Editing The X-Files (section)

== Premise ==

=== General ===
''The X-Files'' follows [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI) [[Special agent|Special Agents]] [[Fox Mulder]] ([[David Duchovny]]) and [[Dana Scully]] ([[Gillian Anderson]]). Special Agent Mulder is a talented [[Offender profiling|profiler]], [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy theorist]], and an ardent [[Supernaturalism|supernaturalist]]. He is also adamant about the existence of intelligent extraterrestrial life and its presence on Earth. These beliefs earn him the nickname "Spooky Mulder" and an assignment to a little-known department that deals with unsolved cases, the [[X-files unit|X-Files]]. His belief in the paranormal springs from the claimed [[alien abduction]] of his sister Samantha Mulder when Mulder was 12. Her abduction drives Mulder throughout most of the series. Because of this, as well as more nebulous desires for vindication and the revelation of truths kept hidden by human authorities, Mulder struggles to maintain objectivity in his investigations.{{sfn|Lowry|1995|pp=99{{en dash}}101}}

Special Agent Scully is a foil for Mulder in this regard. As a medical doctor and natural skeptic, Scully approaches cases with detachment, even when Mulder, despite his considerable training, loses his objectivity.{{sfn|Lowry|1995|pp=99{{en dash}}156}} She is partnered with Mulder initially so that she can debunk Mulder's nonconforming theories, often supplying logical, scientific explanations for the cases' apparently unexplainable phenomena. Although she is frequently able to offer scientific alternatives to Mulder's deductions, she is rarely able to refute them completely. Over the course of the series, she becomes increasingly dissatisfied with her own ability to approach the cases scientifically.{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=137}} After Mulder's abduction at the hands of aliens in the [[The X-Files season 7|seventh season]] finale "[[Requiem (The X-Files)|Requiem]]", Scully becomes a "reluctant believer" who explains the paranormal with science.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gross |first=Terry |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1119302 |title=Interview with Chris Carter |work=Fresh Air from WHYY |publisher=[[National Public Radio]] |date=March 1, 2001 |access-date=December 3, 2012}}</ref>

Various episodes also deal with the relationship between Mulder and Scully, originally platonic, but that later develops romantically.<ref name=botched/> Mulder and Scully are joined by [[John Doggett]] ([[Robert Patrick]]) and [[Monica Reyes]] ([[Annabeth Gish]]) late in the series, after Mulder is abducted. Doggett replaces him as Scully's partner and helps her search for him, later involving Reyes, of whom Doggett had professional knowledge.<ref name=doggettjohn>{{cite web |author=Fleming, Michael |url=https://variety.com/2000/tv/news/patrick-marks-x-files-spot-1117784003/ |title=Patrick Marks 'X-Files' Spot |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |publisher=[[Penske Business Media]] |date=July 20, 2000 |access-date=July 5, 2009}}</ref><ref name="TheTruthBehindSeasonEight"/> The initial run of ''The X-Files'' ends when Mulder is secretly subjected to a [[Military justice|military tribunal]] for breaking into the top-secret [[Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center]] and viewing plans for [[alien invasion]] and colonization of [[Earth]]. He is found guilty and sentenced to death but escapes punishment with the help of the other agents, and he and Scully become fugitives.<ref name="truthbbc">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/xfiles/episodeguide/nine/page20.shtml |title=The Truth, Part Two |work=BBC Cult |access-date=May 9, 2012}}</ref>

=== Mythology ===
{{Main|Mythology of The X-Files|X-files unit|Syndicate (The X-Files)|Colonist (The X-Files)}}
Key episodes called parts of the "[[Mythology of The X-Files|Mytharc]]", were recognized as the "mythology" of the series canon; these episodes carried the extraterrestrial/conspiracy storyline that evolved throughout the series. "[[Villain of the week|Monster of the week]]"—often abbreviated as "MOTW" or "MoW"—came to denote the remainder of ''The X-Files'' episodes. These episodes, forming the majority of the series, dealt with [[paranormal]] (and in certain cases, merely criminal) phenomena, including: [[serial killers]] (with or without supernatural powers), [[cryptid]]s, [[ghosts]], mutants, science fiction technology, [[Horror fiction|horror]] monsters and religious phenomena. Some of the Monster-of-the-Week episodes featured satiric elements and comedic story lines.{{sfn|Lavery|1995|p=339{{en dash}}40}} The main story arc involves the agents' efforts to uncover a government conspiracy that covers up the existence of extraterrestrials and their sinister collaboration with said government. Mysterious men constituting a [[shadow government (conspiracy)|shadow]] element within the [[U.S. government]], known as "[[Syndicate (The X-Files)|The Syndicate]]", are the major villains in the series; late in the series it is revealed that The Syndicate acts as the only liaison between mankind and a group of extraterrestrials that intends to destroy humanity. They are usually represented by [[Cigarette Smoking Man]] ([[William B. Davis]]), a ruthless killer, masterful politician, negotiator, failed novelist, and the series' principal antagonist.{{sfn|Kowalski|2007|pp=243{{en dash}}46}}

As the series goes along, Mulder and Scully learn about evidence of the alien invasion piece by piece. It is revealed that the extraterrestrials plan on using a sentient virus, known as the [[Black oil (The X-Files)|black oil]] (also known as "Purity"), to infect mankind and turn the population of the world into a slave race. The Syndicate—having made a deal to be spared by the aliens—have been working to develop an alien-human hybrid that will be able to withstand the effects of the black oil. The group has also been secretly working on a vaccine to overcome the black oil; this vaccine is revealed in the latter parts of [[The X-Files season 5|season five]], as well as the [[The X-Files (film)|1998 film]]. Counter to the alien colonization effort, another faction of aliens, the faceless rebels, are working to stop alien colonization. Eventually, in the [[The X-Files season 6|season six]] episodes "[[Two Fathers (The X-Files)|Two Fathers]]"/"[[One Son]]", the rebels manage to destroy the Syndicate. The colonists, now without human liaisons, dispatch the "[[Super Soldiers (The X-Files)|Super Soldiers]]": beings that resemble humans, but are biologically alien. In the latter parts of [[The X-Files season 8|season eight]], and the whole of [[The X-Files season 9|season nine]], the Super Soldiers manage to replace key individuals in the government, forcing Mulder and Scully to go into hiding.{{sfn|Kowalski|2007|pp=243{{en dash}}46}}