Aliens, ghosts, the Jersey Devil, and the illuminati. Do these sound familiar? Probably because of the TV show sparking countless pop culture references since it began in 1993: The X-Files.
The X-Files is an 11 season supernatural drama series created by Chris Carter, starring David Duchovny as FBI enigma Fox Mulder, and Gillian Anderson as steely Agent Dana Scully. The show follows the two through their attempts to solve unsolved cases as elite FBI agents through everything from small-town murders to nationwide conspiracies.
What captivated the audience to continue watching this show from 1993 to its original end in 2002? Well, The X-Files was full of exciting stories, well-developed characters and a thought-provoking plot that keeps fans engaged.
Almost each episode of The X-Files is it’s own story, like many TV Shows of the time. Occasionally there are episodes sprinkled throughout the series that link an underlying plot, but those come less often. Each episode’s story is in-depth with layers to it, that along with an episodes average 40 minute run time make them feel like mini-movies.
Instead of getting presented with a problem, and then a clear solution, The X-Files gives the audience a winding path through realistic-feeling scenarios of crime and mystery. As soon as you think you have it figured out along with Mulder and Scully, a new piece of evidence gets suggested, keeping you on the edge of your seat. The winding plot continues until you and the agents have a semi-believable and semi-mystical conclusion.
Carrying you along with them are the lovable and well-developed characters of the show. Although the series is mainly focused on the facts of the phenomenon occurring, the characters are the vehicle through which the audience gains the information of those cases. The show presents the two FBI agents, employees of a government agency so often seen as enigmas themselves, and puts them into human situations. Every character grows throughout the series, getting expanded into 3-dimensional people that are easy to get attached to. Even one-off characters are explored and developed within a single episode, creating depth in the victims of the cases and creating an engaging environment for each episode.
For anyone in love with all things supernatural, the X-Files is worth while to check out. It has everything you need in a drama: romance, aliens and conspiracies. There will be plenty of things keeping you on the edge of your seat, and questions posed on screen that must be answered in real life.
