Mulder has his sister (purportedly) kidnapped by aliens as a child.
As a result, Mulder is an occult nut who wants to spend all his time investigating supernatural stuff.
For some reason the FBI lets him spend all his time doing that. (Kind of nepotism maybe?)
They send Scully to go watch him, but she does a terrible job of that.
Every episode there's a different monster or paranormal thing. Mulder says something like "It's Bigfoot", Scully says "That's silly, Bigfoot isn't real", then they see it is Bigfoot but Scully tries to rationalise it away.
At some point Mulder gets tangled up in government conspiracies.
He makes it his side job to try and crack those conspiracies, but continues his monster-of-the-week formula of normal paranormal investigations for the most part.
As time goes on, there's more and more conspiracy unwinding stuff, but they never fire him or kill him because one of the secret cabal members has a soft spot for him.
More stuff happens in the later seasons, but I'll leave it out for spoilers.
TLDR; Mulder is not anti-government / FBI, he's anti-secrecy and anti-conspiracy. He's an occult nut who just wants to engage in his hobbies on the government dime.
Yeah I've done that and I highly recommend it, purely for the time travelling experience - I mean in the first season there were hardly any computers around and certainly no mobile phones, absolute mad lads! It also made me realise how well-researched the stories were, like there's an episode about an evil AI and they use jargon we use on a daily basis today. Great stuff all around.
It also made me realise how well-researched the stories were
Ackchyually, there is an episode about a town in my state that they very clearly call out by name. They claim the population is 100x what it really is and has literally none of the buildings or scenery. It's like they shot the whole thing in Vancouver or something.
It’s been awhile since over watched the series, but I’m pretty sure Mulder and the X-files are allowed to exist because it provides a conspiracy theory sink that gives the establishment an excuse to wave away and discredit inquiry.
For some reason the FBI lets him spend all his time doing that. (Kind of nepotism maybe?)
Nepotism definitely I thought. Wasn't it established eventually that he was really the cigarette smoking man's son? Or am I remembering a plot line that turned out to be another false lead?
I thought that's who was protecting Him. Hindering his work certainly, and telling his co-conspirators that he was controlling him, but also manipulating them to keep him safe.
That would be more applicable to the last point that someone in the cabal is protecting him. It doesn't really speak to why the position exists in the first place.
If smoking man's goal was to protect Mulder, creating a department that directly puts Mulder in danger would be a bad way to go about it. There are dozens of other divisions in the FBI that would keep him busy and safe.
::: spoiler spoiler
Although, iirc, he wanted the conspiracy to be uncovered.
:::
I think it was mentioned that the department existed so the government could say they were investigating stuff while sweeping it under the rug.
It was a cover for the very real cover ups that were happening where they convinced people aliens were real rather than admit to classified information leakage.
i've been around the internet too long to randomly google shit people tell me exist. that's how i ended up learning about the german art of preserving fruit in rum. how about you google rumtopf instead
The biggest point is that all the supernatural stuff is either outright debunked or left slightly ambiguous which really supports the whole "I want to believe" vibe throughout the entire run.
That is, until the final episodes where they invent, and explicitly demonstrate, some idiotic bubble universe for abused children, which might be the dumbest way the show could have possibly ended.
We still do. Every show has some "will they/won't they" romance for a few seasons. Then it looks like they will until some misunderstanding is thrown in by the writers and they won't... At least until the end of the next season when they finally will. But then they have minor relationship issues and they won't anymore. But then the final season rolls around and they will at last because that's what the audience wants and the writers have been using that to blueball us through the whole damn show.
54 Comments
Armand1@lemmy.world · 117 pts · 187d
Well, I'd summarise the X-Files as (no spoilers):
More stuff happens in the later seasons, but I'll leave it out for spoilers.
TLDR; Mulder is not anti-government / FBI, he's anti-secrecy and anti-conspiracy. He's an occult nut who just wants to engage in his hobbies on the government dime.
Nioxic@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 44 pts · 187d
Mulder also hand picks his cases, in most episodes
He rarely gets told what to do
homes@piefed.world · 33 pts · 187d
And his direct supervisor seems like the world‘s biggest hard ass, but is really just the world‘s biggest pushover.
yesman@lemmy.world · 25 pts · 186d
You forgot the part where Mulder losses his gun. It's a plot point in like half the episodes.
very_well_lost@lemmy.world · 22 pts · 186d
Detective Fox Mulder of the Revachol Citizens Militia
Strobelt@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 186d
Disco Files.
I want to believe.
very_well_lost@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 186d
When Harry Met Scully
mrnobody@reddthat.com · 18 pts · 187d
Goddamn it now I want to rewatch all of the X Files
matelt@feddit.uk · 33 pts · 187d
Yeah I've done that and I highly recommend it, purely for the time travelling experience - I mean in the first season there were hardly any computers around and certainly no mobile phones, absolute mad lads! It also made me realise how well-researched the stories were, like there's an episode about an evil AI and they use jargon we use on a daily basis today. Great stuff all around.
Clent@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 5 pts · 186d
Ackchyually, there is an episode about a town in my state that they very clearly call out by name. They claim the population is 100x what it really is and has literally none of the buildings or scenery. It's like they shot the whole thing in Vancouver or something.
homes@piefed.world · 4 pts · 187d
Shit, me too. I’m glad I have it on my server…
blanketswithsmallpox@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 186d
Does anyone have a X-Files Kai recommendation lol?
