Editing The X-Files (section)

=== 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>