First to Last is a biweekly column where the pilot episode and series finale of a TV show are examined. But there’s a catch—the author has never seen a single episode of the show before viewing these two episodes! This week’s show: The X-Files.
The X-Files is everyone’s favorite ‘90s show about aliens—except it’s not always about aliens—but pretty much still mostly about aliens. I’ve been considering writing about the show ever since I started this column, because it’s a show that I’ve always been interested in. But there was a dilemma: should I write about it now, or write about it after next year’s revival mini-series? I decided to write about it now, because as it turns out, I have absolutely no patience or self-control (which should be apparent from the fact that I won’t even watch the second episode of a show before diving into the series finale). So I watched it now. Here’s my thoughts:
The X-Files is the story of FBI agent Fox Mulder, a man who believes in the existence of aliens, finds proof of such, and then decides to believe in God. Equally important is his battle with a government conspiracy to deny such information, which leads to the FBI just getting rid of the X-Files (a solution that probably shouldn’t have taken nine years to come up with).
It is also about agent Dana Scully’s path: At first a skeptic sent to stifle Mulder, but eventually a believer in the conspiracy, as well as Mulder’s lover.
Season 1 Episode 1: “Pilot” (1993)
Agent Fox Mulder has become obsessed with a collection of paranormal cases that the FBI has dubbed the “X-Files.” Dana Scully is assigned as his partner essentially to prove him wrong and shut him up. She is indeed rational, and provides realistic explanations to counter Mulder’s spooky theories, which is good, because we have no reason to trust Mulder yet. His story of his little sister being abducted is, to put it in FBI terms, “flimsy as shit.” He only “remembers” the alien abduction aspect due to recovered-memory therapy, which is a less reliable treatment than cutting off your hand to cure your athlete’s foot.
That aside, he doesn’t claim to know it all or have specific crazy ideas. He’s kinda grasping at staws and making it up on the go. He’s more like: “It’s aliens! Or uh… conspiracy? Perhaps a different spooky thing!?” and less like: “It was Mr. Alien, in the dining room, with the lead pipe.” He’s just willing to believe that maybe it’s something supernatural. I mean, somebody has to try crazy wild shit, or else humanity never make any advancements, right?
He’s whimsical. He’s also completely right. The two witness extraterrestrial activity, and the little evidence they have is confiscated and put into a vault in the Pentagon. By the end of the episode it is established that there are aliens, and there is a government conspiracy going on. The show is not asking “Are there aliens?” but rather “What’s up with all these aliens?”
Season 9 Episodes 19 & 20: “The Truth” (2002)