I ain't got the time for 218 episodes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_X-Files_episodes
HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 186d
i stopped watching when scully got pregnant and it was implied it was an alien baby. that was too far. they should have made it bigfoot's baby
AceTKen@lemmy.ca · 15 pts · 186d
So you missed out on the series finale where it's a 45-minute flashback to Bigfoot barebacking Scully?
Edit: I apologize for the weird boner I just gave someone.
HugeNerd@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 186d
I imagined it as Andre the Giant in a furry Sasquatch outfit with Lee Majors watching from the closet.
HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 186d
we were busy sweding our own version tyvm
angrystego@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 186d
Be kind, swede files
LastYearsIrritant@sopuli.xyz · 3 pts · 186d
Was it Bigfoot MD, Doctor of Love?
https://www.magersandquinn.com/product/BIGFOOT-MD/25029254
Clanket@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 186d
Tell me more
AceTKen@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 186d
Well funny that you should ask...
wuffah@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 186d
It’s been awhile since over watched the series, but I’m pretty sure Mulder and the X-files are allowed to exist because it provides a conspiracy theory sink that gives the establishment an excuse to wave away and discredit inquiry.
NABDad@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 187d
Nepotism definitely I thought. Wasn't it established eventually that he was really the cigarette smoking man's son? Or am I remembering a plot line that turned out to be another false lead?
I thought that's who was protecting Him. Hindering his work certainly, and telling his co-conspirators that he was controlling him, but also manipulating them to keep him safe.
HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 186d
i thought the cigarette man was providing cigarettes to fuel the growth of the alien embryo inside scully
village604@adultswim.fan · 3 pts · 186d
That would be more applicable to the last point that someone in the cabal is protecting him. It doesn't really speak to why the position exists in the first place.
If smoking man's goal was to protect Mulder, creating a department that directly puts Mulder in danger would be a bad way to go about it. There are dozens of other divisions in the FBI that would keep him busy and safe.
::: spoiler spoiler Although, iirc, he wanted the conspiracy to be uncovered. :::
I think it was mentioned that the department existed so the government could say they were investigating stuff while sweeping it under the rug.
Agent641@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 186d
Yes, and assuming Mulder was too enthusiastic to do his job properly.
Armand1@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 186d
Use spoiler tags my boy. Most people who come through here will have seen it, but still.
Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 187d
It was a cover for the very real cover ups that were happening where they convinced people aliens were real rather than admit to classified information leakage.
Google Paul Bennewitz for more info.
HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 186d
i've been around the internet too long to randomly google shit people tell me exist. that's how i ended up learning about the german art of preserving fruit in rum. how about you google rumtopf instead
Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 186d
I did and now I have a new project. Thank you.
HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 186d
i just got my rum jars out too i am so excited. i remembered in february instead of october this year
jaybone@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 187d
Are you saying he is responsible for his sister’s kidnapping?
socsa@piefed.social · 1 pts · 186d
The biggest point is that all the supernatural stuff is either outright debunked or left slightly ambiguous which really supports the whole "I want to believe" vibe throughout the entire run.
That is, until the final episodes where they invent, and explicitly demonstrate, some idiotic bubble universe for abused children, which might be the dumbest way the show could have possibly ended.
stardustpathsofglory@lemmy.world · 27 pts · 186d
Get a room already!
dejected_warp_core@lemmy.world · 30 pts · 186d
Have you seen this show? It's like 10 years of that.
can@sh.itjust.works · 18 pts · 186d
We really ate that shit up in the 90s eh
GalacticSushi@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 20 pts · 186d
We still do. Every show has some "will they/won't they" romance for a few seasons. Then it looks like they will until some misunderstanding is thrown in by the writers and they won't... At least until the end of the next season when they finally will. But then they have minor relationship issues and they won't anymore. But then the final season rolls around and they will at last because that's what the audience wants and the writers have been using that to blueball us through the whole damn show.
sem@piefed.blahaj.zone · 7 pts · 186d
toynbee@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 186d
can@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 185d
Futurama's series finale count is unprecedented.
X@piefed.world · 16 pts · 187d
Mulder: >///<
Scully: GODDAMMIT MULDER
Lembot_0006@programming.dev · 7 pts · 187d
All X of them?
_stranger_@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 186d
well now I can't unsee it. Damn you!
errer@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 187d
Mulder: u want sum fuk?
yucandu@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 187d
This is what I say to anyone who hates their government but lives in a democracy.
samus12345@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 187d
Some of us live in a "democracy".
VeganCheesecake@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 4 pts · 186d
Well, my fellow countrypeople consistantly go for the very obviously wrong choices.
Grimy@lemmy.world · -1 pts · 187d
Is that just a lucky frame? It doesn't look like her?
unknown@piefed.social · 2 pts · 186d
Pretty sure Gillian Anderson was heavily pregnant during most of the filming of season one.
NABDad@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 187d
What do you mean?
Grimy@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 186d
I feel like she looks very different in the photo? Am I missing something? I haven't seen all the seasons.
NABDad@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 186d
She's just very young in the other picture. It's from the second episode of the first season, "Deep Throat"
https://oldfilmsflicker.com/post/765057915774238720
FE80@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 186d
Yes.
HugeNerd@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 186d
She kinda looks like Waneta Storms there.
Einskjaldi@lemmy.world · -1 pts · 186d
If you pull your hair back and lift your head up, then you don't look the same.