The X-Files
Articles on The X-Files, from episode analysis to character profiles and more!
More stories
-
The X-Files 30th Anniversary: S1E1 ‘Pilot’ Recap
Aliens. Crime scenes. Government conspiracies. Dramatic finales and goofy parodies. Across all 11 seasons of The X-Files, we’ve seen it all. But where did it all begin? For the 30th anniversary of one of the most popular cult TV shows ever, it’s time to revisit the inception: the Pilot episode. As Perfect Pilots go, The […] More
-
Dreaming of Dana Scully
Editor’s Note: “Dreaming of Dana Scully” was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist. In the early months of 2021, I began dreaming of Special Agent Dana Scully from The X-Files. Before writing this article, I […] More
-
The X-Files: “Humbug” Celebrates the Weird
Editor’s Note: This piece on The X-Files episode “Humbug” was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist. While he’s credited with the story for the earlier Season 2 episode “Blood,” Darin Morgan’s first official writer credit […] More
-
If Krycek Were the Main Character of The X-Files…
Last year I wrote what I believed would be my one and only Krycek essay, into which I poured nearly everything I could possibly deduce about his character. If you haven’t read it (I won’t take it personally, although I assure you it’s good stuff!), I will reiterate the most basic summary of his character: […] More
-
2 Shares
in The X-Files, SeriesQueering The X-Files
I began this month by pointing out how The X-Files generally encourages us to believe in a human soul, citing the regular appearances of ghosts and other immortal spirits. There is one notable exception that I can think of. In Season 4’s ‘Small Potatoes’, Mulder says: “maybe it’s other people’s reactions to us that make […] More
-
The X-Files: ‘Musings’ of a Not-So-Wonderful Life
The following contains spoilers for The X-Files “Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man” (directed by James Wong and written by Glen Morgan). “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. And when he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?” – Clarence (It’s a Wonderful Life) “Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man” […] More
-
2 Shares
in The X-Files, On the SceneThese Iconic Scenes From The X-Files Ask if We Are Alone in the Universe
The X-Files has its fair share of great monologues, and those that close ‘Jose Chung’s From Outer Space’ and ‘Max’ are among the most beloved. The former is a wry narration of how the residents of Klass County went on with their lives following a close encounter—this ranges from starting a cult to becoming an […] More
-
in The X-Files, Series
Essentialism and Existentialism in The X-Files and Its Fandom
A clickbait article about an X-Files reboot recently did the rounds on Twitter, and it had some fans reeling. Twitter user @KaryGetz wrote, “There’s no X Files without Mulder and Scully. Doing something without them is not understanding the essence of the show,” and the word “essence” stood out to me. Being part of the […] More
-
2 Shares1 Comment
in The X-Files, Compelling CharactersThere Is No Truth About Alex Krycek
A rat is said to variously symbolise cowardice, impoverishment, tenacity, and intelligence. Certainly “rat boy” is meant as an insult by many (and an endearment by some) though it may be the perfect epithet for The X-Files’ wiliest character. Alex Krycek first appeared in Season 2, and despite the fact he was only meant to […] More
-
2 Shares
in The X-Files, FavoritesMy Favourite Monsters, or 7 Ways of Looking at The X-Files
It always seems that someone somewhere has something new to say about The X-Files. Why is that? Part of its charm, and certainly the strength of its format, is that it is both one continuous story and a hundred little stories stitched together. Combine this with the millions of personalities in the fanbase, and it […] More
-
Variables Approaching an Event Horizon: Inside the Anomaly of The X-Files Season 6
A major motion picture was always going to be a tough act to follow, but Season 6 of The X-Files reminded audiences why the medium of television works so well. Every episode is a colourful pocket of drama and character—despite being dubbed, apparently derogatorily, ‘X-Files Lite’, it is a season that perhaps doesn’t get enough […] More
-
The X-Files Season 8 and the Tragedy of the ‘MSR’
For many a fan of the MSR (Mulder-Scully Romance), there exists no eighth and ninth season of The X-Files in conventional terms. While such fans appreciate aspects of the second movie, I Want to Believe, and the subsequent revival seasons, for them the classic era of the series ends with ‘Requiem’. The seventh season finale […] More