The X-Files built a compelling mythology for the show’s ever-expanding alien conspiracy. The sci-fi series features plenty of standalone monster-of-the-week episodes that see Agents Mulder and Scully tangling with a variety of horrendous fiends, including vampires, ghosts, and even the Flukeman. Still, from the first episode to the last, it was the alien lore episodes that drove The X-Files.
Following the 2002 finale, The X-Files spent a few years in limbo, releasing a standalone movie that didn’t address lore in 2008 before getting a revival series in 2016 that delivered another two seasons. While fans were initially excited by the idea, since series creator Chris Carter was back, along with David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, the revival made staggering changes to the show’s alien mythology. Seasons 10 and 11 delivered some of the best monster-of-the-week episodes to date, but it also irked plenty of longtime fans who thought the series went too far in attempting to reshape the lore. Thankfully, Academy Award winner Ryan Coogler is working hard on a reboot that could fix the mistakes of the revival.
The Alien Mythology Runs Deep in ‘The X-Files’
Fox/Courtesy Everett Collection
When The X-Files debuted in 1993, the pilot episode introduced audiences to Mulder and Scully, who spent their first case as partners investigating a possible alien abduction. What started with an abduction case would lead to years of fleshing out the details with alien hybridization, mind-controlling black oil, and the evil syndicate fueling the extraterrestrial agenda. Serious episodes like Season 2’s “Colony” and “End Game” could expand on lore, like the infamous alien bounty hunters. In contrast, others, like Season 6’s “The Unnatural,” approached the extraterrestrial concept with a bit more humor. Even when the show made its first foray into film with The X-Files: Fight the Future in 1998, the focus remained on the alien conspiracy, unraveling new mysteries on a cinematic scale. Mulder and Scully’s character arcs were also heavily tied to the show’s mythology.
One of the biggest aspects of Mulder’s character surrounds the 1973 abduction of his sister Samantha. It’s an event that plagues him throughout the series, with several episodes dedicated to defining what truly happened, with the Cigarette Smoking Man, the syndicate, and Mulder’s father all playing their part. As the believer of the pair, Mulder was always able to hinge his hope on fantastical explanations, with his story often hindered by this overt willingness inherent in his character. Mulder’s office poster literally displays his greatest strength and weakness throughout the show’s motto: “I WANT TO BELIEVE.” The X-Files made Mulder open to conspiratorial beliefs, and then it fueled his curiosity with an expansive alien mystery.
Even Scully can’t escape her sci-fi fate despite being the skeptic of the duo. Scully was abducted in Season 2, with the ramifications rippling through her life. Scully’s alien abduction would become a cornerstone of the character, with the extraterrestrial event fueling her in future seasons. This is especially true when her son William enters the story, bringing another level of connection to the conspiracy. Every new twist pushes her skepticism to its limits, making for a compelling, often emotional journey for Scully that is inextricably linked to aliens.
The 2016 Revival Made Divisive Changes To ‘X-Files’ Lore
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The 2016 revival sought to advance the characters and the alien mythology, embracing newer ideas that had since taken hold in conspiracy circles. While The X-Files didn’t entirely abandon aliens, it heavily recontextualized everything fans knew, proving to be a far more divisive decision than Carter and the writers may have assumed. The show had leaned into an impending alien colonization scheduled for 2012. The original finale in 2002 ended with that date still far in the future, with the revival now forced to reckon with the fact that it didn’t happen.
The X-Files chose to say the colonization simply never happened by retconning the motivations behind it. This explanation continued throughout Seasons 10 and 11, as the show set about redefining the lore fans knew. Instead of everything being fueled by an actual alien conspiracy, the mythology was refocused on a “conspiracy of men” using alien technology to perpetuate it. The new lore posits that they reverse-engineered alien technology to carry out fake abductions and conduct experiments in preparation for using the alien agenda as a smokescreen for governments seizing authoritarian control.
This new reveal heavily recontextualized many of the show’s past events, which didn’t sit well with some longtime fans. Others were able to fully embrace the changes, as they aligned with real-world conspiracy theories of the time, allowing The X-Files to play on the audience’s ever-present fears. The divisive story choice was evident, which likely played a role in the revival’s limited return, even with Season 11 making minor attempts to scale it back. Now that an official reboot is on the way, Coogler has the chance to get back to basics.
Ryan Coogler’s ‘X-Files’ Reboot Can Fix the Problem
Fox
Coogler’s reboot has been gaining momentum in recent weeks, with Anderson praising the pilot’s script and the show’s leads finally in place. The reboot won’t be following Mulder and Scully, with Himesh Patel and Danielle Deadwyler cast as the new central FBI Agents. Aside from promising the show would be “really f***king scary” on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Coogler has kept plot details under wraps. However, it is said to follow a monster of the week formula, weaving through lore-based episodes. Furthermore, the Oscar-winner has said that he cherishes the show and the relationship he and his mother have with The X-Files, stating at Cinespia (via Variety):
“Like my relationship with ‘Rocky’ with my dad, ‘The X-Files’ is one of those things with my mom. My mom means the world to me – she’s actually here tonight – so this is a big one for me. I want to do right by her and the fans. My mom has read some of the stuff I wrote for it. She’s fired up.”
Coogler’s X-Files reboot has a brief synopsis that states (via IMDb): “Two very different FBI agents form a bond when they are assigned to a long-shuttered division devoted to cases involving unexplained phenomena.” The key thing to note is the term “long-shuttered,” which could mean that it takes place in the same universe as the original, with the division being closed since Mulder, Scully, Doggett, and Reyes were pushed out. The term could also imply that it is simply a long-dormant division they are assigned to, with no direct connection to the original series. A full reboot is the likelier option, giving the show a clean slate to build its lore on.
With Coogler out to please his mother and fans, The X-Files can get back to basics with its alien mythology, ditching the divisive changes from the 2016 revival. Even if the reboot leans into some of those elements to play on current conspiracy theories, starting fresh lets it avoid breaking prior backstory. Coogler has already shown he can bring a thriving partnership to life amid supernatural circumstances, as Sinners is a monument to his skill. While The X-Files reboot has plenty of unanswered questions, the series can finally fix the revival’s most divisive story element with a fresh take on the alien mythology.
Release Date
1993 – 2018-00-00
Network
FOX