Things I noticed about “The X-Files”

For those “X-Files” fans that are out there . . . I’ve been rewatching the “X-Files” series and there are a few things that I’ve noticed about them that I didn’t realize back when I was watching them for the first time.

First, it is really great to see how much Dana Scully grows as a character. In the pilot episode, she was a bit of a sidekick to Fox Mulder, serving as his foil as she questioned his theories and served as the audience’s surrogate. But, by the third and fourth seasons she stands out as an intelligent, capable FBI agent even leading a few investigations on her own. I always remember that in the first X-Files movies she shouted orders to people like she meant it. She does that a few times in the series, too.

Second, I started to wonder last night while I was watching my most recent 3 hour block of X-Files episodes, if Scully ever shared the space with Mulder down in the basement. Now, back in college when I originally watch the show I guess I always assumed that since she was assigned to the X-Files, that Mulder’s office also became her office. But, while I was watching episodes from the 3rd and 4th season, I noticed that there were several scenes where Scully knocked on the door before entering. Could that mean that she doesn’t occupy the same room? I do recall that in the episode where Mulder is involved in a body swap, Fox does have a desk on the upper floors of the FBI office building, the same as everybody else. So, perhaps he just goes down to the room we see when he needs to look something up?

And, last, I wanted to point out some great continuity involving Mulder’s ankle holster. That’s right! He wore an ankle holster since an episode where a suspect kicked the gun out of his hands during an attempted arrest but Mulder reached own and drew a second gun from an ankle holster. He explained, “I got tired of losing my gun,” which seems like more of a nod to the audience because this happens a LOT.

But, what’s even more interesting, is that the ankle holster makes a come back when he surrenders it while visiting a prisoner, and then later when he draws it while trying to re-apprehend the prisoner (now, that’s a much longer story but you’ll just need to watch the episode). I doubt that Duchovny wore that ankle holster in all of the scenes, but it’s interesting thinking that Fox is walking around with that thing on.

Thank you for allowing me to share these thoughts with you, assuming you’ve made it this far. Overall, I love watching X-Files because it feels a little bit like traveling back to the 90’s when I would walk across campus looking for an empty lounge in the Towers so I could watch it. I wouldn’t have even cared about the show as much as I did if it hadn’t been for my wife who sort of introduced it to me.