The X Files - Review

“The truth is out there” – A review of The X Files. 

I was always one of those kids who looked at the stars and wondered. I know it’s cliché, but it’s true. When I was really young, my parents taught me the constellations and explained that every star in the sky was a sun, and my little brain was blown. If there were more suns, there were more planets. If there were more planets, maybe, just maybe, the little green men from my favourite cartoons were real, and maybe I’d see them some day. This love of space never left me, and it developed into a love of science fiction. Doctor Who, Star Wars, and of course The X Files filled my imagination with possibilities.

Released in 1993, The X Files follows FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully as they investigate the unexplainable and uncover government conspiracies to keep the reality of extraterrestrial life hidden. Mulder, a conspiracy theorist who believes in the existence of aliens and paranormal activity is kept in check by Scully, a medical doctor who is initially a sceptic and who was originally assigned to work with him to disprove his work. Over time, the pair form a strong bond, Scully is convinced and becomes a firm believer, and the two work together to find the truth.

With over 200 episodes, the original X Files ran for nine seasons and it’s easy to see why. Writers included the likes of Vince Gilligan, who went on to write Breaking Bad, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson played their roles to perfection, and the occasional monster a week episode nicely paced out the overarching Doomsday plot.

For me, Mulder and Scully’s relationship is the best thing about this show. Yes, the aliens, paranormal activity and conspiracies are brilliant, but this duo truly “got” each other. Their understanding of each other’s needs, their whole “will they won’t they” dynamic and their loyalty to one another made them truly compelling to watch. Seeing Scully become a believer was a joy, but watching Mulder come to understand that sometimes there’s an answer outside of conspiracy was too – the character development of the two, and the incredible effect they had on one another, made them easy to love protagonists.

This is a show full of mystery, and a particular highlight was the infamous Cigarette Smoking Man. Powerful, mysterious, and equipped with top level access to both the Pentagon and the FBI, the Smoking Man worked with the equally mysterious Syndicate to keep the truth from the wider population. Not only was he at the centre of conspiracies, he was also there to stop Mulder from making discoveries time and time again, making him an intriguing and frustrating villain both for our protagonist and for the audience.

The show couldn’t stay the same forever. When contractual issues led to Duchovny taking on a reduced role in the show, our beloved Mulder was replaced by John Doggett. Now, I don’t hate Doggett. Some fans resented him just because he wasn’t Mulder, and that’s unfair. He wasn’t, by any means, a terrible character, but I did find his knee jerk scepticism frustrating, although this did slowly change over time. With that said, it was interesting to see the shift in dynamics as Scully became the believer rather than the sceptic, and it did prove that the show was more than just the two main characters.

The cinematography and sound of the show was great too. Sets full of cigarette smoke or foggy outside shots added to the feel of mystery, and the theme song is iconic and instantly recognisable. The writing was fantastic, there are several young actors who were involved before they became known for bigger roles later (such as Mark Shepherd, known amongst other shows for Supernatural and Doctor Who) and the show even led to films which are well worth a watch.

The X Files wasn’t perfect. Sure, some seasons were stronger than others, and occasionally the plot could get a tad convoluted. Was it, however, a brilliant piece of science fiction with massive influence over the genre the world over? Absolutely. The X Files was a show which made you think twice, a show which made you look to the stars and wonder, a show which kept you on the edge of your seat. More than anything though, it was a show that made you want to believe.

And I want to believe.

Written by Tam Page

Posted by Mr. Tomney

Share Article: