do anything to disprove Mulder’s beliefs by finding scientific analyses in their cases.
The conception of the hit sci-fi series
This science fiction/drama/horror/mystery/thriller show was conceptualized by producer Chris Carter in 1992. Carter had been working for Walt Disney Pictures but he wanted to do other things. Carter was inspired by the stories of people getting abducted by aliens, Kolchak: The Night Stalker (a horror-drama TV series in 1970s) as well as the Watergate scandal – and these provided the idea for the formation of the The X-Files. Other inspirations behind The X-Files included The Twilight Zone, The Silence Of The Lambs, The Thin Blue Line, Prime Suspect, and so many others. After failing in his initial pitch in front of Fox executives, Carter’s second try worked and his pilot episode was finally commissioned.
The role of Agent Mulder went to David Duchovny and the role of Agent Scully went to Gillian Anderson. The two actors were relative unknowns then.
Rise and decline on the ratings, and its cancellation
The X-Files premiered on September 10, 1993, to welcoming reviews from critics who predicted its potential. The pilot episode garnered about 12 million viewers. In the second season, ratings were gradually increasing – the figures weren’t spectacular but they were positively on the upswing, leading the show to earn a cult status. During the show’s fourth season it gained its highest audience share, when one of their episodes, “Leonard Betts” earned 29.1 million viewers. The X-Files had by then become one of Fox’s top television programs. But by season six, ratings began to the decline; by 2001 Duchovy quit full-time partly because of the contract disputes between him and the network, leaving the producer uncertain over the show’s future. It was decided that Duchovny’s character Agent Mulder was abducted by aliens at the end of the show’s seventh season. The show unveiled new lead characters in John Doggett and Monica Reyes, but this didn’t boost the show’s ratings. In 2002, the show was canceled after spending nine successful seasons on the air.
“Monster of the Week”
One of the most famous components of the show is the “Monster Of The Week” characters that made up much of many of the show’s episodes, and indirectly influenced the show’s mythology. Some of the famous “Monsters Of The Week” were Phyllis Paddock, The Flukeman, The Beggar, The Great Mutato, Leonard, Eves, Leonard Betts, The Peacock Family, Robert Patrick Modell, and many others.
Films and spin-off shows
During the show’s 9-year run, Carter took The X-Files onto the big screen with the feature film of the same title (it’s also alternately known as The X-Files: Fight The Future), which was a massive box-office hit. A second feature film was released titled The X-Files: I Want To Believe in 2008, six years after the series’ cancellation; it was a moderate success. There are talks about the possibility of a third film, as of this writing.
The show also produced some spin-offs such as the short-lived series The Lone Gunmen that starred some of The X-Files characters as well as the “The X-Files Season Ten” comic book series.
The show won several Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Emmy awards, as well numerous nominations for the show itself and its lead stars Duchovny and Anderson.
Revival of the series
In 2015, Fox confirmed that the series would make a comeback, with series creator Carter and lead actors Duchovny and Anderson would be back on board.
The X-Files‘ tenth season premiered in January 2016 — a long fourteen years after the show’s ninth season ended. It consisted of six short episodes before ending the following February that same year. The plot follows Mulder and Scully returning to their posts as FBI agents. They start re-investigating strange and unexplained occurrences, while other forces try their best to hamper their efforts. The season received mostly mixed reviews from the critics, but the sixth episode and season finale, “My Struggle II,” was roundly derided in particular. Despite the scathing critical reviews, the revival enjoyed success in the overall ratings.
The series’ 11th season premiered on January 3, 2018, and basically picks up where the tenth season’s finale left off. This time around, the search for Mulder and Scully’s lost son William will be the center of this season’s plot.
A part of the 1990s pop culture
The X-Files was the defining show during the 1990s, and it came at the right smack during an era where people’s mistrust of the government had become widespread, a growing interest in conspiracy theories and spirituality had been embraced, not to mention the belief that there were really aliens and other forms of extraterrestrial life. It was really a pop culture phenomenon.
Some humorous and memorable X-Files quotes and dialogues
On “Die Hand Die Verletz” episode:
Scully: “Mulder, toads just fell from the sky.”
Mulder: “I guess their parachutes didn’t open.”
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Mulder: “Did you really think you could call up the devil and ask him to behave?”
On “Max” episode:
Scully: “She’s in a mental institute.”
Mulder: “I’d go with you but I’m afraid they’d lock me up too.”
On “Revelations” episode:
Scully: “I’m afraid that God is speaking and no one is listening.”On “The Blessing Way” episode:
Well-Manicured Man (antagonist): “We predict the future. And the best way to predict it, is to invent it.”
On the “Unusual Suspects” episode”
Susanne Modeski (one of the recurring characters): “No matter how paranoid you are, you’re not paranoid enough.”