The X-Files Fanbook Project Alisha C. United States Starting this essay was more difficult than I had anticipated. The simplest way to begin would be to say that The X Files is my favorite television show. This statement is true but I find myself hesitant to write it because it oversimplifies the way I actually feel. It seems cheap to make a generic list of all the reasons that make the show so great. Sophisticated story lines, intelligent dialogue, innovative cinematography, superior acting, etc. We've heard all this before. These are the things that draw people in, that get them to start watching. But what I'm most interested in is why we're still watching. What brings us back to the show time and time again? It's been 17 years since the Pilot episode and the fans are still invested. Why? Part of the show's enduring success is its ability to connect with a wide audience. It can be scary, dark, and tragic or it can be romantic, humorous, and hopeful. It's appeal spans a huge spectrum of fans and there's a whole new generation of fans emerging. The main themes of The X Files are timeless and have proven to be relevant almost two decades later. The ideas of love, trust, faith, hope, friendship, and truth have continued to find audiences long after the show's end. The X Files has an exceptional ability to connect with people in very unique, personal ways. This is true with any great art form. Painting, music, film, literature - the success of any of these is dependant on their ability to connect with an audience. In my opinion, The X Files is a dazzling work of art. I wish I could say that I've been a fan since the Pilot episode, but I wasn't. I was too young to watch the show when it premiered in 1993 so I didn't get my first taste of X Files flavor until 1998 with an episode called Bad Blood. It was the perfect introduction for a 12 yr old - paranormal happenings presented in a light-hearted, funny way. It's also a good introduction to the battling point of views of Mulder and Scully. I caught a few more episodes after that and I was hooked. I started taping all of the reruns I could find and eventually made my way through the series, permanently clearing my Sunday night schedule for new episodes. 12 years later, here I am - just as absorbed as I was the first time. I could make a list of all the reasons why I think The X Files is so great, but at the heart of that list would be Mulder and Scully. Their partnership is functionally dysfunctional. They're impossibly and inextricably linked by fate. They've consistently been regarded as one of the greatest on-screen pairings in television, but I believe it's each of the character's individuality that makes the show so different from thousands of others. I've always been interested in the physical sciences so being able to watch a strong, beautiful, woman scientist was a big deal for me. I loved that I could watch something that made using your brain attractive. My 12-year-old self only had one goal: becoming Dr. Dana Scully. I don't think I'll ever be able to say enough good things about Scully. Her journey on The X Files was tumultuous, to say the least, but she's emerged stronger for it. Her life is the epitome of the phrase, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." She's brimming with qualities that we should all strive to have: courage, integrity, loyalty, compassion, strength. She has this sort of super human capacity for compassion. You get the feeling that she would do anything for anyone who asked her to, but at the same time she's tough enough not to be used. I've heard people discuss their views on how Mulder treats Scully - how he uses her and ditches her repeatedly. It's sort of become a joke for fans to count how many times Mulder ditches Scully. There are fans who criticize his behavior and think unfavorably of him for it and, if I'm being honest, I can see where they're coming from. There certainly are times when I've thought, "What a jerk!" He doesn't always treat her in an ideal way, but I don't feel sympathetic for Scully. That may sound harsh, but let me explain. She's not the type of character who wants or needs sympathy. Scully is strong in a way that most of us can only hope to be. She is capable of handling whatever he may throw at her and she wouldn't stay by his side if she didn't want to. She's proud and won't allow herself to be compromised. She knows that Mulder isn't perfect and that their partnership isn't always going to be easy, but, at the end of the day, she's still on his side. As for Mulder, he's only human. I know, I know. He's a fictional character, he's not real. But he's a flawed character which makes him seem more human. He's not some storybook, too-good-to-be-true, romantic leading man. He doesn't always do or say the right thing and I love that. He's not perfect, which is great because perfect is boring. I love watching the show because I can follow him on his journey. He learns from his mistakes and evolves over the course of the series and I get to witness that growth. Mulder is one of the most complex characters that has ever been on television. He's often tortured and guilt-ridden, but he remains an optimist at heart. He wants to believe. That's a powerful message. Mulder is a hero, always fighting for the greater good, silently shouldering any pain that comes along the way. His capacity for suffering is unparalleled. He'd do anything to protect the people he loves. We all know he can be mercurial and impulsive, but you can't help but love him more for it because his heart is always in the right place. I've always admired his determination and unrelenting spirit. He believes in his causes and won't let anyone or anything stand in his way. He is who he is and he makes no apologies for that. It's fascinating to watch him grow and develop from the Pilot to The Truth. A penchant for science is what got me interested in the show but, as I got older, the relationship between Mulder and Scully is what I loved the most. Not just because of the possibility of a romantic relationship, even though the angst is enough to keep anyone watching. I'm actually glad they weren't romantically involved for most of the show. I always thought that the idea of a sexual romance would've cheapened the kind of relationship they actually had. There was nothing superficial about it. They would've been far less interesting if they hadn't built that strong foundation of respect and platonic love. As much as we cursed Chris Carter for teasing us (Africanized Honey Bee), I didn't see the relationship working in any other way than it did. The writers did a great job staying true to each character and developing them in very natural, believable ways. The characters become very real and I find my emotions and feelings tied in with their own. The X Files is the kind of show that makes you think no matter what your position is - believer, skeptic, or somewhere in between. It makes you question science, religion, authority, yourself.... The stories told on The X Files teach us about trust, love, faith, loss, courage, hope - in short, life. In watching this intricate tale, we end up learning some things about ourselves. Ultimately, it's a show about the human condition and, as a human, I've learned a lot. So, thank you Chris, David, Gillian, and everyone else who had a hand in creating this truly incredible work of art.